People take up valuable roof space by putting the 'trendy' Maxair fans and then they have to play Tetris with their solar panels and then find they do not have enough solar to power their appliances when they could have put vent fans in the vertical walls and saved the whole roof for maxing out their solar energy production. Great job putting it in the back window.
so cool to see this as I came up with the same idea since roof real estate is at a premium, I figured ventilation doesn’t really have to be at the top. It can be on the side so what I did is the same thing you’re doing but its for my mini split that will be internal. I’m also placing a secondary fan on my cab partition with my windows (with the rain guards) slightly open in the front cab. this will still allow cross ventilation, but without a secondary external cut out.
Nicely done, great use of space. I almost installed similar vent with rain cover through back door glass area but wanted to stealth my van more hiding the air vent on roof. Otherwise I would use the back door glass as you have, and roof space for an extra solar panel.
I can't really find anyone to do that window thing but i found someone who can do the roof thing so probably going to go with roof. I have no tools or skills so..
Roof vents create ideal air flow, same as a house you pull hot air from ceiling because hot air rises, then if you have an inlet near floor it can pull in cooler air. Plus it's more stealth. But this is a good idea for anyone who doesn't want to deal with possible leaks if not done properly.
Glad it helped! The fan I used was from Amazon. It's no longer available. It's an 11" 12V vent fan with manual crank opening, 3 speeds out, 2 speeds in.
you have to be pretty tall to do that, and the fan will be on so visibility will be obscured. Moreover, the shroud that comes up will also discourage peeping-toms. if that ever happens, a little bit of OC spray will discourage the curious. just make sure it’s blowing outward. 😂
Thanks for uploading. Not being a trouble maker just in the summer my van roof gets very hot so the upper area inside the van is very hot. With the fan mounted in the window does it still remove all of the hot air fast enough to keep the entire are feeling as fresh as outside?
I figure, proper ceiling insulation (spray foam for me) and solar panels dominating the real estate on the roof would take care of that heat issue. I will have three residential 410 W solar panels, taking up most of the roof area. Plus, I have a residential mini split cooling my van so that would not be a problem.
big advantage when using roof rack. big thule rack wont fit on roof with a maxx air ran. long surf boards. any object 90inches plus will run into the fan on the roof.. see ya out there...
No issues and it's been 2.5 years and on dozens of trips. I left enough slack in the wires so the door can still be opened. They are also located up high on the window so have less chance of getting caught on something, and are protected in split loom.
Hi.😃Great idea. Is there wood of the same shape, backing the Plexi glass? And did you use heat to get a curve in the Plexi glass. Last question.😁 Did you use rivets or bolts or both?🤔 Thanks for your answers.
Great questions. I'll make a more detailed video and add the link here when I do. There is wood backing the frame of the fan, but not the whole window. The fan is meant to be installed in a panel (roof) with minimum thickness of about an inch. The wood frame fills this. I did not use heat to curve the plexiglass. I left it flat but it flexed a bit as I tightened everything up. I was concerned it might crack in cold temps on rough road but it never has. I used the existing bolts from the original window (qty 4) and added 4 more stainless bolts with large washers to clamp the window securely in the door. Also a solid bead of sealant all around beforehand.
Will be also waiting for that detailed video. I’ve had this idea for a while now but never pulled the trigger. Glad to see you guys did it and it looks great! I have a 2014 e350 passenger van converted and don’t want to cut the ceiling. Good airflow is key in car camping
Polycarbonate (Lexan brand name example) works well, can drill, flex. Acrylic can crack if bend or drill. Polycarbonate glue I believe urethane same as glass to seal it and a few bolts to make sure the extra added weight of the air vent doesn't pull off the polycarbonate. People use polycarbonate or acrylic. I prefer polycarbonates. Someone won't come by with a hammer and break polycarbonate. Acrylic will be harder, more shine to it like glass.
@@campcramped it’s a roof fan ! And it’s also an opportunity for people to break into it by doing that. Why not just have windows you can open with fans situated inside, or a portable aircon system
Check out the detailed build video: ua-cam.com/video/kvGlhQ7Loyo/v-deo.html
People take up valuable roof space by putting the 'trendy' Maxair fans and then they have to play Tetris with their solar panels and then find they do not have enough solar to power their appliances when they could have put vent fans in the vertical walls and saved the whole roof for maxing out their solar energy production. Great job putting it in the back window.
thats cool! commenting so i can see this video back for inspiration when i make my own mini campervan
I like this option.
Great idea
Great idea 👍🏻👍🏻
great idea!
so cool to see this as I came up with the same idea since roof real estate is at a premium, I figured ventilation doesn’t really have to be at the top. It can be on the side so what I did is the same thing you’re doing but its for my mini split that will be internal. I’m also placing a secondary fan on my cab partition with my windows (with the rain guards) slightly open in the front cab. this will still allow cross ventilation, but without a secondary external cut out.
Nicely done, great use of space. I almost installed similar vent with rain cover through back door glass area but wanted to stealth my van more hiding the air vent on roof. Otherwise I would use the back door glass as you have, and roof space for an extra solar panel.
True, you can install a small profile fan under the solar panel.
I can't really find anyone to do that window thing but i found someone who can do the roof thing so probably going to go with roof. I have no tools or skills so..
No such thing as a stealth van. Not when there’s a million videos on vanlife
This would make a 2 for 1 on the side above where the food is cooked.
Roof vents create ideal air flow, same as a house you pull hot air from ceiling because hot air rises, then if you have an inlet near floor it can pull in cooler air. Plus it's more stealth. But this is a good idea for anyone who doesn't want to deal with possible leaks if not done properly.
i did this because i wanted to fully use my roof for solar
This is such a good idea
This is a game changer for my plans with a transit connect. I cant believe I've never seen it before. Thank you! What fan did you go with?
