VAN LIFE | how to stay cool in your van
It is summertime and the temperatures are heating up! You may be wondering, how can you stay cool during the summer months while in your van? RVs typically have large, bulky air conditioners on their roof and plug up at campsites to stay cool. One of the biggest perks of #vanlife is the ability to go off-grid and boondock where ever the road takes you (i.e. no plugging up). We’ve complied a shortlist of our favorite ways to keep you and your van cool this summer.
DC AIR CONDITIONER
This one may feel obvious, but a lot of people are still weary of DC powered air conditioners. Vent fans were the standard in camper vans for years, but now these air conditioners are changing the game. DC powered air conditioners consume far less power, and therefore, don’t blow as cold of air as the traditional AC powered air conditioner. So are they worth the cost? Our opinion, yes. Our clients have road tested both the Dometic and Mabru DC powered air conditioners, and we’ve gotten great feedback on both. If you’re looking for an ice box inside your van, you won’t find it with these units, but it will cool your van down for to a comfortable temperature. Even in the hot TN summer, a DC air conditioner can keep your van cool. And with the appropriate amount of battery bank, you never have to plug up! We install air conditioners in vans every spring and summer; let us know if we can help you!
DC Powered Fans
We have been installing the SEEKR Sirocco II fans in our van builds for years, and we have nothing but great things to say. These fans are straight wired into the van and run on DC power. They consume very little battery power, but they provide a great breeze. Our favorite way to install them is one in the rear in the van and one in the front to provide a great cross breeze. I’ll drop a link below to purchase.
Black Out Window Shades
Windows are amazing in the back of a van for enjoying the beautiful scenery around you, but they can be terrible for keeping the heat out. Our favorite windows are the Arctic Tern windows that have blackout shades built into the housing of the window frame. However, we know many people still love to go with the standard OEM looking windows. We get asked all the time what blackout window covers we recommend, and the short answer is there is no short answer. We’ve used several different brands over the years and here is my review: if you are looking for the best possible insulation, DIY Adventure Van Co. has great ones. They’re thick and do a great job in the heat and in the cold winter months. With that being said, they are bulky and hard to store when not in use. If you are looking for covers that perform well and are easy to store: we love The Wanderful’s window covers. They fold up and have velcro straps sewn into them for easy storage. They go up and magnet onto the windows with ease. Disclaimer: we are not associated with either of these companies in any way; this is just our review.
Let the Heat Out
If you’ve been away from your van during a hot part of the day, it’s a good idea to open it up and let the heat out before trying to cool it down. It can sound counterintuitive, but open up the sliding door, windows, and even your back doors to let out the hot air. Once the air starts moving, crank up your fans or air conditioner if you have one, and close all your windows and doors.
Blackout Curtain Behind Cockpit
We install a blackout curtain behind the cockpit in every one of our builds and here’s why: insulation and privacy. Of course at night when you’re camping, you would set up window covers or go full camp mode in your van, but what about if you need to run into the grocery store? Window covers can be a hassle for such a quick in-and-out. A quick pull of the blackout curtain can make a huge difference in keeping the heat out of the back of your van. Not to mention, people walking by won’t be able to see there’s an entire house in the back of your van.
Find the Shade
Unless you are needing the solar to recharge your batteries, parking in the shade can keep your van much cooler than parking in direct sunlight. Shade from a tree is great and best case scenario, but you can also get shade by cranking out your awning if you have one.
We love the summertime and all of the hobbies that come with the warm weather, but we also know it can be hard to stay cool. We hope you found these tips helpful! And most importantly, always remember to stay hydrated. Happy camping!
Here’s the DC fans I mentioned in #2: