VENT FANS & A/C
VENT FANS
WHY YOU DEFINITELY NEED ONE
Vent fans are very important in a van build. Even if you don’t think you need air conditioning, you will definitely want to install a vent fan. They help tremendously to keep the van cool on hot days and suck all the moisture out when you’re cooking. You can be as cheap or as fancy as you’d like with these depending on what you want for your van. I went with a cheaper option because I didn’t think I needed anything fancy, but I’d probably change my mind the next time around.
This is the model that I wish I would’ve purchased!
This vent fan is one of the most popular because Fan- tastic is a trusted brand and this model has everything. The 7350 has reversible air flow so you can suck the moisture out when cooking but bring it into the van on a hot day. It has 13 speeds and includes a rain sensor. The rain sensor closes the dome whenever it’s raining so you don’t have to worry about leaving the van with the vent fan up and the inside getting wet!
This is the vent fan that I actually bought and installed into the van. It’s perfectly fine and definitely does the job. I went with this model because it’s significantly cheaper than the previous option. So if you are on a budget, this may be your best choice. However, this only brings air out of the van. It does help with moisture, but on hot days.. I would kill to have the air flow coming inside the van. The reversible air flow on the 7350, in my opinion, is definitely worth the extra money.
This is another great option because it comes WITH a rain cover. So you can use this fan in any weather without worrying about water getting inside. Some people think this is really important while others don’t. I don’t tend to ever want my vent fan open when it’s raining so it wasn’t super necessary for me. But if you like a little fresh rain air, you will want this one! It’s also a good middle- ground price between the other two options.
AIR CONDITIONER
WHY I DON'T THINK YOU NEED ONE
Air conditioners will either need a lot of power to work for a long period of time or they will need a lot of water.
If you insulate the van well, install a vent fan, use Reflectix on your windows on super hot days, AND use your front air conditioning for a little while to cool down the van… it just isn’t needed and not worth the struggle of all the power or water it’ll need.
BUT: If you are going to be almost exclusively in extreme hot weather and definitely want an air conditioner, I do get it. That’s totally your call and I do have a recommendation for the best one that I’ve seen!
The TurboKool has been one of the best air conditioners I’ve seen in van conversions. Instead of using a ridiculous amount of power, it’s an evaporative cooler. So all it needs is water and 12V power. This A/C was designed for the van community in mind and specifically made to not take up too much of your electrical. It takes between 1- 1.5 gallons per hour of running, depending on how cool you want the van. I would recommend turning it on until the van feels okay and then turning it off to preserve as much water as possible!
Vented windows can also help dramatically in cooling the van down. A cross breeze with a vented window and your vent fan will definitely work to cool down the space. They make a few different types and sizes of vented windows as well so you can have as much breeze as you’d like depending on how many windows you’re okay with having! I don’t have any in my van currently but I am considering adding a couple down the line.
AC is a tough one. I’m in the south. Not having an AC means no camping from May to September – or driving North for 10 hours. I’m in the planning stages of a Class B for increase vacationing and would home to camp around the South in the Summer months. So I think I have to bite it and get AC. Also – as with my current RV, I have the option of only using it when on Shore power.
I’ve used bubble insulation. Reflex is super. I get well insulated and it holds the heat. Using a Mister Buddy outside of my dodge bus it seems to hold up quiet well in these cold Montana nights. And good sleeping gear. Lol.
Do you have to have an air vent fitted in a camper van ( for mot ) ? Does this not make air con ineffective?
After one measures the time, effort and cost, wouldn’t it be more efficient to use spray on foam insulation? Wouldn’t it also be the ultimate in eliminating condensation?
Additionally, CheapRvLiving channel had a vid on using exterior sunblock covers on a van, especially the windshield – to keep the van cool while parked on forest land or an RV park.