Glad it helped! The fan I used was from Amazon. It's no longer available. It's an 11" 12V vent fan with manual crank opening, 3 speeds out, 2 speeds in.
How you getting on with the van ? Have same one 2018 connect ! Long wheel base. About to make a start
There is a perfect reason why you haven't seen this done before. Want to take a guess why?
@@scoutfinch47okay. I’ll bite. Why? Leaks?
excellent Idea
Thanks!
Now you got a hole perfect for creeps to easily stare at you through the night😂
Damn Didn't Think About That☹️
you have to be pretty tall to do that, and the fan will be on so visibility will be obscured. Moreover, the shroud that comes up will also discourage peeping-toms. if that ever happens, a little bit of OC spray will discourage the curious. just make sure it’s blowing outward. 😂
Great choice side fans for ventilation.
Nice idea, now you guys can just back up to it and fart out the back!
😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for uploading. Not being a trouble maker just in the summer my van roof gets very hot so the upper area inside the van is very hot. With the fan mounted in the window does it still remove all of the hot air fast enough to keep the entire are feeling as fresh as outside?
I figure, proper ceiling insulation (spray foam for me) and solar panels dominating the real estate on the roof would take care of that heat issue. I will have three residential 410 W solar panels, taking up most of the roof area.
Plus, I have a residential mini split cooling my van so that would not be a problem.
😲 mind blown!. How do you take the glass out? Tutorial? Or will they do it at the body shop
Check out my tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/kvGlhQ7Loyo/v-deo.html
Do you have footage of how he did this?
Fan on the roof is great for cooking
Smart
big advantage when using roof rack.
big thule rack wont fit on roof with a maxx air ran.
long surf boards. any object 90inches plus will run into the fan on the roof..
see ya out there...
There are plenty of options to get your rack over your vent.
Good if you're just going on a nice little vacation and then coming back home. Terrible if you're going to be a full-timer. Still, clever idea.
Why is it a bad idea?
I thought you guys had a video to show how you guys installed this window vent
We do, yes! Check out the link in the pinned comment, or find the detailed video on our channel.
The way y'all installed it is spiritually taxing
where do you get this
Check out my detailed video: ua-cam.com/video/kvGlhQ7Loyo/v-deo.html
Do you have any issues with the wires going across like that?
No issues and it's been 2.5 years and on dozens of trips. I left enough slack in the wires so the door can still be opened. They are also located up high on the window so have less chance of getting caught on something, and are protected in split loom.
Hi.😃Great idea. Is there wood of the same shape, backing the Plexi glass?
And did you use heat to get a curve in the Plexi glass. Last question.😁 Did you use rivets or bolts or both?🤔 Thanks for your answers.
Great questions. I'll make a more detailed video and add the link here when I do.
There is wood backing the frame of the fan, but not the whole window. The fan is meant to be installed in a panel (roof) with minimum thickness of about an inch. The wood frame fills this.
I did not use heat to curve the plexiglass. I left it flat but it flexed a bit as I tightened everything up. I was concerned it might crack in cold temps on rough road but it never has.
I used the existing bolts from the original window (qty 4) and added 4 more stainless bolts with large washers to clamp the window securely in the door. Also a solid bead of sealant all around beforehand.
Will be also waiting for that detailed video.
I’ve had this idea for a while now but never pulled the trigger. Glad to see you guys did it and it looks great! I have a 2014 e350 passenger van converted and don’t want to cut the ceiling. Good airflow is key in car camping
The detailed video is up! ua-cam.com/video/kvGlhQ7Loyo/v-deo.html
@@telejkinthe detailed video is up! ua-cam.com/video/kvGlhQ7Loyo/v-deo.html
Yea that’s great but what is I’m changing my cloth and someone walking by
It's nearly impossible to see in and when the cover is closed you can't see in at all.
Close it before you change....duh...😂
What material is the window glass replaced with
Black plexiglass
Polycarbonate (Lexan brand name example) works well, can drill, flex. Acrylic can crack if bend or drill. Polycarbonate glue I believe urethane same as glass to seal it and a few bolts to make sure the extra added weight of the air vent doesn't pull off the polycarbonate. People use polycarbonate or acrylic. I prefer polycarbonates. Someone won't come by with a hammer and break polycarbonate. Acrylic will be harder, more shine to it like glass.
Can you open it for air during rain?
Is a frog's butt watertight? You betcha!
And the mesh screen keeps bugs out 👍
That just makes it easier for thieves to break in it.
It would be easier to break out a door window 😂
Yeah but someone can just reach in and open your van now.
No, no. The fan cover can only be opened from the inside, then there is a screen with support arms, and the fan motor, fan blades, etc. in the way.
@@campcramped 😂 you must live in the country then.
Air will not flow into or out of a van unless there’s two openings for cross ventilation
Front two windows of the van.
haha Brilliant Like there's no other window in the vehicle Our planet is doomed
Looks silly, and a waste of time doing all the electric hook up. If it’s sealed and done properly on the roof there should be no issue with it.
This is for those, like me, that don't want to cut into the roof. I like that it requires no permanent changes to the van.
@@campcramped it’s a roof fan ! And it’s also an opportunity for people to break into it by doing that. Why not just have windows you can open with fans situated inside, or a portable aircon system
@@MrBatchy123you mean they could rip the fan cover off? They could also break the glass of any of their other windows!
@@juliejules7780 rip the cover off. They can rip the full lot out. I’ve never known anything so ridiculous.
@@MrBatchy123 I was thinking about doing this and changed my mind lol.
Great idea.