Surviving a 40 degree heatwave in an overland 4×4

Surviving a 40 degree heatwave in an overland 4×4

Hey up campers. Is it really possible to overland in 40° centigrade? Well, we were unknowingly about to find out. This was no ordinary 4×4 vacation. This ended up turning into an extreme expedition through the Ardesh heatwave that will make us rethink everything we thought we knew about summer road trips. From engine struggles to personal limits, we would face it all. Stay tuned to find out what real vehicular and human resilience looks like. [Music] [Music] Each day as the sun intensified, we’d talk to each other about how lucky we were being with the weather and compliment each other on our glorious tans, completely oblivious to how intense it was going to become. Our original plan for this year’s trip was to try out some of the old military roads in the Alps. But with the weather being terrible in the Alps for the last couple of weeks, we aborted that idea, unsure as to how well we’d fare in this 3-day emergency overlander build. Of course, coming into Europe at this time of year, we were expecting some good weather, and we made preparations for just that. The air con in this truck was ice cold when we left, and when the belt snapped, we made it a matter of urgency to get that sorted out. We’d also invested in some lithium ion batterypowered fans to keep the dogs cool, and these were already proving to be worth their waiting gold. One big blunder we’d made, however, was the lack of a proper compressor powered fridge. So we pressed on through the heat with an exciting destination ahead of us. That destination was one of France’s most awinspiring landmarks. The Pontbugard. This ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD is a true marvel of engineering and a testament to the ingenuity of Roman architecture. Spanning the Gardon River in the south of France, the Ponderard once carried water over 50 km to the Roman colony of Neim. Standing beneath its towering arches, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of history and the brilliance of craftsmanship that lasted nearly 2,000 years. The setting of the sun had little difference to the by now almost unbearable heat, with temperatures still in the 30s by 11:00 at night. As we watched the vibrant display that adorns the monument each night, we began to wonder how much more of this we could take. The following day, the south of France was hit with record-breaking temperatures with it being 43° on the campsite. The best we could do for ourselves and the dogs was get in and out of that water as much as possible. Although even the water in the river felt like a warm bath. Luckily, we’d stumbled on this campsite a few years ago and knew that it had direct access to the river and was littered with trees within the campsite, so perfect for keeping cool. It was also a welcome treat not to have to move to a new spot every night and put the tents and roof tent up and pack them down again the following morning. The couple of days that we spent here felt like a much more conventional resort style holiday, but none of us were complaining. We found new stretches of the river to play on, and the ice cold cocktails and ice creams at the bar went down like a lead balloon. And still, it got hotter. By now, much of the forest of France were in flames. Most of France’s air resources were being used to quell the forest fires. And with the weekend set to be even hotter, we made the decision to leave the campsite and push for the mountains. where we hoped it would be cooler. I’m going to pull up and have a look cuz she’s getting hot water and everything. [Music] Oh, feels hot. It’s not cloudy, though. That’s a good start. It’s actually a little bit low. Um The water seems all right, too. So, after a long, steep dual carriageway section, our engine had gone into limp mode. Momentarily, we panicked. However, it didn’t do it again. So, we’ll put that one down as a temporary glitch. Now, moving on. I want to show you another uh couple of little national parks. We’re in a bit of a dilemma actually because as it happens, France is having one of its most intense heat waves, I think, on record. Um, and not just France, the the area that we are in. Yesterday was 39°. Today is set to be even hotter. It’s absolutely blistering. So, as you can imagine, um, in a uninsulated black 4x before that’s causing some problems. And then we’ve got three dogs. One of which, as I’ve said, and I’m sure I’ve introduced him to your Bjorn, is a 65 kg long-haired giant breed dog. He is incredibly hot. He’s actually quite used to it, though, surprisingly. So, um, he’s really good at regulating his temperature. Whereas Roxy, the oldest, she’s really struggling with this heat. Um, so right now we’re sat in an air, we’ve driven up onto the grass, and we’re in the only bit of shade that’s available. And we don’t even have a fridge. We had a little cool box, but that packed up really quickly. We just didn’t have the space to put a fridge in this build. So, we have got water on board, but not a lot. 25 L. I’ve actually just filled up the solar shower, but not to use it for