Not so Fantastic Fan experience

Brian & Lucy

Brian & Lucy

Novice
I upgraded to the motorized lid Fantastic Fan a few years ago when having hail damage repaired, but primarily because it struggled to stay closed and often flopped around. I’ve never figured out how to use it, specifically how to open it. I’ve tried many combinations of buttons, and ultimately manually open, but even then I’m often fighting the motor closing it. Or it will run fine for a few seconds then close. Weather dry, in garage. Closes fine. What am I doing wrong?!

Photo is of mine, labeled if explanation required
 

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Yeah. I'm in this boat as well. The old one flopped open and required some closing steps when driving.

But I knew how to work the old one. It was a bit simpler.

I dont regret upgrading. But...I can't read all the faint little symbols on the fan. If i use the remote its only fully open or fully close. the remote, for me, is not intuitive. To manually open you are working against the motor and I worry about breaking something.

But....I can fully close the top lid and still be running the fan very slightly to keep air moving and it's very quiet. I appreciate that part.

I can't help you but I feel your question.!
 
My auto FF is older and slightly different.

If the motor engages, I wait until it finishes its cycle, either fully open or closed, and the motor shuts off.

Then, I pull the manual crank knob downward until it disengages from the motor with a click. From there I can open/close manually without working against the motor.

Does that work on your fans? Mine is a 2012 version. I’ve found it pretty finicky, the motor starting at unwanted times…. Though it did once successfully close on rain sensor.
 
SethB said:
My auto FF is older and slightly different.

If the motor engages, I wait until it finishes its cycle, either fully open or closed, and the motor shuts off.

Then, I pull the manual crank knob downward until it disengages from the motor with a click. From there I can open/close manually without working against the motor.

Does that work on your fans? Mine is a 2012 version. I’ve found it pretty finicky, the motor starting at unwanted times…. Though it did once successfully close on rain sensor.
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Ill have to check on that but I dont know.

In your third paragraph, where you say you pull the manual crank down...my first read was that you rip the crank off the fan, which breaks the whole business and now it work manually just fine. Maybe you do that, maybe you dont, but thanks for the visual
 
Jenn said:
…In your third paragraph, where you say you pull the manual crank down...my first read was that you rip the crank off the fan, which breaks the whole business and now it work manually just fine. Maybe you do that, maybe you dont, but thanks for the visual
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Um… I am often identified with my brutish strength, but I haven’t broken off that particular part- yet!
 
SethB said:
My auto FF is older and slightly different.

If the motor engages, I wait until it finishes its cycle, either fully open or closed, and the motor shuts off.

Then, I pull the manual crank knob downward until it disengages from the motor with a click. From there I can open/close manually without working against the motor.

Does that work on your fans? Mine is a 2012 version. I’ve found it pretty finicky, the motor starting at unwanted times…. Though it did once successfully close on rain sensor.
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I don’t seem to have the ability to pull the knob to disengage the motor. How hard do you have to pull? I’m pulling fairly hard.
 
I had problems with the old mechanical fan as well. The Maxxair fan is the way to go. Though just to be clear it is not without its problems either.

FWIW, I can get most of the replacement parts necessary for any of these fans if you need something, DM me
 
Brian & Lucy said:
I don’t seem to have the ability to pull the knob to disengage the motor. How hard do you have to pull? I’m pulling fairly hard.
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I guess I’d describe it as a firm sharp pull with the hand and wrist. My fan is what was installed by CI in 2012 as the rain sensing upgrade.
 
Jenn said:
Eat well. Get some rest. Shower EVERY day.
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Not to be sayin ' too much --- but a "dude wipes" using about 8-10 sheets, combined with a little spray of the hair with "dry shampoo" is about as good as a trip to the shower house, which I do every 3rd or 4'th day.

Some places (like Florida) make shower houses a pretty nice...but 100% humidity, no fans, no airflow -- I'll stick to muy GI shower....its 90% as good.

Todays classes were Furion AC's and Slim-Rack slideouts. First, I never want one...but at least now I can fix it.
 
