if you are anything like me during your van build, you are probably wondering if you even need a vent installed in your camper van.
You may be thinking things like, well my van is so small it won’t matter, or I don’t have the expertise to install a ceiling vent.
I can assure you, that ventilation is one of the MOST important factors in your van build. Believe me, there are plenty of ways to ventilate your camper van other than a ceiling fan.
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First, here are all of the items in a chart that we have decided to talk about in this post.
Why is Camper Van Ventilation so Important/Do you even need to ventilate it?
I’ll admit when we started our Ford Transit Connect Van build, we didn’t think much about ventilation. In fact, we didn’t think it was necessary at all until we started traveling and sleeping in it.
Our first night out was a 40-degree night, so we thought it was going to be super cold. It wasn’t! We had all the windows rolled up, and no vent system in place.
It was so hot and stuffy that when I woke up I could barely breathe. Along with the stuffiness came condensation build-up. The windows had a ton of little water droplets on them. As we all know, after reading my condensation control post, this can cause an unfavorable living environment.
With all that being said, here are all of the reasons why you need to ventilate your camper van.
- Moisture Control
- Temperature Regulation
- Better Living Conditions
Moisture Control
Controlling the moisture in your camper van is an absolute MUST! Moisture comes from things like breathing, cooking, showering, and so much more!
Why is moisture so bad? Let’s take a look at the damage it can cause.
- Mold growth (especially under your mattress and insulation).
- Causes wood to warp faster.
- Constant moisture causes mold. Mold growth causes allergens and in some cases severe breathing problems.
- Vehicle rust can also be a huge issue caused by moisture.
How do you get rid of moisture then!? Well for starters, ventilating your camper van will greatly impact the condensation that forms in your camper van.
Temperature regulation
Who wants to live or sleep in a clammy stuffy environment? Not me!
The best way to regulate the temperature in your camper van is through proper airflow.
With the right ventilation system in place, hot nights can seem fairly cool even without an air conditioner. Cold nights won’t seem as clammy!
Better Living Conditions
With great air circulation comes a better-smelling camper van. Considering how small your living quarters are there is bound to be a stench from your clothes, shoes, or that smelly fish you made for dinner.
Great camper van ventilation will help air out your living space, leaving things smelling fresh.
What are the Best Ways to Circulate Air In a Camper Van?
You may be asking yourself at this point, how do I start circulating the air in my camper van? There are several ways to do this, and some ways are more effective than others.
There are many places to put a vent in your camper van, here are the best places to install them.
- Wall vent
- Opening Windows
- Ceiling vent
- Air Conditioner
Wall Vent
You can have airflow through your camper van in several different ways. one Way is to install a vent right on the sides or back of your van walls.
Unfortunately, you can’t always have your doors and windows open, especially when you are sleeping (safety reasons), and that’s why a vent on the side of your van can be very useful.
You want to look for a vent that has a built-in fan or the capabilities of building in a fan yourself. Most of the side vent fans can be fairly noisy, so building one yourself can be a better option.
Check out this side vent that was designed specifically for camper van use. It even has a mesh covering to keep the bugs out.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheap solution | Can be fairly noisy |
| 25 W | Doesn’t provide the best airflow for bigger vans |
| Small, doesn’t take up much space | |
| Fans already built-in | |
| Mesh covering, bug repellant | |
| Fans are adjustable to blow air in or out |
Open windows and Doors
Opening up your doors and window is the cheapest option to ventilate your camper van. There are a few problems with leaving your doors and windows open.
- Insects
- Weather
- Safety
There are a few ways to combat these problems. You can leave your windows open just a crack for late-night safety, but what about possible rain and bugs?
To keep the rain from creeping in, you can choose from our list below to find your custom-fitted vent shade that is tailored to your specific vehicle according to its model and year.
| Model | Year |
|---|---|
| Ford Econoline Van | 1992-2006 |
| Ford Econoline Van | 2007-2014 |
| Ford Transit Van | 2014-2022 |
| Ford Transit Connect | 2010-2013 |
| Dodge Ram Promaster City | 2015-2022 |
| GMC Savana Vans | 1996-2022 |
| Chevrolet Express | 1996-2022 |
| Mercedes Sprinter Vans | 2007-2018 |
Even if you do have a vent shade to keep out the rain you will still need some sort of netting to keep bugs out. You can get bug nets for your doors or your windows.
