Adding Fan to Escape Hatch August 06, 2019, 01:41:33 pm We wanted a power venting fan in the Kitchen/Dinette area of our 98~MB but did not want to cut into the roof and possible weaken it by removing a cross member so the emergency exit was the best location for our power vent fan. So I started by purchasing a new escape lid form the Mothership. I then purchased a Fantastic Fan which is now made by Dometic and is unfortunately a different product then the original Fantastic Fan. I cut the E-lid to fit the F-fan and cut two pieces of wood to use as filler for the front and back so the F-fan fits tight in the E-lid. I used polybutyl tape in between the wood filler, E-lid and flange on the F-fan and squeezed it all together with machine screws and lock nuts. I added the plastic trim flange with longer machine screws and lock nuts and added a piece of 2" L metal to strengthen the plastic trim flange to add the red emergency latch. I removed the front hinge from the old E-hatch and added it to the new E-hatch before the fan was installed, I then tested it to make sure it would fit and open with ease.. The setup fit well with the original hinge part still on the roof flange on the LD roof. Now the new setup with the new fan installed in the E-lid could be slid onto the old hinge attached to the roof flange and the job was complete. Currently I am running the 12v wires along the roof and down the wall inside to a 12v accessory plug near the dinette, I plan to make finish this when I finish some other wiring soon. I have photos of the work in my photo album under Emergency Escape Fan. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA 2 Likes
Re: Adding Fan to Escape Hatch Reply #1 – January 11, 2021, 01:26:20 pm Quote from: Karen & Liam - August 06, 2019, 01:41:33 pmWe wanted a power venting fan in the Kitchen/Dinette area of our 98~MB but did not want to cut into the roof and possible weaken it by removing a cross member so the emergency exit was the best location for our power vent fan. So I started by purchasing a new escape lid form the Mothership. I then purchased a Fantastic Fan which is now made by Dometic and is unfortunately a different product then the original Fantastic Fan. I cut the E-lid to fit the F-fan and cut two pieces of wood to use as filler for the front and back so the F-fan fits tight in the E-lid. I used polybutyl tape in between the wood filler, E-lid and flange on the F-fan and squeezed it all together with machine screws and lock nuts. I added the plastic trim flange with longer machine screws and lock nuts and added a piece of 2" L metal to strengthen the plastic trim flange to add the red emergency latch. I removed the front hinge from the old E-hatch and added it to the new E-hatch before the fan was installed, I then tested it to make sure it would fit and open with ease.. The setup fit well with the original hinge part still on the roof flange on the LD roof. Now the new setup with the new fan installed in the E-lid could be slid onto the old hinge attached to the roof flange and the job was complete. Currently I am running the 12v wires along the roof and down the wall inside to a 12v accessory plug near the dinette, I plan to make finish this when I finish some other wiring soon. I have photos of the work in my photo album under Emergency Escape Fan. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: Adding Fan to Escape Hatch Reply #2 – January 11, 2021, 09:52:39 pm This is awesome!! Always wondered if there was something like this but I guess it's more of a diy projects which you've proved it's doable!!