Hot Weather Camping Tips with Josh the RV Nerd

[@michaellehman8583]

Open all the cabinets and closets when first cooling down trailer. Those spaces, clothes etc. trap and hold in heat when it is being baked in the sun all day., then continue to release heat slowly for hours. Probably a common sense for most, but I am dense and learned the hard way. My Jayco Jay Feather 23RL seemed to take forever to get cool off till late, the first night of a camping trip after driving in the heat of the day. I got up in the middle of the night and opened some over head cabinets to look for a book to read and was blasted in the face by the heat rolling out of them. Now I shut all the shades and windows when setting up, and open all the inside closets and cabinets. The air conditioner cools it off in minutes instead of hours and stays cool.

[@xplorearizona154]

Michael Lehman I put reflectix inside mine

[@blakehendrix641]

@@xplorearizona154 Same here... doesn’t help enough in our rig but definitely makes a difference!

[@TheAvkdutch]

My favorite is those plastic keg tubs as a cool water foot bath while in my camp chair drinking beer, it's like heaven anywhere you go.

[@donnafountain4471]

Finally some hot prep tips!! No one does these. Thanks again Josh these are greatly appreciated!

[@BeccaTheBoring]

Peel and stick window film that’s solar reflective. You can still use the windows, still get some filtered light-cuts up to 90% of the uUV rays and about 30 of incoming heat.

[@daveroe8612]

If you have been towing all day in the heat, run your fantastic / maxaire vent for about 10 minutes to exhaust a lot of the heat. I turn the a/c on but allow the maxaire to exhuast a lot of the heat with one window slightly open. After that the load on the a/c seems easier for the unit. Also buy the larger btu a/c when you can, you will never regret it !

[@TheAvkdutch]

It like rolling down the Windows in your car to get the hot air out before cranking the AC.

[@TheBandit7613]

Many roof air conditioners are improperly installed. On the part facing downward into the RV, there are two sections. One section draws up hot air from the RV. The other section blows down cold air from the AC unit. Pop the face off and make sure the two parts are completely sealed from each other. In about half the air conditioners I've ever looked at there was air gaps where the two sections were able to mix air. That's really bad. Take a look at some and you will see what I mean.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Interesting, we will have to keep an eye on that.

[@_GntlStone_]

you can also use the reflectors from the auto dept/ store, the kind for windshields. works in winter too. I like to pick them up at the dollar store. Happy Camping !

[@blakehendrix641]

Thanks for the good info and advice! Super coincidence, NWS texted me an “Extreme Heat Advisory” in the middle of the video!🤣 Might hit 110° in central Texas tomorrow!👎🏼 My advice for keeping your RV cool is open up your AC (inside and topside) and clean the filter and check out the airflow! My AC had major gaps letting air just recirculate constantly and the electrical control box (which isn’t small) was just shoved inside blocking a good portion of the air path! Some aluminum HVAC tape and rearranging the wires and control box made it work much better!

[@CoryBGabel]

We made some window covers out of windshield covers for cars. They work awesome and are cut for each individual window.

[@fdbg39]

I tinted my windows with the highest level of UV reflective that I could get at Home Depot as soon as I got my Cherokee home from Haylett. Love the big windows, but couldn't believe that they did not have zero tint on them. Pretty cheap and easy to do do

[@THETOPGLOCK]

This is what we did. Had all our windows tinted 20% in our bullet. Made a world of difference.

[@rottensquids]

Wow that really worked? That seems kind of counter productive. Dark colors absorb light and heat and radiate it slowly. Thats why black cars get hotter than white cars. I painted my roof with some really glossy white paint and it helped alot. Some foil in the windows goes a long way too. Great find yall

[@Chimp_6]

If you're able, pick a campsite where you can point the nose of the RV either due east or west. This will minimize the surface area being heated up by the direct rays of the sun.

