So, you really enjoyed your nice morning hike in the woods, where the air smelled like pine and warm earth. But when you come back to your campervan or RV, it stinks like that morning’s bacon and eggs.
The air feels stuffy and hot, and you’re not excited to sit inside. Yep, that’s one sure sign you need an RV roof vent.
The best RV roof vents, which comes in a standard 14×14″ size, fits in the roof of your RV or campervan. It pops up using a manual or electric crank handle, and its fan works to circulate the outside air into your rig.
One of these handy RV roof vents is critical for air flow, whether you’re driving down the highway or boondocking in a secluded location.
A camper roof vent helps eradicate steam from a shower, cooking smells, and moisture from a humid climate.
Keeping that moisture at bay is especially important during the cold winter months when mold likes to grow.
Why not just run your motorhome’s air conditioner? It takes a lot of power, way more than a typical RV roof vent.
Picking the best RV roof vent can be overwhelming given the sheer number on the market. We wanted to give you a comprehensive analysis of the most popular vent fans out there.
RV roof vents are also great for van life, when you really need to air out a small space.
See the best 12-volt RV roof vents right now:
- It has controls at ceiling
- Thermostat
- Built-in Rain shield
- MODEL 1200 - This lightweight, compact, and durable vent fan seals tight when not in use. Powerful 12 in, 10-blade fan quickly moves air in and out of cabin.
- THREE-SPEED FAN - The core of this truly fantastic ventilation solution is a high performance rotary fan that features three blade speeds; low, medium, and high.
- NO NOISE - Warm and stale air out, fresh and clean air in. Dometic FanTastic Vent does it in a matter of minutes. It’s pleasantly quiet and energy saving, too.
- 9" fan blade
- Easy installation
- Fits select Heng's exhaust vent kits
Electric vs Non-Electric RV Roof Vents
Here we’ll break down the pros and cons of electric vs non-electric rooftop RV vents.
Electric Vent Pros and Cons
Electric RV roof vents require a 12-volt power supply and have features like thermostats, remote controls, a power crank handle, etc.
Pros:
- Has several speed settings
- Draws air in and pushes air out
- Some come with a rain cover and sensor
- Some come with a built-in thermostat to help regulate temperature
Cons:
- Needs a 12-volt electrical system to operate, which needs an external battery
- Can be noisy
- More expensive than non-electric vents
Non-Electric Vent Pros and Cons
Keep in mind that non-electric vents work to let hot air out of your vehicle as heat rises. They don’t bring air in like an electric vent.
Pros:
- Doesn’t use power
- Cheaper than electric vents
- Very quiet
- Works to dissipate heat and cooking smells
- Lets in outdoor air
Cons:
- Lacks fan sped settings
- Some don’t have a fan
The best electric roof vents for campervans and motorhomes
If you’re searching for an electric RV roof vent, there are two brands of RV roof vents that are clear winners. Both the Maxxair roof vents and Fantastic fans are good quality and durable, and made by reputable companies.
These fans are popular in the RVing and campervan community, and with good reason. The major difference between the two brands is the fact that Maxxair comes with a built-in rain shield, which lets you keep the vent open when its raining.
Both of these vans run off a 12-volt system common in campervans and RVs, and draw minimal power.
1) Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe
- It has controls at ceiling
- Thermostat
- Built-in Rain shield
Maxxair has several lines of RV roof vents, but we think the MaxxFan Deluxe is the best. It’s the only complete RV ventilation system that includes a vent, fan and rain shield all in one unit.
That’s why the MaxxFan Deluxe is top on our list when it comes to RV vent fans.
These RV ventilation vans come with 10 speed settings, so can be whisper-quiet at the lowest setting. They also include a built-in thermostat, screen, and two lifting arms, which reduces flutter in high winds.
Two of the Maxx Air fans come with a remote control, if that’s up your alley.
Here is a breakdown of the differences between the various MaxxFan Deluxe models, courtesy of Airxcel.com, the maker of the Maxxair fans.
Here is a list of the various pros and cons of the Maxx air fan.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Comes with a rain cover | Expensive |
| Two lifting arms add stability | Some reviewers say remote isn’t easy to use |
| Thermostat | |
| Acts as ceiling fan when cover is closed | |
| Low profile | |
| Low power draw | |
| Two-year warranty |
To read through the MaxxFan Deluxe’s owner manual, click here.
2.) Fantastic Fan Vent
- MODEL 1200 - This lightweight, compact, and durable vent fan seals tight when not in use. Powerful 12 in, 10-blade fan quickly moves air in and out of cabin.
- THREE-SPEED FAN - The core of this truly fantastic ventilation solution is a high performance rotary fan that features three blade speeds; low, medium, and high.
- NO NOISE - Warm and stale air out, fresh and clean air in. Dometic FanTastic Vent does it in a matter of minutes. It’s pleasantly quiet and energy saving, too.
Fantastic fan vents come in a very close second to the Maxxair brand, and are preferred by some RVers and van lifers.
