A 12V fan may become your best friend if you are an RV owner and ride around frequently. They are great alternatives for AC. We put together this short review guide so that you can select the best 12V fan for your RV.
From the top 10 12V fans mentioned and reviewed in our article, we selected the Alagoo 12V Car Cooling Vehicle Clip Fan as our overall best pick. It took the leading position because of its superb efficiency, low noise generation, stability, and versatile speed selection.
The main attraction is its stability. Many users complain about other fans falling off the dashboard while driving. With this fan, you can clamp it in position firmly with the built-in swivel nut.
A 12V fan is a great choice and a better option compared to the AC if you are looking for less power consumption in your RV. We recommend keeping one at all times with your RV.
Alagoo 12V Car Cooling Vehicle Clip Fan Alagoo 12V Car Cooling Vehicle Clip Fan HITOPTY 12V Electric Car Dash Fan HITOPTY 12V Electric Car Dash Fan O2COOL Portable Rechargeable Fan O2COOL Portable Rechargeable Fan Yesurprise Electric 12V Car Fan Yesurprise Electric 12V Car Fan EXCOUP 12 Volt Vehicle Fan EXCOUP 12 Volt Vehicle Fan Go Gear 12 Volt Oscillating Fan Go Gear 12 Volt Oscillating Fan HueLiv Electric Car Cooling Fan HueLiv Electric Car Cooling Fan AboveTEK Dual Head Car Fan AboveTEK Dual Head Car Fan Tvird Negative Ions 12V Cooling Air Fan Tvird Negative Ions 12V Cooling Air Fan Dual Head Car Fans 12V/24V US Dual Head Car Fans 12V/24V US
The best 12v fans: Product Reviews
In our article, we included the technical specs and reviewed the 10 best 12V fans you can find for your RV. Read through them and choose what’s suitable for you!
1.Alagoo 12V Car Cooling Vehicle Clip Fan
We already chose this product as the overall best 12V fan for an RV. Its highly efficient 3 blades will remove any unwanted scent effectively and keep the RV cool in hot and humid temperatures. It also has a low energy consumption making it very efficient.
It has a boltable swivel clamp built-in, so there is no risk of it falling off and causing damage even in harsh driving. You can clamp the fan on the dash, windshield, seat, anywhere you like. The airspeed is adjustable using the slide switch which is more versatile than your normal flip switches.
We recommend buying this product as it is the best 12V fan you can find. The fan will effectively keep you cool without generating much noise.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 9W
- Fan: Stepless speed, single 3-bladed 6-inch fan
- Noise level:<50dB
- Weight: 1.06 pounds
2.HITOPTY 12V Electric Car Dash Fan
The HITOPTY 12V fan is a uniquely designed fan that does not have the leaf caged fan design. This unique design makes it the safest product in our article. There is always a risk of putting fingers through the leaf cage, especially for children as they have smaller fingers. This design aims to prevent that.
This is a small, easy to carry fan that won’t take much space on your dashboard. The 2-speed airflow can be angled up and down, but the unique design restricts the horizontal rotation of the fan.
It will also make much less noise at 42dB and consume less power with the 12V DC cigarette plug. But it will do the job of removing hot air from your RV and making your trip cool, comfortable, safe, and noise-free.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 7W
- Fan: 2-speed single
- Noise level: 42dB
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
3.O2COOL Portable Rechargeable Fan
This O2COOL portable rechargeable fan is not your typical RV fan. As the name says, this is rechargeable and the battery can last up to 6 whole hours! The multiple power option and the retractable handle make it the most versatile product in our article.
As we said earlier, the versatile power option is best if you want to move around with the fan. In the RV, at home, or sitting outside without any electrical socket, you name it! This 12V fan can be used everywhere to keep you cool at all times.
