Air conditioning and heating

How to choose air conditioning and heating for your motorhome

The right system depends on how you use your motorhome: stays at campsites with an electrical hook-up, off-grid travel using batteries and solar panels, or very cold climates where heating independent of the engine is required. Each scenario requires a different solution.

Air conditioners: roof-mounted, 12V or evaporative

Traditional roof-mounted air conditioners run on 220V and are suitable for campsites with an electrical hook-up. Full 12V inverter models, on the other hand, allow off-grid operation, powered by leisure batteries charged by solar panels. Evaporative coolers consume much less energy but only lower the temperature in low-humidity environments. Power is measured in watts or BTU and should be matched to the size of the living area and the vehicle's insulation.

Diesel and air heaters

Diesel air heaters — including Eberspächer Airtronic and Webasto Air Top models — are fed directly from the vehicle's fuel tank and are independent of the electrical grid (except for the power required to start them). They are installed under the floor or in a technical compartment and distribute hot air through ducts. The choice between 2 kW, 4 kW or 5 kW models depends on the volume to be heated and the expected minimum temperatures.

Gas and coolant heaters

Truma and Alde cover most gas and hot water systems. Alde liquid systems distribute heat through a coil, ensuring a uniform temperature. Truma gas heaters are among the most common in European motorhomes and have a wide network of original spare parts.

Ducting for hot air

Distributing hot air in vans and motorhomes requires flexible or rigid ducting of varying diameters (commonly 32, 60, 70 or 90 mm), made of aluminum, foil-faced aluminum or insulated material. The diameter must match the heater's outlet and the number of vents provided in the system.

How to find the right spare part

For air conditioner and heater spare parts — filters, fan motors, flue terminals, cables and circuit boards — it is essential to know the exact model of the unit installed on board, which can be found on the unit's nameplate or in the vehicle's manual. Brands such as Truma and Eberspächer maintain spare part compatibility across multiple product generations, but the part number remains the most reliable reference.