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eric james

Sioux Falls, SD

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Joined: 07/21/2004

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Posted: 05/21/12 11:37am

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Well it was a good Sunday morning. No rain in the forcast and a Fantastic Fan sitting in the box waiting to be installed in the bunkhouse. Problem is I don't have a factory vent in my bunkhouse!

The bunkhouse gets so stuffy I can't believe the factory didn't install one. Anyway, I knew from checking with Keystone earlier the roof is designed standard 16" stud layout. I knew where I wanted the vent and used a stud finder to get approximate area.

Started with a small hole in the ceiling:

This allowed me to find the actual studs and any other possible interferance with the fan. Just insulation so I knew to cut to the studs for the 14x14 fan. Width was determined by center of the room.

So I drew lines then taped off to protect the ceiling paint. Took a deep breath and cut the rest of the ceiling:

After cutting the insulation back all I had to fear was fear itself. Just a 1/4" panel to cut. I took the Fantastic Fan's trim piece and placed it up in the hole for alignment. I marked the corners then drilled straight up into the roof. Climbed up top. Made a few measures to accomodate the 14x14 fan, drew lines and hit it with the jigsaw.

Well I successfully made a nice hole in my roof! I've installed 3 fantastic fan by now and this is the easy part. Ran a nice bead of dicor self leveling goo and dropped the fan in. Secured with the 20 screws into the plywood. Went inside and wired into the existing 12V ceiling light. Installed the trim and done on the inside.

On the outside, I just ran another thin bead around the fan and let it sit while I went to WalMart for a cheapo vent cover. I got to this stage in less than two hours. (patting myself on the back)

Wal-mart was two hours since the Mrs. came along. (picked up a new LEDTV for the camper too so I can't complain)

Installed the Camco vent cover and project complete!

If this is a project you'd like to do to your own bunkhouse, not a bad as I thought at all. I did learn the Passport's roof is 1/4" luan board, walk carefully!

* This post was last edited 05/23/12 06:50pm by eric james * View edit history

2009 Keystone Passport UL 290BH
2003 Ford Expedition EB 5.4L/3.73

swebber

Brunswick , MD

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Posted: 05/21/12 01:23pm

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Very Nice...it would take me three hours longer to do as I would have to reconsider making that first cut into the roof

Steve Webber
'07 F250 6.0PSD LariatFX4 LB,AirLift,Edge,IFW BedSlide
'09 Jayco Eagle 324BHDS "CramalotInn III",Reese DCHP, Atwood 3500, BAL Deluxe Chocks, Weber Baby Q & Q200, Champion 2000W Inverter & 4000W gennie's
My Camping Pic's

kearlms

Rexburg, ID

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Posted: 05/21/12 01:33pm

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We would love to do that to our bunk area. Would make it so the kids did not complain and fight over who got to sleep on the bottom. Might have to look into it this year.

byrdr1

Elon, NC / Central Piedmont

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Posted: 05/21/12 02:24pm

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good pictures, great mod, good job.. pat yourself on the back some more..
I know that first cut through the roof was nerve racking..
randy

Go Mark Martin?
2003 F-350 SRW CC/LWB 4X4 7.3PSD
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES
Happy Campin'
Randy
Piedmont area of NC

mojoroo

Midwest

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Posted: 05/21/12 02:26pm

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Nice job!! Brave, much more than myself!!

eric james

Sioux Falls, SD

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Posted: 05/21/12 08:32pm

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Thanks - I think cutting that first little access hole was scarier than the roof.

BTW - The kids got another upgrade this evening. I mounted a 19" LCDTV in the bunkhouse. Mounted a simple TV bracket by drilling into the hollow aluminum frame and using toggle bolts. Hope it "hangs" in there. Seems the bunkhouse could be pretty bouncy on the road.

Two HDTVs now - are we camping or living in a 29' second house now?!?!

Ranger431

Knoxville, TN

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Posted: 05/22/12 09:03pm

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You're a brave man! Our bunkhouse has a vent (no fan) but the BR doesn't. Our 2009 Jayco had one and we miss it. I'd like to have one, but don't think I have the guts to cut into the roof.

2012 Jayco 32TSBH
2004 Ford Excursion
ProPride 3P Hitch
Tru Control brake controller
Roadmaster Active Suspension

eric james

Sioux Falls, SD

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Posted: 05/22/12 08:53pm

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Twain wrote:

Nice job! Where did you tap the power at?

The ceiling light. It is spliced into a main 12V line. I took off the factory connectors, hooked up the fan wire correctly and cranked on some wires nuts.

Same deal in the front bedroom.

Now running two fantastic fan 8500R models. Hmmm what to do with the bathroom vent?