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Old 08-21-2013, 12:13 PM   #1
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Fan Tastic Fan Install....Dealership or DIY

We just purchased a 2014 FR Evo T195BH a few months ago and absolutely love it (its our first TT)! Currently its back at the dealer for some small warranty issues (crank handle on one of the vents broke).

I want to install a Fan Tastic fan in the non powered vent in the kitchen area. I've already purchased the fan, and the dealership wants between $200-$250 to install it. There is a light about 18" away from the vent location, so it shouldn't be that bad to pull wire though?

I pulled the trim piece off the vent in the kitchen area, and there's a wood frame around the vent. I was thinking that i could drill a small hole in the vent frame, remove the adjacent light fixture, and use a coat hanger to pull the new wire through the hole I drilled. Does anyone know what kind of framing or insulation i'd find when i try to snake the wires through?

Or is this going to be a nightmare job and just pay the stealership to do it?
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Old 08-21-2013, 12:28 PM   #2
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I don't know what your ceiling is made of.
MINE is a styrofoam sandwich.
I pulled the fan-less vent trim off mine over the bed and found wires running right by
the opening. It was easy to tap onto a ceiling light wire and I was done.

You can probably poke a coat hanger thru the styrofoam from the light to the vent
or vice versa. I say probably because you never know until you try.
I would definitely go for it but I'm allergic to paying for stuff like that when I can do it
myself.

I wanted to add an extra ceiling light in a dark spot and I did just poke a
stiff wire thru the styrofoam from an existing light over to the new light
I was installing. Other than styrofoam BBs all over the place it was pretty
straight forward a job.
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Old 08-21-2013, 12:58 PM   #3
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Thanks for the info. What about removing the old vent and installing the new? What kind of sealant is best?
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Old 08-21-2013, 01:10 PM   #4
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I just did mine.
Use heat gun and plastic scraper to get old caulk off.
Then use dicor self leveling caulk to replace.

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Removed a std vent and installed a power vent .
About an hour and a half install.

Turbs
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Old 08-21-2013, 03:00 PM   #5
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That doesn't seem like too hard of job. did you have to run power to it?
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Old 08-21-2013, 03:14 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post
That doesn't seem like too hard of job. did you have to run power to it?
There was a ceiling light right there within 8" away.
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Old 08-21-2013, 03:27 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo View Post
There was a ceiling light right there within 8" away.

Is that the one with the rain sensor? Do you need to mix the Dicor?

Nice install Turbs!!
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Old 08-21-2013, 03:39 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Lynkage View Post

Is that the one with the rain sensor? Do you need to mix the Dicor?

Nice install Turbs!!
No rain sensor.

Dicor comes in a tube that dispenses from a normal caulk gun.

Ty.

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Old 08-21-2013, 03:49 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo View Post
There was a ceiling light right there within 8" away.
How'd you pull the wire from the light?
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Old 08-21-2013, 03:57 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post

How'd you pull the wire from the light?
Removed light fixture then pushed the wires between insulation and ceiling from vent hole to the light hole.

Now fyi fan will only work when light switch is on but in my case the light switch is outside of the bedroom in the hallway coming up the steps to the fifth wheel upper level.
So we just turn light on and off at the individual lights in bedroom.

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Old 08-21-2013, 04:16 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo View Post
Removed light fixture then pushed the wires between insulation and ceiling from vent hole to the light hole.

Now fyi fan will only work when light switch is on but in my case the light switch is outside of the bedroom in the hallway coming up the steps to the fifth wheel upper level.
So we just turn light on and off at the individual lights in bedroom.

Turbs
That doesn't sound bad at all. I forgot that the wall material is thin and flexible.

Thanks for all the great info!
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Old 08-21-2013, 04:17 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post

That doesn't sound bad at all. I forgot that the wall material is thin and flexible.

Thanks for all the great info!
Yw!


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Old 08-22-2013, 05:39 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post
We just purchased a 2014 FR Evo T195BH a few months ago and absolutely love it (its our first TT)! Currently its back at the dealer for some small warranty issues (crank handle on one of the vents broke).

I want to install a Fan Tastic fan in the non powered vent in the kitchen area. I've already purchased the fan, and the dealership wants between $200-$250 to install it. There is a light about 18" away from the vent location, so it shouldn't be that bad to pull wire though?

I pulled the trim piece off the vent in the kitchen area, and there's a wood frame around the vent. I was thinking that i could drill a small hole in the vent frame, remove the adjacent light fixture, and use a coat hanger to pull the new wire through the hole I drilled. Does anyone know what kind of framing or insulation i'd find when i try to snake the wires through?

Or is this going to be a nightmare job and just pay the stealership to do it?
That's exactly how I installed it. The whole process took about 4 hours and well worth it on hot nights dry camping. I did install a MaxxAir unit so I had a cover too and don't have to worry about rain. The wiring was simple with a drill and coat hanger.
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Old 08-22-2013, 05:51 PM   #14
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That's great news! I'm glad to hear that someone else had suscess with this method.
Was there any trick to applying the sealant? What holds the fan down to the roof?
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Old 08-22-2013, 05:56 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post
That's great news! I'm glad to hear that someone else had suscess with this method.
Was there any trick to applying the sealant? What holds the fan down to the roof?
Screws hold down the vent down.
I used the screws from the vent I removed
Just caulk all around the edge as well as the screws.
One tube will do it but two would be better.
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Old 08-22-2013, 06:38 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danimal86 View Post
That's great news! I'm glad to hear that someone else had suscess with this method.
Was there any trick to applying the sealant? What holds the fan down to the roof?
The electrical was not difficult. The MaxxAir has the fan in the hood and the hood attaches to the vertical edges of the vent so there's no sealing involved nor a need to remove the original vent.
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Old 08-22-2013, 06:45 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by pwb01 View Post

The electrical was not difficult. The MaxxAir has the fan in the hood and the hood attaches to the vertical edges of the vent so there's no sealing involved nor a need to remove the original vent.
I think we've got more than one conversation going about two totally different fans.

The op is talking about a fantasic fan.
Your talking about a max air fan.

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Old 08-22-2013, 07:18 PM   #18
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Oops, I thought the max air was just a simple cover.

Does anything need to go between the roof and the fan?

Do mounting hole line up, or will I be making new ones.

Thanks everyone for all the great info!
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Old 08-23-2013, 06:55 AM   #19
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If you have a vent there already- you can purchase a Turbo MaxxAir powered vent.
Maxxair 00-965001 Turbo/Maxx 3 Speed Fan with Thermostat : Amazon.com : Automotive

This option lets you use your existing ceiling vent curb and crank.
The Turbo Maxx fits over your existing motor-less vent.
No un caulking or re-caulking required. The Turbo Maxx can be used even
in a rain storm.

If you want a Fantastic Fan-
Amazon.com: Fan-Tastic Vent 5000RBT Off White Vent with Reverse Thermostat: Automotive

You will need to remove your existing curb and install the Fantastic fan
and curb and crank open cover
AND you will still want a rain cover for it so you also want one of these-
MaxxAir 850 White Fan/Mate Rain Cover for High Powered Ceiling Fans : Amazon.com : Automotive
This cover allows you to use your fan even in pounding rain.

It's up to you. The Fantastic Fan option requires you to remove your
existing curb. The Turbo Maxx option fastens to your existing curb.
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Old 08-23-2013, 10:38 AM   #20
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I went with the Fantastic 4000r (reversible). I would have like to have the remote control, but in the past i've found that thermostats on exhaust fans aren't work it.

If we get the trailer back today or tomorrow, i'll be installing it this weekend.

Does anyone have a link to the best sealant to use?
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