They’re cheaper than Maxxair, but don’t come with the awesome cover that allows you to keep using the fan in the rain. You can purchase a rain cover for an additional cost, though, so there are options if you love the Fantastic Fan.
According to the manufacturer, Fantastic Fans are “designed for maximum air exchange, minimum sound levels and power consumption.”
There are several models of the Fantastic fan, which can be confusing, so you should be sure to browse the models and pick which one is right for you.
The key differences between the models are the number of settings, whether they come with a remote, a rain sensor and the price.
You can pick anything from a basic model to more advanced, depending on your needs.
Here are the electric models of the Fantastic Fan so you can click through and figure out which is best for you.
The company has been around for decades and is highly regarded among the motorhome community. In fact, it was recently purchased by Dometic, which makes high-quality portable refrigerators.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Very quiet | Rain sensor doesn’t always work |
| Durable | No built in rain cover |
| Affordable | |
| Some models have rain sensor | |
| Some include a remote | |
| 3-14 speed settings | |
| Built in thermostat | |
| Easy to control air flow |
See the Fantastic Fan on Amazon
4) Vortex II RV Roof Vent
- 9" fan blade
- Easy installation
- Fits select Heng's exhaust vent kits
This Vortex RV roof vent is manufactured by Heng’s and claims to move three times more air than other standard RV roof vents.
It has a 3-speed fan that either pumps air in or exhausts interior air. The unit is easy to install – fan must face downward – and only requires a Phillips screwdriver.
It gets mostly good reviews on Amazon and popular with RVers.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| 3-speed fan | Some say lower quality |
| Affordable | Can be noisy |
| Well-built | Difficult installation |
| Claims it moves more air |
See the Heng Roof Vent on Amazon
The Best Non-Electric Roof Vents
Non-electric RV roof vents are great for people who don’t feel like building out wiring to power a fan, especially in a DIY campervan.
These vents work well to let heat, smoke and cooking smells escape your campervan or RV, and don’t make a sound. They’re often cheaper than the electric fans.
Here are our top picks:
1) Fantastic Fan models 800 and 900
These static vents are weather-resistant with a high-profile base that’s easy to install.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| No wiring | No fan settings |
| Affordable | Can’t both intake and exhaust air |
| Weather-resistent | |
| Easy installation |
See the non-electric Fantastic Fans on Amazon
2) Ventline Roof vent
It comes with a crank handle to lift the lid, and a 2-piece snap out screen that’s easy to clean.
The company claims this vent is stronger than others on the market, and the crank handle has no screws that can be lost. Comes with galvanized steel roof flanges.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Static vent w/o fan |
| Sturdy crank handle | |
| Removable screen | |
| Great reviews |
See the Ventline fan on Amazon
3) Heng Roof Vent
- Galvanized metal base: Non-powered
- Designed to withstand excessive wind and weather. Standard Mount Universal Vents feature a self-centering metal base with radius corners and an interior garnish with wider 1-1/4 inch flange
- Positive-seal weather stripping and watertight
The Heng RV roof vents come with a standard metal base, flange covers for screw holes and positive-seal weather stripping.
They are watertight and interchangeable with Ventline and Exlixir products. They come with white, smoke or amber-colored lids.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Affordable | No installation hardware |
| Sturdy | Some say poor quality |
| Galvanized metal base | |
| Great reviews |
See the Heng Roof Vent on Amazon
Conclusion on The Best RV Roof Vents
We hope this guide helps you pick the best RV roof vent for your motorhome or campervan.
For an electric roof vent, our top pick is the MaxxFan Deluxe.
For a non-electric roof vent, our top pick is the Ventline Fan.
Let us know which fan you pick and how it works out. Your comment will help others decide. Good luck!
OTHER REVIEW POSTS YOU’LL LOVE:
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- The best camping stoves for awesome outdoor cooking
- The best portable toilets for camping, vans and RVs
Kristin Hanes is a journalist who founded The Wayward Home as a place to learn about alternative living. She currently lives on a sailboat and in a Chevy Astro van, and has written articles about alternative living published in Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, Marie Claire and SF Gate. Read more about Kristin here.
Susan Dunham says
Great article. I just had my second fantastic fan put in. It leaked ALOT on the 2 trips I took after it was installed. The RV place I had it Iinstalled at took care of it. I have not been out in the heat yet. I’m waiting for summer to arrive. 😀 we have to get through the winter first..
OH. I cannot find the link to the free campsites you posted. Would you please repost? Thank you
Kristin says
You actually have to enter in your email and you should be able to access it! It not, please email me kristin@thewaywardhome.com and I’ll send it to you!
RV Windows says
Keep up the great work! Thank you so much for sharing a great posts.
RV Roof Coatings says
Keeping air flowing through your motorhome can be an issue at times, especially on a stagnant, hot day. When you aren’t hooked up to power and don’t have the ability to run your air conditioning, you generally have one way to move air through your rig using RV roof vent. Seal your RV roof vents with Rubex caulk. It is very effective in sealing around RV’s vents AC’s and corners.