Though this is one of the highest-priced fans we have seen, its cooling effectiveness cannot be denied. The 10-inch fan will provide stronger air but will also generate more noise than smaller fans. So, if you are looking for the extra power options then we suggest buying this one.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V with 110V AC/DC adapter included, USB, rechargeable
- Power consumption: 13W
- Fan: 2-speed, single 5-bladed 10-inch fan
- Noise level: <60dB
- Weight: 3.53 pounds
4.Yesurprise Electric 12V Car Fan
This dual 12V fan is the perfect alternative for your ACand will keep both the driver and the front passenger cool in hot temperatures. It is also said to be a good windshield moisture remover in the rain and humid weather.
The 12V cigarette plug will consume less power and generate less noise with strong air circulation. You can attach the fan on the dashboard with the included adhesive. Compatible with any 12V vehicles, it won’t take a lot of space on the dashboard.
This fan will provide air all around as it has a 180° horizontal and 160° vertical rotation. You can even stick it onto the armrest! Be careful, though – once attached the adhesive can’t be removed.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: Approximately 12W
- Fan: 3-speed, dual 5-bladed 3.5-inch fans
- Noise level: <50dB
- Weight: 1.7 pounds
5.EXCOUP 12 Volt Vehicle Fan
We highly recommend buying this one if you want to get the extra features the fan offers at the same price as any other fans. The LED display makes it unique from any other 12V fans. It also has a whopping 12 speeds so that you can adjust the fan speed exactly as you prefer.
If you want to control the airflow based on the RV internal temperature, the included led display will help you with that. It monitors both the temperature and the humidity so you can easily adjust the speed and keep yourself cool at your desired temperature.
Like other dual fans, it can be stuck on to the dashboard or the armrest. It also has a 360° horizontal and 180° vertical rotation, letting the cool air reach the whole interior and driving away any bad smell. The led display also brings a modern look to the fan.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 9W
- Fan: 12-speed, dual 5-bladed 5-inch fans
- Noise level: <50dB
- Weight: 1.85 pounds
6.Go Gear 12 Volt Oscillating Fan
If you are on a tight budget then this is the product for you. We labeled this as our budget option as you won’t find 12V fans any cheaper than this. Being low on price, it will still do acceptable work in keeping you and the RV interior cool and fresh.
It comes with a clamp and screw that can be easily attached to your console or any space on the dashboard. The fan cage can also be rotated 90°. Not as good as other higher priced options, but it still does the job.
Though the clamp mechanism feels cheap, it has a large fan diameter providing strong wind. The power consumption and noise generation are also in the medium range. We can assure you that you won’t get cheated on value using this budget option.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 12W
- Fan: 1-speed, single 3-bladed 7-inch fan
- Noise level: <60dB
- Weight: 1.46 pounds
7.HueLiv Electric Car Cooling Fan
One of the main reasons RV owners choose a 12V fan over the AC is due to the low power consumption. This HueLiv electric cooling fan has the lowest power rating of all the products in this article. It also is the quietest 12V fan available.
Like other dual fans, this works best if you stick it on the dashboard or armrest using adhesive. The fans are rotatable in both horizontal and vertical directions and will provide air to both the driver and the driver side passenger with no blind spot. The product is also notable for its fresh air circulation and unwanted smell reduction.
So, if you are looking for a 12V fan that is highly efficient and can run for an extended period with the RV battery then we suggest buying this one.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 6W
- Fan: Stepless speed, dual 5-bladed 3.5-inch fans
- Noise level:40dB
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
8.AboveTEK Dual Head Car Fan
This is a lightweight 12V fan that has the strongest wind flow. But it has a 2-speed controller system, so you are limited in controlling the fan speed. The strong air will drive away any bad smell and make the interior cool in seconds!
The fans can be securely placed on the dashboard, and you will have a lot of independence in directing the flow. This fan is also a great choice in defrosting the windshield during winter.