[@markstench4470]

That " genius " avatar was freaking hilarious ...omg 😂🤣😂

[@carriemoore751]

This sounds weird, but it really works.. you can have heat insulation on the windows without blocking your views. Paint them with black acrylic (water soluble) paint. Just enough to give you a layer, not black out the windows. A roller is best, to make it look even without brush strokes, then touch up on the edges. It DOESN'T look bad (I'm OCD). You can see out the windows, and as a bonus, you CAN'T see inside, and it looks like the mirror finish on tinted windows. You can do it as light or dark as you want. And when you don't want it on there anymore, wet a towel and wipe it off! Also, you can buy window tint online. Amazon is fairly priced usually and has a ton of different ones. You can do a tint, or get decorative ones, frosted ones. There's peel and stick, or clings, which come right off.

[@jc9641]

Wife and I bought several sun shades like you would use for the windshield of your truck and stuffed those between the window and pull down shade. No light coming in but helps keep the heat down.

[@wildhog3217]

I just use the automotive insulated windshield sun visors for windows. You can usually pick them up at Dollar General, Family Dollar or .99 cent stores for a buck or two. We have used items as you showed or similar products and they are very useful.

[@larryz24]

We connect misters to the awning and that will effectively reduce the temp up to 20 degrees. We camp over the 4th of July in typical 110-114 degree weather in California.

[@TheAvkdutch]

I put Mrs on my awning

[@Steve-tu8cb]

We live in South Florida very hot wet and bugs!! We tinted the windows and try to get out to cooler weather in the summer!! You have given some great ideas. Thanks!!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Well one of the things you could do to get the RV cooler is move North! lol

[@SAFT_NB]

Have a awning on both sides of the camper and slide toppers to all slides. On a class A, B, C use windshield covers. Clean out filters on AC units. Replace small 12 volt bathroom fan with a Fantastic or Maxx Air fan for increased air flow. Use a push pull configuration on multiple roof fans.

[@josephathey8071]

1 A/C, 1 fan, shades pulled down; stayed comfortable to about 115°F outdoor temp. In a 24 foot starcraft. Any shade you can get over top of your camper will help a lot too.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Thx for sharing :)

[@jhm68]

Hi Josh. Great video. We have use the Camco window door reflective panel with the velcro tables for our shower skylight. It helps with the direct sun light blaring into the bathroom during the day and it also allows air to still move around between that and the skylight. I have heard horror stories about people using those pads and the heat gets so hot that it warps the plastic skylight.

[@kathyfann]

Bubble wrap at night if it’s hot 🥵 or cold 🥶 Simply Measure and cut it fit the window Take a damp rag wash the window stick up the bubble wrap and lower your shades. Excellent INSOLATION

[@jasonwheat5242]

Ice! Making sure there is plenty ice for the beer!

[@Davidipac]

I wish you had said something about the brands with reflective foil built in to the construction. I have seen your videos but can't remember the brands. By the way, your presentations are the best. You have a sense of humor wrapped around honesty.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

TY for the kind words! Regarding the foil stuff -- my goal with the video was more provide a few ideas for solutions on existing RVs someone already has in their back yard. You make a good point though -- radiant packages provide the most benefit in direct sun situations

[@craiggulick1989]

I cut some of the reflective material and put it on my slide toppers when they are out. I used some large spring clamps to hold it down. I also bought an evaporative cooler to help inside. We only have the 13.5 ac

[@rottensquids]

I'm not sure about keeping your trailer cool. I've always done it the dumb way by getting a bigger AC. But I know to cool things down faster when you first set up. Basic thermal dynamics. Its easier to get rid of the hot air than to cool the hot air down. Open the doors, and the windows and crank on the max air vents. Heat rises, so roof vents are magical in getting rid of that hot air. Once you've gotten rid of the hot air, batton down the hatches and crank that AC up.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Opening cabinets to let the heat out is a handy one

[@arctictruck10]

Living in Arizona, I find that the ceramic tint on car windows keep them much cooler even before you turn on the ac.

