Recommendations for Fantastic Vent Replacement?

[blickcd]

Back in 2008 I replaced the original light / Hehr roof vent combo in my living room with a Fantastic Vent loaded with all the options except the remote control. Was well worth the effort. Oh, I also installed a light fixture adjacent to the Fantastic since I was losing a light fixture, but I digress.

Anyway, the lift mechanism has stripped where the gear engages the motor. You can still manually operate the lid up and down with a little finesse. My understanding is that parts for these are no longer available, or if you can find them the quality really stinks compared to OEM.

My school of thought for my trailer is that if I can't keep something original, I will install whatever is the current Airstream standard, hence installing a Fantastic some time ago. What similar fan is Airstream using now and is it any good? Maybe they used a better fan a few years ago and I would be better off installing that model?

Thanks in advance.

[CBWELL]

Buy a MaxxAir with remote, in the new Deluxe style. Best fan you can get, and a direct replacement for your old fan.

[Bubba L]

X2 on the MaxxAir. We have Fantastics in the 66 and MaxxAirs in the 55. At a campground last Sunday night it was raining. We placed the MaxxAirs in the 55 on ceiling fan mode with the lid closed. We cool the inside when needed with a mini split AC, but not needed with good air circulation.

[richard5933]

Switch to the MaxxAir Deluxe and don't look back. The MaxxAir is a better unit all around, and it doesn't require a separate cover in order to operate in the rain.

I've had them on my coach and now two in my Airstream. Really enjoy them compared to the FF we had before.

On our bedroom MaxxAir we installed the ceiling cover with a built-in light shade which makes it great when we're parked somewhere with overhead outdoor lights. Makes sleeping during overnight stays in parking lots much easier since they always have bright overhead lights.

[STREMN]

x4 - We put the MaxxAir Deluxe units in last year. Quiet, simple and easy to use with the remotes. We're very satisfied with them.

[blickcd]

I looked up the MaxxAir Deluxe and see that the top is rectangular, overhanging to the rear. My original (Braun? The style with the tines that collapses as it lowers) TV antenna base is directly behind the living room vent. Not sure if there will be clearance.

I've attached an inside photo of my Fantastic install with the new light fixture. You can see the crank for the TV antenna and get a feel for how close it is. The base of that antenna takes up a bit of space on the roof.

I know the vent fits a standard 14"x14" opening but in just a quick search I couldn't find dimensions for the top, which are likely 15"x20". If someone has the size, please let me know, or maybe the distance that the top overhangs to the rear of the vent curb when it is lowered.

I may possibly get out a ladder over the weekend and measure how much space I have behind the rear of my vent curb and the TV antenna base.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by blickcd

I looked up the MaxxAir Deluxe and see that the top is rectangular, overhanging to the rear. My original (Braun? The style with the tines that collapses as it lowers) TV antenna base is directly behind the living room vent. Not sure if there will be clearance.

I've attached an inside photo of my Fantastic install with the new light fixture. You can see the crank for the TV antenna and get a feel for how close it is. The base of that antenna takes up a bit of space on the roof.

I know the vent fits a standard 14"x14" opening but in just a quick search I couldn't find dimensions for the top, which are likely 15"x20". If someone has the size, please let me know, or maybe the distance that the top overhangs to the rear of the vent curb when it is lowered.

I may possibly get out a ladder over the weekend and measure how much space I have behind the rear of my vent curb and the TV antenna base.

I'm out of the country and can't get a ruler to it right now, but here is a photo showing the proximity of our forward MaxxAir Deluxe to the other components on the roof. I was similarly worried that the built-in cover would not fit without hitting the skylight, but everything was just fine in my case.

I found this listed as the measurements of the fan: Dimensions: 16.4" W x 5" H (closed), 9.3" H (open) x 23" depth. The 23" includes a small overhang on the hinged side as well as the larger overhang on the end which rises up.

[STREMN]

My front fan went in close to the light like yours, but I didn't have the antenna behind it. It may clear, but only you will know for sure.

Here's a link to specifications info on ETrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-an...00-07000K.html

Here's a link to the installation instructions from MaxxAir: https://library.maxxair.com/wp-conte...ll-11-2017.pdf

The spec's list dimensions for the unit.

[blickcd]

Richard's dimensions should work for me. I just need to get up there with a tape measure. Will post a pic and update later. Might help out someone with a similar vintage trailer.

[waninae39]

no max air fan has remote and thermostat
i updated the stack fantastic fan with and upgrade kit from amazon . on sale it was less than $100 to get the highest model with thermostat and remote

[CBWELL]

Look at the 7500K in smoke and white and you will see that they have both options, the thermostat is in the remote! I have the older 4500K in my Airstream, and they have the thermostat in the remote as well. I installed the newer 7500K in my 5th wheel in Yuma, and they have both in the remote! Mount the remote on a wall within direct site of the sensor and it works as a wall thermostat. Took the Fantastic crap out of both units!!

