Maxxair vs Fantastic Fan – Who Makes The Best?

If you have ever spent time in an RV, especially in the summer months, then you know how quickly it gets stuffy inside the van when you’re not diving. There isn’t really a want to get the air inside moving and even with all the windows and doors open, it can feel a little bit like a sweatbox.

So, what’s the solution to all this? As you might expect, it’s a roof fan. By adding a roof vent fan to your RV you’ll be able to create all the airflow you need to stay comfortable inside without having to open all the doors and windows. But, not all RV roof vent fans are made equal and we are here today to compare two of the best – Maxxair vs Fantastic Fan.

In this article, we are going to compare the best Maxxair vs Fantastic Fan models head-to-head so you can pick the right one for your RV.

Installation

When it comes to installation and the Maxxair vs Fantastic Fan, they are equally as easy to fit into your RV roof.

Most RV roof hatches are 14×14 inches, and both the Maxxair & Fantastic Fan slot perfectly into this sized hole.

If you’re swapping out an old fan or adding one of these to an existing vent, all you’re going to need is a few hours of time plus some tape and sealant to get these installed, everything else required for the installation is included with both fans.

Not all vans come with a 14×14 inch vent, so you might end up having to cut a hole to install these or expand an existing one, so be prepared for that.

If you have solar panels on your RV roof, you might have a little trouble with the Maxxair depending on your solar layout.

The rain cover on the Maxxair sticks out an extra 8 inches beyond the 14 inches, so it’s worth doing some measuring before buying or installing it.

Fan Speeds & Direction

Fan Speeds

When it comes to Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan in the realm of fan speeds, they are pretty well matched.

The FanTastic Fan 7350 comes with a whopping 14 speeds which can be controlled manually or left to be automatic and controlled by the thermostat.

This allows you to sit back, relax, and let the FanTastic Fan decide or alter the fan speed to suit you.

The Maxx Air 00-07500K MaxxFan Deluxe has 10 speeds, so 4 less than the FanTastic Fan 7350 but this will still give you a great amount of control over how much ventilation you want.

The Maxx Air also gives you the choice to control the 10 fan speeds manually or you can let it run automatically with the thermostat.

Overall, both fans are pretty equal when it comes to speeds but the Fantastic Fan wins by a close margin.

Fan Direction

Both the Maxxair Deluxe and FanTastic Fan 7350 come with dual-direction fans. This means you can use either fan to blow air into your RV or an extractor fan to pull air out of the RV.

This comes in handy, especially when you’re cooking up a big meal, as you can turn the fan into extraction mode to pull smoke and smells out quickly and efficiently.

Power Drain

It’s always important to know how much power any RV appliance is going to draw from the house bank, after all, it’ll affect how often you need to rush to a trickle charge.

When looking at the power draw of both of these fans, there is a clear winner, the Maxxair Deluxe.

The Maxxair fan draws just 0.17 amps per hour at its lowest speed and 2.66 amps per hour at its highest speed.

In comparison, the FanTastic Fan 7350 is very power-hungry. At this fan’s lowest setting it pulls 1.86 amps per hour, which is a hell of a lot more than the 0.17 amps per hour of the Maxxair.

If power consumption and efficiency are high on your list, then the Maxxair 00-07500K MaxxFan Deluxe is the obvious choice.

The power consumption of either fan is not going to put a dent into your RV house bank though, especially if you have a solar charging system, so don’t make your decision based just on this.

Construction & Durability

So Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan, which one is going to last the longest?

Again, both of these fans are pretty well stacked against each other and are well put together. No matter which one of these RV fans you choose, they will last but there are some cons to both which you need to be aware of.

The main difference between the Maxxair Deluxe and the FanTastic Fan in terms of construction is found in the lid.

The Maxxair comes with 2 crank arms that hold up the vent lid and the FanTastic Fan only has one. This means the Maxxair is sturdier and can be left open while driving and in high winds with less risk of damage than the FanTastic Fan.

When it comes to fan design, quite a few customers complain about the noise of the Maxxair fan. The blades seem to be out of balance and thus create a loud noise when in use, especially at higher speeds.

When it comes to the fan blades on the FanTastic fans, they are well aligned to give a quiet operation at all speeds to ensure your peaceful surroundings are affected by it.

Both of these fans have some issues with the vulnerability of their electronics. Although Maxxair fans have a rain shield, the electronics are close to the intake vent and can easily become damaged with moister build-up.

The FanTastic Fan comes with a rain sensor that automatically closes the lid when needed. If you leave it doing this automatically, you should be fine, but if you bypass the rain sensor and leave the lid open, the rain might hit the electronics and fry the system.

Features

Remote Control

Both the FanTasticFan 7350 and the Maxxair Deluxe come with remote control. This is such a useful feature as you can turn the fan on, off, and change the settings while driving or while in bed.

Waking up hot or cold in the night is one thing, but having to get out of bed and walk to the fan controls is another, and the remote saves this hassle.

Also, if you’re on the shorter side, reaching the vent can be a little tricky, so remotes are a win again.

The only difference between the two remotes is that the Maxxair remote uses infrared so it will need a line of sight to work.

Rain Sensor Vs. Rain Shield

This is one of the key differences between these two fans. The Maxxair comes with a rain shield and the FanTastic Fan comes with a rain shield, so what’s the difference?

The rain shield on the Maxxair allows you to use the fan while it’s raining, with the vent open, blocking any moisture from coming into the RV.

The FanTastic Fan 7350 has a rain cover with a sensor that automatically closes when it detects moisture. This is handy but it can be a little sensitive and close when a drop hits it or it detects moisture while you’re cooking.

You can bypass the rain sensor as I already mentioned, but you had better remember to shut the lid when it rains or you could fry the electronics.

Thermostat

Both the FanTastic Fan and the Maxxair come with a built-in thermostat that can be set to your desired temperature and will automatically change the fan speeds to suit and shut off when the temperature is reached.

The FanTastic Fan thermostat seems to work a little better than the Maxxair as the Maxxair doesn’t always turn off when it’s meant to and it can run noisily all night long.

Price

When it comes to pricing, the FanTastic Fan 7350 is a lot more affordable than the Maxx Air 00-07500K MaxxFan Deluxe.

It’s not a small price difference either, the Maxxair is almost 30-40% more expensive, so the FanTastic Fan 7350 is the clear winner here.

Verdict

So, which one should you choose in the Maxxair vs FanTastic Fan debate?

Well it’s a tough call and the main points to consider are, in my eyes, are the price and whether you want your fan to work in poor weather conditions?

The FanTastic Fan is far more affordable and works extremely well, just not when it’s raining. If you only need a fan when it’s nice and warm out, this is the option I’d go for.

If you live in your RV or spend a lot of time in it, having a fan like the Maxxair which you can use no matter what the weather is like outside is a useful thing to have.