Installing a ceiling fan in a Eagle HT

fatheraccountant · 05-07-2019, 01:46 PM

I would like to install a ceiling fan in a 2018 Jayco HT. It gets hot in Texas and in West Texas there are not a lot of trees so the AC has to work overtime. My solution was to get a ceiling fan to help circulate air. However, an independent RV technician I've used thought that this was not a good idea as the only way to mount it in the center of the living room was to attach it to the ceiling tiles. He did not think it possible to add bracing. Thus, he predicted it would fall down in 3 months. I called the dealer and they seemed to know even less. They said to bring it in and they would take a look at it. It would seem to me that the dealer who sells these 5th wheels would know whether an after-market ceiling fan could be added or not.
Anybody have any experience with doing this?

oldmanAZ · 05-07-2019, 02:01 PM

You could get a roof framing schematic from Jayco. Call them with your vin# and they'll send you one.

So you've ruled out using a fan on the floor to improve the air flow? We've been using a tower fan and have been very pleased with it. It is also easy to lay it on the floor for travel. A ceiling fan would have to endure a lot of punishment when traveling.

**norty1** · 05-07-2019, 03:37 PM

Mine came with one when new. It is inset in a pre-framed ceiling vent. I can see the framing on the roof when it is wet with dew.

I would not attempt it without a ceiling drawing and a plan to power it. A Floor fan would be lot less headaches.

Big1 · 05-08-2019, 02:14 AM

I had the dealer install a Deluxe Maxxair in mines with remote it work good, it's one of the best thing I could have done.

RipinSC · 05-08-2019, 06:32 AM

Big1,
What location did they install the max air? is it in the living room / kitchen area?

DonaandDon · 05-08-2019, 08:06 AM

We have the max air vent fan and the ceiling fan. And yes were weird full timers cuz the DW like her rotating fan sitting on the counter blowing air right on her. Maybe its the change.

mrlarson59 · 05-08-2019, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonaandDon

We have the max air vent fan and the ceiling fan. And yes were weird full timers cuz the DW like her rotating fan sitting on the counter blowing air right on her. Maybe its the change.

Our 2019 model has a ceiling fan and I can NOT feel any air movement!!! Anyone else have this issue? I'm thinking it's because it's too close to ceiling?? Anyone have a suggestion? I'm super disappointed because we live in Texas and we have ceiling fans in every room at home. But the RV ceiling fan, worthless!!!!!

AKRUEBBE · 05-08-2019, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlarson59

Our 2019 model has a ceiling fan and I can NOT feel any air movement!!! Anyone else have this issue? I'm thinking it's because it's too close to ceiling?? Anyone have a suggestion? I'm super disappointed because we live in Texas and we have ceiling fans in every room at home. But the RV ceiling fan, worthless!!!!!

Most ceiling fans are bi-directional...........they can blow up or down depending on what position the switch is in. Check to see if your fan has a reverse switch on it. Usually opposite of the on/off switch. May be worth a try. There should also be a variable speeds.

mrlarson59 · 05-08-2019, 12:20 PM

Already checked directional button (it's on fan itself). There is only an ON/OFF switch on the wall to turn ceiling fan on or off. That's it.
There may be a string to pull on fan itself for high/low, I can't remember, will have to check that. But if there is, I know I pulled it already. Isn't that terrible I can't remember! :-)

REWahoo · 05-08-2019, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlarson59

Our 2019 model has a ceiling fan and I can NOT feel any air movement!!! Anyone else have this issue?

A ceiling fan in an RV is next to useless. Ceiling fan blades need to be 18 inches or more below the ceiling to allow proper airflow and RV ceiling heights are too low to make this practical.

Big1 · 05-08-2019, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipinSC

Big1,
What location did they install the max air? is it in the living room / kitchen area?

Bathroom and we love it, it really move the air in or out but I do have the ceiling fan in the kitchen.

Big1 · 05-08-2019, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

A ceiling fan in an RV is next to useless. Ceiling fan blades need to be 18 inches or more below the ceiling to allow proper airflow and RV ceiling heights are too low to make this practical.

Now that a thought one can go to Lowes or Homedepot to get longer blades.

REWahoo · 05-09-2019, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big1

Now that a thought one can go to Lowes or Homedepot to get longer blades.

Blade length isn't the issue. The blades need to be far enough below the ceiling to allow for proper airflow or the fan won't have air to move.

mrlarson59 · 05-09-2019, 01:02 PM

Thanks ReWahoo, I thought that was the issue.
It's basically for looks :-)
Wish there was something to correct the issue, but there's not.

Big1 · 05-09-2019, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Blade length isn't the issue. The blades need to be far enough below the ceiling to allow for proper airflow or the fan won't have air to move.

Got it, so will their be a way to take that down and install the same one that you install in your house?

REWahoo · 05-10-2019, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big1

Got it, so will their be a way to take that down and install the same one that you install in your house?

Sure, but few trailers will have sufficient ceiling height to allow you to do so safely. Then again, I guess you could install the fan low enough to have good air flow and post a big sign at the door like they have at the entrance to some amusement park rides: "To prevent head trauma you must be under 5 ft tall to enter this RV."

Bullitt6283 · 05-18-2019, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

..."To prevent head trauma you must be under 5 ft tall to enter this RV."

Call me a sick puppy, but I had to chuckle at that......

I was at an RV show a couple years ago and I -tried- to enter a pickup-mounted camper. It was one of those with a roof that could be lowered a foot or so. What I didn't realize was the height of the entry door opening itself was also reduced and I didn't duck. I banged my head solidly into the doorframe and I tore a big patch out of my scalp and jammed my neck pretty good..

I had also thought it would be a good idea to add a ceiling fan. But if there's not enough clearance for it to be effective, I'll stick to a portable fan.
.

TnHiker · 05-18-2019, 08:40 PM

Carefully look at the way the blades are shaped to determine if the direction it is turning will force the air up or down. If the leading edge of the blade is closer to the ceiling than the trailing edge the fan will force the air down, if the leading edge of the blade is farther from the ceiling than the trailing edge it will force air up. If the blades are turning the wrong direction you can reverse the rotation of the fan if it is powered by 12 vdc. Expose the wiring to the fan and switch the wires )for example if black is to black and white is to white just switch black to white and white to black) this will reverse the polarity of the power to the motor and it will turn in the opposite direction. Good luck. Even if the fan is close to the ceiling you will feel air coming from it. It may not be as effective if it is close but it will produce air.

tld · 05-19-2019, 11:48 AM

Just buy a 14 inch portable floor fan or even two of them. Will save you a lot of time and money and will circulate the air much better. Easy to store when not using.

Big1 · 05-19-2019, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Sure, but few trailers will have sufficient ceiling height to allow you to do so safely. Then again, I guess you could install the fan low enough to have good air flow and post a big sign at the door like they have at the entrance to some amusement park rides: "To prevent head trauma you must be under 5 ft tall to enter this RV."

Bingo! Don't do it and don't worry about it.

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