How to Keep Your Skoolie Cool? (4 Methods)

One of the biggest concerns for those building out a skoolie is keeping it cool in the summer. There are several methods you can use to achieve a livable environment in your skoolie year-round.

Read on to discover the four methods to use to keep your skoolie cool in the summer. We will look at why these methods are ideal and how to implement them in your skoolie build.

How Can You Keep Your Skoolie Cool?

Cooling your skoolie starts during the build, with proper insulation. Always take temperature control into account when you begin your build. The four most effective methods for temperature control in a skoolie include:

• Insulation
• Window Coverings and Strategic Parking
• Ceramic Insulative Roof Paint
• High Powered Fans and Portable Air Conditioners

These are the four methods that will most effectively cool your skoolie in the summer. These cooling methods can be installed in the beginning stages of your build, like insulation and roof paints, and some after the build is done, like fans and window covers. 

Insulation Options for Your Skoolie’s Floors, Walls, And Ceilings

Starting with the insulation of your bus is the best way to keep its temperature-controlled in its finished state. You will need to insulate the floors, walls, and ceilings between any existing framing or any wood framing that you are adding. Each area will benefit from a different type of insulation or combination of insulations. Here are the best picks for insulation in different areas of your skoolie.

Best Option For Skoolie Wall and Ceiling Insulation

Our pick for the best wall and ceiling is the Dow Froth-Pak Spray Insulation or any similar spray insulation. This particular spray foam sealant kit will cover 54.1 cubic feet of area, perfect for larger buses. Spray insulation is ideal for walls and ceilings because of the curvature of the ceiling and areas around the wheel wells.

Spray insulation will save you the time spent cutting traditional foam board insulation into the odd shapes and curves of a skoolie ceiling and wheel well area. This kit is comparable to over 650 feet of foam board insulation, making it a better choice for these larger areas. 

The ideal reason for spray insulation is to prevent the bus from “sweating.” When temperatures inside are much different than the outside, the skoolie’s metal frame can produce a natural condensation that in typical fiberglass or roll insulations can produce mold. The spray insulation hardens into a solid, preventing any condensation from getting through or creating mold. 

The Best Option for Skoolie Floor Insulation

Since bus floors are primarily square and lack curvature, a more traditional foam board insulation is ideal here. Our top pick for skoolie flooring insulation is Polyisocyanurate Board Insulation. This board is heat resistant and fire retardant and should be a relatively painless install. Polyisocyanurate board insulation will act as a vapor barrier if it is installed correctly and will be mold resistant. 

The thickness of this polyisocyanurate board insulation is 0.4 inches. The only downside to a board with this thickness is that the framing of your skoolie may be much taller. It is always a good idea to check the thickness of your frame and search for a thicker board to insulate with or pair it with spray insulation to make up the difference. 

Using Reflective Window Covers and Strategic Parking

This may seem like a simple method to cooling, but most cool air escapes through windows, even in traditional homes, so covering your skoolie windows with reflective covering and choosing parking based on the shade is one of the most effective ways to keep your skoolie temperatures controlled. 

The best option for window coverings is Reflectix Insulation. To get the right window covering for your skoolie, measure the reflectix insulation against your window and cut it to size. For a more aesthetic covering, you can sew two fabric panels into what looks like a pillowcase and slip it over the material. 

The best option is to choose a black material facing outward, so it blocks any view into your skoolie and any aesthetic fabric facing inward. A more fundamental and cost-effective solution is to secure it to your windows with a simple strip of duct tape around the perimeter.

Choosing Strategic Parking on Hot Days

When leaving your skoolie parked during the day, a straightforward solution is finding a spot covered by a large tree or two. Any amount of shade that can block out the direct sunlight hitting your skoolie will help keep the temperatures lower inside. The only downside to this is if you are using solar panels, this may block out any potential collection by the panels. Alternating between hours in the shade and hours in direct sunlight may be your remedy for this issue.

Ceramic Insulative Roof Paint for UV Resistance

Insulating from the inside of your skoolie will make a difference in internal temperature. Still, the addition of an insulative ceramic roof paint will create an additional barrier that may help other forms of cooling work more effectively. Our pick for an insulative ceramic paint is Bus Kote. Bus Kote is a 100% acrylic elastomeric roof coating that is UV and weather-resistant. 

Bus Kote not only waterproofs and insulates the roof of your skoolie; it aids in soundproofing as well. Bus Kote is a ceramic shield that will expand and contract in extreme temperatures and will remain mold and mildew-resistant year-round. 

High-Powered Fan Installation for Direct Cooling

This method of cooling will take some research. If you use solar energy in your skoolie, you will need to look for high-powered direct current fans that can wire into your system directly. If not, a battery-powered fan may work for you but can be less powerful and will require consistent recharging. Here are some different options for fans that can keep your skoolie much cooler in the summer months.

Direct Current Fans for Solar Energy Systems

The top direct current fan pick is Canframo Ultimate Direct Wire Fan. This fan will wire directly into your solar panel without the need for an inverter. Most fans will require inverters to convert direct current to the alternating current that they use. This fan also offers low power consumption and two speeds for maximum comfort. 

Battery Powered Fans for Cooling

If you prefer not to wire a fan directly into your solar energy system but would instead prefer to charge a battery-powered fan regularly, the top choice here is The Ryobi P3320. This fan works on the Ryobi battery system, so if you currently use other Ryobi equipment, this fan will operate with the same battery. The Ryobi comes with hooks and mounts for hanging in multiple locations. 

Some other things you can do to keep your skoolie cool are dependent on where you park your skoolie. Find a nice shady tree or if there is covered parking that can also be a great place to park your school bus. If you are in a city you may be able to use a building depending on the time of day to help stay in the shade. In mountainous terrain We have used a hillside within the mountains to cool down our bus when it was overheating. 

Conclusion

Cooling your skoolie starts during the initial portions of your build. Proper insulation is the first way to keep your skoolie cool in extreme temperatures. The walls and floors of your skoolie require different insulation types. Using the appropriate insulation types will create a vapor barrier and prevent mold and mildew from setting in. 

Cooling your skoolie is also dependent on the amount of direct sunlight that it comes in contact with, so choose strategic parking combined with a UV-resistant roof coating to bring down temperatures on hot days. Fans and window coverings can provide direct cooling in your skoolie but be aware of the power type that you are using. Some fans wire into your solar energy system, and some are battery powered and need to be recharged. 

Thanks for reading our blog and we can’t wait to see you out on the road!