Cutting a vent fan hole in a Winnebago Chalet roof

[NoMoApt]

Not sure why this 24ft model didnt come with a roof vent in the main cabin area, but going to add a roof vent fan.

There is A/C down the center line of the roof so want to avoid that ducting obviously, but not sure if the roof has metal spars running across the roof. If so, how do you figure out where they are and how far apart they are?

[Bea_PA]

With your bunk and bath vents open and the vented fan in the stove hood, you should get good air flow. That is what we use.

[NoMoApt]

I cut a hole directly above the stove. The fan sits right next to the A/C housng. There were a number of wires running through the middle ofthe hole that had to be lengthened, mostly lighting wires. The fan is in the best location here and works really well.

[dicknellen]

There is no vent because the roof top AC uses the vent location. I have a Chalet 24VR and I put a reversible thermostatically controlled fantastic fan in the bathroom vent, works great for the whole small RV or you could put one in the vent above the bunk. Dick
Winnebago contact info, you may want to do a second owner registration also.
Service Administration Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Phone: 800/537-1885 Fax: 641/585-6981
or @ winnebagoind.com - contacts there is an e-mail link

[tatest]

Should be no studs (that's wall framing) nor joists. Winnebago roof construction is a foam core sandwiched between Filon and luan, dropped onto a welded aluminum frame. If there are frame cross members, they will be on the ceiling side of the sandwich, let into grooves in the foam.

That's also what the AC ducts are, grooves cut in the foam. One channel runs forward from the AC, the other runs back, location of outlets shows where the ducts are.

Wiring is routed in the roof by being set into grooves before the sandwich is glued together. Winnebago usually builds harnesses to cover all the options for a given model, so if there is an optional powered ceiling vent, there should be power to the usual location for installation.

Check out the brochures and wiring diagrams for the equivalent Minnie, Outlook or Access of the same model year, to see if there was an optional vent in the area you want one. Brochures and schematics are available online for the retail models, but not for the rentals.

[j-d]

Better than a false cut in your roof. Gotta say, this project scares me.

Chalets are sold to rental fleets. It's very possible that the fleet yours went to had deleted the roof vent. I saw sale orders for Chalets that had things like Front Window Delete, Rear Window Add, Awning Delete, Shorten Rear 4" Tubing Bumper. Somebody might have thought a renter would leave the vent open and let a rainstorm in.

We can hope that another owner has dealt with this or has a 24 with the vent and could give you measurements. Make sure their A/C is ducted like yours.

And... Great Alaskan Holidays in Anchorage is major rental outfit that buys bunches of Chalets. Also a Ford, Winnebago, ONAN warranty station. Pretty squared away. Call 907-248-7777 and see if somebody in service or fleet buyer can help you. Maybe they'll have a back channel to Winnebago...

[NoMoApt]

Not sure how to call winnebago and get a person on the line who is knowlegdeable about roof stud locations...

[j-d]

You might be able to use an electronic stud finder, but I'd sure say: Call Winnebago! They are likely to have a structure plan. Tell them what you want to do.