the intention that I built it for. more just a way to store some extra water because in this incredible heat 25 L just doesn’t last 5 minutes. And we’ve actually got 25 L of water in the tank. We’ve got about 20 L, I think it is, maybe a bit less than 20 L in the solar shower. So that should keep us going so long as we keep getting places that we can top it up. And it’s vital now that we get to some water, a river or a lake or a waterfall, somewhere with shade where we can just hang and and chill for a couple of days. Oh wow. 20 2. The heat is absolutely insane. A little refuge for the pups. underneath this little old ri bridge and a beautiful river to dip in at regular intervals to keep cool. [Applause] [Music] The impact of extreme heat when traveling in a car quickly becomes impossible to ignore. With temperatures soaring well above 40°, even air conditioned cars struggle to keep up, turning long drives into uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous experiences. Dehydration creeps up faster than you’d expect, leading to fatigue, dizziness, and slowed reaction times behind the wheel. From overheated engines to overheated people, it shows just how crucial it is to prepare properly for travel in extreme conditions. When you’re traveling in the middle of an extreme heatwave, choosing the right food and drink can make a huge difference to how you feel on the road. In this kind of heat, it’s about staying cool, hydrated, and avoiding anything that spoils easily. Fresh fruit like grapes, melon, and oranges are perfect. They’re hydrating, refreshing, and travel well if kept in a cool bag. For something more filling, opt for items like cold pasta salad, hard-boiled eggs, or nuts, things that don’t melt or go off quickly. And when it comes to drinks, plain water is essential, but also consider electrolyte drinks or even cold herbal teas to help refresh what you lose through sweat. Skip the heavy salty snacks and sugary sodas. They’ll just make you feel more dehydrated. Keeping it light, cool, and simple is the key to staying comfortable and safe during your journey. Finally, we managed to find a spot for the night thanks to a new app we discovered called Camp Space. I’ll do a whole video about that another time. We pitched up camp in the shade, filled up our water reserves, and put our ice packs in the host’s freezer just in case. [Music] And as the sun went down on a much cooler night, we were all really relieved to have escaped the extreme heat from that last few days. [Music] Okay, so I’m pleased to tell you that now we’ve moved into the neighboring national park, the Savons. Um, temperatures are a lot more bearable here. It was still a scorching 39° yesterday. I think I saw the thermometer in the car go up to 43 at one point, but in the night up in the mountains here, it gets much much cooler. I think a lot of that is down to the fact that because we’re in like a lot of valleys, the sun dips a lot earlier on. So, it was much more bearable, much more pleasant last night. Traveling during an extreme heatwave pushed both us and our 44 to the limit, especially when venturing off road and up steep mountain passes. It really is vital to be prepared for these kind of intense conditions from keeping your engine cool and tire pressures checked to packing the right gear like extra water, portable shade, and even a basic first aid kit. Also, be sure to pack extra fluids for your engine. These things aren’t just nice to haves, they’re survival essentials. Make plans to avoid getting stranded and learn how to read the terrain when the heat is warping visibility. Whether you’re a weekend explorer or planning a longer overland trip, these strategies will help you keep you safe, cool, and in control. If you found this video useful, be sure to like and subscribe and hit that notification bell so that you won’t miss our next one. Until next time, folks. Happy camping. [Music]

Surviving a 40°C Heatwave in Our 4×4 Overland Build – Wild Camping in the Ardèche, France

In this episode of our European overland travel series, we get caught in one of the most intense heatwaves of the year while road tripping through the stunning Ardèche region of southern France. With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, we push our recently converted Mitsubishi Shogun Sport overlander to its limits—along with ourselves and our three adventurous dogs.

Join us as we navigate wild camping in extreme heat, manage off-grid living in a 4×4, and visit the breathtaking Pont du Gard, one of France’s most iconic Roman landmarks. From vehicle cooling hacks to keeping the dogs safe and hydrated, we share real-life tips and struggles for anyone planning a summer overlanding trip in Europe.

If you’re into 4×4 travel, wild camping, van life with dogs, or overlanding Europe, this episode is packed with valuable insights and beautiful scenery. Perfect for off-road and nature lovers seeking the raw reality of life on the road.

🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more overland adventures, 4WD travel content, and European wild camping guides!

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