[@susanjspaulding]

WOW!!! Hot and humid weather is something we EXCEL at in North Carolina!!! LOL!!!! Already been 100 several times this year!!! Hot Weather Tips is a GREAT idea!!!! Thanks for the FAB tips Joshua!!!! :) #hothumid #hotweather #camping

[@ronniehall2660]

I'm a firm supporter of putting MaxxAir vent covers over every exhaust fan and maxx air fan, tint the windows if they're not already, keep your awning(s) out to cast shade over the sidewall, add slide toppers, and get rid of those problematic Dometic Brisk II units from the past few years and replace them with Dometic Low-Profile units (best thing I ever did, after my 3rd Brisk II transferred to jesus, Dometic agreed to upgrade me for free.... MUCH better unit all around).

[@deehendon4204]

Try to secure a camp site that faces east/west. Preferably point the rear of the least area of glass east or the side with most glass pointing north.

[@gunner9010]

I put a marine grade roller shade under my skylight and bubble wrap over some of the windows versus the blacked out effect from the tin foil type products. A small portable ice maker for around $100 is pretty nice to have too

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

Alan Andresen I noticed my skylight let's in nice light but also bad heat. Gotta get it covered.

[@manuelsaldana2730]

thank you Josh another great video

[@odeannehartnett2538]

I so enjoyed this video! Made me laugh right out loud in several spots. And it is posted at a perfect time with the snowstorm approaching the northeast. With the winter blues setting in, it reminds me of the great camping days ahead! So thanks! P.S. We say muggy in upstate NY too.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Sunny Days are just around the corner! :)

[@pops3882]

drink cold beer.

[@markrussell6858]

I have a really Poor AC Set up in my Wildwood 205RD. I Installed two 20 inch 12V Fans to move air the length of the Coach. I will often leave a vent open and turn both fans on while I am driving to exhaust some heat. if its not raining

[@wicketdomby8299]

Really appreciate this video as we are gonna be full timing in arizona

[@roxannesproul1779]

Lol we bought a 1999 5thwheel to remodel and went hunting in very cold country, the trailer had throw pillows in there, couldn’t throw them away, they were too nice but didn’t want to use them cuz well they were probably as old as the rv, so in a super cold morning about 15° I shoved them all in the vents, fit perfect, later we were at the rv store getting parts and that’s when I saw the in vent covers, all I could do was laugh cuz I didn’t know there was such a thing. Did. Keep the bedroom warmer!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Oh sure. You're turning an R0 hole in the ceiling (major heat loss point) into an R3-4ish? Major difference! Just manage your humidity and condensation with one or two dehumidifiers!

[@muzerhythm2242]

Great ideas Josh! I'm soaking in all Let's Learn Stuff videos since I'm new to this, appreciate all the videos. Another idea and I use this in my apartment, is the Black Out curtains. I use them here in Texas and does great job for heat AND cold, as well as blocks the bright security light on my balcony 😝. Keep videos comin, especially for us new folks.😉

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

Muze Rhythm Blackout curtains are great.

[@tylerjinkens3256]

In the summertime here in Florida with the heat index being 100 to 110 and our camper only having the 13.5k a/c I bought a portable air conditioner just plug it in and stick the hose out the window we run it as needed usually an hour or 2 during the hottest part of the day and I can take it in the house or garage when we're not camping so it works great for me

[@chadherber7052]

Tyler Jinkens can you do that with a 30 amp trailer with both a.c. running without blowing breaker

[@tylerjinkens3256]

With the refrigerator on gas and nothing else that draws a lot of power yes we still use the TV and lights when both are running

[@flippyfeet2]

I bought cute, colorful blackout curtains from target. Cut them down to fit my windows. Did a simple stitch on the sewing machine to finish off the edges and create a simple casing for a tension rod . Placed the tension rod inside the valence. I can pullback the curtains when we want light and close them when we want to block out the heat. The curtains create an amazing amount of temp change in our travel trailer. They also add a little color to an otherwise boring color scheme. They also don't look quite so trashy as foil in the window. Sorry josh. 😬.

[@laurels.6532]

Take the skylight in the shower down, apply tint (purchased at Walmart) to the top side and reinstall. 10 minutes, big difference! :)

[@kash7865]

We put the [Gila grey platinum heat control adhesive window film] on our windows still see out just fine but folks cannot see in during the day. And have a small fan mounted that runs all the time

[@outdoorsman2b918]

Very useful video, with simple solutions.

