Staying Cool

[mr_elijah_gardner]

Good evening,

Now that it's getting warmer out and being new to having a van setup. I've come to realize it gets really hot inside during the day. I can only image what August and July will hold. 

So far I've found a couple ways to make it tolerable. Park in shade. It's a conversion van so I can open the windows and turn on a fan. I can also run the engine and use the rear factory ac. 

Any tips/advice on keeping this comfortable would be appreciated.

 

[highdesertranger]

1. move up in elevation.
2. move further north.
3. get out of your van during the hot part of the day.
highdesertranger

 

[rvwandering]

If you can't park in the shade face into the sun and use reflectix on your front window. Try to park so you get a good cross breeze.

A roof fan will circulate the air and allow the hot air to escape. Painting your roof white will help too.

I've often wondered about the practicality of small windows in van conversions. Is it possible to replace them with windows that have large openings?

 

[jonsun]

get a hitch, hitch tray, generator, and a 8k btu portable AC

 

[Alcatraz]

Good evening,

Now that it's getting warmer out and being new to having a van setup. I've come to realize it gets really hot inside during the day. I can only image what August and July will hold. 

So far I've found a couple ways to make it tolerable. Park in shade. It's a conversion van so I can open the windows and turn on a fan. I can also run the engine and use the rear factory ac. 

Any tips/advice on keeping this comfortable would be appreciated.

Portable swamp cooler ( wont work in the humid months).  Freeze plastic soda bottles full of water throw them in an ice chest , leave it open and use a small battery operated fan to circulate a cool breeze. Spend some time @ the nearest mall.

 

[deadwood]

The OP didn't say where he is from. But I imagine there are some places that are just to hot for van dwelling in the summer. I'm in AZ right now while I build out my van. But once on the road I can't imagine being here in the summer unless like HDR I can go up in elevation and summer in Flagstaff.

My plan is to spend summers in Southern California and... probably stay there in the winter as well.

 

[mr_elijah_gardner]

The OP didn't say where he is from. But I imagine there are some places that are just to hot for van dwelling in the summer. I'm in AZ right now while I build out my van. But once on the road I can't imagine being here in the summer unless like HDR I can go up in elevation and summer in Flagstaff.

My plan is to spend summers in Southern California and... probably stay there in the winter as well.

I'm in KY. If I were in AZ I would build a rooftop swamp cooler. I used evaporation coolers quite a bit when I lived out west and they worked really well. Plus you could easily make it run on minimal power which would be perfect for a van. Here in KY I doubt very much it would help much at all.