Maxxair Vs Fantastic Fan: What’s the Best Fan for Van Life?

The debate among van lifers is huge when it comes to MaxxAir vs. Fantastic Fan. We break down pros and cons.

Ford Transit with Maxxair Vent Fan

Anyone who has spent much time out on the road in a camper van will know how downright stuffy it can get get inside the van.

Unless you’re driving, there’s no good way to get air circulating, and things can quickly get uncomfortable and stinky!

My Sprinter conversion has two cool-looking marine-grade hatches that I’d hoped would create enough airflow, but they really don’t do much, and all bets are off when it’s raining.

A great way to combat this problem, and keep things fresh in your van, is to install a campervan vent fan.

This post will explore the top two best vans for van life and compare Maxxair Vs FanTastic Fan to help you resolve this air circulation issue in your van!

There are many reasons why a vent fan is an essential addition to your van life!

  • Hot nights. Whether you’re out in the wilderness, or stealth camping in a city, you might not feel safe leaving your doors or windows open on a hot night. A campervan vent fan helps circulate air, keeping things cooler and drawing out moisture.
  • Cooking. A vent fan is a great way to remove moisture and smells from the van when you’re cooking inside and don’t want to have doors open. If you’re using a propane or butane stove, inadequate ventilation can also be a safety issue.
  • Leaving your van. Coming back to a hot, stuffy van after a fun-filled day can be really unpleasant, but you can leave a vent fan open while you’re gone without having to worry about a break-in.
  • Pets. Many van dwellers travel with their pets, and a vent fan can keep the van cool if you need to leave Fido alone while you run a quick errand. It should be said, however, that pets should never be left in hot vehicles for extended periods.
  • Efficient. Van life vent fans run on 12 volt electricity from your auxiliary battery, and use minimal power.

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Key Differences between Maxxair and Fantastic Fan Roof Vents for Vans

The Maxxair and Fantastic Fans have several things in common – they both exhaust and intake air, they fit into standard 14×14″ holes in the ceiling, they have built-in thermostats and multiple fan speeds.

But what we are most interested in are the key differences. Here’s a chart showing the differences between Maxxair vs Fantastic Fan:

MaxxAir Deluxe Fan
Fan-Tastic Fan
Product
Product
MaxxAir Deluxe Fan
Fan-Tastic Fan
Rain Cover
Rain Cover
Yes
No
Height
Height
5″
12″
Price
Price
$300-$500
$160-$300
Fan Speed
Fan Speed
All models have 10 speeds
Most models have 3 speeds, one has 14
Remote Control
Remote Control
All models
One Model
Operates with Lid Closed
Operates with Lid Closed
Yes
No
Amp Draw
Amp Draw
2.66 on high 0.17 amps/hour on low
3 on high, 1.86 amps/hour on low
Construction
Construction
Two crank arms
One crank arm

Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan: The Two Top Choices for Van Life

White van with two MaxxAir roof fans
This van build has two MaxxAir roof vents. Photo courtesy Instagram/livingontheglobe

There are many options for campervan vent fans, and I decided that this is a van life essential I can’t live without.

Since then, I’ve realized that, by far, the most popular vent fans for van life out there are the Maxxair MaxxFan, and the Fantastic Fan.

Each of these best fans for van life has a dedicated following, and the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate is quite the hot-button topic on online van life forums!

Most Versatile
Maxxair MaxxFan
  • 10 fan speeds
  • Adds 12" to van roof profile
  • Fits in 14x14 opening
  • Electric lid opening with remote control (some models)
  • Rain cover - can operate while driving or raining
  • 5 pounds
  • Twin lifting arms give fan extra stability

Several different models of the Maxxair MaxxFan are available, all with different features.

Most of these vent fans come with a whopping 10 fan speeds and work as both intake and exhaust fans.

Most of the MaxxFan models have ceiling controls for operating the vent fan, and the lid has to be opened manually. The feature-packed 7500K model, however, has a remote control for operating the fan and opening the lid electronically.

One of the most popular features of the Maxxair MaxxFan is the built-in rain shield, which allows for the vent to be left open when it’s wet outside.

The lid also features 2 sturdy lever arms, which means it’s less likely to get damaged in windy conditions.

The MaxxFan looks pretty cool, too, and its sleek, low-profile design means that when it’s closed it only adds 5″ to the height of your van.

Cheapest
Fan-Tastic Vent RV Roof Vent
  • Most models have 3 fan speeds, the 7350 has 14 speeds
  • Adds 5" to van roof profile
  • Fits in 14x14" opening
  • Lid opening and remote control depend on model
  • No rain cover, but has rain sensor on 7350 model
  • 1 pound
  • Single crank arm

Fan-Tastic Fan is owned by Dometic Group, which is a global powerhouse when it comes to solutions for mobile living.

