New Maxair Installation/New Hole in my roof!

[Subaru297]

I finally got around to installing an additional vent fan in our trailer. Before this we had the one exhaust fan in the bathroom that we had upgraded to a Fantastic Fan which was a great upgrade.
This fan could create a good breeze in the trailer but it left the bunkbed area alone and it got pretty stuffy up there so I wanted to install another fan over the bunkbed area.

First step was to get the roof blueprints from Jayco which they sent promptly after I sent them my VIN.



After mulling this over and having a chat with DW we decided on a good location to install the fan. I wanted it near the head of the bed so we could reach the controls without crawling into the bed. She wanted it near the foot of the bed so it wasn't as noisy over our daughters head. "We" decided to put it at the foot of the bed. This also gives better air circulation.

Measured it up and marked the roof with masking tape.



Then after a little pep talk I sliced open our roof



I drilled a few holes to get the jigsaw started and created an exploratory hole. Once I located the roof joist I double checked my measurements and cut out a 14" square butted up against the roof joist.





I got lucky and had a few wires to choose from running accross the hole I just cut. i had planned to pull wire from a nearby light but didn't need to. I did need to cut and lengthen both of these sets of wires though.




Once I rerouted the wires I drilled 4 holes in the remaining luan covering the hole. Then I went into the bunkbed and cut the luan with a box cutter. Very easy to cut. With the hole complete I added a bit of framing around the 3 sides of the hole mostly so the screws from the fan would have something to grip into. Not really for structural reasons.



Stapled down the extra flaps of roof material and test fit the new fan. I had connected the power as well so tested the function too.



All was good so back up to the roof to lift the fan out and install some butyl tape and screw it down!

To be continued......

[Subaru297]

Here is the butyl tape laid down and the fan screwed down...




Then back into the trailer to measure and cut the trim piece to fit. Attached the trim piece and played with the fan some more to double check everything.



One last trip up to the roof armed with some Dicor......



All done!

This was actually easier than I was expecting. Probably because I had very easy access to power but nothing else unexpected arose and it was pretty straight forward. A bit of cleaning after we were done and we took it back to the storage yard. Hopefully we will get to test the new mod out soon.

Cheers

[Fingerlakes]

Wow! don't know if I would have had the guts to cut into the roof myself. Looks pretty darn good!

[Hitch Pin]

Very nice work!

[Subaru297]

Thanks. It did take a bit of encouragement from my wife to make that first slice. Smooth sailing after that.

Cheers

[oldmanAZ]

Great! Like Fingerlakes said, I don't know if I could do that. Your post makes it look easy.

Now if I ever have the need to do that, I think I could manage it.

[Magnolia Tom]

That took some serious testicular fortitude! Great job!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tomsuver]

Holy moly, great work.

[BigJohnD]

My kind of dude. Not scared to ax a hole in the roof. Very good job! I plan to do a AC duct mod to run ducts into both our bunks. We'll see how that goes.

[sebring96hbg]

Awesome!

[Jagiven]

Very nice! I've thought about adding a vent above our dinette.

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by BigJohnD

My kind of dude. Not scared to ax a hole in the roof. Very good job! I plan to do a AC duct mod to run ducts into both our bunks. We'll see how that goes.

Haha. I was envisioning that too while looking at the roof diagram.

Thanks for all the nice words everyone.

Cheers

[Koreankabachy]

Been wanting to do this with my old camper, now my new camper. However the new camper (2017 Jayco Jay flight 32tsbh) is only a month old and not sure I want to cut a hole in her yet. I did get the blueprints from jayco and it appears there is already framing for a vent in the bunkhouse area. However, not very good at reading blueprints and not 100% sure what I am looking at. My luck, I'll cut something important or fall through the roof.

Can anyone confirm the vent framing in the bunkhouse area and translate the blueprint to tell me how many feet/inches the middle of the vent is from the back of the camper? It looks like it's close to a support beam and I don't want to cut into that... Or any electrical wire... Or the ac duct. I assume the hole is in the middle vertically.

