How to keep cool in the caravan....
As we are hearing reports if yet another heatwave, I thought it might be a good idea to have a place where folk could share their thoughts on how to keep cool in the caravan.
In the past, we have taken a fan away with us, but wondered if any of you have had any experience with this air cooler...?
Edit: just found them cheaper on Amazon...?
David
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We book our month in France for May/May or August/Sept to avoid the peak season and the higher temperatures, but still see 30c with ease most years. June 2022 it was 38-40c in NL.
A don't use an awning, it traps heat and we have sufficient space.
I have an Isabella Shadow on the door side and a Fiamma Caravanstore on the opposite side. This means we can have windows open in the shade on both sides and allow a through flow of air. If a window is in the sun then the blind goes down.
A 12" fan, on a timer at night if need be, pulls air around the van.
Don't even think about a cheap coolbox. A second "proper" dual voltage fridge/freezer that will hold -15c if needed is in use.
3 x 12v computer fans fitted behind top grill on caravan fridge.
Colin
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We have just bought a couple. You get a time limited offer price, more you buy, more you save. They look and sound good, compact, portable and the science is good. They are shipped from Lithuania, but as I often buy expensive beads from Lithuania, and have never had problems this didn’t worry me. They tend to use the German postal services. I used PayPal as well. They won’t be here for a few days, but will report back when we get them.
As for keeping cooler in UK, try and pitch in the shade, higher places are cooler, get whatever breeze there is. Don’t raise you core temp by being out in Sun too much, use fans, cold shower before bed, no or very loose clothing at night, just a sheet at night, get any through draft through as you can. In the past we have endured some very hot weeks. Some form of air con is becoming a must have for some UK destinations, and unthinkable to be without overseas. Club Sites are not the best places to seek to be cool, as the pitching procedures/positions are so strict. Plus hard surfaces reflect the heat, so grass is better.
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We also use a canopy and no awning @eribaMotters.... haven't used a proper enclosed awning for years - we have a Thule windout fitted to the roof of the van.
I may well order one of the airabreeze units @Takethedogalong to give it a go....
David
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I don’t know any answers for Uk where one pays site fees in advance - but at sites in southern France where we didn’t book in advance, didn’t say how long we were staying, and didn’t need to pay till we decided to go, we would simply cut and run in weather like this. Goodbye Mazan, goodbye Narbonne, and goodbye several others too. Hitch up and go. A site high in the hills with trees, with shade, with a breeze, and with a pool usually did the trick.
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I noticed one on Amazon for a ridiculous £18 - but then I saw the seller had an address in China and the brand was described as "generic", even though it was called Airabreeze. Obviously a cheap copy🙄
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That's the one I spotted @richardandros , bit didn't read the details.... 🙂
David
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in the past when we have caravanned in a heatwave we shut the blinds leaving a small space as I was told years ago that the heat can ruin the windows🤔 and we find some shade for us and the dogs. At night we just lay on the bed, but not retiring until the sun goes down. Drink plenty of water for us and the dogs.
I will mention that having dogs in this weather means that a decision has to be made as to going home or not
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Leave the blinds closed on the skylights or mostly closed if open. I’ve made many a white jacket, like a horse blanket, for our dogs over the years and found their backs are cool within seconds of putting it on them (white obviously reflects the heat) I’m no expert at needlework (as my efforts will testify 😂), but it works a treat. I tend to get a metre or two of the thick white cotton material, similar to what chef’s wear, but have also cobbled together a version of it from a cheap white t-shirt. No need for constant wetting and folds back into my pocket when not needed 👍
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