Like Maxxair, there are several different Fan-Tastic vent fans for van life available, most of which have only 3 or 4 fan speeds.

The top of the line 7350 Fan-Tastic Fan really delivers, though, and features a remote control, electric lid opening, and 14 fan speeds.

Most FanTastic Fans come with a thermostat with an automatic shutoff function, which can really help control the temperature inside your van.

Although these roof vents for van life don’t come with a built-in rain cover, many have a rain sensor which closes the lid when it detects moisture.

FanTastic is known for having friendly after-sales customer service and a pretty cool warranty system.

These vent fans are easy to install, and, with a height of just 4.5″ when closed, have an even lower profile than MaxxFans.

Maxxair Vs FanTastic Fan: Feature Comparison

Let’s weigh in on the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate by looking at the features and performance of both fans.

Installation

Both the MaxxFan and the Fan-Tastic Fan fit in a standard 14″ x 14″ hole, so if you’re replacing an old fan or adding a fan to an existing vent hatch, installation shouldn’t be too difficult.

Fantastic fan being installed on a Chevy Astro van.
Fantastic Fan being installed in a Chevy Astro van

That being said, every van is different, and if you’re building out a van and making the hole yourself, you might need to be prepared to improvise a little.

Another important factor to consider when installing the Maxxair fan is the 8″ of extra space you’ll need at the rear of the unit to accommodate the rain cover. You could run into problems if you have solar panels or racks already installed.

In general, most people who’ve purchased and installed either of these vent fans report that installation didn’t take more than a couple of hours.

Both fans come with everything you’ll need for installation, although you’ll need to buy tape and sealant.

Fan Speed

When comparing Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan, Maxxair vent fans win out here, as most of their MaxxFan models have 10 fan speeds.

This gives you way more control over the environment in your van, plus the motors are going to be way more efficient.

Most FanTastic Fans only have 3 speeds, although the FanTastic 7350 does have an amazing 14 speeds, and has a really efficient motor.

Power Drain

The majority of FanTastic Fan models for van life really can’t compare to Maxxair when it comes to efficiency and power drain.

The 3-speed FanTastic Fans draw 1.86 amps/hour on the lowest fan speed setting. Whereas the 10-speed Maxxair vent fans draw 2.66 amps/hour on the highest setting, and a meager 0.17 amps/hour on the lowest setting.

Although it might seem like we’re splitting hairs here, any extra power drain can really start to add up, especially if you plan on staying off-grid for an extended period.

Construction

An important consideration when looking at Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan is the overall construction of each vent fan.

Both of these vent fans for van life are fairly well-constructed, with one big difference: Maxxair vent fans have 2 crank arms to hold up the lid, while FanTastic Fans only have 1.

This makes the Maxxair fans more sturdy, and they can be left open during high wind and when driving.

A common complaint among Maxxair users is that the fan is just too loud. The blades can seem out of balance, and the harmonics created when the fan is running at higher speeds can be really annoying.

This doesn’t seem to be an issue with the FanTastic fans, however.

Another issue that shows up consistently in reviews of both vent fans for van life is the vulnerability of the electronics.

Although Maxxair fans have a rain shield, the electronics are conspicuously placed near the intake vent, and can easily become damaged by moisture buildup.

The FanTastic Fan, meanwhile, comes with a rain sensor that can be bypassed. If you leave the lid open when it’s raining, though, you could fry the circuit board.

Remote Control

Fantastic Fan seen from the inside of a van
Fantastic Fan seen on the inside of a Chevy Astro van

Several of the FanTastic Fans come with a remote control, which is a boon for those who want to be able to operate the unit from their bed.

It’s also great for shorter folks who can’t reach the controls in a van or RV with a high roof.

The top-of-the-line 7500K Maxxair fan also comes with a remote, but quite a few online reviews have mentioned that the controller works via infra-red, and has to have a clear sight of the fan to work.

In general, people love the remote control option, but it’s important to remember that if you lose it or run out of batteries, you’re without a fan!

Rain Shield Vs. Rain Sensor

Maxxair fan’s raised built in rain shield. Photo: Instagram/devonbrooke

As I’ve already mentioned, the deciding factor in the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate for many people is the Maxxair’s built-in rain shield.

Although you can purchase an optional rain cover for the Fan-Tastic Fan, it’s big, bulky, and, quite frankly, doesn’t look very cool.

Dometic has tried to solve the problem by adding a rain sensor to some of its Fan-Tastic Fan models.