[@drearoach]

you are awesome! Thank you for sharing this knowledge!!

[@zilann673]

My hubby checked the duct work in our RV, most of the them (the 5" round thingy's in the ceiling) were blocked. He pulled them open and cleared the "tape" that had come loose and blocked the duct work. Now the air flows much better. We will see next time we go camping how much it helped.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Keystone actually now uses a duct linking system to prevent exactly this from happening.

[@whatdoyouthinktodd]

Michigan in the summer 48 to 101 degrees is the norm!! ;)

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

Agreed. 95 and yuck today. Nice mackinaw bridge avatar

[@donaldbailey5576]

Love that 248RBS.

[@mjstahman1]

If possible, park your rig so the window side is facing north. Your non window side with the less windows won’t let in the heat through the solid wall as much. In extremely hot sunny areas, put water misters on the sun side.

[@ziddi2603]

Gila Window Tint! Inexpensive. Easy to install and no commitment if you dont like it or ever need to remove it.

[@kevinburroughs6583]

Get a couple battery fans atvhome depot ie: ryobi, milwaukee, portable and use battery or plug

[@sandaschroeder]

We were just at a RV park in Austin, Texas and these people had what looked to be like a foil pop up tent strapped over their roof, there weren't many trees in that park, so I imagine if they are staying a while it would help keep the heat off the top of the rig.

[@jackdrums1714]

This is so useful for the literally 100 degree 92% humidity days

[@susanjspaulding]

*GREAT* *Tips* for *HOT* *weather* *camping* !! *LOVE* the *educational* *videos* !! #education #HaylettRV

[@xplorearizona154]

If you have a older rv, make sure the roof is coated. Park with a narrow end facing west. Buy a cheap box fan.

[@mikecraft1307]

Camping in the south has taught me the value of 15K ac. If I should ever upgrade to larger than a 24' TT, I would be leaning toward ordering a unit with dual ac, and both would be 15K. Average temps in the mid 90;s require it when there is no shade in the park.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

A major challenge in that region is the humidity. Technically speaking A/C units are just dehumidifiers. That power powerful unit (or a 2nd unit) simply gets that heat-holding moisture out at a far greater rate #TheMoreYouKnow!

[@LightningRich00]

LED lighting inside, if your camper is not already equipped. Much less energy used to light, so much less heat generated in return.

[@Itsnotmeitsyuu]

You can also water down the trailer and it'll cool down too a lot.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

It's funny... sometimes the simplest idea is one of the best. This is sheer genius.

[@Itsnotmeitsyuu]

Haylett RV also a fan blowing the hot air out helps too.

[@ziddi2603]

I arrived at a campground once, it might have been around 90 degrees and i guy a few lots from me was doing this. All i could think was he was nuts. A day later i actually met him and he informed me about the method to his madness, and i thought he was genius!!! lol

[@captainskippy6622]

Here in South Carolina some parts of the state are just shy of the temperature of the gates of hell and 90+% humidity. I’ve seen people run garden misting hoses down the edges of the roof front to back to keep the rig cooler from the outside.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

I actually lived in Americus, GA for a bit. That's where I picked up the phrase "Hotter'n downtown Hell" that sometimes slips through my videos lol

[@eyewonder3052]

Informative and entertaining, well done! 😊👍

[@ronaldheller3638]

Any thoughts about the new Dometic inverter air conditioners? Who is making them available in a new r/v? They don't need a Micro-Air easy start unit - or is the easy start better?

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

No experience with them to offer

[@ronaldheller3638]

@@JoshtheRVNerd Are they that new that nobody is using them yet, or your dealers haven't seen them yet?

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

@@ronaldheller3638 Too new to have info. Not used commonly enough to have a frame of reference. I don't like to offer opinions on something for which I have no real exposure

[@wrodney5]

I guess we know Josh's favorite brand of travel trailer.

[@chrismansbarger4324]

I see people use that aluminum stuff on pop ups and the hybrid campers over the bed pop outs

[@allan6021]

We did that with our previous Rockwood Roo hybrid camper. You can either use solar blankets or buy custom fit covers from a company called Popup Gizmos. They reflect heat in the summer and in the Spring and Fall they significantly reduce condensation on the canvas above the beds. Air flow is key in a hybrid so always have a fan or two mooring the air around.

