Which Air Conditioning Unit is Right for Your Caravan, Motorhome, or Campervan?

Do you dream of a cool and comfortable oasis on the road? Can European excursions or summer UK trips be uncomfortable? In this guide, we will explore motorhome, campervan and caravan air conditioning and explain how such units can allow you to keep cool and enjoy your adventures to the fullest.

Exploring your options: Types of air conditioning systems for caravans, motorhomes and campervans

When it comes to keeping cool on the road, caravan, motorhome, and campervan owners are not limited in their choices. Truma and Dometic offer a wide range of air conditioning systems, giving you the power to choose the one that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer a roof-mounted unit or a storage compartment AC, the choice is yours.

For full transparency, I have had a Truma Aventa unit for a number of years. It’s the same unit that has been swapped onto three different caravans. Here’s what I’ve found when testing leisure vehicle AC units:

Roof-Mounted Air Conditioning Units

Truma roof-mounted air conditioning systems are quiet, light, and powerful, with the Aventa range featuring three models. They are available in different sizes, and specific models can also heat the inside of your leisure vehicle. This type of unit can be fitted to many leisure vehicle types, including caravans, motorhomes, and campervans. Should you change your leisure vehicle, this unit type is relatively simple to swap to another caravan or motorhome.

Truma Aventa Comfort (2nd Generation)

Truma Aventa Comfort (2nd Generation) air conditioning is a roof-mounted AC unit with an integrated heat pump. This unit not only cools the inside of your caravan, motorhome, or camper but also, thanks to the energy-saving heat pump, can warm the living space in spring and autumn.

• Cooling Power: 2500 W
• Heating Power: 2000 W (via integrated heat pump)
• Power Consumption (Cooling): 4.9 A
• Power Consumption (Heating): 4.2 A
• Weight: Approximately 28.7 kg
• Dimensions (L x W x H): External – 1008 x 665 x 243 mm; Internal – 550 x 497 x 45 mm
• Roof Cut-Out Dimensions: 380 x 350 mm / 400 x 400 mm
• Features:
  • Integrated heat pump for efficient heating
  • Particularly quiet operation with new Night Mode
  • Available in black and white
  • 5-year parts guarantee when installed by a Truma dealer

Truma Aventa Compact

The Aventa Compact’s design allows it to fit on the roof of almost any vehicle and still leave room for solar panels, a satellite dish, or roof lights. The lightest and quietest roof-mounted air conditioning unit in its class, the Aventa Compact weighs just 27.5kg and will fit many caravans, motorhomes, or campervans with a 400mmx400mm roof aperture. This may be a 400mmx400mm Heki roof light.

Truma Aventa Compact Plus

Like the Aventa Compact, the Aventa Compact Plus is light and quiet, but it has an additional 500W of cooling power. At 2200W, this air conditioning unit is the ideal choice for larger caravans, motorhomes, or campervans.

Dometic FreshJet Series

Dometic offers a range of roof-mounted air conditioning units under the FreshJet series, known for their efficiency and versatility. These units are designed to provide powerful cooling while maintaining a compact and lightweight structure, making them ideal for caravans, motorhomes, and campervans of various sizes.

Dometic FreshJet 1500

The Dometic FreshJet 1500 is a powerful yet compact rooftop air conditioner designed for smaller caravans, campervans and motorhomes. With its efficient cooling performance, low power consumption, and quiet operation, it ensures a comfortable indoor climate without draining your energy reserves. Its sleek, space-saving design allows for easy installation while leaving room for additional rooftop accessories.

Dometic FreshJet 2200

The FreshJet 2200 is designed for larger caravans, motorhomes, and campervans, delivering strong cooling performance even in hot climates. It features an integrated heat pump for additional heating during cooler seasons, ensuring year-round comfort.

Dometic FreshJet 3000

For those with large motorhomes or high demands for climate control, the FreshJet 3000 provides powerful cooling and heating capabilities. It ensures an even distribution of cool air, making it an excellent choice for those who require superior climate regulation.

Storage Compartment Air Conditioning Units

Saphir air conditioning units are designed to fit inside storage compartments, such as voids under seats or bed bases. They are a great alternative to roof-mounted air conditioning units, especially if the roof of your caravan, motorhome, or campervan cannot accommodate an Aventa unit. The installation often requires very little space, with flexible cold air ducts distributing the air evenly where it is needed.

Truma Saphir Compact

Truma’s Saphir Compact air conditioning system suits small to medium-sized caravans, motorhomes, and campervans perfectly. It cools, dehumidifies, and purifies air with in-built filters. It is light, compact, and cost-effective.

Truma Saphir comfort RC

The Saphir Comfort RC is the most powerful Truma storage compartment air conditioning system. It also has a heat pump that can warm your leisure vehicle during spring and autumn thanks to 1700W of heat output. As with the Saphir Compact, the Saphir Comfort RC removes moisture and purifies the air using built-in filters.

Installation of Truma Air Conditioning Systems

Installation by professionals ensures that warranties are maintained. This extends to the air conditioning unit itself and any remaining warranty period your caravan, motorhome, or campervan may have.

I had mine fitted by the Truma team, who are based in Derbyshire. Mobile teams also cover the UK. Truma also train many leisure vehicle technicians, which enables customers to have units fitted at their local caravan, motorhome, or campervan dealership.

Speaking to Truma, I’m told they work closely with leisure vehicle manufacturers, which allows them to use dedicated fixing points, apertures, channels, and wiring.

How does a caravan, campervan, or motorhome air conditioner work?

A gaseous refrigerant circulates a closed cooling circuit. It is drawn in and compressed (1). The high pressure causes the refrigerant’s temperature to increase.

The hot refrigerant is then pumped into the condenser (2). Here, it is cooled by a fan (3) that blows air (4) over the delicate structures of the condenser. In this process, the refrigerant changes air temperature, transforming the gas into a liquid. The heated ambient air escapes (5).

The refrigerant, now in liquid form, passes into an evaporator (6). Here, it is vaporised using warm air from the room (7), which is drawn in and blown over the evaporator by a fan (8). During this process, the refrigerant absorbs the thermal energy from the surroundings, causing the temperature in the room to decrease.

Simultaneously, the evaporator fan (8) conveys the cool air to the interior of the caravan, motorhome, or campervan (9). During the evaporation process, the refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas before flowing back to the compressor (1) to start the cycle again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is caravan, motorhome, or campervan air conditioning noisy?

A low noise level is critical at night. Truma’s roof-mounted Aventa Compact is the quietest air conditioning unit in its class, while mounting Saphir systems internally reduces noise on storage compartment units. Installing a Truma sound muffler to a Saphir system reduces noise by 50%, and two Truma sound mufflers reduce noise by up to 90%.

Can air conditioning be used as climate control?

If you use a Truma Combi heater with a Truma air conditioning system, you can use the “automatic climate control” feature. The Truma appliances then coordinate with each other, ensuring a pleasant temperature, regardless of the weather.

Can you put air conditioning in a caravan?

Yes, you can install air conditioning in your caravan. Two main types are available: roof-mounted and storage compartment systems.

Will a 2000W inverter run a caravan air conditioner?

A 2000W inverter may not be sufficient to run a caravan air conditioner, as these units typically require more power to operate efficiently. It is recommended to use an inverter with a higher wattage, such as 3000W or more, to power your caravan air conditioning unit.

How does a roof-mounted air conditioning unit distribute air?

The two Truma inside air distributors can be adjusted individually at four outlets. This ensures that the airflow is distributed evenly throughout the vehicle with no draughts. The inside air distributors are so flat that they occupy hardly any valuable space inside the vehicle.