Cooling for a camper

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the beauty of wind-ups is that you can open them right up and let the breeze through.

We have a Coromal pop top and just use one or two 15inch (approx) $30 box fans on the shelf in front of the window the wind, if any, is blowing from. We found that quite effective even in Darwin in May (two years ago)when air cons in most vans around us weren't coping. The pop tops and the wind up campers have the advantage of plenty of ventilation to assist the fan/s.
Have considered installing air con, but if ever the fans don't cope, we veg. out in the cp pool, go to the movies, or hang around the shopping centres.

KenD
bris

We camp in our Trackabout. The only cooling we use is a 12 volt fan. However, when we were down south last January our survival plan during the 40+ degree heat wave included spending us much time as possible in the Stansbury pub.

Hi here,

we have just purchased a jayco camper and likewise heading around Aus for ~5mths over summer. Having a 12 mth old and another on the way meant we have to attempt to blow some cool air on us even though 2 years ago we wouldn't have hesitated using only fans. I've carried out SO much research in this area over the past couple of months and happy to share what I've heard/read and spoken with people about....

We decided against the roof option as they are very expensive (2-2.5k) and appear to be hit and miss and a worry for extra weight on the wind up mechanism. This is particularly a worry if you have a 2nd hand van with no warranties although Jayco would still keep our warranty as we would get fitted through their 'accredited' people. I didn't want to picture (probaby unrealistically) pulling in to a remote van park and the winding mech breaking and two adults, an 18mth old, screaming 2 mth old and a dog trying to find a way to settle for the night in a car :).

We very recently deciding against a tiny reverse cycle tiny 2.6kw unit at floor level as even though we picked up the unit for a 'decent' $500 and even rearranged where things went etc etc in building the jayco, we were looking at another 1k to install and reposition wheel to fit on back frame, void some warranties, can apparently throw a lot of dust in if not correctly and more importantly appears to also be hit and miss if it is not 100% stabilised it can break due to obviously not being designed for movement (pipes rupturing etc) and being quite loud outside of the van which I am sure would get a whinging neighbour next door. Incidently I've also heard (true or otherwise) that external air con units throw a huge amount of heat to the over head beds above them and if you're anywhere near the ocean they will rust up etc.

Over the past week we decided to get a portable air cond that IF needed can sit happily on an unused bench area and when not in use can stay in the annexe. We are hoping simply using our fan will be enough most of the time but we looked for the biggest wattage/smallest unit and bought a 4.2kw max output and will hopefully run it off our 2.4kVA compressor if needed (max usage of power to the air cond is ~1.8kVA). Let me tell you that if this baby works as well as it has in a huge bedroom we put it in on a 35 deg day, we'llbe the envy of any van park (although a bit worried the van may blow up so big it will become a hot air balloon). we worked out we can run the hot air out through the roof hatch as well (rather than say in to the annexe).

We're certainly not getting it to make it 'cool' but certainly allowing children to sleep hopefully on a 40 deg day as it may be 30 inside...

oh also, we spent a lot of time trying to work out the quiestest through the entire process then realised the louder the better inside the van (within reason). with a lot of noise around you in a caravan park, i'd prefer a consistent pur of an air cond I think :)

hope this all helps and good luck

Thanks to all for the feedback, i will look into all the options.I suppose it will be a matter of trial and error.We do have a really small 12v fan but that will have to be upgraded to something bigger if the fan option is the way to go.I will do some research via Harvey Norman to see what they have in the air con section.
Here's hoping :)

Hi - I have a Jayco Swan and we also use 3 of the square box type fans, say 2 in the van and 1 in the annexe all aimed up with any available breeze and they do work ok.

I also put up a heavy duty silver tarp (some may say 'fly') over my van and also the annexe area. I fit it so there is a gap - a breezeway - above the van/annexe and it cools the whole area by several degrees. My brother being s little more relaxed (or lazier in this regard?) just simply lays his tarp over the van roof and winds it up and leaves it sitting directly on the van roof. His van is cooler doing this but not as cool as mine. I would say mine is at least 5 degrees cooler than his by having a breezeway between the tarp and van/annexe roof. It also keeps heavy rain etc off, handy for packing/setting up in rain.

The only other thing I would consider trying before an air conditioner is painting the van roof with an insulating paint. They reportedly lower internal temps considerably so for long term travel would be definately on my list of to do's. I have seen them advertised regularly in the advertiser section of van and4wd magazines as well as our NRMA magazine. The first reply has a link to another brand as well

will be interesting to hear what you did and what you consider works and doesnt. good luck with it....