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02-09-2020, 08:44 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
2018 19' Flying Cloud
Downers Grove
, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 6
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Fan-Tastic fan dome covers - are they worth it?
These vent covers were recommended to us to enhance air circulation in our airstream while traveling. Anyone have experience with these covers? If so, are they worth the cost?
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02-09-2020, 08:51 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
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They are worth the cost to keep the rain out when you are parked and want to operate your fan. But, I have found that the arm that supports the fan cover cannot withstand the bouncing down the road with the fan cover open so I never leave the cover open while driving. Thus, no interior ventilation until I am parked.
Larry
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02-09-2020, 09:12 AM
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#3
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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^
X2
We too find no need for vents open while moving.
Disclaimer...DW feels they are butt ugly, SWMBO
Bob
🇺🇸
Carry a spare...AMHIK
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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02-09-2020, 09:15 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,317
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Installing vent covers was the first thing I did with our FC25. It’s great to be able to open the vents while driving (I’ve had no problem with the arms breaking) and it’s also a handy way to control condensation in cold weather. I can’t imagine not having them.
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02-09-2020, 09:23 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2009 19' International
Aptos
, California
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 310
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While I don’t have the vent cover dome, I do travel with the vent cover Open by a couple of inches and have not had a problem with the arm
Question for those who installed the vent cover dome, how did you manage getting to it/working on the roof? I worry about denting the roof.
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02-09-2020, 09:31 AM
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#6
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
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I recently put a set of covers on my trailer and recommend them. While we were gone from the trailer I could keep the caps open with no worries bout wind or rain.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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02-09-2020, 09:31 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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We had the dealer install a cover the day we picked up the trailer. They work perfectly in the rain when you normally need it! The "scoop" can restrict airflow a little bit, but the benefits of having the fan full time are worth it.
We chose white so it still allows for light to enter the cabin.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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02-09-2020, 09:38 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
2014 25' International
2006 23' Safari SE
Boulder City
, Nevada
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,703
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CamCo today... Tomorrow no vent problems
Quote:
Originally Posted by daleyocum
Installing vent covers was the first thing I did with our FC25. It’s great to be able to open the vents while driving (I’ve had no problem with the arms breaking) and it’s also a handy way to control condensation in cold weather. I can’t imagine not having them.
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*******
Dale you are right.
A rogue wind gust will tear that thin piece of plastic off and now you will need duct tape to seal the large hole in your roof. After... you pick the pieces out of the parking lot.
West Wendover, Nevada. Hot. No wind. Parked our 2006 23 foot Safari. Stopped in at the Casino's Diner, returned to parking lot. Hot. No wind. Also... pieces of the vent scattered in the parking lot. New 2006. First lesson learned. A gust of wind can happen only when you have the vent open and eating inside a Casino in Nevada.
Butt Ugly... yes. Worse... duct tape sealed the opening well.
Bought a CamCo white cover and replacement Fantastic Fan lid. Four brackets and hardware included from a RV Shop in Reno. They loaned me a ladder to get on top. I drilled four small holes to mount the brackets. Tried not to SLIP OFF the top of the trailer... and never had another problem.
Like Dale, the first thing I did on our new 25 foot and new 27 foot was to immediately install the CamCo covers. We manually open the vents as the open lid and inside the cover are close to being maxed out.
Raining, wind blowing... never a drop of water. The Air Conditioning cover(s) are Butt Ugly... now that I have two on the 27 footer. Make sure you install the vent opening towards the rear of the trailer, as suggested by CamCo.
Just be careful on top when installing. Step on the RIVETs, not in between as you will dent the top. Wear tennis shoes that will not slip off the top. If you are not in condition to climb up to the top of your roof at home, which is easier to access... have someone help.
__________________
Human Bean
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02-09-2020, 12:11 PM
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#9
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Home of Vortex tuning
2013 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Spearfish
, South Dakota
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 614
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I started with these when I had snow fall from a tree and smashed the lid, had a snow melt shower over the toilet.
Solar radiation will kill the stock lids over time.
I found that I can install these from a ladder, just have to move it for both sides.
__________________
"Chip Tank" is in Westwood Ca.
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02-09-2020, 12:52 PM
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#10
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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17yrs...SFSG. 👍
Only thing that one needed was the lift.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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02-09-2020, 02:17 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
2014 25' International
2006 23' Safari SE
Boulder City
, Nevada
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,703
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[QUOTE=ROBERT CROSS;2330631]^
X2
We too find no need for vents open while moving.
