keeping yourself cool while in your van?

Bbasso

Bbasso

Expedition goofball
Lol of course!
But I was hoping for a solution other than running the motor... ( I like silence or at least the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach.ĺ
 
Cole

Cole

Expedition Leader
Pop the top of course:victory:

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Cole

Cole

Expedition Leader
.....okay....fine......I realize you may not have a Poptop :sombrero:



In my Sprinter I added a "Maxxfan" to the rear so that it could draw air through the front windows and vents toward and out the rear. Has a remote control and can be set on "auto" to thermostatically control itself. (Comes on automatically to cool the van if it gets too hot). Also displays the inside and outside temp on the remote control's display. Can be used when driving and in the rain!

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Here is is in the up position. (Dual sliders also help keep it cooler)

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Stumpalump

Stumpalump

Expedition Leader
We take a few hour break when we are at the sand dunes during the hottest part of the day. I have a vent to the outside that I connect a Zodi tent heater to in the winter. In the summer I put a tiny swamp cooler in front of the vent to draw in the dry air. I use a folding mesh beach chair so the cool air hits me on the back. I use a fantastic fan on the roof blowing out on low. It works but it's not a/c. I use the smallest one I use but I'd consider a larger one as well. http://www.swampy.net/wb.html
 
M

mapper

Explorer
Stumpalump said:
We take a few hour break when we are at the sand dunes during the hottest part of the day. I have a vent to the outside that I connect a Zodi tent heater to in the winter. In the summer I put a tiny swamp cooler in front of the vent to draw in the dry air. I use a folding mesh beach chair so the cool air hits me on the back. I use a fantastic fan on the roof blowing out on low. It works but it's not a/c. I use the smallest one I use but I'd consider a larger one as well. http://www.swampy.net/wb.html
Click to expand...

Hmm...any more details you can provide on how effective this is?

How long have you used this? I'm very curious and the website, for some reason, makes me wonder about durability. Not that swamp coolers are complex.

In any case I'm working through a way to keep my parked van a bit cooler for my dogs...thus making Mt. bike trips, when they can't join the ride, more feasible. Seems something like this, with the fantastic fan, may be a great setup.
 
R

robgendreau

Explorer
I'm out west, and we're drier, which makes it much easier. There are a bunch of DIY swamp coolers you can make with a Home Depot bucket, some absorbent material, a fan and some ducting. Surprising effective...if it's dry.

Another thing that really helps a van is shade cloth. I got some in light colors from Ace Hardware, added grommets, and hang it off the part of the van that may be in sun. You don't necessarily have to put it out like an awning; just off the van enough to take the sun off and allow some air circulation underneath. You can also use it as a ground cloth if need be; it's pretty sturdy. And not too expensive.
 
M

mapper

Explorer
robgendreau said:
I'm out west, and we're drier, which makes it much easier. There are a bunch of DIY swamp coolers you can make with a Home Depot bucket, some absorbent material, a fan and some ducting. Surprising effective...if it's dry.

Another thing that really helps a van is shade cloth. I got some in light colors from Ace Hardware, added grommets, and hang it off the part of the van that may be in sun. You don't necessarily have to put it out like an awning; just off the van enough to take the sun off and allow some air circulation underneath. You can also use it as a ground cloth if need be; it's pretty sturdy. And not too expensive.
Click to expand...

Brilliant thinking on the shade cloth. White sheets are cheap at the 2nd hand store. I know as I used some to create some shade for my back porch last summer.

It's dry by me too. I'll have to look into these DIY swamp coolers. Would be great to add a little cool breeze for the dogs. My all white van never gets terribly hot with vent windows open BUT some simple active cooling would be nice.
 
Cole

Cole

Expedition Leader
mapper said:
Hmm...any more details you can provide on how effective this is?


In any case I'm working through a way to keep my parked van a bit cooler for my dogs...thus making Mt. bike trips, when they can't join the ride, more feasible. Seems something like this, with the fantastic fan, may be a great setup.
Click to expand...

Since it was mentioned, a few thoughts on traveling with dogs.. I travel with two big dogs nearly everywhere I go! Have for over 20 years.

All I can give is some tips and to say use your best judgement.

I have tinted the windows extra dark on all my cars. (6 of them). Some cars simply get too hot no matter what you do so those cars I never leave the pups alone in when its too hot out. In the case of a van build it will be important to heavily insulate the walls and ceiling.

Some cars like the van. Can be made to stay COOLER than it is outside!


Here are some thoughts. (sorry, cut and pasted my own comments from another recent thread on this)

1. Find a shady cool place to park! Preferably one that will be shady the entire time you are gone. Learn to read the sun and shadows a bit!

2. Open as many windows as possible! Airflow is king!! My pickup truck topper area with the slider windows open stays WAY cooler than the cab of the truck ever does! A ceiling fan unit does wonders on a Sprinter/van with windows open or vents. Some units are thermostatically controlled to come on when it gets too hot. I've got a Maxxfan on my Sprinter for this reason. Floor vents help to pull cooler air from under the van and stay stealth.


The Sprinter is large enough that sometimes I just leash the dogs so that they can't reach the outside and leave the doors open when I'm sitting where I can see them.

3. Always leave plenty of water!!

4. Hide the dogs with window tint, sun shades etc. The less they can see the less active they will be and the fewer people will come bother them.

5. Check on them often, park where you can see them most of the time!

6. A roof top vent does wonders. I often raise the top on my Eurovan and you would be amazed at how cool it stays inside since the heat can rise out of the van.

7. Get to know the van and how warm it gets in various conditions. Then you can plan your trips away from it appropriately.

8. Well trained dogs can go with you most places so take the with you as much as possible!


Here is a picture of the pups in the Eurovan. Picture taken from the restaurant we were eating in. This is a busy street. Having well trained pups helps. The Aussie puppy is leashed so that he can just reach the door and the seat but not leave he van.

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