There’s nothing quite like summer RV travels. The sun is shining, and the open road is spread out before you. Unfortunately, your excitement level isn’t the only thing on the rise…so is the temperature!
RVing during summer can get toasty quick, but there are many steps you can take to combat the heat in your rig. We’ve compiled our 5 hottest tricks for keeping your RV cool and comfortable this travel season:
Step 1: You’ll Have it Made in the Shade
When you arrive at the campground or boondocking location you’ll be spending time at, do your best to find a spot that offers even a little bit of shade. Seek out spots near trees, or even ask the campground host for a shade-friendly site ahead of time. Even the slightest bit of shade cover breaks up the constant rays of the sun, and will help to keep the temperature inside a few degrees cooler.
If the weather allows, extend your awnings once you’ve set up camp as well. This will provide a nice shaded spot to hang out in during the day, but also cools down any air that might enter your RV through nearby doors and windows.
Step 2: Close Up Shop
It may not be the most inviting set-up, but keeping your shades and blinds drawn can dramatically impact the temperature inside. You can even take it to the next level by investing in some inexpensive reflective window shades for your largest windows. Blocking these rays can keep your rig far more comfortable during those warm summer afternoons.
Quick note: many RVers forget about their bathroom skylights when addressing window insulation. This spot can let in a surprising amount of heat, so make sure to fasten a block for this spot as well.
Step 3: A Breath of Fresh Air
Proper ventilation is another key component to a comfortable RV. Keeping fresh air flowing through your RV will help to push out warm, stale air.
An easy way to achieve this? Keep the windows open on the shady side of your RV, and closed on the side with the most sun exposure. This will encourage cooler air to flow in.
If you plan to travel all summer long, you might also consider an added ceiling vent fan. Ceiling vent fans can help to keep the air in your rig moving, and will also help to filter out hot air, smoke, and odors.
Step 4: Get Outside
Spending time outside of your rig can also help to keep the temperature down. Plan your outings, like a trip to the grocery store or local sites, for peak heat times throughout the day. This will help you avoid the most uncomfortable times in your rig, but will also keep you from adding body heat to that list!
On particularly hot days, it can also be very helpful to cook outdoors. BBQ or campfire recipes are not only a delicious way to celebrate your summer travels, but will also prevent your kitchen appliances from heating up your rig.
Step 5: Run the A/C – Efficiently
Let’s face it, some days are just too hot for DIY fixes! Luckily, most RVs are equipped with several air conditioning units. When it’s just too hot to handle, or you’re not enjoying your long-awaited RV trip, run those babies for a burst of cool air!
Before you hit the road, be sure to clean your air conditioner vents and ensure they are functioning properly. This should help your A/C to run more efficiently, cooling your rig down quicker.
If you’re following steps 1-4, your rig won’t be nearly as hot when it finally comes time to turn to your A/C for help. This should make for quick and easy cool down!
Have a “cool” tip for warm summer travels? Share in the comments section below!
Complain to the RV manufactures about all the black paint most insist on using on their rigs.
There can be upwards of 40-50 degrees difference between the lighters colors (white being lowest) and black.
Black can be gorgeous when clean and in colder climates but in the full summer sun is terrible temperature wise. ACs will get a work out.
When using the reflective material, put it on the OUTSIDE of the windows. This keeps the glass from heating up and radiating that heat. When we started doing this it made a huge difference.
Awesome tip, Lisa! Thank you for sharing.