Fabulous Range Hood

[Telescopist]

Somewhere in the deep recesses of this forum there was a discussion about replacing the stock range hood with Fabulous Range Hood. I actually was able to buy a new one off of eBay before they were all gone. For 2 years it has been stashed away in the unopened box.

Recently the LED on the stock range hood went out. For @$14 I can buy a new bulb. OR... with nothing much else going on in my life, replace the stock range hood with the Fabulous. It looks to be a simple installation. Except for the fact that NOTHING ends up that way with me. Has anyone replaced the stock range hood with the the 'Fabulous'? It looks like the original is spot welded to the inside of the range hood housing? If so - just drill through the spot weld and drill new holes to mount the Fabulous? I can handle that. I think.

[davidmurphy02]

There was a long thread on that, I made a post with step by step and photos when I did mine:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post296801

[davidmurphy02]

Also here's a wiring schematic that another member posted a while back, I found it very helpful.

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

Also here's a wiring schematic that another member posted a while back, I found it very helpful.

Thanks David!

[davidmurphy02]

Just checked and saw that Amazon still claims to have a few (4) of these, doubt there will ever be any more.

https://smile.amazon.com/Fabulous-Op...9067957&sr=8-3

[Oldtimer]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

Just checked and saw that Amazon still claims to have a few (4) of these, doubt there will ever be any more.

https://smile.amazon.com/Fabulous-Op...9067957&sr=8-3

OUCH only $100.00 more than what I paid for mine

[cpaharley2008]

I never used the interior fan much to worry about upgrading, do most of cooking outside.....

[rbryan4]

The upgrade is WELL worth doing if you have the old Hengs range hood with the tin box fan. Here's a thread I did as well some years ago:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

[rotorbudd]

I installed one a couple of years ago.
It wasn't that hard a job and well worth the effort.

[Patandlinda]

One of the best upgrades for our trailer ! Pat

[7th Heaven]

I did this upgrade years ago. upgrade was straight forward .. as others have mentioned aligning the exhaust and original vent hole can be a little tricky.

stove exhaust vent works best when max fan is pulling air in while Fab fan is on.

-Dave

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by 7th Heaven

I did this upgrade years ago. upgrade was straight forward .. as others have mentioned aligning the exhaust and original vent hole can be a little tricky.

stove exhaust vent works best when max fan is pulling air in while Fab fan is on.

-Dave

Thank for the tip about turning on the max fan.

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

There was a long thread on that, I made a post with step by step and photos when I did mine:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post296801

The fan & hood are installed. From the outside, I filled the gaps with some thick styrofoam. Then I used some liquid nail to fix a bug screen over the opening. Then reattached the cowling.

I've tucked all the wires up above the hood switches with wire ties. Is there a compelling argument for custom cutting a metal cover to hide the wires?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Telescopist

Is there a compelling argument for custom cutting a metal cover to hide the wires?

No, not really - whatever works for you. As long as it's easy to clean.

[7th Heaven]

Originally Posted by Telescopist

The fan & hood are installed. From the outside, I filled the gaps with some thick styrofoam. Then I used some liquid nail to fix a bug screen over the opening. Then reattached the cowling.

I've tucked all the wires up above the hood switches with wire ties. Is there a compelling argument for custom cutting a metal cover to hide the wires?

LOL funny you should ask .. I had to go look at what I had done.
I'm sure it would be fine without but I did bend a small bit of aluminum flashing to cover the wired and switch connections

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by 7th Heaven

LOL funny you should ask .. I had to go look at what I had done.
I'm sure it would be fine without but I did bend a small bit of aluminum flashing to cover the wired and switch connections

My neck and back are already killing me from staring around the corner of the hood and up into the recesses. Cutting a custom piece of sheet metal to fit and cover these wires will be a PIA. I can't see them now they are tied up in a cluster and tuck up into the recess. Hiding them in metal shroud is undoubtedly a code thing. I've decided to fix them to the upside of the range hood with HVAC adhesive foil tape.

I removed the flapper not because of sleep interruptus. I wanted to attach a piece of door and window screen to the inside lip of the exterior-side exhaust portal in order to keep insects from coming in. The flapper would have impeded that. We aren't always going to remember to manually close the flap inside.

I applied a bead of liquid nail around the perimeter then squished the screen into it. I reattached the exhaust vent cover. The exhaust vent cover is configured to fit into slots on the stock mount. The new mount which comes with the fan does not have these slots. I like the exhaust vent cover. It acts like a mini awning.

It usually takes me 3x as long as the box or YouTube vid portrays to do a job. This was no exception. There has to be a better engineering solution to attaching the range hood other than lining up 4 spindly #10-32x2" Phillips slotted machine screws. Dumb. For a few pennies more a 2.25"x 22"x[thickness of hollow core] pieces of wood could have been glue into position. Now something really substantial could be used to attach the range hood -even the same size machines screws because at least they would be going through something substantial.

To attach the squirrel cage fan - which must weigh at least 5x the piece of junk that came with the trailer, I used #10-24x.5" Pan Phillips machine screws, washers, and nylon insert lock nuts.

[7th Heaven]

foil tape would have been a much better solution... If only I had thought of that 5 years ago. Lol

I do remember raiding the bookshelf to create the appropriately sized pile to support it while I thru bolted the hood from the overhead storage bin