Is your caravan more like an oven than a happy holiday home?
There’s nothing quite like an Australian summer. We all have memories of roasting away in our vans like a pig on a spit on a hot summer’s night. Fans can help a bit, but when it really gets hot, they tend to just blow around the hot air without helping much.
If you want to create your own personal caravan mini-climate then you’ll need an air conditioner. The beauty of these is that, provided they can run as a reverse cycle unit, they can be used to heat your van in winter.
However, it’s not always easy to find the right type for you. A variety of styles suit different vehicles and lifestyles.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help. Let’s look at several caravan air conditioners with different pros and cons.
| Dometic Harrier Lite Air Conditioner | Truma Aventa Comfort Reverse Cycle | Finch Australia HB9000 Under Bunk Aircon | Truma Saphir Comfort Ducted AC | Close Comfort Cool Focus Portable AC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Best RoofTop  | Best UnderBunk  |  | Best Portable  | |
*Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | *Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | *Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | *Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | ||
2.4 kW | 2.4 kW | 2.2 kW | 2.4 kW | Low | |
2.7 kW | 1.7 kW | 1.8 kW | 1.7 kW | N/A | |
7.8 A (~1.9 kW) | 4.2 A (~1.0 kW) | 4.2 A (~1.0kW) | 4.2 A (~1.0 kW) | ?? (~0.3 kW) | |
?? | 28 A (150 ms) | 20 A (150 ms) | ?? | ?? | |
36 kg | 33 kg | 27.8 kg | 23.5 kg | 18 kg | |
6 metres | 7.5 metres | 6.5 metres | 6.5 metres | Personal cooling only | |
4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
3 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Best Caravan Air Conditioners Australia
Dometic Harrier Lite Air Conditioner
Runner Up
Dometic is a brand leader when it comes to caravan appliances and accessories.
The Harrier Lite is a quiet and efficient rooftop AC. It’s also very light compared to similar air conditioners in its class. Weighing in at just 36kg, it’s almost 10 kilos lighter than the regular Dometic Harrier.
It also offers four blower speeds, unlike most alternatives that just offer three. This is a very easy machine to use with an automatic brightness display and a full-function remote.
If there’s one downside, it’s the cost. Retailing at over $2000, it’s definitely not a cheap unit.
However, it’s worth remembering that Dometic has a strong reputation. Nor do they take your investment for granted because they offer a three-year warranty. That’s longer than all of their rivals. Read more about the Dometic warranty.
All in all, this is a fantastic air conditioner.
Truma Aventa Comfort Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner
Best Rooftop AC
The Truma Aventa comfort is one of the best caravan air conditioners available today.
It costs roughly the same as the Dometic Harrier Lite but it has a couple of significant advantages.
Firstly, it will efficiently circulate air through vehicles up to 7.5m. This makes it more suited to larger caravans than the Harrier Lite. Meanwhile, the cooling power is very strong but also economical.
It’s less in-your-face than several rivals with a slimline structure.
One of this air con’s best features is its sleep function. This enables quiet operation at night so that you can stay cool without being kept up by a whirring compressor or fan. It also comes with a timer so you can easily set the machine to cool your van whenever you want.
Another nice touch is the LED lighting. This allows for ease of use, even in the dark.
The Harrier Lite has an extra year warranty but overall the Aventa comfort is better value for money.
Finch Australia HB9000 Under Bunk Air Conditioner
Best Underbunk Aircon