How do you keep cool in long journeys if your car doesn’t have AC?

[Truetoself]

As title says - any tips?

Open the windows 🤷‍♀️

Wet towel hung in the window - helped in long trips through Africa pre AC!

Have you thought of opening the windows? Could be worth a try 🙄

Heatwave has passed
no longer an issue
unless you’re not in the uk?

27°C here today and it's still very hot in the car, so AC is on for me. It doesn't have to be a heatwave to be hot 🙄

But the simple answer is open the window.

Indeed
But if the Op hadn’t already thought of opening the window, I would be concerned

Once upon a time none of us had aircon in our cars, so we opened the windows.

I do have AC but if I didn’t I would fill a hot water bottle with ice cubes or would fill zip lock bags with water and freeze and wrap them a tea towel and have in my lap.

Open the windows. Stay hydrated. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses and start saving up to get a car with ac.

We live in the east of France near Geneva, so not in the hottest part.. our aircon has been broken since June and it has been unbearable to drive even short distances in the car, even with the windows open. I would welcome any ideas.

This made me laugh far more than is reasonable.

I've never had aircon and I just open the windows. You do need to open the opposite window as well to get a lovely through draught. A cold drink also helps.

We hired a van without Aircon (only realised after setting off) and even with windows open it was excruciating driving south into the sun, just had to stop for breaks regularly.

Roof down, windows open and all is well. Although getting stuck in traffic is a bit rubbish as there’s no air flow.

Open the doors and the boot hatch for a few minutes before getting in.
Wet towel around back of the neck.
Windows open (fairly obvious).
Iced hot water bottle in small of the back.
I had a clip on fan in my last car run from the lighter socket.

Neck fan

Even with opened windows , it can be oppressive - my car is.

suffer. That’s the only option really.

What a helpful post

The main thing is timing drives to morning time.
lots of water, including to pour over yourself! My car is like a greenhouse, I can chuck water all over myself and be dry on arrival.
Wear white tops, never black.
Cover the windscreen when not in the car.
Park in shade if possible
Wet muslins or tea towels in windows
Stick on window shades for those in the back

Windows down, stay hydrated and spray bottles to mist water on everyone.

This, and maybe buy a cool mat for dogs/pets and sit on it. I did this when my air con broke during the 40 degree temps a few years ago. Also freeze a bottle of water so you sit in on your lap during traffic jams.

And of course windows open. I hate driving with the windows open, so air con is a must for me.

There's a sort of trick of pushing the hot air out of the car using the door just before you get in. Might be worth looking it up.

Your post made me remember being stuck on m25 with baby and no aircon in old car @Truetoself, not good.

If you can, leaving the car in the shade was the only real help because the inside will be 5-10 degrees hotter before you've even started and the fan will not help much.

Good luck!

I find it tough driving between work bases.

I have a long journey next week and might take a hot water bottle which I will fill with water and freeze the night before in the car with me on my lap.
Also freeze water bottle that will thaw through the journey and you can sip the ice cold water as it melts.

It was crap though. I remember feeling so sick and hot in the car as a kid.