A while back, I briefly mentioned the AC unit I chose for the van build. In this post, I want to go into more detail about what it is, why I chose it, the cost, and the pros and cons of using this specific setup.
I went with the EcoFlow Wave 3 portable AC — a compact-ish, portable air conditioner that fits just barely between the front seats of the van. Is it small? Absolutely not. But is it small enough? Yes. And that was a tradeoff I was willing to make in order to fit more solar on the roof.
Most van builds use a rooftop-mounted AC unit. Those things are massive, and take up significant roof space. If I had gone that route, I would’ve lost the ability to mount one of my solar panels. For a van that relies on solar as a major power source, that wasn’t an option.
There are parts of the U.S. where you will run into heat that’s too much to handle. The Maxxfan and passive ventilation help, but let’s be honest — sometimes, that’s not enough.
The Wave 3 isn’t meant to keep the van ice cold, and I don’t plan to use it every day. It’s for the worst-case scenarios — the “this is unbearable” type days where I need something to at least take the edge off.
The Wave 3 can be powered in two ways:
AC (plugged into shore power or inverter)
Dedicated DC battery (sold separately)
AC units in general use a lot of power. Most rooftop units pull around 1,000–1,500 watts. The Wave 3 runs between 400–850 watts depending on the mode. That’s still a heavy load for a van system, but manageable with a little planning.
The optional battery (which I haven’t purchased yet) offers 2–8 hours of runtime — but let’s be real, the 8-hour setting doesn’t do much in terms of cooling. My plan is to charge the battery at campsites or plug in at coffee shops whenever I can. That means this unit is best reserved for those blistering, emergency-level heat days.
Like all AC units, the Wave 3 needs to vent hot air out. I’m using a Terrawagen window vent, which makes this super easy: roll down the window, slide it in, roll the window back up. The intake and exhaust tubes twist right into place.
The tradeoff? The unit has to sit near the window to work. Right now, I keep it between the front seats — which works, but limits flexibility.
The condensation drain is another consideration. The drain hose plugs into the back and can be emptied at the push of a button. For now, I just drain into a water bottle. Eventually, I’ll route this to a gray water tank or outside the van. The unit needs to sit level to drain correctly. I found this out the hard way when I left it on the angled Promaster step — and it drained backwards into the van. Luckily, I caught it before the subfloor was installed.
Price: ~$800 for the unit, ~$649 for the battery — far cheaper than rooftop units that cost $1,500–$2,500+
Flexibility: Use multiple batteries, swap them out as needed
No battery required: Can run fully plugged in
Smart controls: Use the app to adjust temp and settings without touching the unit
Cons
Power draw: Even at the lowest setting, it draws serious wattage. Expect 600W average while running
Size: It’s not tiny — and it takes up precious garage storage space
Weight: At ~33 lbs, it’s portable but not exactly fun to lug around
Placement limitations: Needs to be near the window vent, so it may not reach your bed easily at night
Final Thoughts
So that’s the unit. Whether it’s worth it long-term, or whether I’ll end up replacing it down the road, is still TBD. For now, I’m glad to have it as an option — even if it’s just for those what-if days.
By the way... decent progress has been made on the van this month. Check back early November for the next project update!