is a 2nd maxxfan a good idea?

[Jordan]

I am buying a new 19' and live in the PNW where Air Con is rarely used. I also plan to boondock 90% of the time. I am considering not getting the Air Con and instead getting a 2nd maxx fan. My two quesitons are:

1) does anyone have a view if resale for a trailer located in BC might be impacted by not having Air Con, and

2) if I do not get Air Con, does anyone have a view if paying $350 for a 2nd Maxx Fan makes sense.

(I did do a search on this topic, and know there is one prior thread on this from 2016, but I would like to hear any additional thoughts).

Thanks for your thoughts,
Jordan

[cpaharley2008]

All Escapes come prepared for a/c and easily added later. Several members have gotten the dual maxxfan set up also.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

All Escapes come prepared for a/c and easily added later. Several members have gotten the dual maxxfan set up also.

Yup - that is what makes this tough. I wonder if buyers in BC are partial to Air Con?

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Jordan

I am buying a new 19' and live in the PNW where Air Con is rarely used. I also plan to boondock 90% of the time. I am considering not getting the Air Con and instead getting a 2nd maxx fan. My two quesitons are:

1) does anyone have a view if resale for a trailer located in BC might be impacted by not having Air Con, and

2) if I do not get Air Con, does anyone have a view if paying $350 for a 2nd Maxx Fan makes sense.

(I did do a search on this topic, and know there is one prior thread on this from 2016, but I would like to hear any additional thoughts).

Thanks for your thoughts,
Jordan

It would be hard to sell a non A/C trailer down here.

Also, if you plan to travel to the south during the fall/winter/spring, remember it's not uncommon to have temps in the 90's in the south while it is snowing up north.

[Bakes99]

We almost didn’t purchase A/C but decided to get it last minute at the purchase process. We do some camping in the Okanogan and glad we went with it.. we don’t use it often, but when we did, it was like winds directed from the heavens. Last year, we hit Oosoyoos and ended up using it frequently.. most of our long weekends are at provincial parks so sits there idle.
I think resale is probably the biggest reason we went with it. If you are competing with other trailers that already have it, it may be looked at as a job that a potential purchasers doesn’t want to have to deal with.
(All errors courtesy of big thumbs and small iPhone)

[GoCampBC]

We also saw limited use in the AC mainly due to the fact we are rarely at powered sites. We did a 32 day trip this summer and were only at powered sites for a couple days and only while in transit. We opted for a second Maxx fan as we felt it would be more effective in circulating air on hot days. We were in 30+ degree heat in Yellowstone and it did get quite hot in the trailer, but there were no hookups, so AC wouldn't have helped either! We confirmed it would be easy and cheap to add later, so a potential buyer could easily have it installed as you are close to the factory.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by GoCampBC

We also saw limited use in the AC mainly due to the fact we are rarely at powered sites. We did a 32 day trip this summer and were only at powered sites for a couple days and only while in transit. We opted for a second Maxx fan as we felt it would be more effective in circulating air on hot days. We were in 30+ degree heat in Yellowstone and it did get quite hot in the trailer, but there were no hookups, so AC wouldn't have helped either! We confirmed it would be easy and cheap to add later, so a potential buyer could easily have it installed as you are close to the factory.

Thanks - sounds like your thinking is similar to mine. Do you like the 2nd maxxfan or is it redundant?

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Thanks - sounds like your thinking is similar to mine. Do you like the 2nd maxxfan or is it redundant?

You can set one to IN and one to OUT.

[Doug2000]

Get the AC.

We often camp at Algonquin Park, 3 hours north of Toronto. In the summer we have never used AC. I actually hate the AC. There loud and disturb environment. That being said we did one camp trip (between trailers) and we were tenting it, it was 100F. We were with a group of friends and didn’t want to leave. Made the best of it. Since then we won’t have a trailer without AC.

I don’t see a need for a second Max Fan. They move a lot of air and you have lots of windows. What I would suggest, I saw on another thread here, I think it was user Eggscape, is change out 1 or 2 of the captains lights and change them to 12V fans. Maradyne makes a nice fan. That way you can run the 12V fans late into the night and not draw in cooler air.

Also consider the power draw of another Max Fan. It may run down your batteries.

[GoCampBC]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Thanks - sounds like your thinking is similar to mine. Do you like the 2nd maxxfan or is it redundant?

We do like the setup and are happy with our decision. We rarely spent time in the trailer during the day and find it cools pretty fast by bed time. Our only concern is our ability to leave the dog in the trailer during the day without setting an internal temperature. That said, we rarely have hookups so AC wouldn't help!

[Marry]

Originally Posted by Jordan

I am buying a new 19' and live in the PNW where Air Con is rarely used. I also plan to boondock 90% of the time. I am considering not getting the Air Con and instead getting a 2nd maxx fan. My two quesitons are:

1) does anyone have a view if resale for a trailer located in BC might be impacted by not having Air Con, and

2) if I do not get Air Con, does anyone have a view if paying $350 for a 2nd Maxx Fan makes sense.

(I did do a search on this topic, and know there is one prior thread on this from 2016, but I would like to hear any additional thoughts).

Thanks for your thoughts,
Jordan

Hi, and congratulations on getting a 19 Escape!
Ours has only one maxx fan and no ac. And are happy with it. The one thing we did differently, is having the maxx fan in the front by the dinette instead of by the bed.
We chose that location mainly to avoid the maxx fan’s humming sound when sleeping.

