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11-20-2021, 02:15 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
2016 26' Flying Cloud
Arlington
, Virginia
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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Bees attracted to Fantastic Fan
We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
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11-20-2021, 02:46 PM
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#2
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"Cloudsplitter"

2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,135
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__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-20-2021, 07:00 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member 
1967 22' Safari
Currently Looking...
Monona
, Wisconsin
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 90
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Bees in your bonnet!
Are your fans set to blow outward or are they set to suck air into the trailer? I set ours to blow outward with a window or door open. That would make it a little harder for the bees to make it into the fan area. At least on ours, it does.
Greg
Monona, WI
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11-20-2021, 09:22 PM
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#4
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Site Team

1994 25' Excella
Waukesha
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 6,362
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Wondering if you have had something suck through those fans which is attracting them, like fumes from something you were cooking one day. Or, perhaps you sucked some sweet pollen through them from a nearby tree.
My first thought would be to remove the screens and fan blades and get everything as clean as can be, removing any traces of anything which might be attracting them.
__________________
Richard
11018
1994 Excella 25 'Gertie' Follow the build on Gertie!
1999 Suburban LS 2500 w/7.4L V8 'Bert'
1974 GMC 4108a - Custom Coach Land Cruiser 'The Bus' (Sold)
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11-20-2021, 09:29 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master 
2017 25' International
West Lake Hills
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,762
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Yep. Same here but just this week at Dinosaur Valley SP in north-central Texas. Honey bees when the fan was off and no other fan was on. It was ahead of a cold front so maybe they were looking for warmth. Flies were very active too. After the temp dropped 50 degrees both the bees and the flies stopped being a nuisance.
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11-21-2021, 12:00 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
2013 25' FB Flying Cloud
Longmont
, Colorado
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,193
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After seven years with our trailer, we ran into this problem. A neighbor in an SOB had 100 or get into the interior or his SOB, and many in his fridge compartment. We had aboiut 30 killed in our front Fantastic Fan in one day. We already had a fan cover with insect screen on our rear fan, and that worked fine. So we obtained a second cover for the other fan.
I believe this is the model we have
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-an...FVU1500WH.html
I think the insect screen is an optional extra.
By the way, once you install the mounting brackets, it's not hard to remove and re-install the cover. We'll put it on for our long winter stay in our favorite Texas swamp, and remove it for other times.
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11-21-2021, 09:14 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 

2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 8,117
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Is the queen along for the ride?
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11-21-2021, 12:05 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Queen Creek
, Arizona
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 113
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Bees
You know, the Fantastic Fan is a "honey" of a fan. The internet is "buzzing" about it. I was "stung" by the negative comments about it. Took a nice picture from above using my "drone".
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11-21-2021, 12:35 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master 
2019 25' International
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,320
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Fantastic Fan covers - the option that comes with insect screens - may solve your problem. I have them on both of my FFs and they work as advertised. They also keep the fans from shutting down when it rains because they're now shielded which is nice, because sometimes I want the fans going when it's raining. I went with the FF brand cover (there are 3 color shades) because they let the fan lid open fully.
Other posters have written that they think the covers are ugly. Their proven utility, easy install, and reasonable price have made me a convert.
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11-21-2021, 01:45 PM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member 
2019 30' Classic
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 312
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Put some almond extract on the fan and cover. If you want, moisten a paper towel with the extract and put it over part of the screen as you blow air out. Bees hate that smell (they communicate with smells). I have used it to get bees off honeycomb before I extract the honey. Just plain old artificial almond extract.
__________________
2019 Classic and 2005 Land Yacht 396 XL and 2 cats
Certified RV Tech, LP certified in TX, generator certified and Alde certified.
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11-21-2021, 04:54 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master 
2017 25' International
West Lake Hills
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,762
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollysdad
Is the queen along for the ride?
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Yes. But she rides shotgun, navigates, and occasionally backs the trailer into the campsite.
“All hail the queen!”
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11-28-2021, 10:16 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Fayetteville
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcooper0
We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
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Get Max Air vent covers, or equivalent brand, installed on roof over the Fantastic fans. Your fans will continue to operate to vent air and will stay open even in rain because they will have a screened vent cover over them. Any Airstream dealer can do it. If you’re capable of installing them you can purchase them at almost any RV location to include camping world.
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11-28-2021, 11:07 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master 
2017 25' International
West Lake Hills
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,762
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11-28-2021, 07:55 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master 
2017 25' International
West Lake Hills
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,762
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I installed two of the covers with bug screens today. Links are noted above. They don’t fit very snugly around the sides of the fan housing. We’ll see how well they keep the bees out, but I have low expectations.
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11-28-2021, 08:49 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Niagara Falls
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 180
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Bee stuff
In addition to the screen there are some natural oils that will repel bees.
From Herr Googlemeister
While scent is the easiest way to attract these unwanted guests, it's also the easiest deterrent! Simply incorporate scents that humans find pleasant and bees find repulsive. Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme.Jul 18, 2019
https://www.westernexterminator.com
How to keep bees away from the pool & other backyard queries - Western Exterminator
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11-29-2021, 03:45 PM
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#17
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Texas Toaster
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Smithville
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcooper0
We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
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I had the same problem last week in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. I was honing to close the fan and saw about ten bees in there crawling around on the screen. The fan is pulling air out of the trailer and the blades are spinning and the bees crawling around under it.
Thought it was a freak thing until your post.
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