Thanks

[bankr63]

According to the print, the Front of the unit is to the right and all measurements are taken off from the back right (curb) side of the unit (0,0 on the first page). There is a 3/8" allowance already accounting for back wall material. There is a truss at 47.25 inches from the back wall (measured on the OUTSIDE of the unit). Add 2*1.5 for material thickness (from the BOM), and the inner back of the opening is at 50.25" the opening is 14 3/8" wide, so the centre should be at 57-7/16" from the back outside wall.
From the curb side, measure over 40-5/16+7-3/16=47.5" for the approximate centre of the hole. Note that there does not appear to be an allowance for sidewall material here (cladding and trim pieces), so the measure may be off by a few 16ths.
Again, the measures are on the OUTSIDE of the rig, the wall thickness will affect the measurements if made on the inside of the unit. The centre by my calcs is at 57-7/16",47-1/2".
What puzzles me here is that according to the prints, this is not an optional opening (the options are called out in the notes). Is there a skylight in the bunkhouse already? Also, confirm that the A/C ducting clears anywhere you plan to cut. Reading the callouts on the 4th page, it's centerline appears to run about 6" curbside from the opening, but those measurements are from the inside of the unit, and I don't see a wall thickness called out here. The ceiling vent should allow you to position the run though.
This is offered as opinion only, I double checked my math, but someone else might want to pipe in if they think I made any errors.

ETA (again): Realized my comment about an existing skylight is incorrect. The opening does not have a "Route by line" callout (black triangle) on page one, so the opening would NOT be routed out on the line(is left filled in).

ETA: Thanks for the distraction on a sweltering Friday at the office where I really should be doing other work, but needed a quick distraction. As an engineering technologist I spent years in drafting classes; but haven't had a chance to dust off those skills for a long time!

[Koreankabachy]

Once I figure out what you said, I'll thank you. Lol. Jk. I got the gist of it and the measurements I was looking for. Now I just need some courage to slice and dice a perfectly good, brand new, under warranty roof.

[BigJohnD]

You can get kind of close from the inside as well using what bankr63 said. Push up on the ceiling in the general area and around it and likely you'll find the cut out. You've got a 14" x 14" square to play with, so a little off from the inside won't hurt. Drill a hole in the general center area and run a scope in there and you'll see what you have to work with. If no scope, big enough for an iPhone cam. I always prefer to cut from the inside first, then drill tiny holes up through the roof in the 4 corners of the 14" square. Then of course, cut the X in the roof material across the 4 holes and go from there.

[Fire_Instructor]

Great thread, Subaru297! Took courage to open up and cut that hole!!!

I have a specific question for you regarding the roof.... What thickness ply wood do they use? From your photo, I would guesstimate ½" or 7/16, but just looking to be more sure. I'm mounting solar panels on my Jayco roof, and I want to get the screw-length correct.

Thank you!

[norty1]

Nice job! I have often noticed when on my roof after a cool night that I can see the framing for a roof vent on mine. Seems it would be easy to find one if you had one on any roof. It is directly over where the ceiling fan is mounted inside. All my other potential roof openings are currently filled with ac's or vents.

I'd have do a lot of thinking and praying before drilling the first hole!!

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by norty1

I'd have do a lot of thinking and praying before drilling the first hole!!

And make sure you have some Eternabond on hand!

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by Fire_Instructor

Great thread, Subaru297! Took courage to open up and cut that hole!!!

I have a specific question for you regarding the roof.... What thickness ply wood do they use? From your photo, I would guesstimate ½" or 7/16, but just looking to be more sure. I'm mounting solar panels on my Jayco roof, and I want to get the screw-length correct.

Thank you!

Glad you found it useful. My roof is only 3/8th ply. Pretty thin. I think I used #14 1 inch wood screws to mount my solar panels.

Cheers