Caravan with bunks for Summer escapes: Tips for staying cool and comfortable

Keeping cool and comfortable while caravanning is easily achievable in most modern caravans.

Many who travelled as children with their own families in the heat of summer will remember it was almost impossible to stay cool back then, and many are worried they will suffer the same fate travelling now with their own families.

For families looking for a caravan with bunks, heating and cooling is a concern. A reliable heating and cooling system is essential to ensure everyone is comfortable.

With summer setting in, we are sharing tips for staying relaxed and comfortable during your summer escapes of caravanning as a family and what to do if your air conditioner is not performing at its best.

Family caravans with bunks for travelling in summer.

As experienced caravanners, we ensure each Great Escape Caravan is equipped with materials and additions that help keep the temperature down during warm summer days and nights. 

Our exteriors, made of materials specifically for Australian travel, help reflect heat as much as possible, regulating the temperature inside. Fully insulated to improve the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner, each family Great Escape Caravan with bunks is built to keep the heat out as much as possible. 

Caravanning accessories to help keep your family cool while camping in summer.

Each Great Escape Caravan is equipped with fitted tracks on the driver’s side of the caravan; purchasing a shade wall for the track will extend the awning, creating additional shade for your caravan and helping your caravan to remain cooler. 

We can ensure the right size and model are provided for you when you purchase your new caravan or as an after-market accessory.

Wall-mounted Sirocco caravan fans. 

Purchasing a caravan with individually mounted fans at each bedside can comfort each family member by providing their source of moving air and allowing them to turn the fan up or down to suit themselves without affecting others in the caravan. This alone can allow each child in the bunkspace to cool themselves down as much or as little as they like (and avoid arguments between them). 

Everyone sets their fan to their desired angle and speed and gets some rest in their own space, no hassles!

If you opted for a caravan without individual fans, we welcome enquiries about installing them aftermarket – or many rechargeable portable fans on the market may also work for your needs and budget. Join our private Facebook page and chat with the Great Escape Caravan Community about what they use for their family; our customers are always willing to share tips and tricks for caravanning comfortably with a family.

6 tips on how to keep cool while caravanning with kids

Before you switch on your caravan air conditioner, here are some other ways we recommend keeping cool while caravanning in the warmer months. Some are great for the kids, of course, but nothing is stopping the big kids from enjoying the benefits too….

1. Set aside some freezer space for the essentials – icy poles! 

Zooper Doopers and those in plastic tubes will quickly freeze and refreeze between camping spots with no real issues, and everyone loves a frozen sweet treat. 

2. Pop-up pool

A great way to play with small water toys and buckets. Place your kiddie pool in the shade with some floating toys, and even if the kids don’t get in, they will keep playing cool in the water.

We used to enjoy giving all the waterproof toys a ‘swim’ on hot days; it was a great way to give them all a clean while the kids played with them, and yes…the toy cars and dolls went in too! 

3. Use the shade awning and natural breeze to stay cool on the hotter days. 

Enjoy meals outside, relax in the shade and avoid tiring activities away from your campsite during the hotter parts of the day (or spend your time travelling during the hotter parts of the day and enjoy the air conditioning in your car instead of at your campsite)!

4. If available, aim to find a campsite near the water. 

Beach, creek or river, even if it is not scientifically proven, we feel more relaxed just being able to see, hear and smell the water! A caravan park is sometimes the best choice for hot days and nights (especially when a pool is included).

Be sure to set up a safe distance from the water, and consider the safety of children when camping at all times. 

5. Cook outside whenever possible to reduce heat inside the caravan.

6. Park in the shade when possible for a natural cooling system.  

When considering the heat for your camping spot, position your caravan to ensure the awning sunshade is on the side that will reduce exposure to direct sunlight. 

When it’s almost bedtime and everyone is settling for the night, if your caravan has been closed all day, upon your return, allow it to ventilate thoroughly before again closing all windows and doors and turning your air conditioner on to a reasonable temperature (between 22-24). 

By allowing your air conditioner to cool your caravan at a reasonable temperature, you keep everyone comfortable and allow your air con to work efficiently, not overworking and using valuable power within your caravan. 

On days of exceptionally high heat, turning the air conditioner on in advance during the morning to a moderate temperature can assist in keeping your caravan comfortable all day and into the night.

If you find your caravan’s air conditioning could be more effective, here are our troubleshooting tips to keep on hand when you are out and about:

• Turn off all unnecessary appliances to reduce the heat load
• Position your caravan in the shade 
• Utilise extra awnings and shade walls
• Cook outside whenever possible
• Allow a hot caravan to ventilate before turning the air conditioner on
• Pre-plan and have patience; let your air conditioner work more efficiently at a moderate temperature

Additional information regarding the caravan’s air conditioning maintenance to keep your family cool in summer. Refer to your user manual for further instructions:

• You may experience condensation build-up in your caravan; refer to instructions on alleviating this.
• Regularly remove leaves and other dirt from the air intake, ventilation grilles and vents of the roof air conditioner- ensure not to damage the ventilation grilles. 
• Power loss – inspect all power leads at the source and the 240v point or generator used.
• Confirm your circuit breaker on the outside of the van hasn’t tripped.
• Ensure the A/C switch in the overhead cupboard is on.
• Ensure the batteries in the remote control are functioning.
• A faulty appliance can cause the circuit breaker outside the van to trip. Switch off all 240v appliances and turn them on one by one to identify the fault and isolate the appliance. It may be a washing machine or microwave, which, if isolated, will then allow the air conditioner to work.

By taking note of the above tips and tricks before you plan a camping trip with the family during the summer, you can help yourself be prepared for what the weather throws at you. 

We are always here to assist with advice; chat to us before deciding on your new family caravan with bunks, or give us a call to discuss aftermarket additions to keep you cool in summer. Our team hopes this article will be a source of assistance for our valued customers while travelling. 

Please visit our FAQs page for further troubleshooting and tips from Great Escape Caravans.