Bluedogz
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Making a warm van cool? Or a cool van warm?
Which is easier?
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The old fashioned way for cooling, windows and roof vents that open, fans for an indoor breeze and to exhaust heat, plus using 90% shade cloth or awnings. My shade cloth setup is shown in photo below.bI added awning rails around the tops of the sides for hanging shade cloth as I have my solar on the roof so I park in the sun. I also use drops down from the sitting areas I create on the east side. On the south and west sides I angle the cloth down to the ground giving those sides full shade but allowing for air to move on through instead of trapping heat buildup. You can see in that photo that I have a popup roof section, the screened openings in it allow for heat to rise up and be removed by cross air breeze currents out the screened openings. Having one or more roof vents is pretty essential for cooling without using air conditioning.
For both heat and cold insulation including reflective window coverings.
The new way for adding heat, diesel heaters which I did install myself. This chilly but not freezing morning cooking breakfast will warm up my small, insulated space just enough until the sun takes over the job. Of course I also have warmer clothing layers on. I do have a diesel heater but won’t bother with it as making a hot breakfast will warm me inside and out. One of the benefits of not using a microwave or induction cooking in cool morning and evening weather is heating the space up.
For both heat and cold insulation including reflective window coverings.
The new way for adding heat, diesel heaters which I did install myself. This chilly but not freezing morning cooking breakfast will warm up my small, insulated space just enough until the sun takes over the job. Of course I also have warmer clothing layers on. I do have a diesel heater but won’t bother with it as making a hot breakfast will warm me inside and out. One of the benefits of not using a microwave or induction cooking in cool morning and evening weather is heating the space up.
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Bluedogz
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Some of my favorite memories from my racing days are of tent camping, early spring and late fall mornings at New Hampshire International Speedway, the smell of 2-stroke race gas in the air and snow flurries dusting across the asphalt. It only took two scrambled eggs and one coffee to go from "dammit it's chilly" to "hold my gloves and pass me that screwdriver." And that was with no heating devices at all, just a mummy bag.
I reckoned a van would be different, but from this input not so much.
How effective is just straight up Reflectix (sp?) on the windows?
I reckoned a van would be different, but from this input not so much.
How effective is just straight up Reflectix (sp?) on the windows?
bullfrog !
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Follow the seasons open the windows and vents turn on a low wattage fan. Doing that as I write this in my camper at 7,000 feet elevation. Currently 71 degrees outside. Low of 43 degrees tonight so as soon as it finishes cooling off I’ll turn off the fan and pull out a nice cover. I’ll leave early morning and get done traveling by 2PM to avoid some of the heat. Tomorrow's at 420’ elevation 106 degrees and still in the 80’s at midnight so AC is the only choice, remote camp, run my generator and AC or get a cheap spot with hookups but since it is a travel day maybe a cheap motel room with AC. In my younger days I would drive at night and sleep during the day after jumping in a river or lake in hot weather. Opposite in cold weather avoiding the cold as much as possible by having a really good sleeping bag and working vehicle heater while I drive somewhere warmer!
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Ok serious response, sorta…….
Ya gotta have some kinda screened ventilation; which for most vans usually means a roof vent of some kind.
Yeah; reflectix doesn’t hurt and it’s good for a window block.
Mostly tho it’s altitude and/or latitude; this the way I roll.
Sometimes on an exceptionally kool night I’ll fire up the 1 burner on very low.
If I remember correctly you’ll be sailboat hunting so I assume youlll be running the coasts; which is basically my route cause I do beaches……..
Kinda easy really -
mid spring to mid fall; North (for me it’s Lake Michigan)
Mid fall to mid spring; it’s SE Atlantic; Fla Keys; Gulf Coast; or San Diego.
By Jan and Feb the north gulf is chilly even South Padre and I’m in the Keys all Jan. Once in Feb I start migrating north as the weather warms. My general rule for temps is no cooler than 50’s at night. By March 1 I’m usually somewhere around Jacksonville Fla.
By April I’m around Va Bch and waiting for the Michigan spring thaw & a return to kampfire weather
bch bum jonny
Bluedogz
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No sailboats for me... I foresee a minivan 100% land-bound. Not a boat guy. I love the beaches idea but I'd like some other terrain as well. In my daydream scenario, I'd be somewhere between Sarasota and Key West 6 months, then rollin' 6 months.
Tony's Dream
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I like to plan my trips around the weather. My ideal day is 70-80 degrees and my nights 45-60 degrees. I have always been a little cold blooded and can be seen wearing shorts and T-shirts year round. When others are wearing light jackets, I feel very comfortable. With that said, to answer your question.........I would rather try to heat a cold van than to cool a hot one. When its cold I can always add layers and extra covers. When its too hot, you can only strip down so much. 
rruff
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AC requires precious electrical energy... and quite a lot of it... along with a contraption that is kinda heavy, bulky, expensive, etc. Heat is a lot simpler.
But just moving with seasons, you shouldn't need AC or a heater.
I'm good from 20 at night to 85 in the west, but shoot for highs of around 70 as ideal.