The strong wind produced by this model can be a bit more energy-consuming than the other 12V fans. It will also generate more noise if you run it at the highest speed. But if you are looking for the strongest flow, no other fan can beat it.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: 15W
- Fan: 2-speed, dual 5-bladed fans
- Noise level: <60dB
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
9.Tvird Negative Ions 12V Cooling Air Fan
This Tvird negative ion air fan has two features that make it unique and better than most other 12V fans. One is the suction cup and the other one is the negative ion technology. These two features are rare on a 12V fan for RV. Especially the negative ion technology, which effectively decreases the air temperature.
The negative ion technology in this product will decrease the interior temperature of your RV. Although it won’t do as good as the AC, coupled with the strong wind it will cool down the interior even in extremely hot temperatures.
And for the suction cup feature, you won’t need any extra clamp mount on your windshield. The fan can be stuck there by itself. This fan is a good selection for keeping your RV cool.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 12V DC
- Power consumption: Approximately 12W
- Fan: Stepless speed, single 3-bladed 6-inch fan
- Noise level: <50dB
- Weight: 1.85 pounds
10. Dual Head Car Fans 12V/24V US
The last product in our article has a simple dual fan design that will provide airflow like any other 12V fans. But the unique trait it has is the 5V input socket. With an adapter, this fan can be set up on both 12V and 24V vehicles.
The simple 2-speed dual fan design is easy to install and mount on the dashboard. It will provide strong wind and generate less noise. It will also consume less energy. You can also run it on a USB charger. So, if you are looking for fans that run on USB, not a 12V cigarette plug, then this is the perfect product for you.
Technical Specifications:
- Voltage: 5V DC
- Power consumption: 10W
- Fan: 3-speed dual fan
- Noise level: <50dB
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
Information about 12V fans for RVs
Now that you have gone through all our reviews, you will find the answer to any other lingering question on your mind in this section. We will also help you with choosing a product.
Benefits of a 12V fan over traditional AC
Though the 12V fan won’t decrease the air temperature, it is a great way to circulate cool air without wasting as much energy as your AC. Normal AC will overheat your engine if you run for an extended period. But using a 12V fan there is no risk of doing that.
If you want to step up and buy a rechargeable one then we suggest buying the O2COOL Portable Rechargeable Fan. Also, keep in mind that most fans won’t remove the moisture from the windshield during humid and rainy weather. We only have one product, the Yesurprise Electric 12V Car Fan, which can do the job.
While most 12V fans won’t actually reduce the air temperature, we do have the Tvird Negative Ions 12V Cooling air Fan that uses advanced tech to decrease the temperature a little. Overall, a 12V fan is a more budget-friendly and energy-efficient choice for your RV. It can benefit you more than the AC If you live in a temperate area.
How to choose the best 12V fan
The first thing to consider before buying a 12V fan is its energy rating. Sometimes users want to know the required amps for a fan. But manufacturers only provide the wattage. You can easily calculate the amp by dividing the energy rating by 12V. For example, a 9W fan requires 0.75 amp.
You may need the fan just for the driver or both the driver side passenger and the driver. Depending on the number of people you may select a single or dual 12V fan. Also, always check how easily you can rotate the fan. For 360° rotation, you can provide air all around.
Some 12V fans have extra features – for example, the AboveTEK Dual Head Car Fan defrosts ice from the windshield in winter. Some have better clamping methods than others. So carefully check the features for every product.
How to Place a 12V fan in your RV
Usually, single 12V fans have clamps to mount them on the windshield, and the dual ones use adhesive to stick on the dashboard or the armrest. Some unique ones like the Tvird Negative Ions 12V Cooling Air Fan have a suction cup, so it can hold on to the windshield without any mount. The cord length of the fans ranges from 5 to 10 feet. So, you can adjust the position of the fan to your liking.
Overall, using a 12V fan is a great way to keep yourself cool in your RV without wasting much power. We are happy to provide you with the best 12V fans for your RV. Hopefully, you will select one from among them and keep yourself cool and comfortable.