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Fantastic Fan opens itself and destroys itself: Easy to Remove and Replace with MaxxAir?


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#11 oldhotrod

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Posted 19 August 2019 - 03:58 AM

It was fine for decades...in my opinion, it is the crappy quality of the current crank arm mechanism and cover that are the issue...but at least the maxx aire will eliminate the issue
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#12 Dirtroadsavant

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Posted 02 November 2021 - 05:17 PM

Our 2017 Hawk Flatbed has the exact same issue.  In the most recent cap replacement, I tried the domed version at etrailer.  I am no expert in aerodynamics, but since shifting to the dome, we’ve not had a self-open in roughly 8,000 miles of travel.  We’ll shift to maxxair in the near future, but this seems to be working in the meantime.  The domed version is not a precise fit due to a slightly different layout in the control arm, but it seems to work just fine.


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Flatbed Hawk on a Norweld Tray on an F350 Supercab Gas. All 2017.

#13 Jon R

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Posted 02 November 2021 - 10:34 PM

The Maxxaire fan is about 2 inches taller than the fantastic fan, fyi in case your garage door clearance is tight.
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Jon R

2021 Grandby Slide-in Front Dinette

2021 GMC 3500HD CC LB SRW Gas

1993 Chevrolet K2500 Ext Cab LB


#14 Durango1

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 12:51 AM

Same exact problem for me with my 2018 Grandby flatbed. And here I thought it was just me! :blink:


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#15 Wallowa

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 03:37 PM

Can someone post photos that show exactly what is loosening/rotating/extending through vibration and causing the fan lid to open?

 

Can't visualize it and have never had this problem....does this occur on frame ['flatbed'] and truck bed mounted FWCs?

 

To open our FF you rotate the black knob shown in a previous post, it takes some force to raise the lid during rotation...I guess it could vibrate and rotate but hard to envision for me...

 

Thanks...


Edited by Wallowa, 03 November 2021 - 03:38 PM.

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#16 kmcintyre

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 04:13 PM

I'm not a fan of fantastic fans (although don't/didn't have this issue) and since Dometic purchased them, customer service has been terrible.  This design issue must be known to them....


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Boise, ID

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2023 FWC Flatbed Hawk


#17 Wallowa

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 05:19 PM

I'm not a fan of fantastic fans (although don't/didn't have this issue) and since Dometic purchased them, customer service has been terrible.  This design issue must be known to them....

 

Ok...it may or may not be a design issue; still not clear the exact nature of why and when the lids open on their own...like you said, no problems here with my FF...tis' a mystery...


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#18 Jon R

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Posted 03 November 2021 - 09:53 PM

I have a Maxxaire fan in the rear position of my 2021 Grandby and a vent in the front that I believe is a fantastic fan product. The vent has a single lift arm with a twist knob and gear that don’t work very smoothly. Does anyone know if these non-fan vents have the same issue. In addition to eventually breaking the mechanism, if it lifted and I didn’t notice it I’d wipe it off backing into my barn. Should I be checking it every time before I back into my barn?
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Jon R

2021 Grandby Slide-in Front Dinette

2021 GMC 3500HD CC LB SRW Gas

1993 Chevrolet K2500 Ext Cab LB


#19 ntsqd

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Posted 04 November 2021 - 01:25 PM

I'll have to look at the brand in our camper (I *think that they are FF's but can't swear to it), but they have a secondary rotary latch for the vent caps.The lift arm isn't strong enough to over-come the latch when latched as I've found out several times. I've yet to break anything, but I have felt the lifting mech straining and had to figure out why. Usually a "DOH!" moment......


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Thom

Where does that road go?

#20 kmacafee

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Posted 04 November 2021 - 02:19 PM

I replaced two Max Fans on the front of my Bundutec Odyssey before it dawned on me that wind coming up over the front nose of the camper was forcibly lifting the fan lid, destroying the plastic lift mechanism.  Since I can't move the fan opening, I needed something to block the wind.

 

I found a heavy duty cutting board at a kitchen store and cut it into thirds.  Bolted to some aluminum L channel, I attached it to the roof using 3M VHB tape.  In many highway miles and at least one gale strength storm, they have never moved and the fan has had no issues whatsoever.

 

 

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