When selecting the right unit for your set up there are a few factors that will need to be considered including the type of unit and also the capacity.

There are 3 main types of caravan air conditioning units which are Rooftop, built-in, also known as caravan split-sytem and underbunk ducted.

Rooftop air conditioning units are the most popular as they are built to fit into the pre-existing hole in your van. They are made to stop any water coming in and also cope with the vibrations of a moving vehicle. Some people also think they cool much better as they are on the roof and cold air falls.

Built-in air conditioners are not mounted to the roof. This is important if you have a pop top or any caravan that has a single skinned roof. With these types of vans you don’t want any more weight that may strain your hinges and struts.

Lastly – underbunk ducted air conditioning systems are exactly as they sound. These are situated in a cupboard or under a bunk meaning they take up no space in your van and are quite efficient. These are great for smaller vans that have limited room.

For vans up to 5 metres a 2 to 2.5kW system should be big enough, however if you have a van over 5 metres you’ll want to consider a unit that is over 3kW

When you’re comparing air conditioning units there are 2 main factors to consider, cooling capacity and heating capacity.

Cooling capacity is determined in kilowatts and typically runs between 2.0 and 3.2kW.

Heating is measured in kilowatts or BTU’s and this typically runs between 1.0 and 3.2kW

When it comes to heating your van there are 2 main ways to do this. You can use a reverse cycle system which uses a compressor to heat and cool or a heating element which uses heat exchange to cool and a heating element to warm the air. The main differences between the two is efficiency and heating capacity.

Heating element – Utilising a system that has a heating element is not the most efficient system, although it will heat your can no matter how cold it is outside. If you’re thinkin of travelling to the colder parts of the country and need to stay toasty warm, this will be your go to.

Reverse cycle – on the other hand is much more efficient and uses less power to heat, but it doesn’t quite have the heating capacity of the element heater. As these systems use a compressor to heat and cool, they can have a problem if there is ice in the air outside.

Unfortunately, air conditioning units, no matter the type are power hungry. Where you could run a fan off about 50 watts, your air conditioner will draw between 1,000 and 2,000 watts. When you’re on a powered van site this is not an issue as they don’t charge by the wattage, the only time this can be a pain is if you are trying to run off grid using solar or a generator.

If this is the case and off grid camping is what you’re into, you’ll want to make sure your generator has enough oomph to run it long term, otherwise you could find yourself sweltering through the summer, or reaching for extra blankets.

Although your air conditioning unit will come with everything it needs to be mounted, there are a few adapters that may be required depending on your roof and the type of air conditioner you’ve chosen.

If you have a 400 x 400 opening and have chosen a roof mounted unit, you will need an adapter to allow the unit (360 x 360) to fit. At the same time if you have a roof that is thicker than 85mm you will need to adapt it to install your air conditioning.