[2themoon]

I just went through the Fantastic Fan to MAXXFAN conversion a couple weeks ago, on our 2018 30' Flying Cloud. You are right to be concerned about the overhang hitting your TV antenna. As you can see from the picture I had to remove my antenna. You can also see, the overhang is about 7 1/2". This was not an issue as we now have Starlink and use an Amazon Firestick for all of our TV watching. The MAXXFAN fit perfectly in the Fantastic Fan opening but I did have an issue on top of the trailer. The MAXXFAN is designed for a flat roof and of course the Airstream's roof is curved. The MAXXFAN has a mounting flange that you first mount to the roof of the trailer then the actual fan housing attaches to that flange with four screws. Nice design. However, when you mount the flange to the Airstream's curved roof the flange slightly bends making attaching the fan housing very difficult. The four screws do not line up. But there is a solution, DIYvan.com will make you a custom adapter for $80. https://diyvan.com/products/airstream-roof-vent-adapter As I remember it took about a week for my adapter to arrive. I did need to send them a couple measurements. Once I had the adapter the whole job took several hours.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by 2themoon

I just went through the Fantastic Fan to MAXXFAN conversion a couple weeks ago, on our 2018 30' Flying Cloud. You are right to be concerned about the overhang hitting your TV antenna. As you can see from the picture I had to remove my antenna. You can also see, the overhang is about 7 1/2". This was not an issue as we now have Starlink and use an Amazon Firestick for all of our TV watching. The MAXXFAN fit perfectly in the Fantastic Fan opening but I did have an issue on top of the trailer. The MAXXFAN is designed for a flat roof and of course the Airstream's roof is curved. The MAXXFAN has a mounting flange that you first mount to the roof of the trailer then the actual fan housing attaches to that flange with four screws. Nice design. However, when you mount the flange to the Airstream's curved roof the flange slightly bends making attaching the fan housing very difficult. The four screws do not line up. But there is a solution, DIYvan.com will make you a custom adapter for $80. https://diyvan.com/products/airstream-roof-vent-adapter As I remember it took about a week for my adapter to arrive. I did need to send them a couple measurements. Once I had the adapter the whole job took several hours.

I handled the curve roof problem a little differently. I put down some 2x4s to fit the space between the roof skin and the ceiling skin, using staples through the edge of the ceiling skin to hold them in place while the install was done.

Then I screwed down the MaxxAir mounting flange from the roof, through the roof skin and into the cut down 2x4s. It pulled the roof skin flat in that small area and allowed the fan to connect without an issue. The amount of flattening was minimal and cannot be seen from below. Not only did it allow the fan to sit perfectly flat on the roof, it created a really sturdy mounting for the fan and gave the inner shroud something solid to grab onto.

[Bill M.]

I do not know anything about the Max Air. Fantastic fans are still good fans and the new ones seem to work well. I have the FF covers over mine too.

[blickcd]

Got out the ladder, raised the TV antenna, and took some measurements. The TV antenna is rotated around to the worst case clearance scenario and the Maxxfan Deluxe won't work. See the attached pics.

While 2themoon's solution could work here, I cringe at the thought of removing the TV antenna.

I had thought that Fantastic was out of business but it seems I was wrong. Was also under the impression that once the company was sold by the family that started it, and this was over a decade ago, the quality of their products dropped.

Will give the current line of Fantastic a serious look, but will also consider a Maxxfan Plus, which has a standard square lid. If I can't use it when raining that is no big deal as I have a fan for that in the bedroom. See the blog for details on that.

I have other priorities now like new tires, so it may be a few months before I replace the Fantastic. May post a follow-up for anyone who is dying to know how this story concludes.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

[mgblake13]

After reading all the above I think the maxxfan will be my next upgrade.

For those who have done it, what color do you think looks best?

[CBWELL]

I don't concern myself with "what looks best", more what is functional! I have the smoked covers on my Airstream, to keep as much light as possible out in the summer. On my 5th wheel in Yuma, I put white covers on, as they are less heat prone in the hot summer sun. Both work well.

[Gun2Head]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

Buy a MaxxAir with remote, in the new Deluxe style. Best fan you can get, and a direct replacement for your old fan.

THIS! Did the same. My fantastic fan also stripped out after a year of use. MaxxAir far superior. It not only blows air out but in as well. Also has a circulation mode when closed, a built in rain cover, and 10 speed remote. My favorite upgrade so far. Plus it folds down into aero position when not in use...

[SuperTrouper]

A word of caution from a Maxxair fan (pun intended), While I love my Maxxairs for all the reasons mentioned previously, the electronics in them do not like more than 13.5 volts. This is a known weakness. As I have lithium batteries my system sometimes delivers 14.5 volts to top off the batteries. i ended up replacing the control boards on my MaxxAir fans as they failed and added a small Victron 12-12VDC regulator on the fan circuit to hold it at 12.8 VDC to protect the fan electronics. If you have regular lead acid batteries you should be fine.

[jsmall01]

Agree with Maxxair Fan replacement. Replaced both my on 2016 23FB. wanted to have reverse airflow option. Installed two Maxxair fans. easy retrofit and even used the existing shrouds. No issues with voltage with my lithium batteries so far (1.5 years)