bunk-end lights

[sequoyausa]

I noticed that the Camp Store has bunk-end fan lights that clip to the support poles to light up the bunks. I haven't seen my popup in the dark (as yet) altho I had it set up for a few days until it rained. Where do these things plug in? The description said it plugged into some other object or a cigarette lighter or somesuch place. They sound like they would be a good investment, but they only have an 8-foot cord and I don't know if I have enough outlets. What do the rest of you do? Is there a system I haven't heard of yet?  :eyecrazy: Thanks for any info.

[wavery]

I noticed that the Camp Store has bunk-end fan lights that clip to the support poles to light up the bunks. I haven't seen my popup in the dark (as yet) altho I had it set up for a few days until it rained. Where do these things plug in? The description said it plugged into some other object or a cigarette lighter or somesuch place. They sound like they would be a good investment, but they only have an 8-foot cord and I don't know if I have enough outlets. What do the rest of you do? Is there a system I haven't heard of yet?  :eyecrazy: Thanks for any info.

I sleep when I'm in the bunk end :p . No lights allowed :J .

[dthurk]

I noticed that the Camp Store has bunk-end fan lights that clip to the support poles to light up the bunks. I haven't seen my popup in the dark (as yet) altho I had it set up for a few days until it rained. Where do these things plug in? The description said it plugged into some other object or a cigarette lighter or somesuch place. They sound like they would be a good investment, but they only have an 8-foot cord and I don't know if I have enough outlets. What do the rest of you do? Is there a system I haven't heard of yet?  :eyecrazy: Thanks for any info.

Can you put up a link to the lights you've seen?  What we're most familiar with is a fan/light that clips to the shepherd hook support in the ceiling of the bunk end.  It plugs into a 1/4 inch jack on the ceiling light in the hard roof of the camper.

[tlhdoc]

The lights plug into jacks on the ceiling lights.  They are a small jack, just a small round hole.  Check your light fixtures to see if you have them in your lights.  My 1985 did not have them, but most newer PUs do.  

[pvero]

Do the fans work very well?  Any other suggestions for fans?

[dthurk]

Do the fans work very well? Any other suggestions for fans?

The fans work well.  We use ours primarily to move air through the bunk ends when we're camping in colder weather with heaters on in the camper.  They help circulate air, otherwise the bunkends get no heat.  We'll have them on in warmer temps, but if all the windows are open, nature does a better job than the fans.  
 
The lights are rather dim.  Actually, we modded out 2 battery fan/lights we bought in WalMart for $12 each to work like the $80 models.

[tlhdoc]

Do the fans work very well? Any other suggestions for fans?

I have used mine for several years and have not had a problem with them.  They don't move a ton of air, but they help circulate the air which reduces condensation.  I would want them in any camper that I have.  I also have a Fantastic Vent Endless Breeze Fan, also sold here at PUT.  This fan moves a ton of air.  It needs a cigarette outlet type plug, to plug it in.  
 
ttp://www.popuptimes.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=5EB&Category_Code=RV

[sequoyausa]

The fans work well.  We use ours primarily to move air through the bunk ends when we're camping in colder weather with heaters on in the camper.  They help circulate air, otherwise the bunkends get no heat.  We'll have them on in warmer temps, but if all the windows are open, nature does a better job than the fans.  
 
The lights are rather dim.  Actually, we modded out 2 battery fan/lights we bought in WalMart for $12 each to work like the $80 models.

How did you do that? Was it difficult?

[dthurk]

How did you do that? Was it difficult?

It wasn't hard, didn't take too long.  Let's see if I can remember.

2 battery fan/lights from WalMart found in camping section
1 12' coiled audio cable from Radio Shack (not stereo) with 1/4 inch plugs
2 broom clips from Home Depot
2 pop rivets
If you haven't used pop rivets before, you may need to invest in a pop rivet tool.  Don't be shy, they really aren't that hard to work with.  
(use other stores if you wish, I'm not really marketing here)

Remove battery holder section from fan/light.  Save as much of the battery lead wires as you can.  Remove back from main body of fan/light.  Drill appropriate sized hole in top of fan/light body and matching hole in base of broom clip.  Pop rivet broom clip to top.  Examine wiring channels inside fan/light and drill hole the same diameter of audio cable.  Cut audio cable in half.  Feed one end through hole in fan/light body.  Knot end inside if possible (enough room) so cable doesn't pull out later.  Strip cable end to expose conductors.  Wire nut to ends of wire leads that went to batteries.  (This could be soldered for better connection.)  Replace back on main body of fan/light.

That's the most accurate description I think I can make from recall.  It's been a couple of years since I did this.  It really isn't that hard.    

