The best roof vent fans for cargo trailer camper conversions
When designing your cargo trailer conversion, consider how air will flow in and out of your camper.
Airflow and proper ventilation are essential for:
Regulating internal temperatures
Reducing humidity
Venting odors
Getting rid of pollutants
Helping your AC system work efficiently, and more
Windows and portable fans are great airflow systems. But to really take your build to the next level, consider a roof vent fan.
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What is an RV or cargo trailer camper vent fan?
A vent fan is any fan in a camper that vents air to the outside. These fans are most often mounted on the roof of the camper. They come with a cover that closes and and opens, either manually or automatically. They also include a screen to keep dirt and bugs out. Roof vent fans for campers come in a range of sizes, but the most common you’ll find is 14”x14”.
Which roof vent fan is right for me?
When choosing the right roof vent fan for your build, think about these seven key features:
Air flow
Variable speed options
Ability to vent air out and pull air in (reversibility)
Manual or automatic lid
With or without remote
Rain sensor feature
Price
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The best roof vent fans for cargo trailer camper conversions
What are the best roof vent fans on the market today? In our research, these fans are highly rated and regarded. Each company creates a few different types of models to suit your needs.
Maxxair Maxxfan Deluxe Roof Vent Fan
Maxxair’s Maxxfan models are highly rated and the DLX version is a nice blend of features with some simple manual functionality.
About the Maxxfan DLX Vent 12V Smoke
Fan Speed: 4 Speed
Lid Opening: Manual
Controls at Ceiling
Exhaust Only
Built-in Rain Shield
Smoke lid blends transparency to let light in with a tint to protect from the sun
Review of the Maxxfan DLX Vent 12V Smoke":
“I replaced an aging and cracked vent in my 12 foot enclosed trailer. Since I was adding solar and batteries for interior and exterior lights I figured I may as well have a powered fan vent. Since my trailer and this vent were both typical dimensions it was an easy swap. The toughest part was removing the original screws but even with that it only took me 30 minutes to pull it out. A little scraping and cleaning and the new one was ready to go in. I used new screws, butyl tape and sealant and it rained the next day. Not a leak in sight! The fan controls are simple but they work. Compared to just a screened hole in the roof this is just plain awesome! I chose this model over others due to the ‘rain proof’ cover so that I don’t have to worry if I leave it open. I should add that it shipped quickly & well protected and the wiring was straightforward.”
FanTastic Roof Vent Fan
Check out the FanTastic RV roof vent fan (model 2250) here on Amazon.
Dometic makes the FanTastic RV Roof Vent fan which is very popular in cargo trailer conversions, van builds, and more.
This version comes equipped with the following features:
Three speed fan - 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 the cabin. The core of this model is a high performance rotary fan that features three blade speeds; low, medium, and high
Manual lift - Twist the knob to open and close manually
Build in thermostat – For true comfort at your convenience, the Fantastic Vent has a built-in thermostat to take care of maintaining the desired temperature
Reversible air flow - The powerful yet compact Dometic Fantastic Vent has fixed, manual speeds or automatic variable speeds to get the airflow precisely as you want. It's simple reverse switch changes the fan direction, drawing air in or out of the vehicle
Quiet noise level - The Dometic FanTastic is pleasantly quiet and energy-saving
Available in white, black and smoke colors
Helpful review of the FanTastic RV Roof Vent fan :
“During the ownership of several motor homes, I always lusted for a Fan-Tastic vent but never managed to turn loose of the cash. After a recent purchase of a used motor home I discovered a cracked vent and decided to spring for the deluxe rather than another basic. It took the same amount of effort to replace either. Why did I deny myself for so long? Multi-speed, bi-directional, power raise, and thermostatic shutoff. What else could one want? Rain sensor shut-off of course. I'm crazy about this fan. On a cool night you can set the t-stat to turn off the fan when the temp drops too low. The huge quiet multi-bladed fan blade is a welcome change from the little high-speed fan that is usually found in RVs. I really wonder if those actually move any air or do they just sound like it. LOL Exhaust flow can be selected to remove the hot air from the ceiling region or pull in air from an open window. Reverse the flow and deluge the area with cool outside air in the Spring and Fall. Of course the fan can be turned off and with the vent raised and it can provide an opening for makeup air to supply the need of the range vent. As I recently witnessed, the rain sensor really works well as my FanTastic shut itself down after only the first few sprinkles of a rain shower.”
RVLOVENT Roof Vent Fan
About the RVLOVENT Roof Vent Fan:
Powerful and efficient: This roof fan moves a decent amount of air using little power because of its durable and stable can motor.
Quiet: RVLOVENT 12 volt RV roof vent can intake or exhaust fresh air on-demand and stay cool without a ton of distracting noise
3-speed, reversible: The fan has three speeds and can be operated in both intake and exhaust mode.
Standard sizing: Fits all rough 14'' x 14'' inch roof openings.
Extras: Built-in fuse for circuit protection. Two extra 5A slow fuses are included in the package. An extra screen is included. Screws and white interior trim included.
Helpful review of the RVLOVENT Roof Vent Fan:
“I did not know they make so many different makes of this vent until I started looking on Amazon. What I noticed is most of them have a very small motor so people are complaining about airflow. This one had a really good rating and people were saying it had really good airflow. Pros: It has excellent airflow more than you’ll ever need. Great for those days where you burn the toast.
There are three speeds to vent the air out of the trailer. The high speed works excellent at moving a lot of air. Medium speed is somewhat quiet and about what we normally set it on. Low speed is silent but still works well. To bring the air into the camper you have two speeds medium and high. When the fans run and reverse the airflow is not exactly the same as exhausting the air outside of the trailer. I would say it’s about 60% efficient in bringing the air inside the trailer. But it still works very well and it’s good airflow. If you’re shopping for an exhaust vent this is an excellent quality model. Unlike most of them that are on Amazon, this one here is going to move the correct amount of air you want to move.I noticed most of these on Amazon have undersized motors that only are a few watts. So beware if you’re shopping for this item. But I highly recommend this model it performs excellently. I can exhaust the air out of my trailer now very quickly if I want to put it on high.”
Heng's Industries Zephyr I RV Roof Vent Fan
Shop Heng's Industries Zephyr I RV Roof Vent Fan here on Amazon.
This roof vent fan is relatively new to Amazon so we’ll update this recommendation as more reviews come in. For the price and the features, this fan is a very interesting option. The clear cover also allows this roof vent fan to function as a skylight.
Key features of Heng's Industries Zephyr I RV Roof Vent Fan:
Available in White, Smoke and Clear lid to let in more light.
Quiet fan
3 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds
Can move up to 920 CFM of air, drawing in clean, fresh air and expelling stale, odorous air.
Includes 5” white trim and a weather tight seal to keep out the elements when closed
Fits all 14" x 14" roof openings
Have a roof vent fan you love that isn’t listed here? Let us know in the comments below!
