Small Van, Big Difference: Why Good Ventilation Makes Van Life More Comfortable

Living or travelling in a small caravan, campervan or converted van has plenty of advantages. There’s less to tow, less to clean, fewer things to maintain and you can often get into campsites that larger caravans simply can’t.

But there’s one downside to having such a compact living space:

It doesn’t take much for it to become hot, stuffy or humid.

Cook dinner, boil the kettle, climb into bed and close the doors for the night, and suddenly that cosy little van can start feeling very small indeed.

Good ventilation can make a surprisingly big difference.

That’s where a powered roof fan such as the SJRV PlusFan Caravan Roof Fan can turn a simple roof opening into something you use every day.

Small Spaces Heat Up Quickly

A caravan or campervan has a relatively small volume of air inside it.

That means heat from the sun, cooking appliances, electronics and even the people sleeping inside can quickly change the temperature and comfort level.

Opening a window helps when there's a breeze outside.

The problem is that on a still day, an open window doesn't necessarily move much air.

A powered roof fan gives you control over that airflow.

The SJRV roof fans can extract air from the van or reverse direction and bring outside air in, with 10 fan-speed settings to control how much airflow you want.

That gives you several different ways to use the fan depending on the conditions.

Use Your Van Like a Giant Exhaust Fan

One of the simplest ways to use a reversible roof fan is to create airflow through the entire van.

Open a window slightly at the cooler or shaded end of the van and set the roof fan to extract.

Instead of simply stirring the air around inside, the fan pushes warm air out through the roof while replacement air is drawn through the open window.

This can be particularly useful late in the afternoon.

Your van may have been sitting in the sun for several hours and the outside temperature has started dropping, but the interior is still holding onto the day's heat.

Open a shaded window, turn the fan up and start replacing that trapped warm air with cooler outside air.

Cooking in a Small Van

Anyone who has cooked inside a campervan knows how quickly the whole van knows what's for dinner.

Heat, steam and cooking smells don't have very far to travel.

A roof extraction fan helps remove that warm, moisture-laden air rather than allowing it to hang around inside.

Turn the fan up while you're cooking and crack open a nearby window.

You now have a simple flow of fresh air through the living area while warm air and cooking odours are being pushed outside.

And when dinner is finished, leave the fan running at a lower speed while you clean up.

It Can Help with Overnight Condensation Too

Moisture can be a surprisingly big issue in small vans.

Simply breathing overnight adds moisture to the air. Add cooking, wet towels, damp clothes and changing outdoor temperatures and condensation can begin forming on windows and other cold surfaces.

Ventilation won't eliminate every condensation problem, particularly in cold or very humid conditions, but exchanging humid internal air with outside air can help reduce moisture build-up.

Instead of sealing the van completely overnight, you can open a vent or window slightly and run the SJRV fan at a low extraction speed.

Because you have 10 speed settings, you don't have to run the fan flat out.

A gentle, continuous exchange of air can often be far more useful overnight.

A Roof Fan You Can Actually Sleep With

There's not much point having a powerful roof fan in a small van if it's so noisy that you turn it off when you go to bed.

At speed 4, the SJRV roof fans are rated at approximately 29dB when extracting air and 32dB when bringing air in.

That makes the lower fan settings particularly useful when you're sleeping or relaxing.

And because the fan includes a remote control, you don't even need to get out of bed to change the speed or airflow direction.

That may sound like a small feature.

After a few weeks living in a compact van, you'll probably think otherwise.

Let the Thermostat Do the Work

The SJRV roof fans also include thermostatic control.

Set your desired temperature and let the fan manage ventilation rather than continually switching it on and off manually.

This can be useful when you're relaxing, sleeping or simply spending the day around camp.

It won't replace an air conditioner — a ventilation fan cannot cool incoming air below the outside temperature — but it can help remove trapped heat and make much better use of cooler outside air.

Great for Off-Grid Camping

Power consumption matters when you're living from batteries and solar.

These SJRV roof fans operate directly from 12V DC, making powered ventilation particularly practical for people who spend a lot of time away from powered caravan sites.

Instead of firing up a much larger appliance simply to move some air, you have a purpose-built 12V ventilation system available whenever you need it.

For small vans with modest battery and solar systems, that's an important consideration.

Reverse the Airflow When Conditions Suit

Extraction isn't always the best option.

Imagine your van has been sitting in the sun but one side is now completely shaded.

Open the appropriate windows or vents and switch the SJRV fan to bring outside air into the van.

Being able to choose between air in and air out gives you much more control than a conventional passive roof vent.

Once you start experimenting with different windows and fan directions, you'll quickly discover which combinations produce the best airflow through your particular van.

Blackout Blind and Integrated Lighting

Space is valuable in a small caravan.

Anything that can perform more than one job earns its place.

The SJRV roof fans incorporate a pleated blackout blind, allowing the roof opening to be covered when you want to darken the interior.

Integrated lighting also means the roof unit can contribute to the van's interior lighting rather than simply taking up valuable ceiling space.

They're small details, but in a compact camper where every centimetre matters, combining ventilation, light and a blackout blind into the roof unit makes sense.

355 × 355 or 400 × 400 – Which Size Do I Need?

VanDIY offers two versions to suit different roof openings:

355 × 355mm Cut-Out SJRV Plus Fan
A great option for new installations, DIY van conversions and caravans designed around a 355 × 355mm roof opening.

400 × 400mm Cut-Out SJRV FlowPlus Fan
Designed for the common 400 × 400mm roof opening found in many caravans, motorhomes and RVs. This can also make it a particularly useful option when replacing an existing 400 × 400mm roof hatch or vent.

The important measurement is the actual opening in the roof, not simply the dimensions of the existing hatch or cover that you can see from outside.

If you're replacing an existing roof vent, measure the roof cut-out before ordering.

Particularly Well Suited to Smaller Vans

A powerful roof fan isn't only useful in big caravans.

In many ways, it can make an even bigger difference in a small one.

A compact van has less internal air volume, so stale air, heat, moisture and cooking smells can become noticeable very quickly.

Being able to actively exchange that air can make the interior feel considerably fresher.

It's useful when you're:

• cooking dinner

• trying to remove accumulated heat

• sleeping on a warm night

• dealing with condensation

• drying wet clothes or towels

• travelling with pets

• camping off-grid

• or simply wanting some fresh air without relying on the wind.

A Small Upgrade That Changes How the Van Feels

Van life isn't always about installing bigger batteries, more solar panels or expensive appliances.

Sometimes it's the relatively simple things that make the biggest difference to everyday comfort.

Fresh air moving through a small living space can make the van feel less enclosed, help remove heat and moisture, clear cooking smells and make sleeping more comfortable.

The SJRV Plus/FlowPlus Roof Fan range gives you control over that airflow with reversible operation, 10 fan speeds, thermostatic control, remote operation, low-noise settings, blackout blind and integrated lighting.

And with both 355 × 355mm and 400 × 400mm cut-out models available, you can choose the version that best suits your caravan, campervan, motorhome or DIY van conversion.

Make your small van a more comfortable place to live, cook and sleep.

Shop SJRV Caravan Roof Fans

Choose the size that matches your roof opening:

SJRV Plus – 355 × 355mm Cut-Out
Premium reversible 12V roof fan with remote control, thermostat and 10-speed operation.

SJRV FlowPlus – 400 × 400mm Cut-Out
The larger cut-out version for caravans, motorhomes and RVs requiring a 400 × 400mm roof opening.

Shop SJRV Roof Fans at VanDIY