Posted 2008-04-14 10:20 AM (#81873) Subject: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
Hi, our "new" 1997 4 Star trailer is more enclosed than our previous trailer and has a solid studwall as well as solid manger dividers. My horses are already coming out of the trailer hot and it's only April in Texas! We have added insulation to the roof, and we want to add fans to each stall. Any suggestions on brand of fan, installation hints, locations of fans, etc? Thanks so much. And I'll post a picture of the new and improved private cowboy shower once it's completed. The info from this forum was a lot of help. K
Posted 2008-04-14 3:40 PM (#81904 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Regular
Posts: 92
Do you have two-way vents in the roof? If so, have you made sure they are open and facing in the correct direction? I was only just told yesterday that to prevent overheating the vents are supposed to let the hot air out, not cool air in. Does this advice agree with what everyone else here does?
Posted 2008-04-14 4:42 PM (#81905 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
The vent in the first stall faces to the front of the trailer and the two in the back face towards the back. They open and close but don't appear to do anything else. I think I'd like to have bars instead of solid aluminum for the manger divider and the higher part of the stud partition but I haven't tried to price that yet.
Posted 2008-04-15 3:07 AM (#81938 - in reply to #81904) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
Unless it's raining a lot, when it's warm I open the 2 way vents to the front so that air blows down on the horses while the trailer is moving. On our Logan, the hot air goes out the open side windows a lot faster than it would through the little 2 way vents.
Posted 2008-04-15 6:41 AM (#81945 - in reply to #81938) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
Well, maybe I should get another front vent installed instead or as well as the fans. The air from the one that is in front seems like it is blocked by the solid manger wall and studwall anyway. Thanks, Kate
Posted 2008-04-15 6:58 AM (#81949 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
My first two trailers had fans installed and they really helped especially when you're stuck at a light. They were positioned at the back of each stall and blew on the horses backs, heads, etc. They were installed by the trailer manufacturer so I don't know what brand, etc. I kept the 2nd trailer for 10 years, used it regularly, and both fans still worked when I sold it last May.
My current trailer doesn't have fans, but I plan on getting them installed the next time I have the wheel bearings packed.
Posted 2008-04-15 12:35 PM (#81993 - in reply to #81938) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Regular
Posts: 92
Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-04-15 1:07 AM
Unless it's raining a lot, when it's warm I open the 2 way vents to the front so that air blows down on the horses while the trailer is moving. On our Logan, the hot air goes out the open side windows a lot faster than it would through the little 2 way vents.
I'm pretty sure when you're moving you'd find that air comes in those side windows. Think about driving with your truck windows down. If you've got a dropdown open in the back air will go out that way, and it will vent out the top if the vents are facing the correct direction. Also, keep in mind that heat rises and it will want to escape out the top.
Posted 2008-04-15 12:40 PM (#81994 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Both trailers had a switch inside the DR to turn them on/off. They looked similar to the ones in the link, but the first ones were small. I liked the ones in the 2nd trailer better and they had black on the lower part.
Posted 2008-04-15 2:03 PM (#82001 - in reply to #81993) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
I should add that this trailer only has drop downs on the second and third stall and only at the head. The others are very small buss windows with screens. I've even thought about taking the screens off. I think that the insulation has helped quite a bit too. I have an indoor/outdoor thermometer with the outdoor in the horse area and the indoor in the LQ. The difference has been up to 20 degrees and that is just sitting, with no AC running. Any other suggestions for keeping the horses cool this summer? Thanks for all the advice, Kate
Posted 2008-04-15 2:05 PM (#82002 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
When hot summer towing hits here, I take out my plexiglass slide window out on the butt side, and vents open forward, and the head windows are down with screens and the girls are more than cool when we arrive...........
How is your trailer set up? What do you have on the butt side to open up, any windows on the back doors? If you can show us a pic all can help out so you don't need to put fans in the horse area.............
Posted 2008-04-15 2:51 PM (#82008 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
I had plexi before, now I only have drop downs in the 2nd and 3rd stall and very small buss windows with screens (I've even considered taking the screens off) at the head of the first stall and all three butt side. And the back has a small buss. Again, the insulation seems to have helped as the ribs are hot to touch but the insulation not so much. But, if fans will help I"m all for it. It's hot, sunny, and usually humid around central Texas from April to October. Thanks, Kate
Posted 2008-04-15 4:47 PM (#82015 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Love my fans-they were especially great during the summer in Kansas, the land of road construction. I had someone put them in for me but it wasn't a difficult job.
Posted 2008-04-15 10:31 PM (#82037 - in reply to #81873) Subject: RE: Installing trailer fans
Regular
Posts: 81
We bought a cheap fan from Wal-Mart in the automotive section and installed it in our horse trailer. Just as a trial type thing. Its seems to work pretty good but I wonder if those fans in the link someone posted would put off more air than the cheap plastic ones at Wal-Mart?? Anyone know?
Installing trailer fans
