Keeping Your RV Cool
Keeping Your RV Cool Articles from RV Station Colbert
Oklahoma isn’t exactly known for its mild summers and breezy afternoons, and in the summer the heat can be downright suffocating. For anyone with camping plans, this means that unless you have a powerful air conditioning system, your RV is going to get extremely hot. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to combat the heat and make your RV much more tolerable, even during the hottest days. As camping and RVing enthusiasts ourselves, the staff here at RV Station Colbert has figured out a few simple techniques for heat management that we’ve collected in the following short guide. Hopefully these will help you to stay cool on your next camping trip. If you need a new RV air conditioner or are in the market for a new travel trailer or motorhome, stop by our Colbert, Oklahoma dealership and service center.
Smart Parking to Fight Heat
Try to keep heat in mind when you pick your specific campsite. A campsite with lots of shade will help to prevent direct sunlight from turning your RV into a greenhouse. Southern exposure is also an important consideration. Here in the northern hemisphere, south-facing locations get the most hours of direct sunlight per day. If you can find a location with shade from the south, you’ll significantly reduce your time in the sun. A site near a body of water may be slightly cooler, but it will also give you a place to jump in whenever your family gets warm.
Window Shades
Once again, direct sunlight is the biggest source of heat, so make sure to use window shades to keep the sun out of your RV. Full blackout shades are ideal if you camp enough to justify them, but even roman shades or normal blinds will greatly reduce how much light gets through. If you have a motorhome, make sure to use a reflective windshield screen to bounce out as many of those warming rays as possible.
LED Lighting
Traditional incandescent lighting isn’t particularly energy efficient and it produces large amounts of heat. Upgrade the lighting in your RV to LED lighting to reduce your energy consumption and keep your RV cooler. An added benefit is that LED lighting often lasts much longer than traditional light bulbs, meaning an investment in the beginning leads to more long term convenience.
Ventilation
If you keep your RV shades up, you’ll feel heat primarily through humidity. The best way to reduce humidity and heat is to work out your ventilation system and reduce the amount of water vapor you’re putting into the air. Hot showers produce a huge amount of humidity, so take cool showers or bathe outside when possible. You’ll also produce humidity simply by exhaling, so it’s important to get your ventilation set up. Make sure to use the fan above your shower when in the bathroom. If a cool breeze stirs up, crack open a few windows on opposite sides of the trailer to create a cross draft which will pull hot air out of the trailer. When night hits, throw your windows open and turn on the fans. Push as much hot air out as possible during the cooler times of day.
Cooking to Keep Cool
Next to the shower, the kitchen is one of the biggest sources of humidity in an RV. Try to avoid using large pots of boiling water in your trailer, which will put huge amounts of water vapor into the air. Try to cook the hot portions of your meals on the grill or in a pot over the fire outdoors. Eating more salads and fresh fruit or veggies will reduce the amount of cooking you have to do. And for the love of Pete, don’t use the oven.
Keeping your RV cool is all about reducing direct sun exposure, managing humidity, and not producing unnecessary heat. Hopefully this provided some new perspectives or ideas for the next time you go camping. If you need a new air conditioning unit, better fans, or just want a new RV altogether, stop by RV Station Colbert. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic team is here to solve your RV problems.
This information is for educational purposes. VIARV shall not be responsible nor retain liability for RVer’s use of the provided information. Prior to making any RV service decision, you are advised to consult with an RV professional.