Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've searched around, but before I order my roof vent, a few questions...

[a] What flange? Most I see are plastic, but the guy at the local trailer supply recommended galvanized steel. It's only a couple bucks more, and more resistant to cracking, UV damage, etc. If galvanized is so much better, and hardly more expensive, why do most of the vents I see use the plastic flange?

[b] Lid color. I want to think that "smoke" is less translucent than white, and that suits me, but is there a real-world, practical difference?

Thanks,

eggsalad

No prior experience with either but I'm going to guess that there are trade offs with either. The galvy does not guarantee that it won't rust, and can turn chalky white and streak; whereas the plastic might fade or get dingy over time. I was going to say that the plastic could get brittle over time, too, but that may be less of an issue with modern plastics.

I suspect that the plastic may be quieter in adverse weather, where as the metal might sound tinny in the rain(?).

IIRC, someone said recently that the white covers (on Fantastic Fans?) actually block more light than the smoke ones; I think it may have been Zach (absolutsnwbrdr), but can't remember the thread.

I'm speculating a bit here, so take it for what it's worth (not much).

Actually, I have used both the white and the smoke, and the white lets in more light!

Mike...

Well, my recollection just isn't that good, so I went back and found that it was me that said that (Doh!) about the Maxxair Deluxe reviews that I had been reading elsewhere.

Apples to oranges.

(Sorry, I'm a dope )

Ours has a Fantastic Fan minus the fan, white metal lid so no sun gets through. It was wired for the fan and I used those for the case fans.

Plastic is cheaper, so it is used more.
Metal vents have metal lids, I've never seen a metal vent with a plastic lid.
Most people want light to come in when the vent is closed.

I chose metal because I don't ever want to have to replace the vent, and I don't need light, or want a cheapo plastic looking thing on my roof.
I painted mine, so no worries about chalking or rust.

Rob

I've got one of those multi-blade propellers and a motor in my "vent." But here's my point: It's a Fantastic-Vent "low profile" fan with a "low profile" top. Much better looking than their standard model in my opinion. Think about how much it sticks up. Mine has a "smoke" lid and I like it.





I don't plan on turning the switch on except during the occasional hot-summer afternoon nap.

TL

From my experience, the metal vents will last lots longer than the plastic ones. My
plastic one had to be replaced after a few short years (Uv degradation made it too brittle).
Having said that though, I replaced it with another plastic one because I liked the light to
shine thru. Not a fan of the dark y'see unless I want to sleep proper, then I put a blackout
screen to shield the light coming thru, even at night

Plastic-topped metal-based non-powered roof vents are available ... I believe the brand name is something like "Hoeng" ... and in this particular case, the metal parts are powder-coated. IMHO, the metal-base vents are far superior when it comes to longevity ... the typical plastic-based vents will eventually degrade, crack, and leak (although there are ways to minimize these problems, at extra cost and effort), and I really wish that Fantastic Fans would use metal bases in their vents. The good news with regards to Fantastic Fans, though, is that their plastic bases are far more substantial and better quality ... I still recommend using a strip of aluminum or stainless steel between the screws and the base to spread the load/stress all along the mounting flange.

I sometimes disassemble and powder-coat the metal frames of the vents I use/sell ... and one of the things you can do to help minimize UV degradation of the plastic vents is to paint the bases with a good-quality spray paint. Good Luck with what ever you choose to do, and as always ...

CHEERS!

grant whipp wrote:I really wish that Fantastic Fans would use metal bases in their vents. The good news with regards to Fantastic Fans, though, is that their plastic bases are far more substantial and better quality ... I still recommend using a strip of aluminum or stainless steel between the screws and the base to spread the load/stress all along the mounting flange.

Fantastic Fan usually supplies a foam gasket and countersink screws. Used in combination, particularly if you overtorque the countersink screws, it creates stress points on the plastic flange. On my installation, I did not use the foam gasket but used sealant instead, and used stainless steel washerhead screws instead of the countersink screws. The washerhead screws compress the flat part of the flange and help to distribute the stress.

BTW, you can get Fantastic Fans in grey colored plastic bases that do a better job of blending in with aluminum roof than the white or beige.

Looking at my fan I just got....The top portion of the fan that the screws go into is only plastic with no metal inserts for the screw threads.. That doesn't seem like a good idea...

Tony that low profile looks good, I haven't seen them till now. That is a great looking tear also but the view in the background is awesome!