Thinking about installing Fantastic Fan into current excape hatch?

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hardluck
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Joined: 08/23/2015 - 00:10
Thinking about installing Fantastic Fan into current excape hatch?

We bought a used 1990 scamp. Its great. The old escape hatch open and close mechanism was broken prior to purchase. The previous owners used silicon to glue it shut because It wouldn't open and it wouldn't close all the way with the mechanism broke. I don't really want to make a new hole in the scamp for a fantastic fan. I was wondering If one option would be to cut a hole in teh current plastic escape hatch top and then install the fantastic fan into that opening. Seems kind of gimpy but I feel like it could very well work. Was wondering what other options people have done? I don't see why I should waste a perfectly good hole by making another..and frankly would probably rely on someone else to do that for me...which would mean some extra expenses.

LyleB
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Joined: 07/28/2015 - 07:24
I have a '99 Scamp 13 without

I have a '99 Scamp 13 without a fan. I have the closet mounted air conditioning. I spoke with the Scamp Service folks who recommended that I just have a roof air conditioner installed instead of a fantastic fan. Pretty sure I don't want to go to that expense. They said they can install a fan, I believe it would be a new hole close to the door, in front of the escape hatch.

I've heard of folks filling in the escape hatch, then cutting a new hole there for a fan install. It seems to me that trying to install into the escape hatch cover may be problematic. The cover is not a flat surface, so getting a good seal may not be possible. Plus, the cover is pretty flimsy and cutting a hole into it may exacerbate that situation. Not saying it couldn't be done, but you may run into problems, if not initially, down the road after a few hundred miles of bouncing around.

My trailer does have a 12 volt exhaust fan jury-riggerd into the escape hatch. It works, but not as well as a fantastic fan would. Could you perhaps rig a way to mount an endless breeze fan  (made by the fantastic fan folks) onto the escape hatch when needed? I'm thinking that may be an alternative for me.

Greg A
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Escape Hatch

I would make a sandwich type mod to the opening after removing the Escape Hatch. Get a rigid aluminum sheet and cut it to the flange size of the escape hatch. Cut the new 14x14 hole in it for the Max fan and drill holes in the edge matching the hole locations in the flange of the escape hatch and the new maxxfan flange. Then sandwich the interior side with whatever trim board you want to use that is cut to match the size of the aluminum roof sheet and the hole cutout for the new fan. I'd tack it up with some adhesive and then the aluminum roof sheet can be screwed into the wood rather than riveted like the old escape hatch. Use butyl tape under both the new aluminum roof sheet and maxxfan when attaching and you can use snap caps on the screws if desired.

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Scamper Campers
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Fan in the hatch?

First let me say that I have not installed a fantastic fan in my front escape hatch. I have however, made an aluminum cover for the front escape hatch for my 19' Scamp.  That was not overly difficult, I used a brake to form the 90 deg. edges and the material was .060" 3003 aluminum.  I think a hole for the fantastic could be cut into the cover and the fan mounted.  A through bolt on each side of the fan assy. could be used to mount the fan / cover. The old seal was used under the new cover.

 

BobH.

hardluck
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Joined: 08/23/2015 - 00:10
Well thanks everyone for the

Well thanks everyone for the ideas. Seems like my idea may not be a good one. I like the idea of removing the escape hatch and patching it with a setup to install the fantastic fan I just don't know if that is a job for me or not at this point. I'd like to but this isn't my baby its my wifes and she isn't big into that idea at the moment and would want to pay someone to do it...

That said I have been installing new flooring and found a new problem that needs to be addressed first (rot in the fiberglass) I will post pictures in another thread as I need more advice there. 

Thanks. Plenty to think on.

Charles & Martha (1990 Scamp 13)