Here are some netting options for you to consider
Door Netting
Window Netting
Ceiling Vent
I would highly recommend installing some sort of ceiling vent with a fan for proper ventilation in your camper van.
Keeping your windows cracked does a pretty good job, but installing a vent in your camper van ceiling gives you ultimate airflow. I would have to say this is the MOST effective way to keep your camper van ventilated properly.
I know I know, no one wants to cut a hole in their van, especially in the roof. But wouldn’t it be better to spend the extra money and take the time to learn how to install a ceiling vent than have your entire van rust or mold?
This MAXXAIR 00-06200K Ventilation Fan is all around the best possible vent for any type of camper van roof. Not only is it 12V but it’s also great for stealth camping (I will go over this a little more later).
Let’s just say it’s fairly popular within the camper van guru circle, and for good reason.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stealthy option | Pricey |
| 10-speed fan/ 5-speeds pull air out/ 5-speeds push air in | Have to cut a hole in the roof |
| Easily removable insect screen | |
| 12V | |
| Weatherproof | |
| Mostly great reviews |
Air Conditioner
Having an air conditioner is a luxury many van owners go without, mainly because there isn’t always a power source. However, you don’t always need a power source to have cold air blowing on you. There are a few “off-grid” air conditioning options you can go with.
Personally, we love the Icy Breeze! You put the ice in the cooler and the vent up top blows out ice-cold air. It also has special technology in it to keep the unit from blowing out damp air.
You can read more about how well it works in our van in our post reviewing the Icy Breeze product.
The Icy Breeze isn’t meant for camper vans but can keep a small van cool. If you have a larger van you can look into the Zero Breeze unit which is built for large vans and camping tents. You can use code SAVE50 for $50 off your purchase of a Zero Breeze unit.
One thing I should note about an air conditioner is how much condensation it can cause in your van. Even though the two units I posted have technology that decreases dampness in the air, condensation can still form on the windows and walls of your van.
When we use the Icy Breeze or any type of A/C unit in our van, we have to crack the windows open. I would recommend having a vent or two open when using any type of air conditioner.
How to have Ultimate Airflow in Any Type Of Camper Van
The best way to have the best ventilation in your camper van is to have a vent that will allow air to flow into the van and a fan that will suck the air out. You want to have constant air moving through your van. You really can’t have airflow with just one vent.
Yes, a ceiling vent is a great start, but that isn’t going to do much good for moving air throughout your whole van.
When you crack open a window, for example, it allows air to flow through the windows, into the van, and out the ceiling vent. This amount of airflow will help move any stale air out of the vehicle.
How to Do Stealth Van Ventilation
The idea of stealth camping is for no one to know you are camping in your van.
Sometimes certain fans or vents on the outside of your van can give away the fact that you are sleeping in it.
Here are some tips and tricks to keeping your camper van in stealth mode, and still have great ventilation.
- Try installing low-key vents such as a mushroom vent.
- Opening windows may not be the most discreet option, as it’s fairly noticeable.
- You can still have a fan vent on the rooftop such as the Maxxair vent. It lays mostly flush against the roof, and you can’t notice it very well from a distance.
How to power your Fans
Most ventilation fans are designed so you can run them off of a leisure battery. I wouldn’t recommend powering them off of your vehicle battery, as you may have trouble starting your van after using the vent all night.
You can use a separate battery and inverter to power your vent.
Water Proofing Camper Van Ventilation
With every vent you decide to install on your camper van roof or walls you will need to waterproof it. For smaller vents that could mean just installing a small hood covering to let the water drain over it.
When installing your vents try using a great sealant and waterproofing tape.
More Resources
Come check out some of our top posts to help you with your camper van build.
This is a great resource. Some of the ideas seem commonsensable, but I guess you wouldn’t think about it until it’s actually on paper in a list of things to consider. Not to mention that the screening is a great idea for cars too!
Yeah the screening would be perfect for any vehicle really. Thank you for the comment!
Super informative post! Van life has always fascinated me, but the logistics just overwhelm me. Thanks for sharing this info!
You are so welcome. It was scary for us at first too, but once you research things a little bit and learn from mistakes, it’s really quite easy.