Sweeney said:
Not to be sayin ' too much --- but a "dude wipes" using about 8-10 sheets, combined with a little spray of the hair with "dry shampoo" is about as good as a trip to the shower house, which I do every 3rd or 4'th day.

Some places (like Florida) make shower houses a pretty nice...but 100% humidity, no fans, no airflow -- I'll stick to muy GI shower....its 90% as good.

Todays classes were Furion AC's and Slim-Rack slideouts. First, I never want one...but at least now I can fix it.
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Yup! There's a ladies version of that washup.

I have no idea what furion ac or slim rack slide outs are. But congrats!
 
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Jenn said:
Yup! There's a ladies version of that washup.

I have no idea what furion ac or slim rack slide outs are. But congrats!
Click to expand...

Furion is a division of Lipert, or LCI --- they make just about every component used in a modern RV today. When you buy a Keystone, Grand Design, or any of the 'big' names you are basically buying a "kit" of pieces made by lippert. They make axles, brakes, frames, steps, fridges, freezer, Air Conditioner and any other component that they need.

This includes of course air conditioenrs, and mechanisms for slide-out rooms. Slim Rack is one of the variants they make, also Schwintech which is a similar system....a quick google search will return results. In diagnosing problems with any of these systems, the basic rule is you need to check 3 things....The sensor or motor, the harness, and the controller for it. Unofficailly, there is a 4'th step "hope and pray" as the slide-outs are notoriously unreliable.

I'm in a class this week (continuing education) which deals with Slides, Air Conditioners, Hydraulic systems (leveling gear), refrigerators, and water heaters. 3 days of lecture and hands-on. Pretty decent, but reminding me why every day I love my campinn more and more. Reasons? Refrigerators that have a room temperature probe that is wired through the body of the refrigerator. If this little $5 sensor fails, you have to buy a new refrigerator...you can't fix it. Or a door seal, just like on your home refrigerator --- when it fails, you have to buy a whole new door.

These guys are unethical. Pure and simple. No wonder elkharts is 'dying' right now as people who bought campers in 2020 are regretting it, and selling on the used market in droves.

There's a huge problem here, that we are fortunate enough not to have to worry about.


I DID break down and take a shower this morning. Florida at least puts heavy duty fans in that move the humid air out --- here in Indiana, not so much --- just leaving windows open. 100% humidity and warm even first thing in the morning. THIS is the one thing I do miss about owning a full-size camper. shower and bathroom. Something to be said for it. But thats the only thing I truly "miss"
 
That's a great summary Sweeney. It's such a shame what's been done to most of the big RV industry in the leveraged buy out era.

Note that slide out mechanisms failures are high up on the list of what new RV owners experience. And those who go out of state to find stock of the configuration they want or a better price may find that they don't get the warranty coverage they expected at their local dealer.

The quitclaim sales contracts. RVs that arrive damaged, or not as seen on the lot, or etc., all per the signed contract.

And, and, and... the stuff of nightmares for the unlucky buyer.

I had to stop watching Liz Amazing channel videos on Youtube; they make me too sad for what unsuspecting buyers can experience.

Lucky we own Camp Inn!!! Lucky we can talk to an owner/operator, lucky they've learned their lessons in business and manufacturing and have found sustainability in the business. Lucky that design and quality are increasing with diligent attention. None of that stuff is easy, but Craig & Cary and crew make it happen!
 
Sweeney said:
Furion is a division of Lipert, or LCI --- they make just about every component used in a modern RV today. When you buy a Keystone, Grand Design, or any of the 'big' names you are basically buying a "kit" of pieces made by lippert. They make axles, brakes, frames, steps, fridges, freezer, Air Conditioner and any other component that they need.

This includes of course air conditioenrs, and mechanisms for slide-out rooms. Slim Rack is one of the variants they make, also Schwintech which is a similar system....a quick google search will return results. In diagnosing problems with any of these systems, the basic rule is you need to check 3 things....The sensor or motor, the harness, and the controller for it. Unofficailly, there is a 4'th step "hope and pray" as the slide-outs are notoriously unreliable.

