paddlesurf.net
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
- Messages
- 56
Greetings,
I've got a 2017 Hawk. For unknown reasons, my front Fantastic Fan opens itself. Really. I think it may have to do with some type of vibrations generated by my particular camper (flatbed version). I've already destroyed one Fantastic Fan because it vibrated itself open in Wyoming and then broke the plastic tab that the lifting arm attaches to.
I was able to divert myself to the factory on the way home and they were awesome. They immediately replaced the broken vent/fan and then made some custom straps to wrap around the handle of the fan to keep it from vibrating itself open. This just caused the plastic handles to strip out when the inside metal bolt spun against the plastic threads. So no solution there.
It's amazing the will of this thing to open itself - considering it's opening against the direction of the wind blowing on it. Interestingly, the rear Fantastic Fan DOES NOT open itself - it's only the front one!
On my last Baja trip (I've got 20k or so miles on the camper/truck in Baja and this will go up - I'm down there all the time) I had zip ties looped around the lifting arm pulling the vent closed and down. This time the "up force" was so much it, once again, busted the plastic metal tab and the vent cover is flapping around up there again.
I think something else needs to be done rather than just reinstall a new Fantastic Fan. The MaxxAir fan has two lifting arms and also has a built in lock on the twist knob to lock the vent into position. Additionally, if the vent does open itself, MaxxAir has a rainguard cover so I won't really care if the thing is open while I drive.
So I'm going to switch that forward vent with a MaxxAir - thus my question: How difficult is it to remover that old Fantastic Fan and to replace it with the MaxxAir?
Specific questions:
1. How do I access all side of the Fantastic Fan without destroying the one piece aluminum roof - I'm fairly heavy, 230lbs (all muscle).
2. How difficult is to scrap all the adhesive sealant off the roof?
3. Do the new MaxxAir screws just just the Fantastic Fan holes or do I have to drill new holes in the roof?
Thanks ahead of time,
John
I've got a 2017 Hawk. For unknown reasons, my front Fantastic Fan opens itself. Really. I think it may have to do with some type of vibrations generated by my particular camper (flatbed version). I've already destroyed one Fantastic Fan because it vibrated itself open in Wyoming and then broke the plastic tab that the lifting arm attaches to.
I was able to divert myself to the factory on the way home and they were awesome. They immediately replaced the broken vent/fan and then made some custom straps to wrap around the handle of the fan to keep it from vibrating itself open. This just caused the plastic handles to strip out when the inside metal bolt spun against the plastic threads. So no solution there.
It's amazing the will of this thing to open itself - considering it's opening against the direction of the wind blowing on it. Interestingly, the rear Fantastic Fan DOES NOT open itself - it's only the front one!
On my last Baja trip (I've got 20k or so miles on the camper/truck in Baja and this will go up - I'm down there all the time) I had zip ties looped around the lifting arm pulling the vent closed and down. This time the "up force" was so much it, once again, busted the plastic metal tab and the vent cover is flapping around up there again.
I think something else needs to be done rather than just reinstall a new Fantastic Fan. The MaxxAir fan has two lifting arms and also has a built in lock on the twist knob to lock the vent into position. Additionally, if the vent does open itself, MaxxAir has a rainguard cover so I won't really care if the thing is open while I drive.
So I'm going to switch that forward vent with a MaxxAir - thus my question: How difficult is it to remover that old Fantastic Fan and to replace it with the MaxxAir?
Specific questions:
1. How do I access all side of the Fantastic Fan without destroying the one piece aluminum roof - I'm fairly heavy, 230lbs (all muscle).
2. How difficult is to scrap all the adhesive sealant off the roof?
3. Do the new MaxxAir screws just just the Fantastic Fan holes or do I have to drill new holes in the roof?
Thanks ahead of time,
John