The editorial bench
Guides
Reviews carry the measurements. Guides carry everything else: buying frameworks, system-planning walkthroughs, and The Verdict series, where the forever-debates of van building get arbitrated with standards citations instead of vibes. Same rules as the lab: dated, disclosed, and updated when reality changes.
Budget 12V Mini Split vs Dometic RTX 2000 vs Velit: The $450 vs $2,400 Question
A Vevor-class budget mini split, the Velit 2000U, and the Dometic RTX 2000 compared line by line on claimed specs, power draw, install reality, and what the price gap actually buys.
Last verified Jul 18, 2026Every Way to Air Condition a Camper Van in 2026: The Complete Price Ladder
Budget 12V mini splits, portables, premium rooftop DC units, and the 120V household heresy: every van air conditioning option compared on claimed specs, real prices, and honest unknowns.
Last verified Jul 18, 2026EcoFlow Wave 3 vs Zero Breeze Mark 3: The Portable Van A/C Shootout, On Paper
The two serious portable air conditioners for van life compared on claimed specs, real 2026 pricing with batteries included, runtime claims, and what reviewers consistently agree on.
Last verified Jul 18, 2026What Pre-Charged Actually Means on a 12V Mini Split (Read Before You Buy)
Some pre-charged 12V mini splits are connect-and-run. Some need a vacuum pump. Some ship with no refrigerant at all. The listings will not tell you which one you're getting: here is the real landscape.
Last verified Jul 18, 2026Vevor 12V Mini Split in a Real Van: Install Notes and First Field Test
We installed one of the first pre-charged 12V mini splits sold in the US on a Ram ProMaster and ran it off a 100Ah battery in Tennessee summer heat. Field log #1: what the install took, what powered it, and how long it ran.
Last verified Jul 17, 2026How We Chose Our First Test Categories
Why VanTested is starting with 12V air conditioning, then fridges, diesel heaters, and vent fans, and why the biggest-ticket gear in van building is deliberately not first.
Last verified Jul 17, 2026