How to beat the heat and keep your van cool in the summer

It can sometimes feel like the temperature is climbing steadily higher year after year. If you have chosen to live your life out of a van, you may be all too familiar with the feeling of sitting inside a metal shell while the sun beats down on you without much shelter from the heat. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to maintain a comfortable temperature in your vehicle and give yourself some relief from the heat.

Keeping your van cool whilst you're not inside

Keeping your van cool while you're not inside it can be tricky. The reason the van will feel so warm when you return can in part be due to stagnant air.

Air that has been allowed to sit and not move around will feel warmer than air that has been moving, so enhancing the ventilation in your van is a step towards maintaining a comfortable temperature inside. There are plenty of after-market van ventilation kits you can buy online, so do some research and keep that air moving for a more comfortable van life!

It may sound obvious, but if you can stop your van from heating up in the first place then it will be easier to keep cool when you're inside it. The basics work well, such as trying to park in shade. It might be worth parking a little further from your destination if it means you can park under a big tree or inside a car park, but if that's not possible and you have to park in full sun, all is not lost. The windscreen of your vehicle can act like a heat magnifier, which is why it makes sense to buy a reflective window cover to pop in your van and reflect the sun's rays back outside!

You could also add insulation to the interior of the vehicle, which can help limit the amount of heat that is transferred from the outside.

If you've got more cash to splash, then it may be possible to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your vehicle even while you're not there by installing a remote temperature control device. The temperatures inside the van can be kept at a more comfortable level with the assistance of an air conditioning unit that can be operated from a distance or can be programmed to turn on at a predetermined time, such as just before you plan to get back to the van or when the temperature reaches a certain level.

Tips to stay cool whilst driving

There are a number of ways you can stay cool while driving; the most common form would be using the air-conditioning system in your van, if it has one. Older van models possibly won't have air-con, but will likely still have an air circulation system and as we know, moving air is better than still air! Failing that, just wind the windows down!

The clothes you wear can also impact your temperature when driving. Try to avoid wearing thick, non-breathable clothing in the heat; instead, try to keep it light and breathable, preferably wearing clothes that are loose-fitting and made from cotton. This will help by promoting airflow onto your skin to evaporate sweat and keep you cooler.

If you are doing a lot of long journeys and are required to sit down for long periods of time, it may be worth investing in seat coolers or vented seat covers; these work to circulate air through the seat, keeping your back and the rear of your legs as cool as possible whilst driving.

Important considerations for keeping your van cool

Keeping your van cool in the hotter months may require some additional changes. For example, if you are looking to run a van-specific AC unit (separate from the AC unit found in the main cabin) or a dehumidifier within the van during the day and night, you will need to ensure you have the correct power and wattage outputs to be able to support this, along with the correct equipment that is suitable for a van. Usually, this would require the use of additional power such as a generator.

Staying on top of regular maintenance can also contribute to keeping your van cool over longer periods of time. This includes checking the van's cooling system, air conditioning, and other cooling systems to ensure they are working at optimal performance and do not require filling up or recharging.