We bought a Bailey pusuit last august and are going to Vandee in July august this year. How hot can the caravan get over night? I know we can open the windows but I struggle to sleep if it’s too warm. Would we best fitting an air conditioning unit or is it a waste of money for an annual two week holiday? Also any idea the rough price including fitting?
I wouldn't bother personally. We were in Benidorm last August and just used a fan I made in the ceiling above the bed. Uses very little power, weights and costs very little
We had the air con fitted before we went to the Vendee as we have small long haired dogs. We have also used it on numerous occasions in the UK. We think it was worth every penny as nothing worse than a sleepless night due to high humidity.
I dislike the heat, and set the house/car/van to 18.5degC throughout the year.
Air con was a must have when I was spec'ing my van, like I did with my house and car.
Used it loads of times, so it was money well-spent, and it can be used for warmth as well as for cooling. It means I don't have to use up my own diesel if I am on EHU in the colder months.
However, I went out at least once a month from about Easter till October.
It is a Dometic model, can't remember how much it cost as an individual item as it was part of my van conversion package.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We have had the Truma Aventa on two caravans, and wouldn't be without it.
Mainly for 3-4 week holiday in the South of France, but have used it numerous times in the UK.
In the next couple of weeks we are getting a Truma Aventa Compact 2nd Generation fitted.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I hate excessive heat, well, probably more the high humidity that often accompanies it, so air con is often appreciated, even in UK.
Not camped in southern France, but surprising how much hotter even central France can get compared to UK when I've been there!
For the occasional use necessary in UK, I bought a compact portable A/C unit rather than had a very expensive dedicated caravan unit fitted. It means I don't have to lug the extra weight around for most of the year when it's redundant. I did do a fair bit of measuring to ensure I could transport it and use it OK in the limited space of the caravan. It transports on the lower bunk of the convertible dinette/bunk beds (I never use either the dinette or bunk beds - bed bases without cushions are used as storage 'racking', and is used in the ample floor space opposite the door.
Vent hose goes out of the standard Heki type roof vent (I made a custom fit adaptor to seal it, to stop cold air escape/hot air ingress).
Only found cause to use it a couple of times since I bought it, but it worked really well, and did the job to my satisfaction. Unlike some portables, it's quite quiet running and doesn't trip in and out with a loud noise, so I can sleep through it fine. TBH, if you can keep the van cool in the day/eve, overnight doesn't require quite as much cooling as you may think.
When not in the caravan, it gets used at home - quite a lot, so good investment!
I did consider the 'Cool my Camper' split units, but between cost, weight (can be a struggle fitting/retrieving external part through a window), care of handling two units with a fragile umbilical linking them, questionable dehumidifying capability (compared to other types), and relatively low power/cooling capacity, I discounted it.
Don't bother with the water evaporation 'chilled' fan types - they don't really work under the circumstances where you need them most! They rely on the chilling effect of evaporating water, BUT when ambient humidity is high and nearing saturation point, evaporation barely happens, so it's just an ordinary fan then, blowing warm air around and trying to get your skin to do it's own cooling! Arguably as it's increasing humidity in the local area, it's probably making things more uncomfortable when not in the direct flow of air from the fan!
Any kind of A/C is not light weight! - Keep a close eye on your payload! A/C is quite power hungry, ensure EHU is rated high enough to cope.
If I were looking at a replacement caravan at any point, I'd give serious thought to a dedicated A/C unit, for the convenience and it's cooling/heating versatility, but current van is stretched on payload, and not inclined to invest so much money on an older van.
During a very hot period several years ago we just bought a bag of ice and put it in a big bowl in front of our fan at night. The ice cools the air directly above it and the fan blows the cooled air around the van. It worked for us for the short time we needed it.
In 2022, we had a very hot spell in August in UK, hitting 30+ degC in some parts of the country.
I spent most of the time inside the van with the air con on during the day as it was too hot and sunny for me and the dog to sit outside even in the shade.
For me personally, that trip alone justified spending the money on an air con.
There had been other trips like that since.
When I installed air con in my house when I relocated there in 2006, every one I knew said I was nuts to do that as there was no need for that in UK.
I am not laughing or gloating, not much anyway, on the days when it is over 25degC which is increasing common!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We were in the Vendee a few years ago during a bit of a heat wave, it was 41 degrees in the shade and even with every window and door wide open all night and fan on, it was terrible, we just don't get that kind of temperature and humidity in the UK.
I bought a second-hand roof mounted aircon for a bargain price from someone who needed a larger model for their new motorhome and it's been absolutely fantastic. My wife had breast cancer and the maintenance drug, Tamoxifen gave her hot sweats for 10 years.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
So what do you think martyjake, are you going for it?
Would be good to get some feedback re all the replies.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Our Dandy has a shiny white insulated PVC roof and only small windows in the walls. If we go out for the day leaving it shut up on a hot sunny day, it's like stepping into a fridge when we get back.
By contrast, our little modern 2 berth caravan has 2 huge roof lights, and huge windows all round. If we go out for the day leaving it shut up on a hot sunny day, it's like stepping into an oven when we get back.
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 04/3/2025
So what do you think martyjake, are you going for it?
Would be good to get some feedback re all the replies.
Sorry I haven’t been online for a few days.
Thanks for the advice i think we are going to investigate the prices of the different suggestions.
It needs to be remembered that with any air con, if going out for the day one needs to make sure all windows are closed and blinds closed otherwise the air con will not be efficient.
We go to the Vendée every year and to be honest we have only had one year where it was pretty warm at night (2022).
I have considered getting Aircon but don't really think it would be financially viable for us to be honest, we generally only keep a caravan for about 4 years so it's a massive outlay for a couple of days every year, would possibly look at the units that can be temporarily fitted through a window
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Topic: Air conditioning
via mobile 24/2/2025 at 11:17pm
