MaxxFan 4500K Installation

[Cate&Rob]

After living for 4 years with our 2015 vintage "exhaust only" mini fans in the kitchen and bathroom vents and nothing in the bedroom vent . . . we decided it was time for an upgrade. (We get by just fine in our travels, with one AC). We wandered around the Tampa RV show, trying all different vent fans . . . some of the other brand reps thought we were crazy since most had the AC running. We settled on MaxxFan who are now the supplier on current model GDRV. Since there isn't much price difference in the aftermarket between entry level and top-of-the-line, we went with three 4500K units. 10 speed reversible, wireless remote, rain sensors. (Now we have three more remotes to keep track of LOL!)

Some installation notes:

When they say "remove all the old lap seal and butyl seal" . . . they don't really mean this. You would destroy the roof membrane by the time you got the last film of either of these materials off the membrane. Smooth and even is good. Both the new butyl and the new Dicor lap stick really well to just about anything.

The most difficult part of the job is getting the old Dicor lap seal off. I found that a thin blade metal putty knife with rounded corners was the best tool. Doing this at 80F also helped a lot.

BTW . . . you don't have to figure out how to carry the old vents down the ladder or the new vents up the ladder . . . either will fit diagonally through the vent hole.

The MaxxFan first step is to remove all packaging materials. Don't remove the protective film and foam pad off the top of the cover. Some operations require you to place the vent upside down. Remove this protective material after you install the vent assembly.

MaxxFan instructions say to drive the screws through the plastic frame. Pre-drilling the holes in the plastic works a whole lot better.

These fans are really quiet! Pouring rain here today . . . no leaks and the vents all closed by themselves when the rain started. .

(Yes . . . I know . . . that roof is in desperate need of a wash )

Rob

[huntr70]

Looks great, and an awesome mod!

[howson]

After living for 4 years with our 2015 vintage "exhaust only" mini fans in the kitchen and bathroom vents and nothing in the bedroom vent . . . we decided it was time for an upgrade. (We get by just fine in our travels, with one AC). We wandered around the Tampa RV show, trying all different vent fans . . . some of the other brand reps thought we were crazy since most had the AC running. We settled on MaxxFan who are now the supplier on current model GDRV. Since there isn't much price difference in the aftermarket between entry level and top-of-the-line, we went with three 4500K units. 10 speed reversible, wireless remote, rain sensors. (Now we have three more remotes to keep track of LOL!)

Some installation notes:

When they say "remove all the old lap seal and butyl seal" . . . they don't really mean this. You would destroy the roof membrane by the time you got the last film of either of these materials off the membrane. Smooth and even is good. Both the new butyl and the new Dicor lap stick really well to just about anything.

The most difficult part of the job is getting the old Dicor lap seal off. I found that a thin blade metal putty knife with rounded corners was the best tool. Doing this at 80F also helped a lot.

BTW . . . you don't have to figure out how to carry the old vents down the ladder or the new vents up the ladder . . . either will fit diagonally through the vent hole.

The MaxxFan first step is to remove all packaging materials. Don't remove the protective film and foam pad off the top of the cover. Some operations require you to place the vent upside down. Remove this protective material after you install the vent assembly.

MaxxFan instructions say to drive the screws through the plastic frame. Pre-drilling the holes in the plastic works a whole lot better.

These fans are really quiet! Pouring rain here today . . . no leaks and the vents all closed by themselves when the rain started. .

(Yes . . . I know . . . that roof is in desperate need of a wash )

Rob

Add the FanMate and you can run the fan when it's raining! Super simple to install--just clips on.

https://www.airxcel.com/maxxair/products/covers/fanmate

[Cate&Rob]

Add the FanMate and you can run the fan when it's raining! Super simple to install--just clips on.

https://www.airxcel.com/maxxair/products/covers/fanmate

We have three smoke coloured Maxxair II covers that we put over the original vents, but these will fit the new vents as well. We are really reluctant to reinstall these because they block so much light. The white ones are actually more opaque than the smoke ones. We like the “new found” light through the uncovered open vents. If the rain sensors convince me that they are reliable (so far so good) we will go with these. Interesting that the MaxxFan info says that you can tow with these open or closed. The cover lift mechanism is far more robust than the originals.

Rob

[Country Campers]

The rain sensors are nice, but what if you want to open one for fresh air in the rain?

Brian

[Cate&Rob]

The rain sensors are nice, but what if you want to open one for fresh air in the rain?

Brian

Exactly why we put the vent covers over the original vents. Those vents were open most of the time. The light coming through the wide open new vents is just so nice. Decisions . . . decisions .

Rob

[Cate&Rob]

Interesting how these threads grow, expand and diverge. Sitting here in the rain thinking about should we or should we not put the vent covers back on (see previous discussion) and it occurs to us that what we really need is a solid windproof awning across the back of the trailer. This is also our heaviest sunload exposure, so back window shade would be great. A manually retracted "old style" awning tied down to the bumper when extended would be reasonably solid in a wind, would shade the exposed rear window when it is sunny and allow us to leave this big window open when its is raining. Hmmm . . . where do I find one of these ?? Why is it that spending money on something new causes you to spend more money on something related .

Rob

[Justa5th]

I just added my second Maxxair Maxfan Deluxe with remotes. Allows you to keep it open during rain but lowers down during travel (can also leave open). Expensive in my opinion but worth it.

[JCR GD]

Interesting how these threads grow, expand and diverge. Sitting here in the rain thinking about should we or should we not put the vent covers back on (see previous discussion) and it occurs to us that what we really need is a solid windproof awning across the back of the trailer. This is also our heaviest sunload exposure, so back window shade would be great. A manually retracted "old style" awning tied down to the bumper when extended would be reasonably solid in a wind, would shade the exposed rear window when it is sunny and allow us to leave this big window open when its is raining. Hmmm . . . where do I find one of these ?? Why is it that spending money on something new causes you to spend more money on something related .

Rob

Rob, the wall mount box awning like on the back of Momentums would work as you describe. They have support arms if you want to deploy them or not if you don't need them. I added one to my living room slide. One of the best mods I've done.

[Cate&Rob]

I just added my second Maxxair Maxfan Deluxe with remotes. Allows you to keep it open during rain but lowers down during travel (can also leave open). Expensive in my opinion but worth it.

Hi Justa5th,

The model you chose was top of our list until we realized that it blocked all light either open or closed. We went with the MaxxFan 4500K to get full daylight when open.

Rob