Buyer’s Guide to Motorhome Air Conditioning

Installing air conditioning may seem like an extravagance but any experienced camper will tell you it’s essential for those hot summer days. Buy an air conditioner with a heating element and you can also keep yourself warm on cooler days too! We all use AC in our cars when it’s hot outside. It’s perfect for keeping cool and comfortable and for arriving at your destination ready to go. Motorhome air conditioning is just an extension of that. Rather than just keeping the cabin cool, you can keep your entire motorhome cool and comfortable.

Motorhome air conditioning

Motorhome air conditioning is built into the campervan or motorhome as opposed to freestanding air conditioning units. They will install in the roof or unused cupboard or space under seating to minimise their footprint while providing maximum cooling. Roof vents like Maxxfan are great for ventilation and basic airflow, but they don’t include the active cooling of air conditioning. If you plan to make the most of our new hot summers without getting too uncomfortable, motorhome air conditioning is the way to go.

Types of motorhome air conditioning units

There are two main types of motorhome air conditioning unit, roof mounted and internally mounted.

• • Roof mounted – Can be installed within an existing vent or a new vent can be created in the roof.
  • Internally mounted – Can be installed in a cupboard or unused space under a seat.

Roof mounted air conditioner

The advantage of a roof mounted air conditioner is that it uses otherwise wasted space on the roof and can have much of the system outside. It can also freely distribute cooler air easily throughout the space and provide maximum cooling for minimal footprint. Roof mounting will need expert installation but the Motorhome Workshop team has performed hundreds of installations and will be happy to help.

Internally mounted air conditioner

An internally mounted air conditioner can utilise otherwise unused space under a seat, in a cupboard or elsewhere in your vehicle. It can also be hidden out of view and provide decent airflow throughout the space. Few modern motorhomes have unused space, but if you drive a camper conversion or have the space, they can work well. Wiring can be a challenge with internally mounted motorhome air conditioning units but with the Motorhome Workshop team, anything is possible! The advantage of internally mounted air conditioning units is the weight is lower down. A roof mounted AC can add 30+ kilos at roof level, which can impact handling on smaller motorhomes. Internally mounting them keeps the weight lower down, which has less impact on driveability. Both types of motorhome air conditioning unit will require wiring to be able to connect to 240v pitch hookup or a 12v DC kit so it can be powered by the engine. You cannot practically run motorhome air conditioning from a leisure battery as it will drain it too quickly. That’s why all units provided by Motorhome Workshop will have a 240v connection. The exception to that is the Indel B range that uses a backup battery to help power it. It’s an extra option that offers a little more flexibility with your AC. An optional DC kit will allow you to run AC while the engine is running if there’s no mains hookup.

Pros and cons of motorhome air conditioning

Motorhome air conditioning is a quality of life upgrade that will benefit anyone who wants to use their motorhome, camper van or camper conversion in hot weather.

Pros of motorhome air conditioning

There are many upsides to motorhome air conditioning, including:

• • Integrates into unused space for maximum living area
  • Ideal for unpredictable weather and hotter summers
  • Arrive cool, comfortable and ready to go
  • Can run from site hookup or running engine
  • Superior cooling compared to ceiling vents or freestanding AC units
  • Some AC units can heat too
  • Remote control options are available

Cons of motorhome air conditioning

There are downsides to motorhome air conditioning though, including:

• • Can be expensive to buy
  • Requires a site hookup or running the engine
  • Can be heavy

As you can see, there are more upsides than downsides but we would prefer you had the full picture so you can make an informed decision.

Recommendations for motorhome air conditioning units

There are dozens of types and manufacturers of motorhome air conditioning units. Motorhome Workshop carefully selects the cream of the crop to ensure you get the best possible experience. We can supply and install motorhome air conditioning units from:

Truma

Truma is a household name in motorhomes. They manufacture top flight accessories covering many aspects of van life, including roof mounted and storage box (internally mounted) air conditioning units. All Truma motorhome air conditioning units are designed to be light, compact and use as little space in your vehicle as possible. All while providing effective, efficient heating and cooling. Motorhome Workshop stocks a range of Truma Air Conditioning units including:

• • Truma Aventa Comfort
  • Truma Saphir 

Indel B

Indel B is another manufacturer of efficient motorhome air conditioning units. They make 12v systems that can be powered from a leisure battery as well as site mains hookup for a little extra flexibility. This enables you to use AC without needing to run the engine or use a pitch with mains hookup. It’s an added bonus to an already feature-rich motorhome air conditioning unit. Motorhome Workshops stocks a couple of Indel B models including:

• • Indel B Off Plein-Aircon 12v (For tin-top van)
  • Indel B Off Plein-Aircon 12v (For coach built motorhomes)

Dometic

Dometic is also a leading manufacturer of motorhome air conditioning units. They are renowned for delivering high quality equipment at accessible prices with reliability to match. Dometic manufactures roof mounted motorhome air conditioning units in a range of sizes and configurations to cover most vehicle types. Each has been designed to be lightweight, compact and to deliver the cooling you need on hot summer days. A few of the models stocked by Motorhome Workshop are: 

• • Dometic Fresh Light 2200
  • Dometic Freshjet 2200
  • Dometic FreshJet 3000

Alternatives to motorhome air conditioning units

Motorhome air conditioning does require upfront investment but repays that many times over if you use your vehicle regularly. As many models heat as well as cool, they enable you to enjoy van life all year round, something not many other upgrades can help with. If motorhome air conditioning units seem out of reach, you do have options.

Maxxfan

The Maxxfan roof vent offers active cooling by adding an efficient fan to a standard roof vent. The fan is great for circulating air, cooling and venting a motorhome. It comes with a remote control and a 10 speed motor that is quiet enough for all day use. The downside is that Maxxfan doesn’t cool the air. It just moves it around. You’ll also need the vent open, so you can only run it when you’re in the vehicle.

Freestanding AC units

You can also use a freestanding air conditioning unit to keep your motorhome cool. It isn’t as convenient as having one built in but it’s the next best thing. They are cheaper than an installed unit and can cool your home when you’re not in your van. It takes up space and will likely need emptying regularly but can provide accessible air conditioning without requiring work done on your motorhome.

Motorhome air conditioning

If you plan to use your vehicle all year round, motorhome air conditioning can be a solid investment. It can be a lot of money, but in return you can cool and perhaps heat your vehicle while taking up minimum space. If you plan to use your motorhome a lot throughout the year, it’s an investment well worth making. Plus, work with Motorhome Workshop and the installation, wiring and technical aspects will all be taken care of. You won’t have to worry about a thing! Contact us today!