Portable AC in the motorhome - our experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

For this trip we got a portable AC in the campervan. The reason was that we know that it can be really It was hot in southern Europe this summer. Now that we've had the opportunity to use it a bunch of times, we're sharing our experiences.

Why AC in the motorhome?

Swedes often long for sunshine and warmth, but it can also be too much of a good thing. Especially if you're travelling by motorhome in southern Europe during the summer months. It can be 35 degrees centigrade around the clock, or more, and it is not always certain that you will find a shady spot.

Unlike tourists staying in hotels, you don't have an air-conditioned hotel room to escape to when you want to rest. The heat is there all the time, and if you also find it difficult to sleep in a hot and sticky environment... well, then air conditioning (AC) in your campervan can be a solution.

And we're not talking about the AC in the vehicle itself - the one you can run while driving - but the one in the living area, which can be used when the motorhome is stationary on a pitch or camping site.

Fixed or portable AC in the motorhome?

There are fixed installations for AC in motorhomes. The advantage of this is that it can potentially be more efficient, quieter and more energy-efficient, and that it always stays where it is - you don't have to take it up and down. The disadvantage may be that the AC is often installed by replacing a sunroof, and that this sunroof then disappears permanently. Another disadvantage is that a fixed AC installation is significantly more expensive than a portable one.

The advantage of a portable AC is that you only need to take it on the trips where you think you need it. We often travel in northern Europe, and often during autumn and spring, so we know that we only need AC during some of our trips.

Another factor that influenced our choice is the price. We bought our portable AC for around SEK 7,000, while a fixed AC can cost between about SEK 15,000 and 35,000.

Where can I buy a portable AC for my motorhome?

You can buy portable AC for motorhomes in many different stores, from technology stores to camping stores. We bought ours from NetOnNet, and we were particularly taken with it because there was a picture of a motorhome on the box...

The AC we bought is called Mobile Split Unit Air Conditioner and is of the andersson brand. According to the information on the box, it is suitable for motorhomes, caravans or summer cottages.

How big and heavy is a portable AC?

The AC we bought consists of two interconnected parts: an indoor part and an outdoor part. The indoor part weighs 5.5kg and the outdoor part weighs 14.5kg. The whole box, where we store the AC when not in use, is also quite bulky.

We keep the AC in the garage of the motorhome and in order to take it with us we had to leave other things at home. On this trip we didn't bring any electric bikes or scooters... they had to stay at home this time!

How to connect a portable AC in a motorhome?

One part of the AC will be inside a window, and the other part will be outside. We have found that it is easiest to connect the parts first (which is easily done by hanging one on the other) and then lift everything into a shock. It's a bit heavy, but as long as we do it in one of the low windows, it's possible to do it all by ourselves.

After lifting the unit in, you have to attach an air hose and connect electricity. There are screws included to attach it even tighter to the window, but we find these unnecessary .... Then just press the start button and click in the desired temperature!

How much electricity is needed?

When using a portable AC, you need to be connected to electricity, at a campsite or caravan park. The AC we have bought only draws 1465 W so a 10 amp fuse is enough. We can also run the fridge on electricity at the same time.

How loud is a portable AC in a motorhome?

Our AC is a little noisy, but that's not a big deal. In fact, it makes more noise outwards than inwards, but even outwards it's manageable. It only takes a few metres to the next camper, or maybe a hedge in between, for us to feel we're not disturbing the neighbour.

How efficient is a portable AC in a motorhome?

We find that this portable AC is very efficient, but initially the cold is quite concentrated around the AC itself. If we set up the AC in a window by the dining table, it quickly becomes cool there, but it takes a while before the cold spreads to the bed. After a few hours, however, it becomes reasonably cool there too.

If we want to concentrate the cold to the bed, we have tried to install the AC in a window by the bed. Then it will be quickly cool where you are going to sleep. In our case, because our bed is high up, it's a bit heavier to lift the AC up here and we have to do it together.

To summarise: What is it like to have portable AC in a motorhome?

We are very happy to have a portable AC in the motorhome. It's a bit bulky and weighs a lot, so we'll only take it when travelling to warm destinations. In the south of Europe, in the summer, it's great to have it with us!