Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: sailors35 on January 18, 2017, 09:40:58 pm
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OK we are at the Tampa show. Wife liking much about 2351 corner bed. Then we discover due to the egress window and ladder there is only one tiny small window that can be opened for fresh air and it is not jalousie style. Anyone have practical experience with this and is it a big issue. Really are not into running air if there is a nice cool breeze. Many thanks.
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If ordering a new PC, you can request the factory install the type of window you want there. If buying a used PC, make sure what you want will fit in the opening before buying it.
We have the old style sliding windows in our 2350. They are real good for flow-thru ventilation, but easily broken into if left unlocked. The current-day top-hung windows don't allow for nearly as much air on their own, but turn on the Fantastic fan to the lowest setting, and you get a lot of air. The top-hung windows are much better for rain protection when open and you can't crawl through them either. They also are better for exceptionally windy days to control the gusts better. Also when open, they don't allow direct sunlight in on warmer days, so the interior stays a little cooler.
With our old sliders, we have a pull-down awning on the driver side dinette window to protect it when open while raining. On the passenger side we can open the main awning a foot or more to protect our open slider windows on that side, so we have a way to work our sliders just fine. But I personally prefer the current-day top-hung windows for the reasons I mentioned. Oh, they just look nicer too.
I do understand your concern. I have to admit, it is nice to sleep with our slider wide open when the conditions are right. It can feel as though we are sleeping outside.
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Here is what we do.
The egress window easily opens with two latches. We got a small length of wood to hold the window open. Be careful the window cannot be open wide as it is designed to fall out. If fact it did and we were still at the factory. Bob made us a short wooden piece to hold it open the proper amount.
Of course there is no screen. We got a piece of screening from the hardware store and velcro strips to adhere to the screen and the window frame. Then we leave the screen in place and when we need the extra ventilation we pull loose the screen prop open the window and reattach the screen.
But in most cases the fan really gets a nice breeze going through the small window.
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we have a 2016 2351. We had thermo-pane windows installed which are crank open type. They help keep cool in during summer and heat in during cool/cold weather travel. We also had three fantastic fans installed; one in the bath , one over the foot of the rear bed and one near the entrance. The resulting breeze can be a gale or a whisper depending on haw many fans you want on and how many windows are opened. Works very well as the AC is too loud for us. I would love to see Phoenix come out with a ducted AC unit. If you see Earl at the show, tell him I'll buy the first on off the line. I would also suggest building a 2351 on a E-450 chassis. Ours rides and handles very well. (Earl suggested this and was right) We had surround sound installed. Waste of money for us. The upgrade radio was a poor choice for us. Letters and numbers too small and a bad reflection making it impossible to see map or back up camera. I have the upgrade you can have. The power awning is great. I also had a higher dome installed in the shower as I am 6'3". Works well. Also had the swivel passenger seat, euro chair, and electric sofa installed. Wife sleeps on the sofa bed and likes it. Hope this helps.
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Keelhauler, how far can the emergency window be opened before it falls out? Can it be put back in place without difficulty if it does come out. I agree the small opening window does allow for fresh air when using the fan...But more is better, just dont want to get over my head if emergency window falls out.
Larry
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Since we are talking "windows".....
We appreciate our thermal panes. No broken seals yet (no fogging glass) and its been near 10 years. They are nice for a more quiet sleep in noisy places like rest areas and Walmarts of which we often utilize. They also are warm in high altitude camping when the temp drops below 50. Our rear corner bed has lots of glass so having them thermal is quite beneficial. I suppose you could request to have just the bedroom glass thermal, though not sure if it's worth it. In our 2350, it just might benefit since we can close the bedroom off from the rest of the cabin with that pleated curtain to help retain bedroom heat.
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how far can the emergency window be opened before it falls out? Can it be put back in place without difficulty if it does come out.
The stick Bob gave us was 13" long, no problem putting in or out or window falling out.
But don't push it too high. I found it easy to get it back in & closed but it was not exactly in the right place.
You could still drive with it that way.
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Well, the window by the bed is a problem for us with our rig. All the windows are something less than we would desire. We like windows that open much wider. On our previous rig, we had twin beds in the back across the van camper (Roadtrek 210) with really nice sized windows on each wall and loved to open them full blast and enjoy the sounds out in the woods and the amount of air circulation.
The windows not opening further are, in my opinion, probably the biggest complaint we would have for our PC. I think I will pursue some mod for the escape window. I didn't know it could be opened the length stated for the stick without causes problems. If you only opened it four or five inches it would quadruple the air flow. Another project for spring!
Paul
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Well, the window by the bed is a problem for us with our rig. All the windows are something less than we would desire. We like windows that open much wider. On our previous rig, we had twin beds in the back across the van camper (Roadtrek 210) with really nice sized windows on each wall and loved to open them full blast and enjoy the sounds out in the woods and the amount of air circulation.
