Where to put the Maxxair fan?

[Googlebot]

It’s arrived, sealant is coming, now I just need to decide where to put it.

First thought was above the beds at the back and replace the existing roof light.

However I can also put it in the middle between the chimney for the oven and the bathroom skylight.

Where has everyone else put theirs?

Electrics are no issues and I am happy sorting that as I am cutting new holes.

Will it weaken the roof though with too many openings?

Will the benefit be better with the fan over the beds at the back or in the middle? My worry is in the middle nobody will feel the benefit, at least at the back it will blow on the kids. We sleep at the front.

All opinions and help gratefully received.

 

[Googlebot]

Think I am going to go for the middle.

Just need to get it done next week now.

If I am going to change my mind, better do it before I cut the roof.

 

[John H.]

Cutting the roof would frighten me.

But your roof looks the same as ours. I think there is plenty of support in the middle. You have the walls around the washroom and the fridge.

We have our air con at the back and the benefit at the front is very dubious.

 

[Googlebot]

Cutting the roof would frighten me.

But your roof looks the same as ours. I think there is plenty of support in the middle. You have the walls around the washroom and the fridge.

We have our air con at the back and the benefit at the front is very dubious.

Good point about the supports around it, I hadn’t thought of that. Not that I walk on the roof because I don’t.

It‘s good to know that the air on isn’t great at the front either. This tends to be where the van gets hottest so I do wonder if it’s a good idea at the back.

 

[Burgo]

We don't have a max air / endless breeze or similar but do have a 7m van with 2 adults one large and two medium sized dogs in southern Spain. For us the trick is (as at home) to get a flow going and, if possible, a chimney effect.

We just use a fan on the table in the lounge blowing backwards. Front dashboard air vents open, as well as ceiling vents at front and above the fan. Bedroom windows on first latch and over bed ceiling vent open. Make sure the 4 way tiltable vents over the shower and the khazi are angled so they "scoop" any outside breeze going. Two 5"ish usb powered mini fans, one each side of the rear bed, blowing up towards the rear ceiling vent.

After a few minutes the airflow gets going and cools the van down nicely, even when it's 30 or so. Works for us, though YMMV as they say.
So, IMO, best place to put one would be either right at front or right at back to get a through flow going. May not be best to put it in the middle...

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[Mikeco]

If you keep it in line with the toilet roof light you may get away without cutting any supporting timbers , that’s if there are any. You need to watch out for hidden cables though wherever you try.

 

[Googlebot]

It’s an early PUAL construction so I am fairly sure there are no supporting timbers. I was surprised but when I checked the rear roof light, there were no battens at all.

I am fairly sure there are no cables, I will update once I cut the hole.

 

[Hellski]

We love ours, which is positioned above the kitchen area centre of the motorhome.

Centre is a good location if your happy and the area of the roof is suitable for cutting hole in.

They’re great for night time use with low fan speed set on extraction and bedroom roof light open slightly, pulling a nice airflow over us.

Keep us all posted to how you get on with your project

 

[Googlebot]

Thanks, I am hoping it works well, for the price it bloody should!

 

[John H.]

But your roof looks the same as ours

I recognise everthing on your roof apart from the bright white thing on the left side behind the large fron solar panel. I am curious. What is it?

Also Burgo's point about the flow of air is a good one. Does the Maxxair have an extract function. If so, you could try the Maxxair at the back on extract. Would probably be quieter and if it doesn't do the job, then you could cut a hole in the middle.

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[Googlebot]

I recognise everthing on your roof apart from the bright white thing on the left side behind the large fron solar panel. I am curious. What is it?

Also Burgo's point about the flow of air is a good one. Does the Maxxair have an extract function. If so, you could try the Maxxair at the back on extract. Would probably be quieter and if it doesn't do the job, then you could cut a hole in the middle.

The bright white thing is a 4G aerial for the internet.

The Maxxair extracts and blows. It also has an auto function where if it gets hot, the fan automatically starts up.

