PROS
- Can also be used in the rain and/or while traveling
- Automatic operation with thermostat
- Practical and intuitive remote control
- 10-speed fan with reduced noise
- Low vertical size
- Powerful and pleasant LED lights (optional)
CONS
- Some plastics too rigid
- “Binding” price
- Internal blind (optional) not very effective
August 10, 2021 – Honestly, 2021 is not a summer as hot as those of recent years, at least in Northern Italy. However, this preceding Ferragosto is the week with the highest temperatures. Ideal to understand if a product like the Maxxair Maxxfan Deluxe can make a difference or not. What is it about? Of a 40 cm square skyroof that integrates a fan capable of both extracting air from inside and pushing it into the motorhome/caravan, a thermostat that automatically adjusts the system based on the temperature and above all an electrically moving dome that allows you to leave the skyroof open in all conditions, even in the rain or when driving.
This last feature makes it a unique product, although obviously a little more expensive. On social media you can read a bit of everything and the biggest criticism is that of the price, because we tend to compare this product to that of a well-known Italian brand, historically (and obviously, given that Maxxair made its debut on the European market only a few months ago) more widespread. The comparison, however, is inappropriate, since the characteristics are very different. Those who want to make a more direct comparison should look – among the Maxxair proposals – at the Maxxfan, without the characteristic motorized dome and thermostat, or at the Maxxfan Plus with thermostat.
Optional internal blind and LED lights
But let’s go back to the Deluxe model, which frankly won us over. We chose the model with the transparent gray dome (Tint version), so that it also brings brightness and not just air movement. Alternatively you can have it with a black or white dome. For this we have added the Maxxshade Plus blind, which also integrates the LED lights. The new skyroof has in fact replaced the “maxi” version present on our Falkor (here you can read the details of the work we had carried out) which had the main ambient light in the frame.
The Maxxfan Deluxe has 10 transparent blades that can be adjusted to as many speeds. The minimum one has a really imperceptible operation, while the faster one still has an acceptable noise level, however no worse than a traditional fan. We have a small one operating at 12 Volt, very effective locally (the two blades have a diameter of 10 centimeters), which makes a hellish noise… Depending on your needs, the Maxxfan can be adjusted to the most suitable speed. We basically never turn it off: set to minimum as an air extractor, it guarantees a continuous change.
Not just remote
The opening and closing of the dome, the speed of the blades and the direction of the air can be set using a practical and intuitive remote control equipped with a liquid crystal display. Here you can also choose automatic operation, defining the intervention temperature: when the internal temperature rises above the set limit, the dome opens and the fan begins to extract the air, turning off if the degrees return within the limits. Obviously it is neither a cooler nor an air conditioner: with the Maxxfan Deluxe the goal is to try to have an internal temperature not higher than the external one.
With the fan running and at least one window open, the movement of the air is distinctly perceived, which is also useful for limiting sweating. If you want a more direct effect, just reverse the direction of the air (towards the inside) and use the Maxxfan Deluxe as a fan, even if you need to be in the immediate vicinity to perceive the effect more. We use the remote control for convenience, but the basic controls are also available on a corner of the skyroof itself, together with the knob for manual opening and closing of the dome.
In place of the cooker hood
Having installed the product at a time when the temperature was still quite low, we discovered how effective it can be when cooking. Boiling pasta water and dishes that require preparation in a pan or long cooking times generate significant quantities of steam and odors. In winter, as we do not have a cooker hood, we have always struggled with the cold due to open windows to ensure air exchange. With the Maxxfan Deluxe, this problem is overcome, because at higher speeds, in extraction mode, vapors and odors disappear quickly.
The fan blades are protected with a grate, which makes the classic mosquito net useless. Made of plastic, it has the advantage of being able to be removed for cleaning without having to use tools. The only thing that perplexes us is that even the pins that support it are made of rigid plastic and this creates some doubts about its durability. In general, the quality of the plastics, at least to the touch, is the only real criticism we feel to address to this Maxxfan Deluxe.
OK LED lights, internal blind to be improved
Having renounced the previous skyroof with lighting and chose the version with a semi-transparent dome, it was almost mandatory to add the frame with LED lights and blinds to the porthole. We are fully satisfied with the former: the four low-consumption strips offer plenty of light, neither too cold nor too hot.
The internal blind, on the other hand, did not convince us. It still allows a certain amount of light to pass through and the hooking system to keep it closed is impractical: it is not always possible to block it at the first try. Nothing dramatic or that compromise the functionality of this solution, but given the overall level of the product we expected better.
A space-saving blessing!
The fact that the motorized dome has a more “bulky” shape compared to a traditional skyroof is a false problem: when the porthole is closed it protrudes by 12 centimeters, only five more than normal products in the same category. When the dome is open, the height does not reach 24 centimeters: an air conditioner, a cooler and often simply the satellite antenna protrude more.
After over three months of use in all conditions, our opinion is that the Maxxfan Deluxe is a really great product. Also because we have not yet highlighted its peculiarity: being able to use it when it rains and/or while traveling. In the first case it is a blessing when cooking, in the second it is a valuable aid to cool the cell while driving: with the extraction fan at a minimum, the cabin air conditioning is distributed more quickly even in the rear.
Everything at the right price
At the price level, you pay a little for the exclusivity of this function, but we believe that the value is correct. The (Italian) price suggested to the public is €450 including VAT, but it is not uncommon to find the Maxxfan Deluxe at around €380/400. Its optional frame with lights and blind instead costs €150 and can be found around 140. In any case, those looking for a less demanding solution from an economic point of view can find alternative products in the Maxxair catalog. The assembly is quite simple, especially if it is installed in place of an existing skyroof (and therefore of a hole). However, it is necessary to plan to bring the 12 Volt power supply locally, if it is not already present.
No doubt about the brand, even if its name is still little known in our area. Maxxair is a leader in the US recreational vehicle market. It is part of a giant in the sector called Airxcel, which brings together numerous specialized brands and has entered the European market for just over a year. By acquiring the Italian company Can – specialized in hobs and sinks for motorhomes, caravans and boats – it set up its European headquarters in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. We will hear a lot about it in the future!
Retail suggested price (in Italy): €450,00
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