“Hot town, summer in the city; Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty...” —The Lovin’ Spoonful. Most of us try to get away from that summer in the city. We hitch up the trailer or fire up the motorhome and head for cooler climes. Keeping an RV cool in hot weather can be a real challenge, especially in full sun or desert conditions.
Here are some practical tips to cool your RV in hot weather.
Cool your RV in hot weather—at the RV park
When you’re hunkered down in an RV park with shore power at the ready, these tips are for you. Boondocking? Keep reading—we’ve got tips for you down below. In the RV park, even with plenty of electricity on tap, you still need to manage heat.
Use A/C strategically
• Start the air conditioner early in the morning to stay ahead of the heat.
• Close blinds, windows, and vents in sun-exposed areas.
• Shut interior doors or use curtains to cool smaller zones more efficiently.
• Clean air filters and check for air leaks around ducts and vents.
Supplement with fans
• Use oscillating fans to improve air circulation throughout the rig.
• Use a vent fan to exhaust hot air from the ceiling before turning on the A/C. Automatic thermostat-controlled roof vents are definitely a plus.
Block solar heat
• Use Reflectix, thermal curtains, or window shades.
• Extend awnings to shade windows and the RV side.
• Consider side shade screens for added exterior shading.
Cook cool
• Use microwave, air fryer, or Instant Pot instead of stove/oven. We’re not great fans of using toaster ovens—they kick plenty of heat into the coach. We have set ours up outside on a folding table, close to the outside power outlet.
• Grill outside or prep cold meals to avoid heating the interior.
Safety first
• Don’t overload circuits with multiple high-wattage devices. Running the A/C while using the microwave will decidedly trip your circuit breakers if your rig is a 30-amper.
• Keep vents and A/C units unobstructed for safe airflow.
• If you have 50-amp service, use it to run multiple cooling devices safely.
Keeping your RV cool in hot weather—off the grid
Boondocking “off the grid” certainly presents its own challenges. Yes, you may have a suitable generator to help out, but be prepared to shell out the big bucks to keep that genny running in high heat. Really, conserving energy while still keeping cool is your key.
Use passive cooling
• Park in the shade—trees, hillsides, or even use a tarp over the roof. Not a lot of help if you’re relying on roof-mounted solar panels. Some RVers park in the shade, then run their panels out and ground-mount them.
• Orient your RV so the windows face away from direct sun, especially in the afternoon.
• Reflectix or foil bubble insulation in windows and vents helps block radiant heat.
• Use vent pillows or insulators in skylights and unused roof vents.
Maximize natural ventilation
• Open windows on opposite sides of the RV to create a cross-breeze.
• Use 12V vent fans (like MaxxAir or Fan-Tastic Vent fan) to draw hot air out.
• Run battery-powered fans for air movement inside.
Reduce internal heat
• Avoid using the oven or propane stove—cook outside.
• Unplug unused electronics that generate heat.
• Use LED lights only, and minimize light use during the day.
Use evaporative cooling when humidity is low
• DIY: Hang a wet towel in front of a fan.
• Keep a spray bottle with water to mist skin or bedding.
• Use a commercial evaporative cooler designed for RVs. Look to see an article specific to this within the next week or so. If you’re interested, drop a line to russ (at) rvtravel.com, and we’ll let you know when the story is ready.
Conserve energy
• Run fans sparingly on low settings.
• Recharge batteries using solar panels, if equipped.
• Plan errands or sightseeing during the hottest part of the day to avoid being inside. Think air-conditioned ice cream parlor!
We’re not staying in a hotel
It can take some ingenuity to keep your RV cool during hot weather. But as most RVers would agree, we’re not staying in a hotel. The views we have from our rigs are a lot better. And if we don’t like the heat, we can always turn the key and move along…
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RVTDT2660
We have installed Reflectix in every window and skylight and it makes it much easier to keep it cool inside. We only remove it for part of the day in the kitchen table area so our cat can see outside. And we rarely cook inside.
We have a sliding window next to the dinette of our travel trailer, so I made a bracket that mounts on the track and brackets on the outside that rest against the outer wall. I put a 6,000 btu window a/c on the bracket and run a 10 gauge 25′ cord to the pedestal. I cut out some heavy plastic to fill in the open areas around the a/c to seal things up. The unit seems to work about as well as the rooftop unit, and it’s only about 1/10th the noise of the rooftop unit. We are extremely pleased with this setup.
In addition to the above you should also consider…
Thank you for the tips, Russ and Tina! Don’t forget to always stay current with service to ones rooftop air conditioning units. Have a great day and safe travels!
In addition to buying a battery operated portable AC to supplement my overheard AC, I’ve added Reflectix in the cabinets and black out curtains across the cab. The cabinets and cab are major sources of heat. The curtains along with outside and inside shades on the windshield help a lot.