Installing a fan in the 2021 Ford Transit was a necessity for us. Although we got factory windows all around the van, the option for any of them to open for air was not an option. So we we chose to put a fan in the roof above our bed for air circulation. Here’s how we completed the Maxxair Fan Install on our 2021 Ford Transit.
The main building materials we used were:
- Maxxair 00-05 100K MaxxFan Ventilation Fan (Amazon)
- Tremclad oil-based rust paint (Home Depot)
- Dicor Butyl Seal Tape (Amazon)
- Paulin Aluminum Flat (Home Depot)
- Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealant (Amazon)
We taped a bag on the ceiling to catch all the little metal bits, and drilled the 4 corner holes. As you can see, On the Ford Transit, the flange fits exactly between the ridges on the roof.
Then we cut the hole. A lot of tape was used to control the cutting, and a lot of vacuuming in between to lessen the metal debris. It’s a good idea to spread drop cloths or towels around the area where the roof is cut. The metal bits that may fly out are very hot and could damage the paint on the roof, leading to future rust.
Some filing was done to smooth out all the sharp edges.
We used oil based rust paint on all the cut areas to prevent rust.
This is the flange that will hold the fan in place. We placed 3 or 4 layers of the butyl tape on the bottom of the flange to provide a secure seal to the roof of the van.
We placed it in the hole and made sure there was enough butyl tape to provide a good seal. There’s a bit of a curve on the Transit’s roof so a little more tape is needed on the sides to make a good seal.
Additional support was added underneath where the roof was the thinnest, and then it was time to drill it all in place.
The next step was to add this self-leveling sealant on top of all the screws to seal it all up and make it waterproof.
Finally, it was time to place the fan on the roof and screw it securely to the flange.
Watch our video to see how we did it, and also a few tips and tricks we learned as we were working.
2021 Ford Transit – Maxxair Fan Install
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Yours Truly …. Yula
