Heading to France during a heatwave. Yay! Any tips?

[Pitstop Penny]

We're off tomorrow. Holy cahoonah-burger, I'm excited. But it's going to be hot. Very hot. Anyone else facing the same? What are you planning to do to keep cool? We've bought two clip-on fans for the roof. But that's about it. Looking forward to exploring beautiful southern France again.

 

[Perfectos]

Create shade for the van, attach tarps to the side of the van both sides , awning etc.
park under trees.
Lower and raise the roof b4 bed.
Roof vents fully open
Sleep up top ! You get a breeze through them vents
Get a Mozi lamp to kill them in the van .
Mozi protection to windows , partially open at night.


Have fun

 

[acer]

We're off tomorrow. Holy cahoonah-burger, I'm excited. But it's going to be hot. Very hot. Anyone else facing the same? What are you planning to do to keep cool? We've bought two clip-on fans for the roof. But that's about it. Looking forward to exploring beautiful southern France again.

We start to panic at about 25° and drive to where it’s cooler, but that’s just us.

There will be lots of advice on this one, but the biggest differences are perhaps the obvious ones. Double, or triple shade is key. By that I mean park under a tree and then sit in the shade of the van and awning. We also use tarps.

Striking out early and getting your sightseeing done by lunch keeps you cool and helps to miss the crowds.

Sorry if that is just too obvious. I’m looking forward to people’s comments on this thread. Good question.

 

[acer]

Lower and raise the roof b4 bed

To pump out the warm air? That’s a good one! Does anyone do that?

 

[Perfectos]

To pump out the warm air? That’s a good one! Does anyone do that?

Yes pump out the hot air / change the air, all doors & tailgate open , drop the roof, open and close the tailgate a couple of times, it does work particularly if it starts to cools off in the evening, drawing in the cooler air.

Key thing is to shade the van as much as possible, allowing air to circulate around the van, so the van does not absorb as much heat.

Washing up bowl with cold water, put your feet in - bliss.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Perhaps head to northern Spain instead. It’s usually below 25° there. Changeable weather but just the right side of hot.

It’s just turned to a small storm in the Haute Savoie this afternoon but I don’t think that will deter Mr Sunshine from hitting past 30° for the next couple of weeks.

No Tips for managing the heat box I’m afraid!

 

[Rosie75]

We're off tomorrow. Holy cahoonah-burger, I'm excited. But it's going to be hot. Very hot. Anyone else facing the same? What are you planning to do to keep cool? We've bought two clip-on fans for the roof. But that's about it. Looking forward to exploring beautiful southern France again.

We got back from Southern France today, yes it’s been flippin hot, however in the pop top, at night with the windows open it’s been fine, lovely breeze coming through, we just took cotton sheets with us and they were plenty to sleep in. Just watch the mozzies as they are biting!!! Get some Jungle p Spray, we also had a plug in Mozzie device in the van.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Thanks for all your kind replies!

 

[wildslammer22]

Some good tips on here. We have a cool blanket as our sheet in the pop top when it’s hot and one for the dog! A good quality mosquito repeller (Nitecore or Thermocell) doubled up with a bug light will help mitigate the risk of being eaten alive as ventilation is key. If it gets too much, try and find some elevation. Even with all this strategies we ended up booking into a hotel for a couple of nights last year for some respite in Sardinia/South France when the mercury approached 40°

 

[Fishface]

Too late for the OP whom I presume has left but we carry some sheets of silver reflective foil insulation material that we found in Leroy Merlin (French DIY) - utterly brilliant for strategic shading of areas of van or awning. Lightweight and easy to carry around, much more effective than tarps

 

[Perfectos]

Too late for the OP whom I presume has left but we carry some sheets of silver reflective foil insulation material that we found in Leroy Merlin (French DIY) - utterly brilliant for strategic shading of areas of van or awning. Lightweight and easy to carry around, much more effective than tarps

How do you attach the foil?