This is great in theory, but there are reports of the sensor working too well, closing the lid at the first sign of moisture in the air while food is cooking, and forcing unfortunate van dwellers to open all the doors and windows.

Thermostat

Most customer reviews of the Fan-Tastic Fan mention how cool it is to have a built-in thermostat that can be set to keep the inside of a camper van cool, and will shut off the fan automatically.

Although some Maxxair vent fans do have a thermostat with automatic shutoff, it doesn’t seem to function as well as the Fan-Tastic, and tends to run noisily all night.

The Maxxair can be left open while driving, though, and people love the safety shutoff features that cuts the fan if you forget to turn it off before hitting the road.

Maxxair Vs FanTastic Fan: Which Fan Is Best For You?

Ford Transit with Maxxair fan. Photo: https://nomadictortoise.com/

Trying to decide which vent fan is best for you, is the million dollar question in the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate!

Each of these vent fans for van life have loads of different models available, each with a variety of features.

In my opinion, the Maxxair Maxxfan is probably the better option for full-time van lifers who need their fan to work during rainy or snowy conditions.

After all, van life isn’t all about sunny days and warm evenings! There are countless occasions when the last thing you’ll want to be doing is cooking outside or opening doors and windows, just to make dinner. That nifty rain shield seals the deal.

The FanTastic Fan is a super-popular option, and could be the perfect option for part-timers who don’t mind the potential for the rain sensor to spoil dinner plans.

The Fan-Tastic could also be a perfect addition to a larger rig that already has a vent fan, perhaps as an auxiliary fan at the rear of the vehicle.

Maxxair Vs FanTastic Fan: At A Glance

Because Maxxair and Fan-Tastic Fan with offer so many different models, we’ve chosen 2 of each, a mid-range model, and the top-of the-line model from each manufacturer.

Fan-Tastic Vent - Model 2250
Fan-Tastic Vent - Model 7350
Maxxair MaxxFan Ventillation Fan - Model 6200
Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe - Model 7500
Product Title
Product Title
Fan-Tastic Vent – Model 2250
Fan-Tastic Vent – Model 7350
Maxxair MaxxFan Ventillation Fan – Model 6200
Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe – Model 7500
Speed
Speed
3
14
10
10
Lid Opening
Lid Opening
Manual
Electric
Manual
Electric
Ceiling Controls
Ceiling Controls
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Thermostat
Thermostat
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Rain Sensor
Rain Sensor
No
Yes
N/A
N/A
Rain Shield
Rain Shield
No
No
Yes
Yes
Intake and Exhaust
Intake and Exhaust
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Remote Control
Remote Control
No
Yes
No
Yes

We hope you’ve found this article useful! If you have any questions, or want to add to the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate, feel free to use the comments section below.

Check out more van life posts below!

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7 Comments

  1. Bill Woodruff says:

    I need a new fan, my maxxair fan separated from the flange at speed. The only reason it did not fly into traffic behind me (would not be good) was the power wires held.

    Are these the two major mfgrs? ANy other options?

    1. Kristin Hanes says:

      Wow that’s insane! We’ve used both a Fantastic fan on our Astro, and now a Maxxair fan on our Sprinter, but it’s the one that looks more like the Fantastic fan. These are the two main fans that van lifers use, but there might be more options out there if you dig around a little on Amazon.

  2. Michel Paul Cote says:

    Thanks. Nice comparison. My RV ( LTE Unity) came with 2 Fantastic fans. Noisy at low speed, and rain sensors that close the lid when you shower or cook.
    I disconnected the rain sensors, as I have covers. As for the noise at low speed, I replaced the 3 speed switch by a PWM (PULSE WAVE MODULE) , 12$ on Amazon. Infinite speed adjustment, totally silent at low speed, and .16 amp at low speed instead of 2,7 Ah.. A good solution if you don’t want to spend 1000$ to replace.

  3. Hi nicholas, nobody seems to have mentioned this but wouldnt the maxxaire rv fans allow air to flow in & out freely (without motors) which may not be too desireable in the winter time when you want to keep the heat in??

    Thx, stephen

    1. Hello!

      I believe your chart might be wrong
      It says 12 in for fantastic fan but mine is only 5
      It also says no rain cover but I have one as well!

  4. Amps/hour is not a correct unit of measurement!

  5. CT Camper says:

    I’ve found a leak around the corner of my roof fan and plan to seal it with Butyl MS Caulk. This durable caulking agent is designed to withstand severe weather and adheres to various surfaces, including rubber roofing, fiberglass, metal, PVC, glass, and wood. It’s ideal for sealing expansion joints, windows, and siding and can be applied in low temperatures. Wish me luck!

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