

| Subject: | Re: How to Keep Cool in Your Vanagon |
| From: | John Rodgers |
| Date: | Fri, 18 Apr 2003 20:51:41 -0600 |
TJ, I can't get the URL's you posted to load. I made sure the .jpg was there, but still no-go!! Any suggestions?? John Rodgers 88 GL Driver TJ Hannink wrote: >--- Sidney White <Jeanon@AOL.COM> wrote: > > >>While awaiting parts to get my van running I am >>wondering what great >>improvisations (aka 'farkle') members of the group >>have made to keep cool in >>a vanagon, since my a/c still needs repairs >> >> > >Summer will be coming to most of you soon (it' >s already here in Orlando) I'll repost my current list >of A/C improvements. They can also be found in the >Wolfsburg_Campers Yahoo!Group in the FILES section. > >This is what I have done so far to my camper to help >the AC to work >properly in hot weather (in no particular order): > >1. I removed the upper rear cabinet and the evaporator >cover panels, >then pressure washed the evaporator from the inside of >the van, >clearing out all of the dust. I did mine while it was >in place >without disconnecting any of the freon lines, using a >lot of plastic >sheeting to protect the interior. I installed filter >material >between the evaporator and the rear intake grill on >re-assembly to >keep it clean. >2. I also make sure all the fins on the input of the >evaporator are >straight. >3. Make sure both evaporator fans are working. >4. Re-sealed the plastic evaporator housing panel >mating surfaces >with new weatherstripping and stainless duct tape. >5. I added some foam inside the vent housing to >channel all the air >to the front vents. ><http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/photos/Additional_Air_Channels2. >jpg> >6. Cleaned the radiator and condensor from the spare >tire well-out. >7. Filled the open area of the poptop to keep the cool >air from >getting lost in the opening. I use a windshield sun >screen for an >RV. It also blocks the sunlight from the skylight. ><http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/photos/RVTwistShadeRoofOpening.j >pg> >8. I keep my my back curtain closed in an effort to >keep the area >behind the back seat as cool as possible. >9. Get the darkest tint possible on all the windows. >10. Make sure the rear heater is turned off. >11. Make sure the front heater is turned off. >12. Block off all the air flow through the front >heater/plenum. I >have some foam rubber blocks cut to fit in the opeings >of the heater >vent cover in front of the shifter. >13. Insulate the floorboards, especially the area in >front of the >shifter. ><http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/photos/LastBetweenSeats.jpg> >14. Park in the shade wherever possible. >15. Get an indoor/outdoor thermometer and mount it >where you can see >it easily, and monitor how the system performs. Mine >will cool off >at an average rate of 3F degrees per minute. That >seems great until >you get in the van after work at 5pm and the inside >temp is 135F and >the outside temp is 109F because its been parked in an >unshaded >asphalt parking lot all day. My van is comfortable at >77F-80F so it >takes a while to get to that point. I find that >opening the roof >vent about 1" and rolling down the front windows 1/2 >turn will keep >the inside temp around 120F on the hottest days here, >so I try to >remember to do that when I park for a long period of >time. >16. Aiming the vents - I have all of the foward facing >vents aimed >straight ahead and level with the floor. The vents on >the bottom are >aimed to the area behind the rear seat in order to >pre-cool the air >going into the evaporator. Rear seat passengers will >usually adjust >these as needed, so make sure to check their >positioning every couple >of weeks. > >Good luck, > >===== >TJ Hannink >Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition >Winter Park, Florida >http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/ >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers >http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album > >__________________________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more >http://tax.yahoo.com > > >
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