Maxxfan Dome orientation

[Townesw]

How does the factory orient the MaxxAir MaxxFan Dome in the bathroom? Installation instructions say orient the fan with the button towards the front of the coach but I’ve seen retrofit installations that orient it differently. 
 

Bill

 

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, Townesw said:

Installation instructions say orient the fan with the button towards the front of the coach

Yep, that's what I did, per the instructions. It makes sense the button is forward, so that it clasps the fan up front where it takes wind when towing.

Once you get to installation, the curved shape of the Oliver hulls makes it difficult! All exhaust fans are designed to be flush on a flat roof and ceiling. Torque down the screws gently, little-by-little, taking your time so the plastic frame will curve. Too bad Oliver doesn't have a small flat area for this fan in the design of their hull molds.

[Townesw]

34 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

Yep, that's what I did, per the instructions. It makes sense the button is forward, so that it clasps the fan up front where it takes wind when towing.

I took it to mean that you place the power button forward, not the release button. That’s why I posted this question, to get responses from owners whose Olivers had the MaxxAir MaxxFan Dome installed at the factory. 
 

Also, I don’t intend to pull the flange down much to form to the roof curvature. I intend to build the butyl tape up some under the front and rear of the flange where it stands proud of the surface. 
 

Bill

[jd1923]

13 hours ago, Townesw said:

MaxxFan Dome installed at the factory

Do you believe this to be a measure of correctness? I wish OTT always installed accessories correctly in our hull, but their installers made several mistakes.

When I first read "button toward the front" I also thought of the power button. But they show a sketch pointing at the release trigger with the wording, "position toward front of coach." If someone posts a different orientation, regardless of it being "installed at the factory" it would still be wrong.

13 hours ago, Townesw said:

I intend to build the butyl tape up some under the front and rear of the flange

I thought the same thing for about 50 ms when I had the new flat fan sitting on the curved Oliver roof. Then I realized, one good rainstorm while highway towing and the butyl would blow out of the large front gap and you'd have rainwater all in the bathroom. Butyl works best for sealing thin gaps.

You could 3D-print gaskets with a tall front and rear, if you have that capability. I wrote gaskets plural since the fan must be concave on the outside and convex inside.

The plastic frame will curve in place, tightening it little-by-little patiently. I took the day to work ours slowly. A hot sunny day helps to soften the plastic.

Edited 9 hours ago by jd1923

[Steph and Dud B]

Oliver mounted ours wrong, 90 degrees off, and it pops open on the highway. Follow the instructions.

[SeaDawg]

21 hours ago, Townesw said:

I took it to mean that you place the power button forward, not the release button. That’s why I posted this question, to get responses from owners whose Olivers had the MaxxAir MaxxFan Dome installed at the factory. 
 

Also, I don’t intend to pull the flange down much to form to the roof curvature. I intend to build the butyl tape up some under the front and rear of the flange where it stands proud of the surface. 
 

Bill

We did just that about 6 years ago. The butyl has held up just fine for us. Still loving that dome, and especially the light ring.

Where the fan is located in an original Elite may not be as "curved" as the newer II's. I can't tell you, as I've not bern on the roof of a II.

Modern butyl is pretty good stuff.