Maxxair, Fantastic Fan, or off brand?

[dbsoundman]

Hi all, I've been looking at different vent fan options, and while most seem to favor the Maxxair fans, I've found some really unvaforable reviews on Amazon lately, which seem to indicate that their quality has gone way down. I'll admit I really like the deluxe fan that lets you run it regardless of the rain, but other than that I don't really like the idea of a computer controlled fan, definitely just creates more crap to break.

The Fantastic Fan actually seems to have similar reviews from disgruntled buyers, but a little less so than the MaxxAir.

They're both kind of pricey either way- again, if I could find the MaxxAir deluxe with simpler controls, I'd be happy, just to eliminate one more thing to break some day.

So what are your experiences with these brands? Or do you have a recommendation for a 3rd party brand?

[Tejon7]

The ability to leave the vent open in the rain was the deciding factor for me, so I quickly stopped researching other brands and went straight for the Maxxfan. I installed two of their 5301k models to start with. I believe this is the most basic version? It has manual open/close lid and only 4 fan speeds. Still expensive, but we like them so much that we ordered a third for the bedroom.

This review isn't super useful, since I have no experience with other vents to compare against. But the Maxxfan gets a thumbs up from me

[PhilipE]

My current van has a older Max air 3 spd model. My previous camper had a fantastic fan. The fantastic model was a 4 spd. At low speeds the Max air is louder. It was loud enough we would just turn the A/C on. Both had about the same noise level. Plus the A/C would remove any moisture faster.

My last trip out the Max air died in my van. Tihs is an older model Max air. It was installed in 2006 by a up fitting company when the van was new. It will get a fantastic as a replacement.

[TheHubbardBus]

Originally Posted by PhilipE

My current van has a older Max air 3 spd model. My previous camper had a fantastic fan. The fantastic model was a 4 spd. At low speeds the Max air is louder. It was loud enough we would just turn the A/C on. Both had about the same noise level. Plus the A/C would remove any moisture faster.

My last trip out the Max air died in my van. Tihs is an older model Max air. It was installed in 2006 by a up fitting company when the van was new. It will get a fantastic as a replacement.

I can't speak to your year/model, (alot can change in 16 years) but that's not an accurate representation of a Maxx Fan Deluxe manufactured within the past couple years (at least). It's exceptionally quiet at all but the highest speeds. At the default setting you wouldn't know it's running unless you were standing directly underneath it. Zero regrets with our choice. And being able to run it in the rain is huge.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

I can't speak to your year/model, (alot can change in 16 years) but that's not an accurate representation of a Maxx Fan Deluxe manufactured within the past couple years (at least). It's exceptionally quiet at all but the highest speeds. At the default setting you wouldn't know it's running unless you were standing directly underneath it. Zero regrets with our choice. And being able to run it in the rain is huge.

I hooked my Maxx up to my car's battery to test it out when I first bought it, and spent about 15 minutes trying to figure out why it wasn't working before I realized it was working and it was just incredibly quiet on its lowest speed.

[EastCoastCB]

Maxxair or Fantastic. Skip the cheapo off brand ones.

[rossvtaylor]

I like the Maxxair fans so much that I replaced a Fantastic Fan which I'd installed in an ambo conversion before I knew better. The Fantastic Fan shroud is clunky and I much prefer the Maxxairs. I'm about to install two of them in a 40-foot bus and have another one to install in a 7-window bus. I've not found anything better.

[PhilipE]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

I can't speak to your year/model, (alot can change in 16 years) but that's not an accurate representation of a Maxx Fan Deluxe manufactured within the past couple years (at least). It's exceptionally quiet at all but the highest speeds. At the default setting you wouldn't know it's running unless you were standing directly underneath it. Zero regrets with our choice. And being able to run it in the rain is huge.

Thats why I noted the year of my fan. I sure hope they have improved greatly for the consumers. When a new coleman A/C unit has the same sound level running. It shouldn't take much effort to beat that roof vibrater.

[TheHubbardBus]

Well, the timing of my latest experience couldn't be better considering this thread.
Musigenesis, I think I gotcha beat.

I took a short hiatus from working on the bus from Christmas through New Year. Before I stopped I had been running the Maxx Fan off a motorcycle battery, mainly to suck in moist air from outside to help quicken the cure of some polyurethane sealant I was using.

Apparently, I didn't realize it was still running before stopping for the holidays. I also never noticed it was running the 2 or 3 times I hopped in afterwards to grab tools I left inside.

I went back to work yesterday to find the battery dead (3V), realizing the fan had been running unnoticed until it could run no further. Fortunately, it was still dry as a bone inside the bus despite it raining on & off the entire time.

[mhaisten]

We have a “dumb” Maxxfan in the front and the fancy one in the bedroom. I love them both.

[Gorzie]

I bought a Maxxfan and when it arrived the cover had some small cracks in it by the rivets. I contacted Maxxfan and they promptly sent me a replacement fan. GREAT customer service. and as mentioned above they are quiet. The main reason I bought it too was we could have it open during a rain.

[Tomshell]

Full time in out bus 3+ years. 2 fans installed,one front one rear.
Pros
GREAT ventilation,with both fans pulling or pushing with windows open.
Also work great with one pulling and one pushing.
Remotes and temp set point work great.
Not too loud.
Can be open in rain.

Cons
Both have failed,one at 18 months, one right at 3 years.

[LargeMargeInBaja]

Eugene, Oregon.
A local family has a RecreationVehicle salvage shop and yard between the Harley Davidson shop and the indoor shooting range on a street called College View... over by the junior college.
Couldn't tell you the name of the place, we always call it 'the RV salvage yard'.
.
Wandering through the rickety old barn, we find the darnedest stuff buried in cob-webs... an education in imagineering disassembling a RecreationVehicle., then trying to cobble it into New! Improved! versions (aka 'home-built hand-made').
.
Probably a couple decades ago, we acquired two FantasticMaxx-style take-outs.
Apparently, the customers snibbled about too much noise or somesuch.
I can see that in a BillionBuxBus conversion; for me, not a prob.
.
us$10 for both.
Tested on a handy battery, they spun nicely.
.
How did we use them?
Well, apparently, some folks disapprove of holes in the roof.
Wisely heeding that timely advice, we mounted them vertical in the wall above the galley.
.
A couple decades ago, as far as I know, they are still going strong.
.
.
Oops.
I got side-tracked (story of my life...).
What was the q?