This is how we installed a Maxxfan in our 2017 Ford Transit campervan. We are currently converting our second campervan, and we moved all the useful stuff to the new page:
That being said, we left the old photos below as a blast from the past 🙂
Installation
1- Install the painter’s tape and mark the fan cutout.
To mark the fan cutout, we used the inside of the roof vent adapter.
2- Practice makes perfect…
We “simulated” 2 holes and a straight line to practice drilling & cutting on the panel we were getting rid of. It’s a good thing we did it! We learned that it’s better to make the corner holes a bit outside of the cutting line (the fan flange allows some over cut) AND that a storm of hot-burning metal chips will blow on your face and into your hair. WEAR PROTECTIVE GLASSES AND A SEXY BANDANA ON YOUR HEAD. You’ve been warned.
3- Lion’s face: you own the tools, the tools don’t own you!
Or: we’re scared, but let’s pretend we’re not.
4- Drill a hole at each corner, large enough to let the jigsaw blade pass through.
5- Cut each side, then apply duct tape to prevent the panel from falling during the last cut.
6- Break the sharp edges with a metal file and smooth the edges with a fine sandpaper.
7- Install the roof fan adapter and the fan flange and drill all holes.
We used four C-Clamps to ensure nothing moves during the process.
8- Surface preparation.
- Remove the roof fan adapter and the flange.
- Break the holes sharp edges and smooth with a sanding paper.
- Clean the surfaces to be touched-up with isopropyl alcohol.
9- Apply Primer, Paint & Clearcoat on all the cuts and holes.
This is an important step to avoid corrosion in the future. Indeed, paint plays a much bigger role than just adding color: paint protects metal from rusting. So take note: adding primer + paint + clearcoat should be performed ANY TIME you make a cut or hole in your van. Get used to it!
TIP: All-in-one products don’t work well; so primer + paint + clearcoat = 3 different products. Go to an Auto Parts Shop and give them your color code (it’s on the driver’s side door sticker), make, model & year, and they’ll prepare paint that matches perfectly the color of your van. Spray paint can work well because you can spray what you need in a small plastic container and re-use the rest later (after use, turn the can upside down and spray for a few seconds; this will clear the tube and prevent clogging).
10- Clean the fan flange with isopropyl alcohol.
11- Clean the van’s metal with isopropyl alcohol.
12- Apply butyl tape on the fan flange (on the surface that will be mating with the fan adapter).
13- Apply 3M Window-Weld on the roof fan adapter and the backing frame (on the surfaces that will be mating with the van).
14- Install the roof fan adapter, the fan flange, the backing frame, and the hardware.
15- Apply Dicor self-leveling sealant around the periphery of the flange.
While she’s working, make yourself useful and start cleaning the work area. Or don’t and just be a nuisance by making duck faces for no good reason.
16- Install the Maxxfan unit through the fan flange and fasten using the 4 provided screws.
17- Look at our fan.
Just look at it.
18- Final Test.
We tested our Maxxfan using the wires from an adjacent light that we removed.
(Note: we blew a fuse doing the same thing afterward: no surprise, the 7.5 amp interior lightning fuse located at position F32 is not designed to withstand the load of an additional fan… no big deal, the fuse was replaced and the light is back!)
It works!
19- Have a pint of fresh Homebrewed Session I.P.A.
Well deserved!
New and updated article:
Nice site and detail on your build – out. Love the fact you offer drawings , etc too. As a web designer myself I can appreciate the work you put into this site. If I had to conclude one thing – is that you spent more time on putting this great info together than you did on the build itself – just know that it’s highly appreciated ! Best you you guys !
Haha yeah this little website side-project got a bit out of hand, it grew so much! Thanks and cheers!