[MyronL]

Here's our second "maxi-fan," $6 at WallyWorld. Works good.

Opted for no A/C in my initial build but, -- a year later I bought one online. Was a big savings over the factory install. It has been rarely used. I did it because I thought the addition might potentially increase re-sale interest and, really just wanted the personal satisfaction of putting one in myself.

Cannot imagine any benefit to spending big bucks for a second Maxi Fan. Think no need to run two. Open one window and turn ours on exhaust and it creates an excellent breeze. The little WallyWorld fan is a nice supplement.

Disclaimer: The above has never been tested in an Arizona really high-high summer environment. (But only mad dogs and Englishmen would camp out in that mid-day sun.)

[Jesse]

Originally Posted by Jordan

I am buying a new 19' and live in the PNW where Air Con is rarely used. I also plan to boondock 90% of the time. I am considering not getting the Air Con and instead getting a 2nd maxx fan. My two quesitons are:

1) does anyone have a view if resale for a trailer located in BC might be impacted by not having Air Con, and

2) if I do not get Air Con, does anyone have a view if paying $350 for a 2nd Maxx Fan makes sense.

(I did do a search on this topic, and know there is one prior thread on this from 2016, but I would like to hear any additional thoughts).

Thanks for your thoughts,
Jordan

We live on Vancouver Island and went with the air conditioner when we ordered our 5.0TA. We had it in a Motorhome we owned and didn’t use it often but when we did need it we were very thankful that we had it. I wasn’t concerned with resale value as much as I was concerned with comfort.

[Jordan]

Great discussion all - thanks as always!

[Rossue]

Jordan- we're like you and don't go to hookup sites and have no need for a pornerator(our theory as to why people sit in their trailers for hours with the generator on).

We contemplated the second Maxfan as we did not get the AC(and zero regrets five years later), yet are glad we instead have a crank up vent that is like a small skylight.

[SFDavis50]

I have a 2017 5.0TA with no AC a black MaxxFan 7500 with remote in the area above the stairs and a white manual 5100 where the AC would be. The white fan works like a skylight in the day time and adds some light to the back of the trailer. I use both fans often running at 20 or 30 but seldom at a high speed. The front fan is higher than the rear so often I just crack open the rear fan hood for ventilation and the sleeping area up front stays a little warmer. I live in Colorado and camp in the high country during the summer. If I need an AC I won't be camping. In mid July I camped at Brainard Lake and the 4 foot snow drift completely covered up the fire pit. A week earlier it was covering the picnic table. I like having the two fans.

[kavm]

This is an old discussion, but very helpful. We are putting together our build sheet for 2021 E5.0 and thinking about second fan vs. AC. In two minds about that. I suppose our situation will be close to SFDavis50 in Colorado, in that we aren’t likely to travel to the hot areas in the Summer or even the shoulder seasons. And, air around here (West of the Rockies?) cools down a lot in the evening. So, still pondering this question. But, if one Maxx fan is enough, we might stick to AC + 1 Maxx fan...

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by Jordan

I am buying a new 19' and live in the PNW where Air Con is rarely used. I also plan to boondock 90% of the time. I am considering not getting the Air Con and instead getting a 2nd maxx fan. My two quesitons are:

1) does anyone have a view if resale for a trailer located in BC might be impacted by not having Air Con, and

2) if I do not get Air Con, does anyone have a view if paying $350 for a 2nd Maxx Fan makes sense.

(I did do a search on this topic, and know there is one prior thread on this from 2016, but I would like to hear any additional thoughts).

Thanks for your thoughts,
Jordan

In our Sprinter van we have a Maxxfan, a opening glass sunroof, and a bus defroster fan. We also have bug screens on both the rear and sliding side door, so we can really open it up if needed. We did two month on the road last August and September, and didn't feel we needed AC. Of course we went straight up to the Michigan U P before heading west on US 2.


Diamond Lake, OR in late August 2019
Maxxfan and sunroof are visible.

We are getting an AC in our Escape 19, but, we will also be adding a bus defroster fan in the bed area to help circulate air when we don't have hookups and can't or don't want to run a generator.

A WEN 2350 inverter generator, is quite, will run the AC and is only $430 USD.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by kavm

This is an old discussion, but very helpful. We are putting together our build sheet for 2021 E5.0 and thinking about second fan vs. AC. In two minds about that. I suppose our situation will be close to SFDavis50 in Colorado, in that we aren’t likely to travel to the hot areas in the Summer or even the shoulder seasons. And, air around here (West of the Rockies?) cools down a lot in the evening. So, still pondering this question. But, if one Maxx fan is enough, we might stick to AC + 1 Maxx fan...

If when you retire , you plan on traveling or going South in the winter I would suggest getting the A/C. . We live in a Northern county in a Northern state and we would not buy a trailer without A/C . This summer when it got hot here , we parked our trailer in our driveway, plugged it in , and turned the A:C on high , it made sleeping bearable / tolerable/ possible !
An Escape is after all a “ Travel Trailer “

[Jim Bennett]

While there is no harm in a second MaxxFan if you don't get A/C, I don't really see any benefit to having one. The one installed can move a heck of a lot of air, and we have rarely turned it up very high except in the hottest of evenings. Once the sun sets we turn it down, and for sleeping we have the windows at our head cracked open a bit, and one down below, usually the galley window.

I have never once wished I had a second MaxxFan, though much of my camping is done up here, and a few longer trips down south have been in January to March, so not as hot as you might otherwise see there, but this is where A/C would be real nice.