Thinking about fantastic fan

[Bluetang99]

So my 1975 Scamp 13 tiny factory roof vent is leaking so I took it off to fix it, what a pain in the butt. I'm really not looking forward to redoing the windows some day.

Anyway, since i have it pulled out I was thinking if I should just enlarge the hole and install a fantastic fan? Problem is it would be right over the kitchen area and being that my head already almost touches the roof I'm wondering whether I would just keep hitting the corners with my forehead? The spacer on the outside is not an option since the Scamp wouldn't fit in the garage with it.

I also thought about patching the hole and cutting one out over the table but I have no ensolite to replace the patched area. My current vent is so old and dirty, I don't feel like cleaning it and unfortunately they don't sell replacements. Any opinions or thoughts on what I should do?

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Bluetang99

So my 1975 Scamp 13 tiny factory roof vent is leaking so I took it off to fix it, what a pain in the butt. I'm really not looking forward to redoing the windows some day.

Anyway, since i have it pulled out I was thinking if I should just enlarge the hole and install a fantastic fan? Problem is it would be right over the kitchen area and being that my head already almost touches the roof I'm wondering whether I would just keep hitting the corners with my forehead? The spacer on the outside is not an option since the Scamp wouldn't fit in the garage with it.

I also thought about patching the hole and cutting one out over the table but I have no ensolite to replace the patched area. My current vent is so old and dirty, I don't feel like cleaning it and unfortunately they don't sell replacements. Any opinions or thoughts on what I should do?

I enlarged the opening and installed a fantastic fan in my LoveBug. I don't think the location is critical since it will pull air through the camper efficiently from any location. I am 6'0" and i didn't have any trouble dealing with the vent location, but you could install it with a flange on the roof and the fan flush with the ceiling.

Here is what it looked like (sort of a sailor hat)...

[Bluetang99]

Originally Posted by floyd

I enlarged the opening and installed a fantastic fan in my LoveBug. I don't think the location is critical since it will pull air through the camper efficiently from any location. I am 6'0" and i didn't have any trouble dealing with the vent location, but you could install it with a flange on the roof and the fan flush with the ceiling.

Here is what it looked like (sort of a sailor hat)...

You're location of the fan isn't bad, mine is located right above the sink area (best pic I have below). But if I installed a spacer to make the fan flush with the roof inside, I wouldn't be able to get it through the garage I think. I wish I could try one out in person, it's so difficult making a decision like this over there internet.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Bluetang99

You're location of the fan isn't bad, mine is located right above the sink area (best pic I have below). But if I installed a spacer to make the fan flush with the roof inside, I wouldn't be able to get it through the garage.

They do make a fantastic fan with a flush lid instead of a dome... Or you could do what I did and raise the header on the garage (see photos)and put in a eight foot high door..
The world is so full of compromises. Actually you can learn to adapt, My Prefire Scamp has A/C, but I hardly notice.

[Bluetang99]

Originally Posted by floyd

They do make a fantastic fan with a flush lid instead of a dome... Or you could do what I did and raise the header on the garage and put in a eight foot high door..
The world is so full of compromises. Actually you can learn to adapt, My Prefire Scamp has A/C, but I hardly notice.

Yes I saw those flush lids, would the Scamp fit in the garage with it?

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Bluetang99

Yes I saw those flush lids, would the Scamp fit in the garage with it?

Yours would. Assuming a 7ft door.
But there is a method which would work even with the dome lid,it involves simply raising the tongue as you back it in by hand then after you get the rear of the trailer through the door, you can lower the tongue to get the clearance needed for the fan. It worked for me with many vintage Scamps before I raised the header(s).

[Bluetang99]

Originally Posted by floyd

Yours would. Assuming a 7ft door.
But there is a method which would work even with the dome lid,it involves simply raising the tongue as you back it in by hand then after you get the rear of the trailer through the door, you can lower the tongue to get the clearance needed for the fan. It worked for me with many vintage Scamps before I raised the header(s).

My garage door is 7ft, the current slim vent I have now just makes it in with maybe an inch to spare. I wish there fantastic fan didn't extend into the camper by over am inch. It's so close to where we stand and move around that I'd be worried we'd be hitting our heads on it all the time.

[TimR]

Go with the spacer on the outside of the trailer and then get some smaller 8" wheels for when you want to store it in your garage. Should drop it down low enough for fitting past the door sill.

