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04-08-2016, 09:42 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
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Adding a Vent Fan
How hard is it to add a fan kit to an existing vent? We have a vent in the bathroom and in the main seating area in our 2011 Shamrock. The one in the seating area does not have a fan, just a very similar vent opening - I would like to add a fan here - anyone else done this?
Styg
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04-08-2016, 09:54 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,413
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Pretty easy as long as you add a fan with the same opening size as your current vent opening. And, you can find a convenient 12v source close to the newly installed vent. If no 12v near, you'll have to be a bit more creative by somehow pulling wires thru the wall/ceiling or routing it upward to the vent on an inside wall/ceiling.
__________________
Days camping (2016)----181 days
Days camping (2017) --- 82 days
2016 Wildcat MAXX 28RKX (33' TT), 2007 13' Scamp
2015 Ram Laramie Hemi, w/air suspension
30 years RV'ing
11 different RV's
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04-08-2016, 10:04 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,452
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It's easy. Holes in roof are standard 14" x 14", and all fans are standardized to fit that size opening.
The vent hole you have now may be pre wired for a fan. If there is an interior trim piece, pull it down and check the perimiter of the opening for wiring.
If no wiring, you can tap into the wiring from a nearby 12 volt ceiling light fixture.
Most aftermarket fans will come with everything you need to mount it, except caulk which you'll need to run a bead around the exterior flange and a dab to cover each mounting screw. I'd recomend Dicor Self Leveling Caulk, pretty much the best caulk out there.
Grumpy
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Steve & Cheryl + Zoey, and Ziggy, our furry kids.
2012 Forrest River Lexington 283ts
Toad, 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
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04-08-2016, 10:19 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
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Its got a factory ceiling vent form the same manufacturer as the bathroom vent, and several models we looked at already had a fan in that spot. Original owners at some point must have had wind catch this one as there is a crack in the back casing. I had the vent covers added at the dealership, not realizing this one didn't even have a powered fan in it. Want to replace it with the same unit with a fan, and there is a 12v light about 18 inches away on the ceiling already, so shouldn't be be an issue tapping into it.
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04-08-2016, 11:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fort White, FL
Posts: 208
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I just did this last weekend to my camper. Vent began leaking last time we were out so I knew I had to do something with it. Figured if I had to pull the vent to re-seal it, may as well upgrade. I had a vent, no fan, but I knew that 12v wiring passed around the vent to go between two lights. I bought a Fan-tastic Vent model 7350, a roll of buytl tape and a tube of dicor lap sealant from amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Fan-Tastic-807...an-tastic+vent
The hardest part/most time consuming is removing the old butyl tape from the roof, especially if you have a rubber roof. Be patient, it'll be worth it. I happened to have a nylon trim pry bar set lying around and that was instrumental to the butyl removal.
Nylon Pry Bar Installer Kit 4 Pc
Sturdy enough to remove the putty but not sharp enough to cut the roof. I put a 4' x 4' sheet of plywood on the roof to spread my body weight around (i'm not light by any means), and went to work. Once you get the putty off, use mineral spirits to clean the remaining putty residue. Dry fit the vent, connect it temporarily and verify functionality, then put new butyl tape and screwed the vent to the roof and put the dicor around the flange covering each screw. After that, depending on your roof thickness, you may need to cut down the trim piece for the inside.
There's multiple videos on youtube also on how to do it. Not hard, but can be time consuming to get the butyl tape off, but well worth it.
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04-08-2016, 11:43 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
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Great, looks like a pretty easy project for a computer geek.... I have been wanting to get up and check the roof - the detailers and techs at the dealership told me it was in great shape, but I have not been up there to check yet.
Now... about this 2-4 inches of snow we are getting in SE Michigan tonight.....
Grrrrr
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04-08-2016, 11:52 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 546
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Had a fan/vent put in place of old cover that was getting brittle. The shop manager only said he would do it if wiring was already tucked along the side of the vent housing. The entire unit had to be pulled up on top and old caulking removed. The new vent was $80.71 and I was charged for 30 minutes of labor $9.16 for a tube of caulk.
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"Lurch" = Georgetown 2011 330TS
Toad = Jeep 2016 Cherokee
Pilot = Bob
First Mate = Xiangbing
Crew = Radar, NiuNiu & NaNa
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04-08-2016, 12:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fort White, FL
Posts: 208
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04-08-2016, 01:10 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Keizer Oregon
Posts: 228
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I'm having my fantastic fans installed as we today... I didn't have time to do it.... and my luck, I'd make it leak somehow...
