What do you use to keep the heat down?

Hi we can't store our camper at home due to hoa restrictions. She is around the corner in a storage place. We are in the south where the suns rays add to the heat. We use an ADCO cover with the white top. This reflects the sun and the whole camper is covered to prevent fading. I use a no-damp to keep the dampness in check. All windows are closed to keep unwanted things out. It does get the afternoon shade from trees behind it. Its hot yes but not being in direct sunlite is the key. Bill

Were in the midst of a heat spell-yesterday was 100+ (our normal warm days are 75-80 with ocean breeze). 11:30 its 95 in the shade already. I just opened the camper still 87. Its ok 3-4 hours until as Sleepy mentioned starts soaking in- then it climbs above outside air temp. Takes longer to gid rid of the heat, late evenings are the worst. Only time we've used the dinette bed was trying to escape the heat in the overhead.

We have a cover on camper when stored-which helps, -really hot I just open the door-to keep the temps from climbing to crazy levels. Probably need to drain/flush the water tank. Never had a can explode (does happen) but water tank is where I see high heat issue, it and the lines with our water supply have 'bloomed' before if water is old. -candles etc other heat sensitive items we keep bagged.

Were going to Calaveras Big Trees for a few-will be warm but nice-then on to the Columbia Diggins Tent Town 1852 event. Been a few years since we attended-last few days here reminding us why. But its fun-looking forward to it. Heat not so much...price of admission

i'm looking at this to use with my cats when we leave for a couple hours.

no reccomendations


linky

Traveling in extreme heat...

A few years ago Janet and I were at Lake Mead... it was extremely hot, no breeze and no shade. The camper absorbed so much heat that we couldn't stand it... at midnight it was 115°F

We ran the generator and the airconditioner... an air conditioner will only drop the temperature about 30°F.... so the temperature inside the camper was still more than 85°

The walls of the camper were HOT... it was miserable... the sun had been down for hours... I went out and laid on a picnic table... exhausted. (We were boondocking at a roadside pull-off)

When it gets that hot... nothing you can do to a camper will help very much

We also cover our windows with the aluminized bubble wrap in cold weather... and in hot weather if we are using the airconditioner.

The real problem is the amount of heat absorbed by the walls and roof. We park our camper so that the back of the refrigerator is facing north to help keep the fridge and freezer at optimum conditions.

another thought... someone mentioned solar panels... you might note that PVSolar panels are at their peak when they are 77°F (25°C) or less... heat creats electrical resistance above 77° and the resistance climbs with temperature increase.

Simple aluminum foil, shiney side out, placed in windows exposed to sunshine will greatly help.

mlts22 wrote:
Running the A/C is the most effective way, but that can get expensive on the energy bill. I've thought of that as well, but if I can get away with running a good vent fan, it would be a lot cheaper, perhaps $0, if the solar charging could keep up.

Indeed. Can't really leave it running during the day, all day. Well, I could, but that would be kind of expensive. And wouldn't you know it, we got up this morning and guess what? The power (in our home) was out. Not sure when it went, but must not of been too long. The fridge had only gotten up to 40 degrees. Have a feeling we're going to be dealing with outages all this week.

mlts22 wrote:
note about canned food. I have had cans burst in vehicles when the temperature gets into the 110-120 range outside. What I do to mitigate that is store all food in plastic tubs that have lids when not actively using the rig. That way, if it does rupture, the tub contains the mess and gets moldy... not the shelving.

Hadn't really considered the canned goods. Good tip. Thanks.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I appreciate.

calamus wrote:
We have the foil insulation cut to fit and the wife made Those thermal light blocking curtains. We also have the vent covers and it stays cooler during the day and we open it and run a fan at night. If it gets to hot the AC gets turned on!

Just remembered that I have of a bunch that light blocking material leftover from when I was dampening my drum room a few years ago. Completely forgot I had it. It's awesome obviously at keeping out the light, but it makes whatever space its in much, much quieter. Thanks!

Gonna go pick up a roll of the radiant insulation too.

I forgot and left the bath door slid open yesterday. That why it got so dang hot. I mean hot. Even the dicor started oozing from around the edges of the skylight. Closed the door,came home today...night and day difference. Like almost 20 degrees.

Running the A/C is the most effective way, but that can get expensive on the energy bill. I've thought of that as well, but if I can get away with running a good vent fan, it would be a lot cheaper, perhaps $0, if the solar charging could keep up.

One note about canned food. I have had cans burst in vehicles when the temperature gets into the 110-120 range outside. What I do to mitigate that is store all food in plastic tubs that have lids when not actively using the rig. That way, if it does rupture, the tub contains the mess and gets moldy... not the shelving.

Can you run your air conditioner when parked on the slope of your driveway?

I don't worry about it when the camper is in the storage yard. Everything is in it and loaded to go with exception of frig, perishable's and my wife's clothes.

Never had a problem with canned food going bad (I make sure to rotate stock), moisture, or bugs.

Maybe I'm just lucky enough that I get to use it enough to prevent any problems.

P.S. One of the good things about having an older cheap unit, don't tent to worry about it as much. :)