Have you got any photos etc of the product

 

[wildslammer22]

How do you attach the foil?

Have you got any photos etc of the product

Slightly off topic but I have an off cut of rip stop aluminium sheet which I attach to the van with magnets on the panel behind the fridge to stop it working so hard in the sun - the downside of a black van!

This stuff is hardy enough to be used for strategic shading with awning clips although I suspect a bit more spendy than the French DIY store find!

https://ebay.io/m/QnYlya

 

[2haw]

We're off tomorrow. Holy cahoonah-burger, I'm excited. But it's going to be hot. Very hot. Anyone else facing the same? What are you planning to do to keep cool? We've bought two clip-on fans for the roof. But that's about it. Looking forward to exploring beautiful southern France again.

Jealous

 

[Up10]

We shade both sides of the van when we have space and could use a reverse rainbow screens bellows wrap (silver side out) to reflect the sun but it would have to come off at night to benefit from ventilation.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Hey all! A little update! Phew it’s hot. We’ve been camping since Sunday and it’s been 45c most days. Doesn’t start to cool down until 1am. We’ve actually been ok at night. Sleeping in the roof with just a sheet. And we’ve got two fans that clamp to the shelves. So that’s helped enormously.

The frustrating thing is you can’t do much during the day. There’s a lovely pool here on site but other than that we’re just waiting it out. And keep taking dips.

View attachment IMG_7678.jpeg

 

[Kingfisher]

I love the view from the pool! Cannot imagine camping in 45c though. That’s hot on another level.

 

[acer]

Hey all! A little update! Phew it’s hot. We’ve been camping since Sunday and it’s been 45c most days. Doesn’t start to cool down until 1am. We’ve actually been ok at night. Sleeping in the roof with just a sheet. And we’ve got two fans that clamp to the shelves. So that’s helped enormously.

The frustrating thing is you can’t do much during the day. There’s a lovely pool here on site but other than that we’re just waiting it out. And keep taking dips.

View attachment 148920

Looks like Beynac-et-Cazenac to me. If so, we were in the same campsite a few years ago, but headed north when it became unbearable to us at 30c. I don’t know how you’re doing 45c. If we were face to face I would take my hat off to you (unless I was in the sun of course).

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Looks like Beynac-et-Cazenac to me. If so, we were in the same campsite a few years ago, but headed north when it became unbearable to us at 30c. I don’t know how you’re doing 45c. If we were face to face I would take my hat off to you (unless I was in the sun of course).

I think we might escape a day earlier.
Considering an air conditioned hotel or Airbnb. It’s just tooooo hot. I’ve not stopped sweating all day! Haha

 

[Perfectos]

Hey all! A little update! Phew it’s hot. We’ve been camping since Sunday and it’s been 45c most days. Doesn’t start to cool down until 1am. We’ve actually been ok at night. Sleeping in the roof with just a sheet. And we’ve got two fans that clamp to the shelves. So that’s helped enormously.

The frustrating thing is you can’t do much during the day. There’s a lovely pool here on site but other than that we’re just waiting it out. And keep taking dips.

View attachment 148920

Pool with a view

 

[Paul_D]

I think we might escape a day earlier.
Considering an air conditioned hotel or Airbnb. It’s just tooooo hot. I’ve not stopped sweating all day! Haha

We’re here too and it’s toooo hot. Internal van temp hit nearly 59degC on our pitch today.
Probably going to bail and head for cooler Brittany!

 

[Pitstop Penny]

We’re here too and it’s toooo hot. Internal van temp hit nearly 59degC on our pitch today.
Probably going to bail and head for cooler Brittany!

We are bailing too! Moving tomorrow to find an Airbnb with air con lol

 

[Fishface]

This is the material that I mentioned upthread - it's a sandwich of metallic foil and a layer of insulation between. The foil is pretty strong and we attach it using either string or cable ties - and it doesn't pull through even in a strong mistral wind.