Just bought your plans and digging through the first steps to cut holes in my new-to-me 2016 Transit. Two questions on the fan install: First, my thought was to install the fan in front like you did but put a Passenger side sliding bunk window back by the bed to provide cross ventilation. Good idea or not? Second, admittedly I haven’t read your entire build journal yet so I haven’t read about your ceiling install around the fan but just wondering how you trimmed around the fan opening in your ceiling? I know your work is very clean and tidy so I imagined you trimmed the fan out nicely. Thanks, Jim
Hello! Thank you so much for this site. It’s so unbelievably helpful. I was wondering what size backing frame you used, 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch and if you found it necessary? I have a 2018 Ford Transit high roof. 🙂
I would like to mention that the Metal files you recommend are quite small, and I noticed you are using one that is quite a bit bigger. You might add a larger file to your tools list for this project.
So did you use the Roof vent adapter and roof vent backing frame? I don’t see photos of it.
We did yeah. Photos are a bit dark inside but it’s there 🙂
thoughts on the 1/2” vs the 3/4”? I’m installing this in a sprinter van
Very curious to hear your thoughts on whether it’s OK or not to install one of the max air fans on the roof that slightly starts to go down toward the front windshield. As you know, Ford Transits have quite a lot of space there, so we were hoping to utilize it. Or is it only recommended to install on the roof that is leveled? Thanks in advance!
I’d be worried about leaks; you need a flat surface indeed. And you’ll get a lot of noise when driving, this could be quite annoying.
Hi! Love the site and the guides, they are proving truly helpful when planning out my build.
I just got a Sprinter 144 with a fixed window in the rear passenger side. Do you think it’s necessary to have two fans? I was thinking of a MaxxAir 7500 in the back and then a MaxxAir dome on front. What do you think?
Hi – really great blog all around. Graphics, the layout/organization and writing are all well done. In reading about the fan install I thought of an better tool to cut the hole. It is something called a nibbler. It is powered by a drill and works really well. It might be a little harder to cut a straight line with it than your tool but it costs a lot less. I would recommend cutting from above (on the roof) since the little pieces it nibbles will fall down.
Here is a link to one on amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=sheet+metal+nibbler&i=tools&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Regarding the frame strips, it was mentioned that they are recommended if the fan is installed at a location where the beams are more than 18 inches apart. Are the beams more than 18″ apart in the rear if it is placed above the bed? Cannot measure quite yet as I am picking up my van this weekend and would like to get a few things ordered ahead of time. Thanks!
Our van is completely finished, so I cannot check that. Maybe as on the Transit forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/472339682915770/
Good luck!
Hi there, just a a quick question regarding the 3m window weld. What was the reason you used the window weld between the van and the adapter as opposed to more butyl tape? Thanks so much!
What length machine screws did you end up going with? In the materials section it says: Machine Screws 16 #10-24 thread, length TBD, Stainless Steel, Round Head
Were they too long or just right?
We just ordered our fan and want to get everything else that is needed so we can install next week. We just started our promaster build!
Thanks
We intentionally didn’t specify the length, as it varies with installations. For example, the ProMaster corrugations depth are different than the Transit and therefore require different screw length. There is no way for us to list all the screw length! You’ll have to find out yourself… yep, sometimes it’s very hard to plan everything ahead. 😉
Good luck!
antoine
Is there a net around the fan? I have a medium roof transit and don’t wanna hair cut
Haha, there is indeed a mosquito screen! You’ll have to find an hairdresser.
cheers!
Hi, I just wanted to start off by mentioning this page has been so incredibly helpful, thank you! I am, trying to decide where I want to mount the fan. I noticed you mounted it above the kitchen to provide better ventilation during cooking but mentioned that it was an issue when allowing for ventilation in the back so you had to place a floor vent there. I have a long wheel base transit instead of the extended like you and was considering placing the fan in the very back of the van. Do you think that would be significantly worse when it comes to cooking?
– If you plan on cooking a lot with doors closed (because winter), I’d consider installing the fan in the front. And add a window in the back, or another fan, for proper ventilation in the back.
– If you don’t cook a lot and you can leave the doors opened, then I’d consider installing the fan in the back.
Good luck!
Hello! 🙂 For a 2019 ProMaster 3500 I plan to have Maxxair 06200 in the Kitchen and DOMETIC Heki Midi above the bed ( in the back). I’m still researching and was wondering your thoughts on if that’s enough airflow. We plan to travel in Us & other countries with dog and baby and don’t want them to be overheated. Thank you
Yeah it would be enough! Personally I’d go for two Maxxfan, instead of the Heki Midi, as rain could get into it. It seems also more costly. But that’s just my opinion!
