Maxxair Fan help

[stevigee]

Im installing a max fan in my low roof e350 and Im planning on using the factory headliner. Has anyone done this and if so did you put a frame on the inside (not a lot of space between roof skin and support beams)? I have the DIYvan outer frame Im going to use. Thx

[86Scotty]

What headliner do you have? If it's a passenger van or has the factory headliner molded for AC vents (whether they are there or not) it will be difficult to build an interior flange with the factory headliner. I can explai. Further but it would be easiest if you can share what your current headliner looks like.

[stevigee]

Yes it’s passenger headliner with vents for the rear AC.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by stevigee

Yes it’s passenger headliner with vents for the rear AC.

Your factory read AC vents are integrated into the headliner from the rear doors almost to the B pillar (above and just behind front seats). If you are putting this in the middle of the van (as in centered from side to side) as most mount a roof vent then you'll lose your AC vents. The further back you want the roof vent the more AC vents you will lose. Air is ducted from left rear corner to center of headliner and then forward.

You could mount it on one side or the other but likely not with Hein's flange.

What you are proposing will not be easy to do. In fact, I'd recommend against it altogether.

[JWA]

^^^I agree totally--looking at the Club Wagon headliner where rear A/C & Heat is installed there is a tunnel directing A/C air flow through the ceiling mounted vents. I had numerous photos of that type headliner completely removed which showed how the headliner is built. Sadly cannot find them at the moment.

[1der]

I will add - I would recommend against adding the fan to the center line of the roof where the AC vents are. IF absolutely necessary, it would be at the very front of the vent duct. MaxxFans are nice but they have very annoying rattle issues in many installs.

Here are pics (JWA was referring to pics like these) of what the headliner looks like in a passenger van - both sides - it is graduate class in Flow Dynamics, imho:
FRONT BACKSIDE

MID BACKSIDE

REAR BACKSIDE

REAR

MID

FRONT

[stevigee]

So what are people doing for air, are the small 12v fan sufficient for air flow? I don’t plan on installing a pop top or AC. I did think about not adding the fan but nit sure.

[Twoxentrix]

Originally Posted by stevigee

So what are people doing for air, are the small 12v fan sufficient for air flow? I don’t plan on installing a pop top or AC. I did think about not adding the fan but nit sure.

These are quiet & work fantastic (you'd be hard pressed finding anyone else out there standing behind their product with a 3yr Warranty):
https://www.amazon.com/SEEKR-Caframo...01LDY4X36?th=1

[stevigee]

Could a fan or fans like this do as well as a max fan? Do you have a max fan or do you use this kind of fan?

[Twoxentrix]

With thermal dynamics in play (heat rises), a Max fan is ideal. I didn’t have room on the roof with the Aluminess rack, Solar panel, and Thule box, so I use the fan in the link I previously posted (had them in my boats as well).
I installed the Weather Tech front window rain/wind guards on each of the two front doors so I could roll them down 2 or 3” on not worry about rain or snow getting in. I point the fan towards them to push the hot air out. That, or I use one of the pop out windows on the barn doors. Works for me.
When the Pop-Top is up, just unzip some of the windows, and the fan keeps air circulating.
https://www.amazon.com/WeatherTech-C.../dp/B000KPYBBO