I'm in a class this week (continuing education) which deals with Slides, Air Conditioners, Hydraulic systems (leveling gear), refrigerators, and water heaters. 3 days of lecture and hands-on. Pretty decent, but reminding me why every day I love my campinn more and more. Reasons? Refrigerators that have a room temperature probe that is wired through the body of the refrigerator. If this little $5 sensor fails, you have to buy a new refrigerator...you can't fix it. Or a door seal, just like on your home refrigerator --- when it fails, you have to buy a whole new door.

These guys are unethical. Pure and simple. No wonder elkharts is 'dying' right now as people who bought campers in 2020 are regretting it, and selling on the used market in droves.

There's a huge problem here, that we are fortunate enough not to have to worry about.


I DID break down and take a shower this morning. Florida at least puts heavy duty fans in that move the humid air out --- here in Indiana, not so much --- just leaving windows open. 100% humidity and warm even first thing in the morning. THIS is the one thing I do miss about owning a full-size camper. shower and bathroom. Something to be said for it. But thats the only thing I truly "miss"
Click to expand...
Thanks to you and Seth for your good words and explaining these things.

I'm always grateful for the great folks at CampInn!
 
SethB said:
That's a great summary Sweeney. It's such a shame what's been done to most of the big RV industry in the leveraged buy out era.

Note that slide out mechanisms failures are high up on the list of what new RV owners experience. And those who go out of state to find stock of the configuration they want or a better price may find that they don't get the warranty coverage they expected at their local dealer.

The quitclaim sales contracts. RVs that arrive damaged, or not as seen on the lot, or etc., all per the signed contract.

And, and, and... the stuff of nightmares for the unlucky buyer.

I had to stop watching Liz Amazing channel videos on Youtube; they make me too sad for what unsuspecting buyers can experience.

Lucky we own Camp Inn!!! Lucky we can talk to an owner/operator, lucky they've learned their lessons in business and manufacturing and have found sustainability in the business. Lucky that design and quality are increasing with diligent attention. None of that stuff is easy, but Craig & Cary and crew make it happen!
Click to expand...

Geek rant!

I like what Liz is trying to do, same for Alan Warren (RV Wingman) I think there is a reconing coming for the industry. I watch liz if it grabs my attention -- but 50% of the time I skip. The people who have made the purchase, most of the time, did not do their due diligence before they spent the money. I have a tough time when someone says, "We want to pick it up, and there were problems - this, this, and this was wrong. But we took it anyway." Then, some people have spent a lifetime of savings. I know the desire to spend a year with your kid traveling before he goes to college is awesome. But going into debt or depleting your savings...just not good planning.

As for slideouts -- there is only 1 system that I would recommend to anyone, that is through frame. But these are heavy and more expensive. You can tell you have one of these by looking under the slide, there will be 2 arms that carry the room. Most of the components on this are reasonably easy to replace, and while they are heavy, that means using big slabs of steel instead of aluminum. THey are going to greak too -- but at least they are easy to fix.

When I drive up to an RV with Slimrack or Schwintech on a full-length slide room that has a kitchen and living room built into it -- I just want to find the engineer and slap them silly. If you have a little dresser or bed slide out, thats fine - good use. BUt there are some serious bad decisions in this tech's opinion made by people who should know better.

A friend of mine just rebuilt one of those for his customer. It was the 3'rd replacement of the mechanism, at a cost of probably close to $3000 in parts and 10 hours of labor - That would come out to be somewhere far north of $5000. For the 3'rd time on a coach that is less than 10 years old.
 
Couple of thoughts here.

1) Do you want to be camping (cooking/eating outside) or Motor homing (bringing the equivalent of your house to a spot in the outdoors so you don't have to be outdoors).

2) if you divide the number of nights you have been in your rig, by the number of dollars you have spent on the rig. The goal should be to get under $50 per night .... it's very difficult. Try that with any "slide out" rig out there.

Homage to the full timers - I know you are in a different class.

Simplicity is heathy....mentally and financially.

Up Spirits! Keep on Camp Inn.
 
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