How to Keep Your Stealth Van Dwelling Cool

Living in the confines of a converted cargo van can get plenty stuffy. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can be down right unhealthy as moisture can easily become a problem. Dampness caused by condensation can become trapped in your walls and belongings. Mold and mildew will get a foothold and that can lead to all sorts of respiratory problems. Sickness and other issues that can even become life threatening.

Leaving window's open may not be an option all the time as maintaining your stealth cover will be compromised as will your security. The best solution to your ventilation issues is to install a roof mounted vent equipped with an electric fan. This will allow you to draw warm moist air out of the vehicle without advertising that there's someone inside.

There are a wide variety of roof mounted ventilation systems available. A standard 14"x14" Manual Crank Vent will allow hot air to escape by natural convection. Hot air rises, and with a roof vent open it can escape.

A 12v powered vent will increase your ability to remove hot stuffy air from the interior of your van. A Standard RV Bathroom Powered Vent is a great improvement over a vent without a fan. Being able to suck the hot air out will greatly increase the amount of ventilation and will also help lower the internal temperature during warmer months.

There are many brands of roof vent fans available, some even with remote control. One of the more popular brand names is the Fan-Tastic Fan. They even have thermostatically controlled models which will automatically turn on and off to maintain a comfortable temperature in your van.

Installing a roof mounted vent with fan is pretty straight forward. You'll need to cut a 14"x14" hole through the metal roof. Be sure to follow the instructions provided with your particular fan as the size of the hole may very from one brand to another. Choose the location carefully as you don't want to cut through any support ribs that may be located on the interior of the van.

To cut the hole measure and mark the roof. Put down two layers of masking tape around the outside of the piece to be removed to protect the paint on the roof. Drill two 3/8" holes in apposing corners of the square and use a jigsaw with metal cutting blade to remove the section.

Lay down one or two layers of Butyl Tape Putty Sealer to seal the vent to the roof. Drill and install screws in each corner of the vent, tightening them most of the way in. Then drill and install the remainder of the screws as indicated in the instructions tightening them back and forth across the vent. As if you were installing a spare tire, so that the vent is sucked down into the putty evenly.

A recommended way to make sure the installation won't leak would be to coat the edges and all screws with a layer of C-10 Flow Seal Self Leveling Caulk. It will go on as a thick goo that will settle and harden over a 24-48 hour period providing a weather tight seal that will last for years.

On the interior the wiring for your vent can be hooked into existing electrical circuits, though the best setup is to install solar panels combined with a second battery designated for non-van accessories.

It's scary cutting a big hole in the roof of your van, but the project is very straight forward. Minimal mechanical skill is necessary and as long as you Measure Twice, Cut Once, you'll be pleasantly surprised with how much more comfortable your mobile dwelling will be with some good ventilation.