I'm also having the smoked vent covers installed. Max Air's I think?... the kind you can run with the vent in the open position with...
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2015 FR3 30 DS
1995 Wrangler
Miles 9100
Days Camped 74
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04-08-2016, 01:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 251
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Search Ebay/Amazon, these can be found for a reasonable price. I have the newer 3 speed reversible model. It is super easy to install, I tapped into the lighting wiring which usually runs through the center of the ceiling. There is no outside work at all, no worries about "leaks'
Vortex 1 RV Roof Vent Upgrade camper Trailer Air Fan 12 Volt Heng's 90043 CR | eBay
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Jim & Pam
2017 Ram 3500, Crew Cab Diesel Dually
2014 Hemisphere 327res
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04-08-2016, 01:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stygshore
How hard is it to add a fan kit to an existing vent? We have a vent in the bathroom and in the main seating area in our 2011 Shamrock. The one in the seating area does not have a fan, just a very similar vent opening - I would like to add a fan here - anyone else done this?
Styg
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Remove the interior cover to see it has been prewired is so your in luck if not then you have to get power from nearby light. Lowe's carries a small bit but about 24" long with a hole in the bit. Attach wires an pull through. Or a metal fish tape you can work through the insulation to the light.
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04-08-2016, 03:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wisconsin/Florida
Posts: 1,905
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Per your post, you want to use the same fan. An alternative would be the below fan. It does not require removing the entire housing. It has in-flow and out-flow settings. Also has very good user ratings.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APSSPEA/...=IAV65WUYC3IK7
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04-08-2016, 06:20 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PenJoe
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Yes, this is the one I recently installed, I installed the single speed fan in my previous TT
__________________
Jim & Pam
2017 Ram 3500, Crew Cab Diesel Dually
2014 Hemisphere 327res
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04-09-2016, 11:55 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Hoffman Estates Il.
Posts: 239
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I would like to know this as well? We have a vent above the couch/Murphy bed, right next to a light fixture, in our Rockwood Mini lite 2304KS. I Would love to retrofit a reversible max air fan and outside cover to it. How do you find the right size? And where is the best place, price wise, to find them ?
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04-09-2016, 12:09 PM
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#15
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Most all vent fans are designed to fit a standard 14" x 14" square hole.
Most every camping supply stores sell them and thousands can be found on the internet with a Google search.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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04-28-2016, 05:16 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: South Jersey, USA
Posts: 114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP Camper
Yes, this is the one I recently installed, I installed the single speed fan in my previous TT
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I installed this kit as well replacing the pathetic little bathroom vent fan. It was a straightforward installation. The new fan moves much more air.
Sent from my secret hardened bunker.
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Be safe, but if you cannot, be violent.
Choose to be a winner, not a victim.
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04-28-2016, 07:56 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
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Only problem with this over the fan fan design.... I don't have an existing fan, so I have to disassemble the vent opening to find the power source from the nearby 12v light anyhow - at which point I might as well replace the entire unit right? or is the power pretty easy to get to?
I may consider one of these in the bathroom area though,and then maybe I can just move my bathroom fan to the main living area.
Styg
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04-28-2016, 08:24 AM
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#18
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stygshore
Only problem with this over the fan fan design.... I don't have an existing fan, so I have to disassemble the vent opening to find the power source from the nearby 12v light anyhow - at which point I might as well replace the entire unit right? or is the power pretty easy to get to?
I may consider one of these in the bathroom area though,and then maybe I can just move my bathroom fan to the main living area.
Styg
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Sometimes 12v power is pretty easy to find and fish to a vent, sometimes not. I don't think you'll know until you get in there.
I would rethink moving the pathetic little vent fan to the main living area.
The ones I've had in a few different units were noisy and really didn't move much air, which is why you are contemplating replacing it in the bath area to begin with.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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04-28-2016, 08:29 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Sometimes 12v power is pretty easy to find and fish to a vent, sometimes not. I don't think you'll know until you get in there.
I would rethink moving the pathetic little vent fan to the main living area.
The ones I've had in a few different units were noisy and really didn't move much air, which is why you are contemplating replacing it in the bath area to begin with.
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Agree 100%! It should be Against the Law to call them "FANS" they are "Noise Makers"! Youroo!!
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04-28-2016, 09:42 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
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Hmmm the fan in my bathroom is the same size as the opening in my mail living area. Maybe the original owner swapped them?
Styg
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