Disclaimer...DW feels they are butt ugly, SWMBO
Bob
����
*******
X3
We never have had the vent(s) open WITH or WITHOUT the CamCo cover when moving.
Although with the cover... you could without incident. Only one fantastic fan vent on our 27 foot... the Butt Ugly Air Conditioners and two Solar Panels and TV whatever... prevented the factory to fit a second.
Without the CamCo cover moving... fine. Carry a carton of expensive replacement lids moving without a cover, and maybe two if you are in Boulder City where a gust is 40mph on a nice day, more or less otherwise, parked.
I consider installing the CamCo cover as having FREE PLAY on a Video Poker nickel machine in Las Vegas. A Win / Win.
Much like Marathon 14 inch C Rated tires on the older 23 foot Airstreams... if you like them... keep them.
__________________
Human Bean
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02-09-2020, 03:25 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Hendersonville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,092
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Fantastic Fan "Ultrabreeze" covers
First thing I added on both of our Airstreams. Make sure you get the "Ultrabreeze" covers from Fantastic Fan. No drilling is required to mount these. It takes about 15 minutes per cover to install. It will take you longer to get out your ladder and a phillips screwdriver than to install them. Make sure you also get the optional bug screen. At the Tampa RV show in January these were on sale at the Dometic Products booth for $39.00 for the white ones. The bug screen is around $10.00.
Additionally, I disconnected the rain sensor in both fans. The sensor was so sensitive it would close the fan if I even sweated a little bit. Just when you need some airflow the darn thing would close. Takes about 5 minutes per fan to eliminate that pesky rain sensor.
Get the covers. You will not regret it.
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02-09-2020, 03:31 PM
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#13
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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We love ours.
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02-09-2020, 03:35 PM
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#14
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uraljohn
First thing I added on both of our Airstreams. Make sure you get the "Ultrabreeze" covers from Fantastic Fan. No drilling is required to mount these. It takes about 15 minutes per cover to install. It will take you longer to get out your ladder and a phillips screwdriver than to install them. Make sure you also get the optional bug screen. At the Tampa RV show in January these were on sale at the Dometic Products booth for $39.00 for the white ones. The bug screen is around $10.00.
Additionally, I disconnected the rain sensor in both fans. The sensor was so sensitive it would close the fan if I even sweated a little bit. Just when you need some airflow the darn thing would close. Takes about 5 minutes per fan to eliminate that pesky rain sensor.
Get the covers. You will not regret it.
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Those are the same covers I installed, but I paid a little bit more. Very easy to install and no holes to drill.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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02-09-2020, 06:10 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I installed a Fantastic Vent Ultra Breeze cover on both of my trailers.
While traveling on hot days I'll leave the cap open and thermostat set to a lower temperature so the fan will exhaust the hot air, keeping the trailer from being much hotter inside than outside ambient temperature. That makes the air conditioner work a lot less when I arrive at the camping site.
I've been doing this for years. I've had no issues with anything breaking.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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02-09-2020, 07:08 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brad1
Question for those who installed the vent cover dome, how did you manage getting to it/working on the roof? I worry about denting the roof.
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Here’s a video from Colonial Airstream on how to climb on the roof. https://youtu.be/HP0HVv6imbc
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02-09-2020, 07:18 PM
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#17
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brad1
Question for those who installed the vent cover dome, how did you manage getting to it/working on the roof? I worry about denting the roof.
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Did not need to get on the roof to install the Ultrabreeze. I was able to install from a ladder on each side and just lean in a little. Spent around 45 minutes per vent.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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02-10-2020, 05:35 AM
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#18
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3 Rivet Member
Around
, Town
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 121
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When Fantastic had lifetime warranty, it was a no-brainer to get the vent cover as the value was in knowing that fan parts were free. Now that Fantastic no longer does lifetime warranty, it opens up the options.
Another path to consider is Maxxair as it eliminates the need for a secondary cover. Sure, it will mean replacement of a working Fantastic, but given the current need for a vent cover, you are already climbing on the roof to do work. As the Fantastics die or need rooftop adventures in my trailer, a Maxxair replaces them.
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02-10-2020, 09:13 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
Cherryville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 42
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I have the covers but when I went to install them the fan covers open higher than the vent cover will allow or so it seems. Do they come in different sizes or is there a trick to the instal that I missed in the instructions.
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02-10-2020, 11:30 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Even though the covers are a bit lower than the full open position the vent is capable of, the electronics will properly shut off the lift motor when it opens as far as it can under the cover. Stalling the motor when fully open and detecting that condition to then shut off the motor is how it normally works.
I have a cover over my rear most vent. It works fine even though it does not open quite all the way.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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