Is the ProBreeze fan a direct replacement for a MaxxAir fan?

Yes. The ProBreeze Vent System is designed as a direct 14 x 14 inch (355 mm) drop-in replacement for MaxxAir roof fans, so it fits an existing roof cutout.

How loud is a van roof fan?

The ProBreeze is rated at 29 dB or less on exhaust at speed 4 and 47 dB or less at speed 10; intake is 32 dB or less at speed 4 and 53 dB or less at speed 10.

How much power does a roof fan use compared to air conditioning?

A brushless roof fan draws a small fraction of the current of a rooftop air conditioner, which can pull up to 58 amps at 12V while the compressor runs. A fan can run all night on a modest battery bank.

Do I need one roof fan or two in a camper van?

One fan plus a second opening creates the cross-flow most vans need. Two fans, one intake and one exhaust, make sense in long wheelbase vans such as a 170 inch Sprinter or 148 inch EXT Transit.

What size ducting does my van heater need?

Duct size is set by the heater: 60 mm for Webasto Air Top 2000-class and Espar AS3-class heaters, 90 mm for the Air Top EVO 40. Closeable louvers must not be used on single-outlet ducted systems because restricting airflow can cause an overheat condition.

Camper Van Roof Fans & Ventilation | ProBreeze Brushless 14" Fan

Van Roof Vents, Fans & Air Distribution

Ventilation is the system people skip and then rebuild. A roof fan does three jobs at once: it pulls out cooking steam and shower humidity before it condenses inside your walls, it makes 85°F livable without touching your battery bank, and it gives a combustion heater somewhere to push stale air. This collection covers the fan itself — the ProBreeze Vent System, a 14" brushless roof fan built as a direct drop-in replacement for MaxxAir units — plus the air distribution parts that finish a proper HVAC install: genuine Webasto 60mm and 90mm adjustable louvers, closeable louvers, air inlet grates, 60mm ducting tees and flex duct clamps. If you're cutting a roof for the first time, the 14" x 14" (355 mm) opening is the standard everything else in your build assumes, including most rooftop air conditioners — so get the location right the first time.

How to Choose a Roof Fan & Ventilation Setup

1. Brushless motors are the real upgrade

The ProBreeze ($349.99) uses a high-efficiency brushless DC motor, and that matters for two reasons van owners feel. First, current draw: a brushless motor moves more air per amp, which is the whole ballgame if you're off-grid on solar. Second, service life: there are no brushes to wear out, so the motor is effectively maintenance-free, unlike brushed fans that eventually get noisy and then quit. Ten speed levels give you real low-end control rather than the three-position compromise older fans force on you.

2. Noise is a spec, and you can compare it

The ProBreeze publishes noise at both ends of the range:

Exhaust (air out): ≤29 dB at speed 4, ≤47 dB at speed 10
Intake (air in): ≤32 dB at speed 4, ≤53 dB at speed 10

Twenty-nine decibels at speed 4 is the number to care about — that's the setting you sleep with. Anything you can't sleep next to gets turned off, and a fan that's off doesn't move moisture out of your van.

3. Two-way airflow, and where to put the fan

The ProBreeze reverses: intake to draw cool outside air in, exhaust to pull hot air out. The classic van setup is exhaust over the galley/living area with a window or vent cracked at the opposite end, creating a cross-flow through the length of the van. If you're running two openings, put the fan over the kitchen (steam and cooking odor) and the passive vent or window forward. Auto Temperature Mode lets you set a cabin temperature and let the fan regulate itself — genuinely useful for a dog left in the van in the shade for twenty minutes.

4. Check the cutout before you buy anything else on the roof

The ProBreeze is a direct 14" x 14" (355 mm) drop-in replacement for MaxxAir roof fans, which means it drops into an existing hole in a used van, and it shares its cutout dimension with the standard RV opening most rooftop A/C units use. Plan the roof as one layout: fan, A/C, solar, roof rack crossbars. Deck panels and solar bars exist in fan-specific and A/C-specific profiles precisely because these three fight for the same square footage.

5. All-in-one features save you a second purchase

The ProBreeze ships with a pleated blackout blind and a removable insect mesh screen built in, plus dual 2 W LED lights, touchscreen control, and a wireless remote. Four dome/interior/trim combinations are available: black dome with grey or black interior, or transparent dome with white or black interior. Transparent domes bring in noticeable daylight; black domes keep the van dark and hide dust. Free shipping in the lower 48; stock varies by trim combination.

6. Ducting and louvers: finish the heater install properly

Air distribution parts are where a heater install goes from working to comfortable. We stock genuine Webasto components:

60mm adjustable louvers (1320204A, 1322405A) — vanes rotate 360°, threaded connection to 60mm ID flex duct
60mm closeable louvers (1320206A, 9012300A) and 90mm (1320709A adjustable, 1320355A closeable)
60mm x 60mm x 60mm ducting tee (1320474A) for splitting a run into two outlets
60mm air inlet grate (87389A) — the return-air path people forget
60mm flex duct clamps (5011917A, and a 2-pack)

The one rule that will save your heater: closeable louvers must never be used on a single-outlet ducted system. Webasto is explicit that restricting airflow during heater operation causes an overheat condition and can damage the unit. Use a tee and at least two outlets, or run fixed adjustable louvers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ProBreeze a direct replacement for a MaxxAir fan? Yes — it's designed as a direct 14" x 14" (355 mm) drop-in for MaxxAir roof fans, which makes it the straightforward upgrade path when an older fan dies or when you buy a van with an existing hole in the roof. Check your existing flange condition and re-seal properly during the swap.

How much power does a roof fan draw compared to air conditioning? Different universes. A brushless roof fan sips amps and can run all night on a modest bank; a 12V rooftop A/C can draw up to 58 amps while its compressor runs. In the Blue Ridge, a fan plus shade handles most of the summer, and A/C earns its keep on humid nights and in the Southeast in August. Build the fan first, then decide if you need A/C and the battery bank to feed it.

Can I run the fan while it's raining? That's what the rain-resistant dome design is for on lid-up fans — but use judgment in driving rain and always close it before driving. The blackout blind and insect screen are built in, so you can run it with the screen in place and the blind partially drawn.

Do I need one fan or two? One fan plus one opening (window, vent, or cracked slider with a bug screen) creates the cross-flow you need. Two fans — one intake, one exhaust — is worth it in long-wheelbase vans (170" Sprinter, 148" EXT Transit) or builds with a bulkhead separating living areas. If you're running a GoCode trim kit, the Bugwall Fast Track Rail add-on gives you a slide-in bug screen at the slider and rear doors, which turns your door openings into legitimate ventilation.

How do I stop condensation on the windows and walls? Ventilation plus a thermal break. Run the fan on low overnight — moisture from two people breathing has to go somewhere, and if it doesn't leave through the roof it condenses on the coldest surface in the van. Combine that with proper insulation and framing that doesn't bridge heat straight to the outer skin.

What size ducting do I need for my heater? It's set by the heater, not by preference: 60mm for Webasto Air Top 2000-class and Espar AS3-class units, 90mm for the Air Top EVO 40. Buy louvers, tees and clamps to match. Keep duct runs short with sweeping bends — every sharp bend is static pressure the blower fights.