Cheers!
HI, Where can I find this for Nissan NV3500 High, roof vent adapter? thanks.
Hello.
I just added the link for the Nissan NV in the material list!
Cheers!
Hello,
I ordered the Heins adapter because of your recommendation. I have just watched several videos on Maxx Fan installations. I have not seen one with Heins adapters in them. Are these really necessary. I have a 2019 Sprinter and the surface where I plan to install the fan, (rear of the van) seams pretty flat. Do I need the adapters??
Also I wonder why you don’t have the step of adding the interior trip ring after you complete your ceiling? All good information. I have started the build!!!!!
David Jackson
The interior surface is pretty flat, but there are corrugations on the exterior. So outside adapter is GREAT, inside adapter is not needed (I don’t know if they sell the interior adapter anymore anyways). If where you plan to install the fan is flat, then you don’t need the adapter 🙂
Sorry what’s the interior trip ring? Do you mean the “decorative” trim? It was added later so there’s no pic in this article, but you should see it in our van tour: https://faroutride.com/van-tour/
Good luck!
Hi! Me again 🙂 Is there any reasons why you didn’t using the interior framing strip instead of the square interior adapter you used?
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gf0AAOSwHP5eeSRA/s-l1600.jpg
Many thanks for all your great help 🙂
The framing strips offer additional support to the roof, in case the space between the OEM roof beams is more than ~ 18 inches. In our case, we installed our fan in the front of the van where the beams are close together and has plenty of support.
Hope that helps!
Hey all! We are about to start this project in our Transit Mid Roof… cutting a huge hole in a new van seems so WRONG! I wanted to ask you about your primer, paint, and sealant. Did you use epoxy or urethane primer? Did you use spray sealants? Excited to get our build started, thanks for the inspiration!
I honestly can’t recall… We went to an Auto Parts and gave them our color code. Don’t buy the all-in-one (primer + topcoat) stuff. We recommend to get the spray cans, but don’t spray directly to the surface. Spray in a plastic jar to get a little paint, then use something to apply it to the surface.
Good luck!
You mention “adapters” as in plural. However when I ordered the adapter from the above link, I received just one, which appears to be the one to mount on the outside of the van. There is no inside adapter. Has something changed?
There used to be an inside adapter, but it wasn’t really useful so I believe they stopped producing it. An outside adapter is what you want! 🙂
Hi! We actually have a Ford e350, but we’ve adapted most of your instructions to work with our van! It’s been great. We’re about to install our Maxxair fan, but we’ve noticed that some other websites/blogs don’t use an adapter at all…but maybe they are making a huge mistake? Have you heard of anyone installing a Maxxair fan without an adapter and it being successful?
An adapter is not mandatory, you could probably use layers of sealant instead (butyl tape?) to create a flat surface. But the adapter makes the job MUCH easier and ensure a proper seal (since it fits perfectly with the roof’s corrugations).
We highly recommend it, but it’s you call in the end 🙂
test
On the maxxair fan instructions it specifically says not to use Acetone on the plastic. Step 11 in your guide says to clean the fan flange with Acetone.
Huh, thanks for the heads up. Fixed!
Heyo! Thanks for the great guide! We just did our install today, went super smooth. We can confirm that the interior adapter is not needed and without it we went with 1.5in bolts. We did add neoprene washers on the interior with the metal washers.
Someone else mentioned having a hard time finding 3/16in bolts, we did too, might be a regional availability thing. Anyways we went with 1/4in bolts and it was fine.
Re: 3/16: SS 10-32 machine screws work perfectly, requires only very minimal enlargement of the holes in the flange (13/64 bit). Nylon locking nuts are a good addition for this application (resist vibration). Also, re: easing reassembly: when you glue the adapter +/- internal adapter or framing strips back onto the roof/ceiling, place screws through the holes to self-locate the parts (but remove after clamping to not seal your screws in :)).