I am considering installing a fantastic fan in my 70 safari to replace what i think is the original roof fan. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. We boondock often and like the idea of being able to move more air.
You will love it. I recommend the opaque grey color lid (Vintage Supply) to cut down the excessive light from entering. Put it in he area furthest from the planned inlet of air (the door?) to get max air flow. Caulk it in well.
I agree. Fantastic Fans are. . . . well, fantastic! Move a bunch of air with very low noise level and not much 12 V current drain.
You will probably find that you will have to trim out the roof opening a skosh larger (quarter of an inch, maybe), particularly at the corners, for the Fantastic Fan to fit. No big deal. I would recommend caulking with Vulkem, also available from Vintage Trailer Supply.
I have been told that Fantastic Fan can supply an inner trim piece specifically for the slightly curved ceilings of Airstreams, but I didn't use one when I put a Fantastic Fan in our 1960 Pacer.
I got three of them from vintage Trailer Supply - I believe they are the only ones to handle the model with the Grey hatch cover (to match the alum), and the interior trim comes with the radius for the ceiling if you order it that way....
they are easy to install - we only had to trim the radius corners to make em' fit....
We installed the model with the thermostat in the rear, so it will move some air during the heat of the day, even if we're not around...
The other two are manual type fans...I personally think the auto close and remote models are kind of an 'overkill'...IMHO...
We love em', and if you really want to move some air, turn on all three of those 'suckers', open a couple of windows, and enjoy the breeze!
__________________ Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old secondhand Airstreams than none at all. Mark Twain, updated (org...diamonds)
AIR # 11135
1978 - 28 ft Ambassador (Blue Halo)
2001 - Ford Excursion V-10 4x4
You will love it. I recommend the opaque grey color lid (Vintage Supply) to cut down the excessive light from entering. Put it in he area furthest from the planned inlet of air (the door?) to get max air flow. Caulk it in well.
I installed one of these recently.
There has been discussion of FFs in Terry's (overlander63) The fulltiming adventure begins thread starting with his post #915 with photos. He installed one with the smoke domed lid.
There are photos of my install with the flat opaque gray lid at The fulltiming adventure begins post #927. It also has the auto close option, and I would not be without it. I left it on today because it was unseasonably cool, high 80s, and didn't have to worry about a passing shower getting the bed wet. Leaving it open without the close function would not be an option.
Features of both designs as well as lighting options are also discussed.
__________________ Vaughan
A sixth sense (I lack the other five) tells me that I am in serious difficulties.Oscar Levant
There has been discussion of FFs in Terry's (overlander63) The fulltiming adventure begins thread starting with his post #915 with photos. He installed one with the smoke domed lid.
There are photos of my install with the flat opaque gray lid at The fulltiming adventure begins post #927. It also has the auto close option, and I would not be without it. I left it on today because it was unseasonably cool, high 80s, and didn't have to worry about a passing shower getting the bed wet. Leaving it open without the close function would not be an option.
Features of both designs as well as lighting options are also discussed.
Vaughan, I actually installed three Fantastics with the smoke lids.
There is also an article in the articles section of the forums: A Fantastic Story
We have two on our '56 Safari and one on our '64 GlobeTrotter. On the GT, we have the smoke lid (they didn't make the gray ones then) - we had it installed at the International Rally 4 years ago - love it, moves the air well. We installed the two in the Safari with the gray lids from VTS ourselves - love these even more. The lid looks more vintage and it also blocks out pesky lights at night - not an issue when boondocking, but it is at some campgrounds and other "overnight stops". We plan on replacing the smoke lid one with a grey lid next spring...unfortunately, the design of the fan itself is different, so the whole thing has to be replaced, not just the lid.
All of ours have the rain sensor feature - which I have mixed reviews on. If you leave it on at night and there is a heavy dew or fog, the fan can open and close off and on all night. It's quiet, but not that quiet - I hear it opening & closing. The sensor can be turned off, but then if it does actually rain, you're out of luck - or out of bed to manually close it. No biggie, the benefit out-weighs the hassle, but it is slightly annoying.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Count me as another highly satisfied Fantastic Vent owner. My Overlander received its pair of Fantastic Vents at the WBCCI International Rally in Boise, ID in 1998 -- both have thermostat and rain sensor. They are among the accessories that I wouldn't want to do without -- and -- Fantastic Vent provides excellent support for their products. A storm caught the cover on one of my vents and snapped two parts in the lift arm mechanisms -- new replacement parts were on the way from the factory after a simple call to customer service along with another new part to replace the an existing part that had been revised since my fan was manufactured -- all of this was at no expense to me for the parts.
Needless to say, my Minuet received its one Fantastic Vent at the WBCCI International Rally in Lansing Michigan. Unfortunately, the Minuet has only one ceiling vent (but one Fantastic Vent is better than none). With two Fantastic Vents, one can be set to intake and the other to exhaust creating a wonderful air exchange.
I am sure that you won't regret installing a Fantastic Vent!
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC/Free Wheelers #6359 AIR #827
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 VORTEC/4.11 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)
IMHO....The BEST fan available. Maybe there are more elaborate fans on the market, but none with better customer service. They have replaced one cracked cover,(poor factory installation), and a rain sensor, after four seasons of use. NO CHARGE.
The new pop-in screens are a welcome accessory, no screws to remove for cleaning. 20 bucks a pair.
They move an amazing amount of air with little noise & fuss compared to most of the "stock" fans installed in trailers. We installed one in the bathroom of our last trailer, an Award, and our AS came with two of them.
The AS ones are the powered vent version with rain sensors. The one in teh bedroom has a remote control panel.
Truth to tell, I preferred the very simple manual controls one we had in our last trailer, although I am getting used to the controls on these more elaborate units.
The only problem I have encountered with the units in our AS is that the lids become stuck on the gaskets and wouldn't open after extended storage. I managed to force them open without damage, and then applied silicon to the gaskets so hopefully that will avoid a repeat problem.
You will certainly not regret buying the Fantastic fan IMHO.
Just in the interest of letting you know there is something else out there, Maxx-Air makes comparable fans that many people are happy with. Lewster here on the forums is a Maxx-Air dealer, and Rich Luhr has a Maxx-Air fan in his Safari.
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