Keeping cool at night

[Juliainthevan]

We're off to France in a couple of weeks for our first summer holiday in our T6 (2016 model). We're wondering how hot the van will get overnight and how we keep it cool, especially if we want to keep the windows shut for security. Our two children will be sleeping upstairs and we'll be downstairs.

We've been looking up air conditioning units but these seem expensive and not sure we'd gain much over just buying a couple of cheap fans to run off the electric hookup. We're assuming we can't use the van's air-con overnight but would be happy to be corrected on this point... Would be great to hear how other people keep their vans cool overnight when camping in the summer?

 

[bigmac77]

I open both sliding windows downstairs with mosi mesh in place and unzip all windows in the pop up roof. Just keep air moving and you should be okay. If there is no wind at night we also use a couple of 12v USB fans.

Personally I get hot easily whilst my wife is always cold so she sleeps downstairs with one of our kids whilst I go up top with the other I find it much cooler up there.

If you want the vehicle air con you air going to have to run the engine all night.

 

[Hotel California]

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/keeping-cool.12585/#post-125629

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/staying-cool.17152/#post-193645

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/hot-weather-tips.14837/#post-159254

A random search regarding thesame Q ......

 

[rippers]

We use these, a lot more secure then the pop out plastic jobs that come with the van

 

[GrannyJen]

36c in Languedoc two years ago and I would simply having the upstairs windows open created a surprising amount of air movement.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I was in Italy two years ago, it was insanely hot and no wind. We slept with the tailgate fully open and sliding door open.
After two nights couldn't stand it anymore. Packed the van and headed for the mountains, much cooler than the lakes

 

[Victor]

I was in Italy two years ago, it was insanely hot and no wind. We slept with the tailgate fully open and sliding door open.
After two nights couldn't stand it anymore. Packed the van and headed for the mountains, much cooler than the lakes

We have done exactly the same where it did not go below 30 degrees even at night, however we found a hotel with air con in the room that was not much more than we were paying for a campsite pitch - Bliss !

 

[GillianC]

We use these, a lot more secure then the pop out plastic jobs that come with the van

Look good. What are they please @rippers ? Are they easy to install?

 

[WelshGas]

Brandrup Tailgate Safe Lock + Front Window Vents and a Mains 8" fan does us OK in Italy last year with Temperatures 36c +. Bellows windows open during day and partially at night.

 

[rippers]

Look good. What are they please @rippers ? Are they easy to install?

Very easy to install, you undo the clamps, slip the vent in, slide the clamps into position and re-tighten, I've mastered putting them on and removing from inside the van now..
They where a german product google:- Lueftungsgitter-Schiebefenster
They are sided and sold in singles so you will need to translate

 

[Juliainthevan]

Thanks everyone... very helpful replies. Just checked the weather and it seems we may not need to worry about hot weather after all! @rippers - really like your vents...

 

[B J G]

just got back from France where we had 38 degrees to contend with.
After a hot night where even the bed was hot to lie on I did the obvious and ran the the aircon front and rear for a while to cool everything down on the inside, used with air recirculating mode to speed up cooling process. Early evening so that nobody got upset by engine running. Worked a treat and normal window and roof venting took care of the night.

I'd endorse getting the metal side window screens as with the advent of overnight thunderstorms the nearside window had to be closed, door window ok as awning protected that but I didn't feel very secure as the inner opening handle is there and it would be easy to get a hand through to it with the standard fly screen.

 

[larrylamb]

Look good. What are they please @rippers ? Are they easy to install?

Reimo make them, sold here http://camperworks.com/page/5/?taxonomy=product_shipping_class&term=medium

 

[bigmac77]

Thanks everyone... very helpful replies. Just checked the weather and it seems we may not need to worry about hot weather after all! @rippers - really like your vents...

What weather forecast have you looked at and where are you going?

 

[Paul Grice]

https://www.jmldirect.com/at-home/h...gclid=CKrBs8fQjtUCFRcUGwodqSQAfw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Randwick]

We're off to France in a couple of weeks for our first summer holiday in our T6 (2016 model). We're wondering how hot the van will get overnight and how we keep it cool, especially if we want to keep the windows shut for security. Our two children will be sleeping upstairs and we'll be downstairs.

We've been looking up air conditioning units but these seem expensive and not sure we'd gain much over just buying a couple of cheap fans to run off the electric hookup. We're assuming we can't use the van's air-con overnight but would be happy to be corrected on this point... Would be great to hear how other people keep their vans cool overnight when camping in the summer?

We bought a small (18 inch tall, 5 or so inches wide) vertical fan from Sainsbury's several years ago which plugs in to the 3 pin socket if you are connected onsite and sits on top of the sink unit. It has a timer, 3 speeds and oscillates - we find it excellent when it's really hot.

 

[AlanC]

We have just returned from Brittany when there was a small heatwave early last week. Night temps were in the mid to high 20s.

We slept on the bottom bunk with the side windows open behind the blinds, top zipped ones open and the front windows open behind the Comfortz window blinds for a couple of nights. A nice gentle breeze all night, but we were on a secure campsite and ensured we parked the van in as much shade as was available on the pitch.

A portable aircon unit is bulky to pack in a small van. It also demands an electric hook up of sufficient power capacity to run it and the rest of the van.

Alan

 

[rippers]

Reimo make them, sold here http://camperworks.com/page/5/?taxonomy=product_shipping_class&term=medium

I paid about that much posted for the pair from Germany.
Just to add we have had loads of rain over the last few weeks and we left the vents on the whole time and not a drop of water inside

 

[WelshGas]

http://www.justkampers.com/cab-window-air-vent-t5-2003-2015-t6-2015-on.html

Easily Fitted. I think Brandrup also make something similar. They do work with Electric Windows.

 

[rippers]

http://www.justkampers.com/cab-window-air-vent-t5-2003-2015-t6-2015-on.html

Easily Fitted. I think Brandrup also make something similar. They do work with Electric Windows.

View attachment 23989

I considered these but as I use a silver screen I decided against them

 

[DM]

We found this great little 12V fan.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...e-the-best-campsites.19524/page-5#post-226239

 

[Ksar-el-kebir]

I'm considering installing an under bench air con unit to run off mains or leisure battery. It will be around £1,500 fitted. Anyone got any experience with one?

 

[WelshGas]

I'm considering installing an under bench air con unit to run off mains or leisure battery. It will be around £1,500 fitted. Anyone got any experience with one?

How long will it run on the 12v Leisure Battery?
How is it fitted and how/where does it get rid of the heat from the condenser?
A link to the Unit would be useful.

 

[CYCLOPATH]

I'm considering installing an under bench air con unit to run off mains or leisure battery. It will be around £1,500 fitted. Anyone got any experience with one?

If you look, aircon units are usually fitted outside a building, on the walls or roof, because they generate heat....more heat than the cooling they produce, so if it was in the drawer under the bench, it would not work. Like if you kept the fridge door open.

 

[kave]

http://www.justkampers.com/cab-window-air-vent-t5-2003-2015-t6-2015-on.html

Easily Fitted. I think Brandrup also make something similar. They do work with Electric Windows.

View attachment 23989

We use this in sweden all year, mainly to get fresh air in the cabin. In warmer temperatures it seems it makes no practical difference. We have both side windows open or the complete side door to cope with temps 25 and up.