Since my ALFA Ideal 5th Wheel has a basement air conditioner, the ceiling fan plays an integral part in cooling and heating the 5th Wheel. My original ceiling fan, while still working, was no longer moving the amount of air that it used to when the rig was new.
Since I live in the Southwest U.S., air conditioning is an important part of enjoying the camping experience. So, I decided to upgrade the old fan. In my Alfa Ideal coach, proper cooling depends on a working fan that can circulate air properly within the coach.
One problem that I had with this repair was that a replacement fan would need to clear the top of the slide out as it was being hauled into the coach. The trick was finding a fan that would fit into the restricted space and tuck neatly above the slide unit as it was hauled in.
Finding the right fan replacement turned out to be easier said than done. I found that many fans are advertised as low clearance models but when I checked them out, the fan housing was too large to clear the slide.
I finally found one that had the right dimensions to fit the area. I installed it where the old one had been. The new fan cleared the slide – not by a lot – but enough to make it a usable replacement. The airflow was immediately improved with the new fan and the rig cooled more efficiently.
Trying to find a fan that fit the dimensions needed for this replacement was the most difficult part of this job.