Wonder why I remember the count as 17? Well, heck, if it's only 16, the job is so much easier! Yes, damaged screws, or the holes they came out of would require more care when you reinstall the vent. My screws and the underlying surface were in good shape all the times I've taken it off. I suspect this is a virtue of living in Aridzona! As a matter of fact, I've never had a problem with rusted screws anywhere on my trailer. No water damage either.

- Jack

Rather than fabricating a bracket, I found this on amazon. Made it super easy to replace the outside fan. I was surprised it wasn't cheap and flimsy. I think they make a 3 fan version too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083S4F3PW

That's a great find, joule - and yes, they do offer a three fan version.

- Jack

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AJ-...usp=share_link

Following buying my used trailer and camping with it I found the fan pretty noisy. I was going to try this modification today. I opened up the upper 17 screw metal cover and only found a screen behind it. I opened up the lower cover and didn't see anything there either. So I got my head down there at the lower cover and looked up inside and I saw a fan. Is this the mattel fan everyone is talking about? I had thought the mattel fans were installed to exhaust air out at the upper vent location.

Hi ssheffel - looking at your picture, I think a prior owner replaced the OEM fan with a different one, and he/she mounted it in a different position. My fan was in the upper access and it looked "cheap". The one you have appears to be a PC type fan but it could well be a high velocity, high RPM fan.

Yes, the OEM fan is designed to pull air up through the lower vent and out the upper vent. It should move that air through the fins you see in the access. I don't know that the fan you have does this. It looks like it might blow air in front of the fins.

It should be powered through a 12V wire with an included inline fuse. The fans I used are VERY quiet and they move air very well.

- Jack

Thanks. Yep I think they wasted their time. This fan they put in is super noisy. It's also in a horrible spot to access. I don't even know how they got it in there.

I guess I will remove it and install the fans as everyone else has, exhausting out the top vent.

Great thread. I’m dealing with this as well. The single fan on mine is behind those 17 screws and I can figure out how it’s meant to turn on.
The real problem is the water damage around that opening. Wood it rotted and that section around the vent is bowed out. Needs a total replacement.