[Bluetang99]

When installing a roof vent do you use one strip of butyl tape all around or is it better to put two for added thickness, one right on top of the other?

[TimR]

If both surfaces are relatively flat, one strip should do. As long as it is starting to squish out the sides, you should be making a good leak proof seal. If you've got some bigger gaps then you would have to add more to make up the difference.

[Kai in Seattle]

Our Fan-Tastic Vent fan does stick down inside the trailer, but it's mainly the knob(s) that are lowest. So far Paul hasn't hit his head on them, but he's only five-ten. I'm 5-two so for me the whole thing is plenty tall.

Others here have suggested those 8" wheels/tires for rolling into the garage; lowers the trailer by a couple inches or more.

It IS very hard to make decisions based on only internet advice, but it helps.

We thought about raising the garage door header, but that's not going to happen. It's a YUUUGE project, and our garage isn't big enough to give us any wiggle room at all. We can't even walk around the car to get to the far side, and we sure aren't taking the trailer in and out all the time. So we'll stick with other solutions.

What bothers me most about having the trailer in the driveway is that it's such a barometer of when we're home or gone. So far we've just sort of ignored that issue; it's not a bad neighborhood and our neighbors keep an eye out, for whatever that's worth. Maybe one day we'll figure out another solution...or sell the trailer and give up on this...but not yet.

[Bluetang99]

Originally Posted by Kai in Seattle

Our Fan-Tastic Vent fan does stick down inside the trailer, but it's mainly the knob(s) that are lowest. So far Paul hasn't hit his head on them, but he's only five-ten. I'm 5-two so for me the whole thing is plenty tall.

Others here have suggested those 8" wheels/tires for rolling into the garage; lowers the trailer by a couple inches or more.

It IS very hard to make decisions based on only internet advice, but it helps.

We thought about raising the garage door header, but that's not going to happen. It's a YUUUGE project, and our garage isn't big enough to give us any wiggle room at all. We can't even walk around the car to get to the far side, and we sure aren't taking the trailer in and out all the time. So we'll stick with other solutions.

What bothers me most about having the trailer in the driveway is that it's such a barometer of when we're home or gone. So far we've just sort of ignored that issue; it's not a bad neighborhood and our neighbors keep an eye out, for whatever that's worth. Maybe one day we'll figure out another solution...or sell the trailer and give up on this...but not yet.

That and I'd have anxiety during every rainy day thinking if any new leaks have started and I'd be running out there having to check every rivet and seam.

[Kai in Seattle]

We DO worry about that, and probably WILL be running out there at least every week to make sure it's not leaking...if it is, then back up with the yuuuuuge tarp/tent Paul rigged up this last winter and patching until the leaks are stopped.

At the same time, I think we'll be using the trailer for quiet naps (if cold out, with the ceramic heater running) or a change-of-pace place to have a quiet meal without phones or dogs. It's our little haven in the driveay.

[Bluetang99]

Originally Posted by Kai in Seattle

We DO worry about that, and probably WILL be running out there at least every week to make sure it's not leaking...if it is, then back up with the yuuuuuge tarp/tent Paul rigged up this last winter and patching until the leaks are stopped.

At the same time, I think we'll be using the trailer for quiet naps (if cold out, with the ceramic heater running) or a change-of-pace place to have a quiet meal without phones or dogs. It's our little haven in the driveay.

That's nice, I find myself doing the same thing sometimes. When my kid takes his nap I'll go in there and just eat lunch and watch TV.

[Bluetang99]

I called Scamp and they said the roof vent uses size 56 rivets which translates to 3.5mm wide by 14mm long. Does this seem right? I've been to 2 stores and the rivets are either 3mm or 5mm wide, should I drill bigger holes to make the rivets fit? I was wanting to use screws and nuts since it's cheaper but because of the interior trim around the vent the nuts sticking out would prevent that from being installed.

[Bill Nolen]

Originally Posted by floyd

They do make a fantastic fan with a flush lid instead of a dome... Or you could do what I did and raise the header on the garage (see photos)and put in a eight foot high door..
The world is so full of compromises. Actually you can learn to adapt, My Prefire Scamp has A/C, but I hardly notice.

Floyd, not to mess up this tread, but do you have a link that has more information about how the front A/C was installed on your Scamp 13 shown in this photo?



Thanks,

Bill