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Old 11-29-2015, 11:10 PM   #1
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Ceiling Fan - Researching Ideas

I think my next major modification is going to be installing a ceiling fan in my main room... just not exactly sure how I'm going to do it.

We all know ceiling fans in homes work extremely well at cooling a room, and work equally as well redistributing warm air that rises to the ceiling in cooler weather. I think doing the same in my rig would lower my electrical costs in summer when I'm on the RV park meter... and also my propane costs in winter.

I've seen ceiling fans in RVs before, so it's not a new concept. The issue, of course, is how & where to locate it so that it is sturdy, able to pick up 12v power easily, and most importantly... installed in such a way so as to not interfere with the slideout.

Since my 3200 model rig is pretty compact, I've got my location picked out pretty much dead center over my kitchen & sitting area. There's a stud almost perfectly placed that I can hang it on, and I'm pretty sure I can either tap power from one of the puck lights, or snake a separate wire above the ceiling to the control panel. The larger issue is making sure the slideout will clear it. In my rig, the top of the slideout is only 9" below the ceiling.

On that I have 2 thoughts...

Option 1:
A ceiling fan works great at moving & redistributing the air, but only if there is sufficient amount of space between the ceiling and the blades. You need at least 6" for a short-blade fan to be effective (36" fan), and more fir a longer-blade model.

Camping World sells a fan with a 5½" total depth... which is good for clearing the slideout, but which I think will be ineffective at helping cool or heat the room. I know that you can buy lowering rods... but as I'm looking for at least a 42" fan, I'm not sure even getting the blades 8" away from the ceiling would be sufficient.

Option 2:
Ideally, the slideout issue would never come into play... so what if I could eliminate it? That is... can I devise a 'breakaway' mounting plate that would allow me to easily install & remove the unit?

That's something I need to study & research more carefully... but if anyone's got any ideas, I'm all ears.

So, what do you all think? Has anyone done this already, and have any tips? Or anyone have ideas and/or points to think about that I may not have thought of?
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Old 11-29-2015, 11:51 PM   #2
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I have only seen ceiling fans installed in $500,000 buses.

The only problems I can see with installing and removing when traveling is not damaging it and having to get up there to get it down. I have moved ceiling fans from one house to another, just about every one ended up with bent blades. Admittedly those were the larger 52" fans and we should have taken the blades off the fans to transport them.

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Old 11-30-2015, 12:12 AM   #3
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Yeah Aaron... true. I was thinking of a slide-on / slide-off type of mounting plate, and getting to it would only require me standing on a folding chair. But not damaging the blades is a definite concern, as they'd be a PITA to remove & install each time.

Hmmm... yeah, good call.

That said, I have seen ceiling fans in 5th wheel toyhaulers. I can't remember whether it was XLR models by Forest River, or Raptor models by Keystone... but one of them used to come equipped with a ceiling fan from the factory. So it obviously can be done.
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Old 11-30-2015, 02:01 AM   #4
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We had one in our last 5'er a Dutchmen Denali 360QMB. It was a ceiling hugger type that the blades were less than 6" off of the ceiling. It was very effective in our bedroom area. I think it was about 36" model. It cleared the bedroom slide without issue.

I believe the option of finding a mounting stud and power is the only minor issue, the short fan works well. Install and leave it.
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Old 11-30-2015, 08:00 AM   #5
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My father in law has one in his Suites fifth wheel. A down rod isn't a good idea due the possibility of it swinging and hard bump in the rod dislodging it from the socket. His is mounted inside a recess in the ceiling in order to clear his slides and also is a ceiling mount model. While that may not meet the distance you are looking for from the ceiling, it does still move air.
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Old 11-30-2015, 04:08 PM   #6
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My Teton came with one. Being OEM it was 120v. 42" that cleared both slides by maybe a inch when closed.
They make 36" 12v ones you can get online. Here is just one option.
http://www.amazon.com/Global-Electri...rds=12v+rv+fan
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Old 01-18-2016, 02:51 PM   #7
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ATCguy, did you end up installing a ceiling fan? Would love to have on in my 3200 as well. I looked at a XLR Thunderbolt before I bought mine and the ceiling fan in it moved a lot of air. If you did, I would love to know how you did it. Thanks
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Old 01-18-2016, 04:23 PM   #8
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Not yet... as the temps cooled down here, that project got moved to the back burner. Haven't forgot about it though.
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Old 01-19-2016, 05:22 PM   #9
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Tom, My Montana had one and it worked very well, I know you don't move around to much, but I think if you can make it, so you don't have to remove it, would be better, but if you decide to remove it, after you wired it for the first time, you can make wire disconnects easy, and if you use a small drop down rod, you may just be able to unscrew the rod and remove the Fan?
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Old 01-20-2016, 10:17 PM   #10
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MAXXFAN Deluxe

try this. not too sure how new this product is. but the max air fan has been around a long time. the "deluxe" will move air up- or down. WITH the hatch open or closed. can also set it to come on for temperature

https://youtu.be/9AHfFl-vNGk
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Old 01-20-2016, 10:37 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hopkins44 View Post
MAXXFAN Deluxe

try this. not too sure how new this product is. but the max air fan has been around a long time. the "deluxe" will move air up- or down. WITH the hatch open or closed. can also set it to come on for temperature
https://youtu.be/9AHfFl-vNGk
Tom I think is looking for a 120v fan. I have the Maxxfan in my garage which does work great. Also have it in my Teton.
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Old 01-20-2016, 11:41 PM   #12
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Yeah, I've got 3 of those fans in my rig... but I'm taking about a residential type ceiling fan, that I can use to circulate air inside the rig without those 'exhaust' type fans being open to the outside.
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Old 01-22-2016, 05:23 AM   #13
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Our Weekend Warrior full throttle had a small ceiling fan in the living room area. It really did a good job of moving the air around.
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