The Max air work fine, but if you want it to work really well you need to replace the vent it covers so it opens like the Max Air cover was designed for.
The Fantastic fans are just that, fantastic. The only real difference is that the MAX air can be run full blast while it rains. The Fantastic you can run in the rain, but the cover needs to be 75% closed.
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Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
I'm debating between the new Maxxfan & Fantastic-fan. Any experiences?
I briefly considered the MaxxAir Vent in 1999 before purchasing my Fantastic Vent Fans. My main reason for choosing the Fantastic Vent Fan was that MaxxAir Vent didn't seem as dedicated to supporting the Airstream product - - I don't know whether this has changed in the past five years.
I had two Fantastic Vent Fans installed in my '64 Overlander at the WBCCI International Rally in Dayton, OH (1999). They are among my favorite upgrades to the coach following immediately behind my new Dometic 3-way RV Refrigerator. Even during the hottest days at limited-electric rallys, the coach stays bearable with the breeze created by having one fan set for exhaust and the other set on intake - - the most difficult thing to learn is the need to limit the number of windows that are open to maximize the effect of the fans. I have also added two of Fantastic Vents Endless Breeze box fans to my traveling accessories - - they are 12-volt and when placed at floor level help to keep the cool air circulating. Since I generally travel with two tiny-toy Chihuahuas, keeping the trailer ventilated when at limited-electric rallys is very important and thus far the Fantastic Vent products have met my every expectation.
I am convinced that the Fantastic Vent Corporation is well on its way to becoming a nearly indispensible part of the Airstreaming experience as the Zip Dee awnings are for many owners today.
Good luck with your decision.
Kevin
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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)
It works great. Hardest thing about the install was getting on the roof and removing the old vent. Check out various threads here on "removing rivets".
I did not post pics of my job - there are a couple of existing threads that do a great job of detailing the removal/installation.
On a recent thread, someone posted a recommendation to use an industrial heat gun to soften the old sealant. I removed mine (old sealant) bit by bit with Xylene. Even after almost 20 years, the old sealant was still somewhat pliable and holding good.
You have to get the sealing area of the roof clean and shiney for the new sealant to work. I put a good bead of Vulkem down on the roof where the Fantastic bottom flange would sit prior to installing the fan. I also used the sheet metal screws supplied with the kit rather than rivets. No problems so far.
I did get the clear dome rather than a smoked, white, or opaque dome.
The clear lets in a lot of light, others have mentioned that the clear also transmits a lot of solar heat. You may do some thinking on that issue prior to ordering. I needed the light where my unit is parked (under a carport), and I suspect a "solar shade" type of horizontal curtain or a plastic insert (like a window tint) could be installed if heat through the clear dome becomes an issue.
There is a member here within the Forums that sells through the mail. (http://www.airforums.com/forum...fantastic+vent) I purchased mine from him. Excellent communication, good price, delivery as promised.
Don't have any experience with a MaxxFan, so I can't compare, but I do like the Fantastic. I have seen the MaxxFan at RV type stores. The quality of manufacture of the MaxxFan appears to be every bit as good as the Fantastic.
One feature you might want to check out, the Fantastics come with a "domed" interior trim piece (if requested), to more closely fit the roof curve of the (older) Airstreams. I do not know if a similar trim piece is included in the MaxxFan package.
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Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
I too have the fantastic fan. It's a great unit. When I was down on the farm working it would be sunny and hot, then rain, then sun, then rain again and the rain sensor worked flawlessly. The vents closed on their own an not a drop would come into the coach. I also like the fact that the vent is not a mountain on top of the coach. The MaxAir, although I have not had one, Brett's comments make sense about being able to run it in the rain, I just think the thing is big, bulkly.
I have also added two of Fantastic Vents Endless Breeze box fans to my traveling accessories - - they are 12-volt and when placed at floor level help to keep the cool air circulating.
tell me more! havent seen them anywhere.....
norby
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Illegitimous noncarborundum(dont let the bastards wear you down)
The only true nobility is found through giving good food to your friends- Anton Careme
beauty is in the eye of the beerholder-cosmo fishhawk
if something is too good to be true, its usually gone before i get there-mister boffo
Looks as though they would take up a lot of space, but might be well worth it if it would extend the Texas camping season by a few weeks on either end.
On the other hand, most of our camping is at full service campsites, where conventional 110 fans could be used.
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Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
My rinky dink digital amp meter only goes to one decimal place.
The FF read 0.1 amp on high setting and didn't register an low
or medium speeds. ( a meter that is sensitive enough to read
a fantastic fan cost as much as the fantastic fan )
I wish Fantastic Fan made a Fantastic Furnace. My furnace uses
6.0 amps.
My rinky dink digital amp meter only goes to one decimal place.
The FF read 0.1 amp on high setting and didn't register an low
or medium speeds. ( a meter that is sensitive enough to read
a fantastic fan cost as much as the fantastic fan )
I wish Fantastic Fan made a Fantastic Furnace. My furnace uses
6.0 amps.
The "closing" of my front Fantastic fan vent doesn't seem to be controlled by the thermostat - unlike the bedroom unit with the wall-mounted thermostat? The fan itself is, of course, thermostatically controlled. Is this the correct operating mode or is something out of kilter? I thought that the vent remaining open might have something to do with the bedroom unit needing an intake source? Both have the rain sensor.
On ours, when the temp reaches the selected area, the fan stops and the vent stays open. Ours have the rain sensor and only close on their own when that sensor gets wet.
On the other hand, maybe it's the bedroom unit that isn't functioning properly. Should the vent remain open when the fan shuts off?
Yes.
It is because you have different models. The features have changed over the years.
Our bedroom fan with the wall mount thermostat does not close upon reaching shut off temp. It stays open unless the rain sensor gets wet, then it closes. The same goes for the front standard style one with the rain sensor. They behave alike. They were bought/installed at the same time.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
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