Summer is Here and it’s a Hot One!
Keep Your RV Trailer Cool This Summer with 13 Helpful tips!
When the snow starts to thaw, the leaves unfurl, and the crisp, lazy summer air drones on, this is a time when you pack up your RV for another adventure-packed season. However, for those who have experienced the free life in the torrid heat and the sweltering sun basking on the roof of a camper trailer, the prospect of traveling in summer seems like a double-edged sword. Adding that to the heat from the engine and the appliances could be almost stifling.
Don’t let the sultry weather dampen your spirit! If you happen to catch a heat wave while out on the road, here are a few tips on how you can stay fabulous and glean maximum fun out of your excursions:
1. Search For A Suitable Camping Ground
An ideal site would incorporate ample trees and breezy afternoons. When you arrive at the campsite, never hesitate to ask for a shaded spot, especially on the side where the refrigerator vent is located. This would help cool your travel trailer and ensure your refrigerator survives the sun’s onslaught.
2. Add Additional Shade
To add more shade, extending a tarp over the RV trailer is prudent. Tarps are cheap and space-effective alternatives to air conditioning and provide additional coolness. You can park your rig between two adjacent trees and hang a tarp to provide a cool, shaded area for your family to enjoy.
3. Opening Up Windows & Awnings
When you park your camping trailer at the campsite, open all the window awnings. Awnings not only provide shade for the windows but also draw in the cool outside air. Adequate shades can reduce the temperature inside up to 5 degrees.
Pick a parking spot with ample space on the west and east to open your biggest awning alternately during the morning and evening. Additionally, you can add sunscreen to the outer edge of the main awning for a life-saving tactic and to add space to your outdoor patio. The screen can be stabilized and held in place with tent stakes.
4. Add A Generator
Install a 4KW generator on a raised platform at the rear of the rig so that you have enough power to operate multiple appliances, such as the A/C. Equipping the roof with solar panels to charge devices on a sunny day without dependence on battery power adds many benefits.
5. Maintaining Ventilation Of The RV Trailer
Proper ventilation is indispensable to beating the heat. When your AC is turned off, open all the windows and doors on the shaded side to allow the air to cross. Also, cover the roof vent with a vent cover to allow maximum ventilation, even if it rains, and eradicate all musty odors and smoke from inside.
Sun-facing windows should be sheltered with blinds. Park your RV trailer on the side, which allows your ceiling fan to draw in cooler air from outside.
6. Ceiling Fans Help Keep The Inside Cool
Ceiling fans work painstakingly to ward off hot air from the camping trailer and keep the inside cool efficiently. Ideally, two roof-mounted fans should be at opposite ends of the rig. One fan should be left in the “in” position and the other in the “out” position to promote a steady air draft, even on windless days, and prevent stifling. Also, keep a couple of age-old hand fans with you. On bad days, you might be glad to have them.
7. A/C Unit
Furnish your travel trailer with a roof A/C unit. With a bit of forethought, you could glean maximum comfort from the A/C unit without operating the generator unnecessarily. Try to get through the morning without A/C and rely on the outside air. Switch the A/C back on around the afternoon, shut off all the windows, and leave the ceiling fan running. Once your trailer has an agreeable temperature, switch it off and let the ceiling fan circulate the cooled air.
8. Thermostatic Fan Above The Fridge Vent
Install a thermostatic fan at the top of the refrigerator vent to help lift the warm air upwards. This seeks to eliminate the heat discharged by the refrigerator and greatly enhances its performance by up to 40% by preventing heat buildups. If you are mechanically inclined, you could install one or have a dealer do it.
9. Monitor Your Voltage
If your RV is hooked up to the shore electrical supply, voltage fluctuations could ensue since all the campers are running their A/C and putting a higher load on the campground electricity. Make sure you monitor the voltage using a voltmeter, and if the voltage drops below 105 or rises above 130, turn all your electrical appliances off until they are restored to normal.
10. Inside Cooking vs. Outside Cooking
The heat and aroma from cooking permeate the travel trailer and make life uncomfortable. To reduce indoor heat, try to do most of your cooking outside. Employ a grill, electric broilers or frying fans, and crock pots to cook your food outside in a makeshift kitchen. Plan your groceries around meals that can be viably cooked outside and prove to be a blessing for the cook.
11. Leftovers Are Valuable
Preparing dinner inside the stifling confines of an RV trailer is nothing short of a struggle. Instead of preparing each meal from scratch, strive to use leftovers and cook enough daily to last 2-3 times. This saves electric power while also keeping the trailer cooler throughout the day.
12. Stay Hydrated
Stay hydrated by consuming lots of rejuvenating fluids. Water and low-calorie sports drinks serve as an inner coolant. Avoid caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and alcohol, as they dehydrate the body. As a personal coolant, fill a spray bottle with cold water and essential oils to keep your skin invigorated even when the A/C is turned off.
13. Time To Travel
The hottest time of the day is from 11 to around sunset. Plan a trip around that time to keep yourself diverted and staying out of the camper trailer; you may also wish to keep the windows open to stay ventilated while traveling.