Attach broom clip to overhead shepherd hook support in bunk end.  Plug light into small, same size hole in ceiling light.  Turn on fan.  Enjoy.  Ours have lasted us quite a number of camping trips so far.  At a cost of about $15 each, I can easily make another if needed.

[fritz_monroe]

Nice mod.  I can't seem to find 12V fan/light combos.  I did come across an alternative to the Coleman model.  Here's one from Carefree of Colorado.  At $35, it seems like a much better deal.

[pvero]

Thanks for the detailed mod on the fans.  We just got our PUP a couple of weeks ago.  My husband said he needed to get a rivot gun but was not sure about putting the holes in the ceiling for any mods.  I think he wants to keep it nice and new for a while.  We are coastal camping for a month in CA this summer and we will need to start the mods before we go.

Once again thanks for the tips.

[dthurk]

Thanks for the detailed mod on the fans. We just got our PUP a couple of weeks ago. My husband said he needed to get a rivot gun but was not sure about putting the holes in the ceiling for any mods. I think he wants to keep it nice and new for a while. We are coastal camping for a month in CA this summer and we will need to start the mods before we go.
 
Once again thanks for the tips.

The pop rivet goes in the fan, not the ceiling.  The ceiling light in the camper already (most likely) has the jack to plug the fan/light into.  The fan/light itself clips to the shepherd's hook.  No holes are drilled into the ceiling or any other part of the camper to do this.

[beacher]

It wasn't hard, didn't take too long.  Let's see if I can remember.

2 battery fan/lights from WalMart found in camping section
1 12' coiled audio cable from Radio Shack (not stereo) with 1/4 inch plugs
2 broom clips from Home Depot......

I just had to see these things!  I was very curious about a $15 replacement for the dealer's $50 fan/lights?  I found a bunch of them at the WallyWorld closest to my work, I visited there during my lunch break.

They are made by Wally's house brand for outdoor camping equipment, Ozark Mountain.  They are dark green plastic, normally use 6 D-size batteries, they fold in half like a book, and seem kinda flimsy.  They also feature a florescent light, not a bulb.  They currently retail for $12.98.

I am curious if the fan spins REALLY fast, even in the slow switch setting, when plugged into the PopUp's 12v, being that they were designed for 6 D-size batteries, (9v if connected in series).

[dthurk]

I just had to see these things!  I was very curious about a $15 replacement for the dealer's $50 fan/lights?  I found a bunch of them at the WallyWorld closest to my work, I visited there during my lunch break.

They are made by Wally's house brand for outdoor camping equipment, Ozark Mountain.  They are dark green plastic, normally use 6 D-size batteries, they fold in half like a book, and seem kinda flimsy.  They also feature a florescent light, not a bulb.  They currently retail for $12.98.

I am curious if the fan spins REALLY fast, even in the slow switch setting, when plugged into the PopUp's 12v, being that they were designed for 6 D-size batteries, (9v if connected in series).

You found the units I bought.  They've worked fine for us since I rigged them up.  We use them on the lower setting of 2 fan settings.  The high setting makes too much noise and moves more air than we need.  That might be OK during the day, but we don't use fans during the day.  The low setting moves enough air through the bunk end to keep us warm when using the heater.  That's what we wanted them for.  They do help also in the hotter months as a fan to cool us down.  

The light works more as a night light than anything else, we really don't use the light function.  My thinking is the fans run faster on 12v than they did on 9v.  We did use them for a night or 2 on battery power before I modded them to run on 12v from the camper.

[psparks06]

You found the units I bought.  They've worked fine for us since I rigged them up.  We use them on the lower setting of 2 fan settings.  The high setting makes too much noise and moves more air than we need.  That might be OK during the day, but we don't use fans during the day.  The low setting moves enough air through the bunk end to keep us warm when using the heater.  That's what we wanted them for.  They do help also in the hotter months as a fan to cool us down.  

The light works more as a night light than anything else, we really don't use the light function.  My thinking is the fans run faster on 12v than they did on 9v.  We did use them for a night or 2 on battery power before I modded them to run on 12v from the camper.

I picked up one of these light/fans at a garage sale a few weeks ago for a couple dollars and modded it as dthurk stated above. I have a bunk-end light that the dealer threw in with the trailer when I bought it a few months ago but it didn't have a fan on it. I saw the Ozark Mtn one and immediately thought that I could try modding it to work on 12V. It does run a bit faster on 12V and is definately more noisy on HI so I will probably run it on LOW most of the time. I still might add the broom clip to hang it from but for now, I just made a simple hook from an aluminum strip I had and mounted it to the back of the fan and hook it over the shepards hook. We'll see how that works for now.

Its a good idea and definately much cheaper than the $50 models!!

Good luck!