Caravan Air Conditioner Comparison Table
| Product | Pros | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Truma Aventa Comfort Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner |
| |
 | Dometic Air Conditioner IBIS MK4 Caravan RV Rooftop Reverse Cycle |
| |
 | Truma Aventa Compact Plus Roof Top Air Conditioner |
| |
 | Aussie Traveller Air Conditioner K3600 |
| |
 | Dometic Harrier Plus Air Conditioner |
| |
 | Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier |
|
Choosing a Caravan Air Conditioner in Australia: Buyers Guide 2024
Time spent traveling in a motorhome or caravan can be challenging, and while camping in Australia an air conditioner is a must-have luxury to take, second to a good portable fridge. Caravan air conditioners are not cheap, and many factors need proper consideration and understanding. Therefore, you must know every aspect and parameter before deciding which product is best for your next trip.
Things to Know Before you buy a Caravan Air Conditioner
Firstly, it’s good to know how an air conditioner works and how to maintain an air conditioner. With this knowledge in mind, it will assist you with choosing an air conditioner suitable for your caravan.
British Thermal Unit (BTUs)
When looking for an AC unit for your little space, BTUs are probably the most significant factor to consider. British thermal unit helps you understand just how well an air conditioner can work in a caravan. Any product that offers more than 13500 BTUs should be your ultimate priority if you are a frequent traveler. For large caravans, an air conditioner with 18000 BTUs is required for better cooling across space.
Know that it is never about great cooling in a single room but about your entire vehicle. It is definitely a very large space to cool, unlike an open room where cooling can easily enter. Also, caravans have metal construction so hold more heat than anyone’s expectations. You are likely to spend many hours without shade, so all these aspects indicate that you will require extra cooling capacity to get through the adventure.
Types Of Caravan Air Conditioners
Considering the type of AC you want for your RV is also very important. There are 4 types to choose from, i.e. rooftop AC, vent-free AC, portable AC, and window AC.
A lot of people prefer buying rooftop air conditioners as they are space-saving products and are easy to fix in the roof. They are available from anywhere between 5000-15000 BTUs and can be ducted or non-ducted to suit everyone’s requirements. The unit is influenced by external weather, so cooling is through the outside air.
Vent-free or swamp coolers can manage moist air ventilation better than other types of caravan air conditioners. They are compact, small in size and don’t require refrigeration process to cool your RV. The only drawback is that they need some of your floor space to work efficiently.
Portable ACs come with adjustable frames and are the cheapest as compared to all. They take up too much space and also not as energy efficient as other products out there.
Window air conditioning units for caravans are like the ones we use at home. They have incredible cooling capacity and doesn’t take up a lot of floor space. They are compact, easy to install, and noiseless.
Heating/Cooling Mechanism
Another important factor to consider when buying a caravan air conditioner is how the cooling and heating mechanism works. Many caravan ACs work via heat exchange to cool up space and an electrical heat component to keep warm.
Many reverse cycle units are also available that uses a compressor for heating and cooling. This method is more efficient and is most popular when it comes to caravan air conditioners.
Air Conditioner Size
Typically, there are 2 types of air conditioner sizes, i.e. 2-2.5kW (suitable for vehicles with 5meters length) and 3kW+ (for vehicles up to 7 meters long).
Accessories
Most of the caravan AC units are available in the form of a complete kit with almost all the necessary components required for installation and working. However, there are some more accessories that you must look for when placing your order.
H-frames are manufactured for the caravan’s roof to deliver more support and strength to a rooftop air conditioner. Thick roof adapters are also important if the roof of your caravan is 85mm thick or more. Another accessory to have with the package is the adapter for 400mm roof opening. This frame is important to have as it enables you to install 360 x 360mm AC in a 400mm x 400mm roof opening.
Warranty and Insurance
Before installing your own caravan air conditioner, be sure to check with your caravan manufacturer to ensure your warranty will not be affected, and also inform your insurer so they can adjust your caravan insurance policy.
Caravan Air Conditioner Installation
A good-quality caravan air conditioner must come with easy to understand fitting and air conditioner installation instructions. However, if you don’t have adequate knowledge, you can always ask a qualified caravan air conditioner installer to help you with the process. Know that some models require a refrigerant line and so a licensed technician is needed for the installing.
Installing an Air Conditioner on a Pop Top Caravan
Installing an aftermarket air conditioner such as a Dometic or Harrier on a pop top camper is a common modification. The slim line air conditioners are perfect for a pop top caravan however you will need to ensure the roof of the caravan has enough space and is also strong enough. It is likely a H bracket will be required.
How to install an air conditioner on a pop top caravan
The following video shows the detailed process of installing a Dometic roof top air conditioner on a pop top caravan. The process is similar for any hard top caravan whether it be pop top or not.
Popular Caravan Air Conditioner Questions
Q: Do caravan AC units require re-gassing?
If you own a vehicle that runs frequently, re-gassing is essential to keep the seals lubricated and prevent the leakage. Most of the air conditioners are sealed units so don’t need re-gassing unless you see a broken pipe or leakage that requires fixing.
Q: How many air conditioning units do I need?
The number of AC units depends on the size of your recreational vehicle. RVs with more than 8-meter length need more than just one air conditioner for effective cooling. The position of your cooling unit along with its ducted/conducted nature is also quite influential.
You can use ducted systems with both under bench and rooftop air conditioners as they allow effective distribution of cool air around the vehicle. Rooftop units can also be non-ducted, which may indicate you need two different units to have proper cool coverage through your caravan.
Q: What does 360mm and 400mm opening mean?
Caravan air conditioners are designed and manufactured to fit a 400mm or 360mm square roof opening. 400mm opening is an initiate of Europe whereas the 360mm opening is for 14-inch American style roof vent. Most of the models in our list have adapters to suit both these sizes, so it’s better to select an apt product from our top picks.
Q: Which is best? Rooftop or built-in style air conditioner?
Though there is no winner having a rooftop style air conditioners should be your preference because they do not take up a lot of space and give high startup cooling in the central location of your Caravan.
Built-in models, on the other hand, can add additional weight to the caravan and affect the roof’s lining irrespective of its strength. Other things to consider when buying built-in style air conditioners include canopy lifters, gas struts and hoist gear changing.
Can you use a portable air conditioner in a caravan?
You sure can use a portable air conditioner in a caravan, you just have to ensure you have the correct power requirements. Most portable air conditioners will run off 240v so you will need to have an inverter setup if you are running off a battery power supply. If you are connected to mains power in a caravan park, then you have nothing to worry about.
How much does it cost to add an air conditioner to a pop top caravan?
The cost to install an air conditioner in your pop top caravan you will firstly include the air conditioner, which range in price from $1500 – $2500 for a slimline top mount. You can install the unit yourself if you are handy, otherwise, budget $500 to $1000 to have it professionally fitted. Costs will vary depending on whether an existing unit was already installed, or it’s a completely new install.
Conclusion
There you go. These are our best Caravan air conditioners for 2021. The clear winner for us is Dometic Air Conditioner IBIS MK4. This unit is easy to mount; compact doesn’t take a lot of space and easily suit a rooftop style. This product is reliable, high-quality and possesses great value for your money. If you want to learn more check out this buyers guide to caravan air conditioners in Australia.
