Hot weather motor homing
Discussion
Hi,
I looked at a VW California today as the dealers where close. The owner was talking about the heat and how you don’t really want to be trying to sleep in one at 34 degrees.
As you will all know, and I didn’t, the airco is run from the engine. So my question is how do you manage in your motor homes, we will eventually be spending a lot of time in the south of Europe, hence me asking.
I’m assuming the larger motor homes have a secondary cooling system for night ( ok you can all stop laughing )
Any information would be really appreciated
Cheers
I looked at a VW California today as the dealers where close. The owner was talking about the heat and how you don’t really want to be trying to sleep in one at 34 degrees.
As you will all know, and I didn’t, the airco is run from the engine. So my question is how do you manage in your motor homes, we will eventually be spending a lot of time in the south of Europe, hence me asking.
I’m assuming the larger motor homes have a secondary cooling system for night ( ok you can all stop laughing )
Any information would be really appreciated
Cheers
Not the south of Europe but we spent two weeks in our motorhome in this summers heatwave and we were fine at night. We left the large roof skylight open in the living area and above our bed is a fan in the ceiling which can either blow or suck 
If you want a standalone fan many motorhomers swear by the Endless Breeze 12v fan.
If you want a standalone fan many motorhomers swear by the Endless Breeze 12v fan.
Johnnybee said:
Not the south of Europe but we spent two weeks in our motorhome in this summers heatwave and we were fine at night. We left the large roof skylight open in the living area and above our bed is a fan in the ceiling which can either blow or suck
If you want a standalone fan many motorhomers swear by the Endless Breeze 12v fan.
Or capture an owl and let it flap about inside all night.If you want a standalone fan many motorhomers swear by the Endless Breeze 12v fan.
The biggest difference is keeping the sun out. I used a roll of the silver reflective insulation that's meant to go behind domestic radiators. Cut a length to size for each window and now peg them on the outside with the windows open so they create their own sunshade but let all the breeze through.
Thermomats on the windows and a heat shield around the pop top canvas (if it’s pop top) and you’ll be fine. It’s only 38 type temps during the day, night times won’t be anywhere near as hot in there.
FWIW, the split air con units are f-ing expensive, tend to be noisy and the outside parts are quite large and heavy - I seem to recall reading that bracing is required on some caravans when it’s being retrofitted!! Wouldn’t think weight would be an issue on a modern VW, but space might be if you do have a pop top.
FWIW, the split air con units are f-ing expensive, tend to be noisy and the outside parts are quite large and heavy - I seem to recall reading that bracing is required on some caravans when it’s being retrofitted!! Wouldn’t think weight would be an issue on a modern VW, but space might be if you do have a pop top.
Antony Moxey said:
Leave the windows open and the flyscreens closed and get a fan. We had 38 degrees in France a fortnight ago and managed sleeping in an overcab bed. We had one of those Dyson fans that don't have any blades (came free with the vacuum) which was nice and quiet so all was pretty good.
We managed fine in our 1982 T25 three weeks ago in France in similar temperatures. As others have said, leaving the roof vent open all day (with fly net) does the job. The tent was worse than the van during the day for heat. It genuinely is not an issue.
Mike
CDB1983 said:
Blinds closed during the day, windows opened and closed depending on where the sun is. roof lights open all the time.
This with the proviso that the blinds are also closed on the sunny side during the day. On the non sunny side we have them open along with the windows.If we are on a hook up then we also plug in a domestic desk fan angled at 45 degrees or so, so that the warm air can be encouraged to leave through a roof light
Odd that no-one mentions mosquitos?
I spend many weeks each summer in a small caravan in the Alps de Haute Provence (just north of Provence): you definitely need mossy screens on all windows/doors AND a proper Air Conditioning unit. The caravan (an Elddis Tornado) heats up very readily, a small motorhome in southern France must be hell.
I spend many weeks each summer in a small caravan in the Alps de Haute Provence (just north of Provence): you definitely need mossy screens on all windows/doors AND a proper Air Conditioning unit. The caravan (an Elddis Tornado) heats up very readily, a small motorhome in southern France must be hell.
This year was our first taking our motorhome to Europe, and I have to say some days were VERY uncomfortable, Temperatures were reaching 38+C outside and on one site with little shade available we saw 43C inside the van despite trying everything to keep it cool. A hastily purchased 240v fan helped a little, but it was quite difficult to sleep in that level of heat (4 people and a dog in a relatively small space)
However, for those of you with the newer Truma digital control panels I learnt a new (to me) trick this weekend, I was chatting to a guy at a campsite and he asked me if I had used the "vent" setting on the system - I looked at him blankly!
Basically you have to turn the panel on, set the heating to OFF and the hot water to OFF, if you then select the fan function it says Vent, you can then select a speed between 1 and 10. The fan in the boiler unit then spins up at whatever speed you have selected and draws air into the unit and blows it out of the normal heating vents around the van. Obviously this doesn't make the air cool - but it does provide a level of circulation around the van which is basically all a fan will do anyway. I'm now looking forward to the next heatwave to give it a go as it doesn't quite have the same effect in late September.
I'm not sure if anyone else is aware of this function, maybe I should have read the manual!
However, for those of you with the newer Truma digital control panels I learnt a new (to me) trick this weekend, I was chatting to a guy at a campsite and he asked me if I had used the "vent" setting on the system - I looked at him blankly!
Basically you have to turn the panel on, set the heating to OFF and the hot water to OFF, if you then select the fan function it says Vent, you can then select a speed between 1 and 10. The fan in the boiler unit then spins up at whatever speed you have selected and draws air into the unit and blows it out of the normal heating vents around the van. Obviously this doesn't make the air cool - but it does provide a level of circulation around the van which is basically all a fan will do anyway. I'm now looking forward to the next heatwave to give it a go as it doesn't quite have the same effect in late September.
I'm not sure if anyone else is aware of this function, maybe I should have read the manual!
https://www.reimo.com/en/46168-airlock_f_r_die_hec...
the tail gate can be secured by using the airlock, and with the roof up and a couple of front windows slightly open (dubflectors help on the security side as its tricky to get past these and does help http://www.dubflecta.co.uk/retro-wind-deflectors). Have done this for about 4 years with no issues
the tail gate can be secured by using the airlock, and with the roof up and a couple of front windows slightly open (dubflectors help on the security side as its tricky to get past these and does help http://www.dubflecta.co.uk/retro-wind-deflectors). Have done this for about 4 years with no issues
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