The windows not opening further are, in my opinion, probably the biggest complaint we would have for our PC. I think I will pursue some mod for the escape window. I didn't know it could be opened the length stated for the stick without causes problems. If you only opened it four or five inches it would quadruple the air flow. Another project for spring!
Paul
Interesting input Paul. It sounds like if you could do it second time, you would request slider-windows instead. Our sliders open 40-45%, not quite 50%.
Out of curiosity, I once opened our slider escape window as if to escape. I immediately realized the importance to make sure the foam gasket was seated properly during the closing process. If not being very careful, that gasket would have folded over itself in a bad way, maybe to cause an air or water leak.
Maybe the current day design is more forgiving.
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While the larger opened widow would allow a larger volume of air to enter and exit using the fan, we may lose the "breeze" effect such as we have through the dinette and galley windows with their somewhat limited opening. Although I haven't tried it yet, I think by opening the escape window a few inches would bathe the bed in a nice breeze as opposed to a larger opening. Perhaps keelhauler has experimented with his window. With the 2350-1, the bed is flush with bottom of window.
Larry
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I read somewhere (maybe the Fantastic Fan manual) that the best way to control your air flow when using the fan(s) is to open only those windows near you (living room while chilling there, bedroom at night) and only open part way. This forces a decent volume of air to be pulled in to flow over you and cool you. Of course, if it is beautiful weather and you aren't sweating away in a dead calm, the fans aren't needed at all. We open the windows and fan vents and let the air do it's thing.
We also (inadvertently but advantageously) purchased a Fantastic Fan kit that closes in the rain AND has a switch to change from pulling air out to pulling air in. I knew I was buying the rain thing but not the in/out thing. The "in" function gives a really nice air flow wafting down from the ceiling. When needed, we turn the bath fan on low (pulls out) and the living room fan set to draw in and we can "flush" the air through the rig fairly quickly. We did not do the fan in the bedroom. I wanted fewer roof openings and space for future solar panels.
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We also (inadvertently but advantageously) purchased a Fantastic Fan kit that closes in the rain AND has a switch to change from pulling air out to pulling air in.
Can you post a link to that? Curious what all it does and if I should have one.
Thanks!
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I'm not sure if this is the exact kit we bought back in 2013 but here is a similar upgrade kit http://www.adventurerv.net/fantastic-vent-upgrade-kit-6600-wireless-remote-p-5257.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAqozEBRDJrPem0fPKtX0SJAD5sAyH6wbKa1GZzXYNa0AZmDPSS468yG2OheGeTS2ASo_AJRoCxFnw_wcB&utm_campaign=partsfeed_ppc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Froogle . We had it shipped to the factory and they installed it before we picked up the RV. They had a deuce of a time getting it up there (the steps are laid out in the manual and customer service at Fantastic Fans can help over the phone). Our upgrade doesn't have the wall cradle so we set the remote wherever and will probably put it in a Command bin at some point. What you need to achieve with an upgrade or fan is going to depend on what you have already. It would be easier to upgrade to the better fan when ordering a Phoenix instead of them installing their standard Fantastic Fan then struggling to upgrade. If you have an existing fan, you can check what model you have and what level of whistles and bells you want and upgrade accordingly.
Our upgrade bought us that air in/out, automatic closing in the rain (it reopens and turns back on once it dries out), and the remote control with temperature setting which we placed at people level. We upgraded because we had a cat on board and wanted to moderate the temps in the rig without getting rain in. We were often out for the day or in parking lots while shopping, etc. and wanted to keep the rig as comfortable as we could while on battery power. We also have the Fantastic vents that stick up a good bit (not higher than the AC unit) but allow the vent to open pretty much all the way. They are not as sleek looking as the MaxxAir but they work great. Our cat is gone but we still use the fan to keep the rig comfortable when we are out. You just push the button the remote and walk out the door.
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I got the same kit and installed it in the bathroom fan, which Phoenix had installed a basic Fantastic out only fan when I bought it. It was not that hard to replace the inside part with the new part. Mounting the rain senor required me to get on the roof if I rember correctly. If you have a problem, just call Fantistic and they are real nice about walking you through the install.
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I also put a dowel to hold window open am working on a system of attaching magnets to window frame and using the sun screen for mosquitos I plan to put a mama net on top of screen so far it has worked.
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I also put a dowel to hold window open am working on a system of attaching magnets to window frame and using the sun screen for mosquitos I plan to put a mama net on top of screen so far it has worked.
Has anyone who props open the escape window, considered replacing that window with another one that opens up adequately? Maybe Phoenix offers a direct replacement.
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When Phoenix went to frameless windows, the finding hard to put back in occurred.
But putting the prop in is easy and it is open plenty wide.