I was thinking of trying it at the back first, I would however, have to screw into the roof as the fittings are different to the current one. It would however, be easier than a 400mm rectangle to sort.

 

[John H.]

The bright white thing is a 4G aerial for the internet.

Thank You. Didn't think of that.

 

[Lenny HB]

It’s an early PUAL construction so I am fairly sure there are no supporting timbers. I was surprised but when I checked the rear roof light, there were no battens at all.

I am fairly sure there are no cables, I will update once I cut the hole.

There is no timber in a Hymer bodywork at all.
The only cable in the roof will be for the lights around the main rooflight, it will be in round plastic conduit going across to the side of the van where the main looms run down to the floor on my van that is in a back corner of the wardrobe.

 

[Lenny HB]

Think I am going to go for the middle.

Just need to get it done next week now.

If I am going to change my mind, better do it before I cut the roof.

Good point about the supports around it, I hadn’t thought of that. Not that I walk on the roof because I don’t.

It‘s good to know that the air on isn’t great at the front either. This tends to be where the van gets hottest so I do wonder if it’s a good idea at the back.

Our last van (Exsis I678) we had a Fantastic vent roughly in the centre in the kitchen area it worked well cooling both bedroom & lounge.
Our current van (B678DL) has a Fantastic vent at the front end of the bedroom, works fine for the bedroom but virtually no effect on the lounge.

 

[Googlebot]

Our last van (Exsis I678) we had a Fantastic vent roughly in the centre in the kitchen area it worked well cooling both bedroom & lounge.
Our current van (B678DL) has a Fantastic vent at the front end of the bedroom, works fine for the bedroom but virtually no effect on the lounge.

Thanks Lenny, just the feedback I was after. The middle of the van it is then.

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[Landy Andy]

Mines in the middle of my van and works well there. Open both bedroom windows a bit, possibly on the latch, and put the fan on extract. Brings in nice cool air straight across the beds. Up to 30% is still silent at night and you don’t notice how much air it’s moving until you open/shut other vents/windows/doors then you can hear it’s tone change.

 

[Googlebot]

Today was the day.

careful measuring inside and out to make sure it fit.

 

[Googlebot]

The point of no return, I drilled a 5mm hole first and then remeasured on the roof to make sure it would fit. One hole is easier to fill than 4.

 

[Googlebot]

Once measured and checked, I drilled 4 holes from below, then enlarged to 10mm from above.

 

[Googlebot]

Once drilled in all 4 corners it was the turn of the jigsaw.

Once I had done two sides I put a batten across so the piece wouldn’t fall off and tear the ply or ceiling as it fell.

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[Googlebot]

It looks a big hole once it’s out.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks good, you were lucky you don't have Microfibre material on the ceiling.

 

[Googlebot]

Then the channel for the electrics. I had worked out before I cut the hole that there was a convenient extractor fan circuit nearby.

 

[Googlebot]

Looks good, you were lucky you don't have Microfibre material on the ceiling.

Is that much worse?

This is paper on top of ply.

 

[Lenny HB]

Then the channel for the electrics. I had worked out before I cut the hole that there was a convenient extractor fan circuit nearby.

View attachment 506873

View attachment 506874

SDS drill for a bit of foam is a bit extreme .

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[Googlebot]

After a thorough clean all round the hole, it was time for the mastic. I opted for a non setting bedding sealant rather than sikaflex and used plenty. I pre drilled the holes as I was worried about the plastic mount shattering as I screwed.

 

[Googlebot]

SDS drill for a bit of foam is a bit extreme .

It was the longest bit I had at 10mm.

 

[Googlebot]

Now for the messy bit.

I was in two minds about the screws as it looks much neater with no mastic on. I have however had issues with caravans in the past with water tracking down screws so decided I didn’t care if it looks awful, waterproof is more important when I won’t ever see it. I therefore covered each screw head too.

 

[Googlebot]

Fan mounted from above now and it’s onto the inside.

 

[Googlebot]

Connected electrics up and trimmed the inner cover down to fit.

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