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HighLonesome's avatar
HighLonesome
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016

Exterior Color and Inside Temperature...

OK.... I need some help here.... about exterior color vs temperature inside.

I will be 3/4 timing to start with so I will be living in my B most of the time.
My intention is to follow the seasons so I will not be in any long term weather extremes.

When it gets too hot..... or too cold..... then I am leaving. If I can't have the windows open for good cross ventilation then... it's time to move on and change locations.

SO... that said..... my question is about exterior color. I have had vehicles in mostly all the colors over the years.... but none that I was planning to actually live in.

Since I am not planning on having air conditioning put in or some kind of heating other than a small ceramic heater or small oil filled plug in heater..... I am not sure which colors would be best to consider for the exterior.

I have been leaning towards white because its generally so cool to the touch but.... I really don't like it. I wish I could have a real color like yellow or that nice caribou brown that comes on the ford transit vans.

but.... they are hot to the touch on a warm day which unlike the
white that is much cooler.

Does anyone here have a dark colored van and if so..... how is it in the various temperatures you travel in.

I have this vision in my head that I will utterly ROAST in a van any other color than white if I hit a hot snap of weather.... wherever I am.
Is this an unfounded fear ? OR.... will exterior color make that much difference with windows open and air moving thru ?

I would love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks so much.

39 Replies

  • fla-gypsy wrote:
    Not having a AC system is short sighted thinking


    it may be short sighted but I hate the noise and I love fresh air.... thats why I am doing this because I want to be somewhere I can have the windows open all the time.

    when I was younger and HAD to be somewhere for a job..... I was stuck in that climate.... and always dreaming of the day I would be FREE to follow the seasons.

    now I can do as I please with no one to please but myself. lol
    and I want what I want..... and thats being somewhere I don't have to deal with extreme temps. not that THAT can't happen.... it will..... but I'll just have to deal with it when it comes. I don't figure I need to mess with air conditioning just for those times.

    yes the resale value will be better with air as well but.... I just don't care. lol
    I guess I am shortsighted. LOL thats fine.
  • fla-gypsy wrote:
    Not having a AC system is short sighted thinking


    I don't think so. We don't have an AC and do quite well. I know many people in class B's that don't have AC's I don't sit inside during the day. Outside under a nice shady tree with a nice drink is the place to be. AC is too noisy, besides I am camping to enjoy nature.
  • Second Chance wrote:
    Let me share some data with you... An experiment was performed by a curious employee at one of the Nissan dealers in Augusta, GA, a few years ago. He placed calibrated HVAC thermometers in a black truck and a white truck - exact same models of vehicle - on a nice summer day. After 30 minutes for the thermometers to stabilize, the interior of a black truck was 45 degrees higher than the white truck. Draw your own conclusion...

    Rob


    Go this route and get white exterior. It is easier to get warm than to try to get cool in my opinion.
  • Let me share some data with you... An experiment was performed by a curious employee at one of the Nissan dealers in Augusta, GA, a few years ago. He placed calibrated HVAC thermometers in a black truck and a white truck - exact same models of vehicle - on a nice summer day. After 30 minutes for the thermometers to stabilize, the interior of a black truck was 45 degrees higher than the white truck. Draw your own conclusion...

    Rob
  • We lean towards silver and white vehicles with light-colored interiors for the heat factor, but also that light-colored vehicles show dirt the least. Also look into Reflectrix'ing (insulating) windows, Weathertech rain guards (to vent the driver/passenger Windows), Fantastic Fans (w/thermostat, rain sensor, solar power), exterior front cab window covers (heats up *outside* of van), and even a compass (so you know where the sun will move toward).
  • i would think color applies to r.v. as well.
    darker will translate into warmer, but better for colder applications.
    lighter will be cooler but no so much fun in the winter.

    go with a beige.....lol jk.