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01-19-2017, 08:35 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Long Beach, Washington
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19 "Tortuga"
Posts: 200
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broken frame Maxx Air
has anyone had a catastrophic failure of their Maxx fan? The framework that raises/ lowers the lid has parted in 2 places, on each side. The first failure was the middle of the arm, 6 months later the other arm broke right off at the attachment to the base.
I have an email in to Maxx but was wondering if anyone else has seen this issue?
looks like the lid might come off then replace the frame. nasty job, methinks. If I can get the parts.
Last summer I had to replace all electronics, switch, etc. on it due to corrosion. I do live at the coast but....
Not Maxximumly happy right now.
steve
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01-19-2017, 09:47 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Janesville, WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 (sold) Escape 21 2014
Posts: 1,879
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I had a different issue, matter of fact I still have the issue. Calling Maxx Fan was not pleasant. After a long wait I received a most unhelpful support person. They said this is what you need for a fix and after some cajoling on my part they agreed to warranty the parts. The parts did arrive, almost three months later to the day. Not sure what was going on. At any rate it did not fix the problem. Not sure I will bother to call them again.
__________________
Paul and Janet Braun
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 now 2012 Toyota Sequoia V8
Escape 19' 2010 now 2014 Escape 21'
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01-19-2017, 09:52 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flatpick
has anyone had a catastrophic failure of their Maxx fan? The framework that raises/ lowers the lid has parted in 2 places, on each side. The first failure was the middle of the arm, 6 months later the other arm broke right off at the attachment to the base.
I have an email in to Maxx but was wondering if anyone else has seen this issue?
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I haven't heard of that Steve. Is there a chance that you towed with the vent lid up, and maybe it stressed the hinges?
If you can get them to send you the parts, it's not that difficult to replace the entire fan. Biggest hassle is the caulk removal and re-application.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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01-19-2017, 10:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Ok, you say it is the frame, but do you mean the frame that is attached to the fiberglass? This is just an insert and does nothing but hold the fan in place. The lid is replaceable or the entire fan.
Procedure: remove the trim piece on the inside. Fish the power and grown wires out and clip them. You will want to put male/female quick connects on these for the future to make work on the fan easier. Raise the lid to full upright position. Go outside and on each side of the fan you will find two screws. Remove them on both sides (This is all that holds the entire fan to the trailer.)
Go back inside and gently push up on the fan to loosen it. The foam wants to hold and it is easier to push from the bottom. When free, go back outside and grab the fan and lift straight out of the hole.
Take to your work bench to replace the lid, or insert a new fan (say one with the remote and the smoke cover.) A new Maxx Air will fit in the older frame. The frame on the trailer is what is screwed and caulked in place. As I said, it is unlikely that this is what was damaged.
Removal of the fan is now how I clean it once a year or every other depending on how dirty it is. It is much easier to remove it than to try and drop the screen and clean it while it is on the trailer. Reinstall in reverse order.
Other than paying for either a new fan or lid, very easy job.
Good luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flatpick
has anyone had a catastrophic failure of their Maxx fan? The framework that raises/ lowers the lid has parted in 2 places, on each side. The first failure was the middle of the arm, 6 months later the other arm broke right off at the attachment to the base.
I have an email in to Maxx but was wondering if anyone else has seen this issue?
looks like the lid might come off then replace the frame. nasty job, methinks. If I can get the parts.
Last summer I had to replace all electronics, switch, etc. on it due to corrosion. I do live at the coast but....
Not Maxximumly happy right now.
steve
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__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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01-19-2017, 10:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
I haven't heard of that Steve. Is there a chance that you towed with the vent lid up, and maybe it stressed the hinges?
If you can get them to send you the parts, it's not that difficult to replace the entire fan. Biggest hassle is the caulk removal and re-application.
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See my other post. There should be no reason to remove the caulk. A new fan will fit in the old trim piece that is screwed and caulked to the trailer roof.
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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01-19-2017, 10:41 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by techfan
See my other post. There should be no reason to remove the caulk. A new fan will fit in the old trim piece that is screwed and caulked to the trailer roof.