[@calebh2642]

Your in that sweet 248 rbs I've had my eye on aren't ya

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

You bet. Here's a look at the updated generation: bit.ly/327HYRs

[@AngelTorres-se9zf]

Hey Josh, you mentioned about upgrading the a/c in a camper or rv. My camper came with a 13.5k btu a/c with 30amp. If I upgrade to a 15k btu a/c would I have to change the camper power to a 50amp? Thanx for sharing this video.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

No (nor is that something you'd want to get involved with). A 15k A/C will run on a 30amp system. Running 2 Air units at the same time is one of the few and main reasons for 50amp service in RVs.

[@edcs13]

It’s gonna be screaming hot today in wisc

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

Eric spears 95 in Michigan

[@arch113]

I found the trailer/floor plan we liked, but did a brain fart on the ac requirements I would need in Oklahoma. ~38ft trailer with bunkhouse and a single 13.5 ac struggles in the heat.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Read thru the comments here. Some folks left some REALLY good tips. Also, if the RV isn't set up for a 2nd air, then know adding a 2nd air is still possible. Basically, the air can plug into a separate 30amp plug for extra cooling power. Obviously you'll need a separate power source, but it's been done. Used to be fairly common.

[@arch113]

I may have to look into that...

[@chucksinger1916]

You the man Josh!

[@andys623]

I can't find a reflective pillow big enough to use in the big skylights in the Jayco 29MV Greyhawk?

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

haylett-auto-rv-parts.myshopify.com/products/01-1017 in the video description should work. I just walked out and shoved one into a vent to make sure.

[@benthere422]

The BEST thing to do is, GO SOMEWHERE COOL! Cool(er) with a lake (or river) to beat the heat in is even better! Remember, that RV has wheels, use 'em.

[@muzerhythm2242]

benthere422 That's my plan especially since I'm in boiling Texas and when I'm ready to hit the road staying away from anywhere in the 100s. 😄

[@rellik1010]

NO HOT YOGA! BAD RV NERD!

[@davidlynch8197]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@Bigfish11]

How about a video on king pin options?

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Decent idea. TY

[@stevenscott5212]

Park in the trees when possible. That’ll help a lot

[@unfurling3129]

It's very difficult to get up into them, even with 4wd and even if there is space among the branches. The view is sensational but it's inconvenient getting in & out..

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Great topic. Was actually expecting another of your "Bad Camping Tips" videos. :-p

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Not sure if.. that's a good thing or a bad thing? :)

[@pwll2009]

have windows tinted

[@theoriginal11charlie]

Josh the RV nerd logo looks like Walter White. Coincidence that both of you are synonymous with RVs? I think not

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Sounds like that Walter fella is once handsome dude! ;)

[@jayjarrett3028]

Tinted windows

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

One dislike - The sun

[@eiknarfzepol]

Minisplit it looks ugly but who cares.. at 118° it starts to looks nice 😂

[@rapierce99]

BIGGER AC or 2 or 3 lol

[@JB-fl2gm]

Haha camping world. The one dislike.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

My favorite thing ever was the time someone sent in a nastygram through our website's contact forms ranting about how we should stick to our own customers. They put on a fake phone number because they didn't have enough spine to hear back. But they weren't smart enough not to use their RV store corporate email. I guess they must've lost a deal to us. Not sure. lol

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

You guys suck! [e-mail] Seriously, it's sad they didn't know to make up a fake email address but you're probably happy they didn't.

[@duncanmcalynn]

Wait! What? Did I just hear YOU talk about R values??? Isn’t that the same thing you did a 3min long rant video about?? Pot. Kettle. Black.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Incorrect, Duncan. The videos I've put out previously have clearly detailed how RVs do not have R40 and R52 roofing and other similar nonsense. Absolutely nothing of the sort was presented here. I would recommend reviewing the videos again. It's all pretty clearly stated.

[@marylandflyer5670]

Don’t buy a cheap rv.