MaxxAir Fan: The Best Fan to Vent Air In Your RV?

We hear a lot of talk about the MaxxAir fan being the best roof vent fan available on the market today. In fact, in our post on the 3 best RV roof vent fans, we listed the MaxxAir as the #1 choice. Why? Well, that’s what today’s post is all about.

We should note up front that we don’t currently have a MaxxAir fan installed in our motorhome. That’s because we still have the Fan-tastic fans that came on our RV, and we have had good luck with them.

However, should either of our current vent fans require replacement, our first choice would be the MaxxAir.

Let’s take a look at what makes MaxxAir vent fans so popular.

What Are the Advantages of a MaxxAir Fan?

There are a number of reasons why the MaxxAir fan is a popular choice among RVers (and there are a lot of reasons why you want to have proper ventilation in your RV).

Built-In Cover

The MaxxAir fan has a built-in cover that serves as a rain shield.

This means that you can run the fan, circulating air, when it’s raining. It also means that you don’t have to worry about leaving the ceiling fan open inadvertently when you’re away from the rig and it starts to rain.

The built-in cover also means that you don’t need to purchase a separate vent fan cover. That’s one less piece of gear to buy and install. Speaking of which, if you do already have a fan without a cover, you can install one of these awesome Camco Aero-Flo RV vent fan covers (like we did in this video).

Slimmer Profile

The lack of need for a tall-ish cover to be added means a slimmer profile. The fewer things sticking up on an RV roof, the better in terms of aerodynamics, noise, and the potential for collisions with overhead obstacles, like tree branches.

Wireless Remote

With the MaxxAir fan’s wireless remote control, you don’t have to run additional wiring. This makes it so much easier to upgrade from a vent fan that only had controls built into the unit.

Reversible Fan

Older Fan-Tastic fans that were so common in many RVs for a long period of time only vented air OUT of the rig. Don’t get us wrong – they work really well (for us) and are actually capable of keeping an RV pretty cool when used in conjunction with at least one open window.

With that said, the MaxxAir fans allow for fans to blow air out or pull fresh air in (reverse direction for air intake). This has been one of the major reasons why the MaxxAir fans became a popular choice for camper van builders and RVers who were replacing their original vent fans.

Removable Screen

Another popular feature of the MaxxAir fan is that it has a removable screen, and removal doesn’t require the use of any tools. This makes it so much easier to clean.

In our case, we had to upgrade our Fan-Tastic fans with 3rd party “Pop ‘N Lock” screens at extra cost for ease of cleaning. (The current generation of Fan-Tastic fans do come with pop-out removable screens.)

Can You Drive With a MaxxAir Fan Open?

Yes, you can drive with your MaxxAir fan open.

MaxxAir says that all of their fans are designed with dual lifting arms that fully support the lid.

If you do leave your fan open while driving, MaxxAir recommends leaving it open all the way so the arms can properly support the lid as designed.

Can You Use a MaxxAir Fan in the Rain?

You can absolutely run your MaxxAir fan in the rain.

All MaxxAir fans come with the built-in rain covers we mentioned above, while most other vent fans simply have a lid that opens up to the elements.

However, with a MaxxAir fan, the built-in cover allows you to keep the vent open, even in the rain, while allowing airflow through the screen.

How Much Power Does a MaxxAir Fan Use?

MaxxAir fans are efficient in their use of power.

For example, the MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe models use about 4.5 amps while running, and about 9 amps at startup.

However, it’s important to remember that these fans have 10 power modes. You can adjust the speed of the blades, but the faster they’re spinning, the more power they’ll consume. (They’re still extremely efficient.)

Is a MaxxAir Fan AC or DC?

MaxxAir fans are designed for 12V DC systems. Installation requires a circuit capable of supplying a minimum of 5 amps to the fan.

Are All MaxxAir Fans the Same?

Not quite. Most function similarly and are flush-mounted in a standard 14″ x 14″ opening. But there are some differences, some of which are very minor.

For example, the MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe roof fans have two different model numbers – 7000k and 7500k. The difference is that the 7000k model is white and the 7500k model is a smoke color. That’s a pretty small difference but good to note to make sure you order the color you want.

Other than the MaxxFan Deluxe models, there are some other models with different features. But the MaxxFan Deluxe is the only model we’d consider, so the one we’re focusing on here today!

A fan’s ability to move air is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Both MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe models offer over 900 CFM for a strong movement of air through your RV.

The Deluxe models also offer the option of remote control. The remote control operates all fan functions including the electric lid opening.

Both fans can be run with the lid closed to circulate air (Ceiling Fan Mode) and have a built-in thermostat that displays the interior temperature. Each fan has ten blades and ten speeds.

MaxxAir MaxxFan models include a 2-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship.

So, Is the MaxxAir Fan the Best Fan to Vent Air In Your RV?

The term “best” is always a tough one to use because there’s some subjective quality to every opinion. Generally, anything we feel is “best” is the one we think would work best for us.

Our Fan-Tastic fans have worked for us since we bought our rig new in 2005. We’re full-timers, so even though they’ve started to get a bit louder than when new, it’s impressive that they’re still working after all this time.

But that hasn’t been everyone’s experience. That’s especially true with newer models, which we’ve heard less-than-flattering reports about.

One of our readers noted that their Newmar motorhome purchased new in 2017 has had numerous issues with its two Fan-Tastic fans, both of which have required replacement more than once. And when parts were needed for repair, the owners were without one of their fans for several months waiting for parts. That’s not good news, and it’s definitely an experience that would steer one toward a different choice.

Since our old fans are still working, the only reason we’d replace them is if and when they finally fail. But we’d replace them with MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe fans.

How about you? Whatever brand you have we’d love to hear about your experience with RV vent fans, good or bad.

Geek Out with Us Every Week

Join our newsletter to learn about all things RV-related. Every week we offer free tips, tricks, product reviews, and more to our online community of RVers. So, whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned expert, we’d love for you to geek out with us!

We'd Love It If You Shared This!