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Good to know. I thought that "trim piece" was a flange for the housing. That makes it super easy to swap out.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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01-19-2017, 11:23 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fudge_brownie
I had a different issue, matter of fact I still have the issue. Calling Maxx Fan was not pleasant. After a long wait I received a most unhelpful support person. They said this is what you need for a fix and after some cajoling on my part they agreed to warranty the parts. The parts did arrive, almost three months later to the day. Not sure what was going on. At any rate it did not fix the problem. Not sure I will bother to call them again.
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Curious about any Maxx fan issues. Care to elaborate on the problem, what they suggested and why it isn't fixed? I know everyone swears by these fans but I had far fewer problems with my old Fantastic fan. Thanks.
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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01-19-2017, 11:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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My buddy was following me once and alerted me that my MaxxFan lid was bouncing up and down. I had left it open, but not locked it in place. I can see that something like that could cause damage.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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01-20-2017, 07:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Janesville, WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 (sold) Escape 21 2014
Posts: 1,879
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On my Maxx Fan the lid will not stay closed. After driving I can enter the trailer and find there might be 1-2 inches of play in the lid. This occurs after carefully tightening or closing the lid and then doing a positive push to lock the black knob.
Maxx Fan sent me a replacement black knob with screw but that did not help. I still frequently find it partially opened.
The removal process sounds like something to file away. I may have to resort to a new unit.
__________________
Paul and Janet Braun
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 now 2012 Toyota Sequoia V8
Escape 19' 2010 now 2014 Escape 21'
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01-20-2017, 09:30 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Long Beach, Washington
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19 "Tortuga"
Posts: 200
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thanks! I have an email into them to try and get the replacement hinge arms. Might be easier to replace the entire unit, tho I just spent $70 replacing the switch and electronics. RRRR. I try to fix instead of replace when possible. Agreed on the CS @ Maxx. Getting the switch sorted was a PITA. The person I talked to assumed I was a technician and really talked down to me when he found out I was a DIY consumer!
steve
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01-20-2017, 10:05 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Houston, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19 aka "Bon Temps"
Posts: 267
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Quote:
Originally Posted by techfan
Ok, you say it is the frame, but do you mean the frame that is attached to the fiberglass? This is just an insert and does nothing but hold the fan in place. The lid is replaceable or the entire fan.
Procedure: remove the trim piece on the inside. Fish the power and grown wires out and clip them. You will want to put male/female quick connects on these for the future to make work on the fan easier. Raise the lid to full upright position. Go outside and on each side of the fan you will find two screws. Remove them on both sides (This is all that holds the entire fan to the trailer.)
Go back inside and gently push up on the fan to loosen it. The foam wants to hold and it is easier to push from the bottom. When free, go back outside and grab the fan and lift straight out of the hole.
Take to your work bench to replace the lid, or insert a new fan (say one with the remote and the smoke cover.) A new Maxx Air will fit in the older frame. The frame on the trailer is what is screwed and caulked in place. As I said, it is unlikely that this is what was damaged.
Removal of the fan is now how I clean it once a year or every other depending on how dirty it is. It is much easier to remove it than to try and drop the screen and clean it while it is on the trailer. Reinstall in reverse order.
Other than paying for either a new fan or lid, very easy job.
Good luck.
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techfan,
Don't even have my trailer yet but so much appreciate your info on repair/replace of the Maxx fan. Hope I never have a problem with if I do it it will be a "breeze" to fix following your technique. Thanks for posting.
__________________
Mike and Donna
Laissez les bons temps rouler
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01-20-2017, 11:03 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
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I am surprised that the fan would be caulked in. It should have been put in with Butyl tape and that is very simple to remove clean and reinstall. If it is caulked in and you replace it, I would highly recommend you reinstall it using Butyl tape.
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01-20-2017, 11:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg A
I am surprised that the fan would be caulked in. It should have been put in with Butyl tape and that is very simple to remove clean and reinstall. If it is caulked in and you replace it, I would highly recommend you reinstall it using Butyl tape.
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Only the exterior trim piece is screwed and caulked AND I suspect has tape underneath also. The fan unit inserts into this trim piece and has sealing foam tape in the channel it rests in. Why remove the trim if you don't have to?
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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