Cooling for VW camper

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Discussion

Jonboy_t

Original Poster:

5,038 posts

183 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Am off in the van for a couple of weeks in late July and am trying to think ahead of a way of cooling the inside. We're not going anywhere particularly hot (prob Newquay, although may venture to France) but if it's even remotely like it has been for the past couple of days, I'm booking a hotel!

So, anyone got any tips for ways of cooling a van overnight? Ours is a VW T2 with a 3/4 length pop top, so can't install roof mounted air con (nor can we afford it, to be honest!). Would a decent fan circulate enough to cool? Are those Dyson things much cop? Have seen thermomats for the canvas pop top, any experience of whether they work to keep heat out rather than in?

If it were just me, I'd only be away in it until end of April and then store it until September! Alas, a persistent wife and the need to get away from work for a bit are driving this one!!

Chicken Chaser

7,805 posts

224 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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It's one of those things, no air con so just have to stick it out. In UK overnight temps are usually ok, abroad it gets tricky. I'm tempted to dry blowing a fan into a bucket of ice (proper diy job on youtube) to see if it makes much difference.

Jonboy_t

Original Poster:

5,038 posts

183 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
Maybe that give that a shot at home first to see how it goes!

Don't know what it is about it, I [/i]should[i] like the warm weather, but I just can't stand it! Especially after a few beers in the evening!

Any experience with thermomats? We've got them on the windows, just wondering if the pop top cover ones are any good?

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

202 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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One of the big problems on some sites with Air -Con is the lack of electric power at the indidual points and you end up tripping out other campers who may have a fan running instead, then you become really unpopular 😲.

I find that if you can rig a wind shute as are used on yachts, if either the front or rear of your pop top is up and open one end and the front two windows are open part way as well to make a through draught or alternatively either one or two fans which work quite well.

Re your other question about Dyson fans we have one of the upright fans which are very good but too big for a VW.

I'm with you end of May latest until September I don't venture far, then go to Europe when it is child free 😲✋️

keeling54

187 posts

169 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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You won't need it, if you are really worried take a couple of USB fed fans and wire them from your leasure battery.