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10-20-2015, 10:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,245
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Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
So my new Fantastic fan will be here in a couple days and I'm getting ready to cut a large hole in my fiberglass top (GTRV). I know others have done this before, so I though, before I start I would see if anyone has any tips or suggestions. There's really just one place to put it, so I guess I should cut the headliner first, mark the cutout from the inside, drill the corners and cut away. Sound good?
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
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10-20-2015, 11:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Francisco/Nevada City
Posts: 3,769
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
Measure once, cut twice!
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10-20-2015, 11:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,564
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
^^^ Excellent advice right there.
__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-21-2015, 07:41 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 4,215
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
consider putting down some blue painters tape around the cutout-to-be to protect your roof while cutting.
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10-21-2015, 07:58 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
Consider where your solar panels will end. One day I will likely move my fantastic vent forward 6 inches to fit one more panel (if I can find one of the old BP panels to match my four old BP panels).
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
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10-21-2015, 11:06 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,245
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rallypanam
Measure once, cut twice!
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Wouldn't that make the hole too big?
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
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10-23-2015, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 321
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
Put it toward the rear of your van if possible. I put mine up front and it is considerable for road noise, something to think about. I made a little foam cover for it that fixed the issue. Another variable, if you have a window with a screen, put it as far from that window as possible, to create a nice flow of air. Just my .02
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10-23-2015, 10:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
c7train is correct on placing it as far away from the one screened window you will leave open during the Summer nights. Your bed should be in between the two. The fan will cool your body by convection via air flow between the two. Personally, I like it up front, because I plan to put the shower right under it to vent steam. It also vents food prep stuff where it is in my design. Your interior design should dictate placement. You asked a deceptively simple question...
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
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10-23-2015, 11:39 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
I just taped mine and cut through all the layers at once from the outside.
There are light fixtures on the front and rear of my roof and the 12v wiring between them ran right up the center of the top. I cut through them when I cut my hole . Turned out there was extra wire stuffed in there and repairing the wire (and getting power for the Fantastic Fan was easy).
We placed ours about 2/3 of the way forward. That puts it near our feed when in the penthouse bed. The Fantastic Vents are fairly quite but having it away from our heads at night is good.
__________________
Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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10-23-2015, 07:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,245
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Re: Getting ready to install a Fantastic fan, advice?
Ok, While I was at ARB getting my new compressor the UPS guy dropped off the fan, along with some other goodies. In terms of where to put it, I don't have much choice in the matter. I could put it all the way aft, but when the top is down, the distance from the bed to the roof is only a couple inches (this is a GTRV, hinged at the back. In the middle of the roof are the solar panels, so up forward is my only real option. I'm a little concerned about the wind noise though. Is this a problem for most folks? Otherwise, assuming the weather allows, tomorrow I will cut a big hole in the roof of my van. The only other question I have is the fact that the instructions say "Gasket or sealer is required between flange bottom and top of roof. Clamp fans use a double bead of compatible sealant, no putty tape, butyl or gaskets to be used with clamp fans) Well I bought a roll of Butyl just for this install, but what the hell is a "clamp fan" The fantastic website has no reference to one. A clamp fan sounds like a portable fan with a clamp to mount where ever, but no sealant would be needed. Anyone got an idea? I really want to use the Butyl.
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
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