Hi to all seasoned trailer tent friends, I need some seasonal advice. I am looking to take our Raclet Verona/Tribune to Scotland for 4 nights in the first week in December. Not my first choice for her maiden voyage, but I need to see my family up in Aberdeen before Christmas and in a last minute decision we've decided that the cheapest and best choice is to take the Tribune. However, I have never camped in winter and keep in mind we don't have electric hook up equipment yet. Is there any advice any of you can give me regarding winter camping? Ever done it before? Is it just a case of layering up lol
Thanks in advance :-)
Ps I've already posted the same question on a raclet page on FB but the more experience advice, the better :-)
Simple answer is; Yes. It is just a case of layering up!!! lol. I have a Pennine Sterling, and I love Winter camping. I don't like the thought of not being able to use my 'toy' for half of the year. I do, however, have one golden rule, which I always recommend to other campers, and that is, I never do it without electric hookup.
The reason for this is that I have most things that will run on 12V (microwave, TV / DVD, kettle, filter coffee machine, etc etc) but the one thing you can't run is a heater, as the average electric heater will drain a leisure battery (with an inverter) in about 3 minutes.
The only alternative to that is a gas heater. I have two, and I've used them for years, with no problems, BUT they are not recommended for indoor use by the manufacturers, so I only use them in a well ventilated space, with a CO detector, and wouldn't even consider leaving them on at night. Same applies with any camping gas appliance.
If you really must camp without a hookup, then there is no specific advice I can think of, other than all the usual generic 'apply anywhere' advice you would give in any cold situation; layer up; hot drinks, hot water bottle; thick duvet / sleeping bag, all the usual common sense stuff. You've not actually said where you're going to be camping. If you don't have an electric hookup yet, then is it an option to take a long extension lead with you, and plug it in at your relatives' house. That would make all the difference, in terms of heating the interior, as well as allowing for a few extra little luxuries as well. If you're on a site, then an EHU lead with a couple of sockets on it would give you that same degree of flexibility, if budget allows, but, from a purely personal perspective, Winter camping, in Scotland, with no EHU? Ain't gonna happen!!!
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
I figured as much. We camp regularly anyway but wanted to know if there's any do's or don'ts in winter. We're thinking of a caravan park in the small Aberdeenshire village of Cruden Bay. That's where I grew up and have family there still. We haven't got a EHU yet but I have been looking on eBay. They don't seem expensive. My OH thinks that having a gas one will do, I beg to differ. The chances are though we'll probably be indoors at families homes and only using the TT as a base at night which is obviously when it will be at it's coldest.
I'm already gathering supplies (duvets, hot water bottles, blankets etc) I just wanted to know if there was any helpful hints or tips.
You can pick up an electric hookup lead for less than 20 quid, if your unit already has a mains system fitted, or less than 30 quid if you get one with its own electrical sockets.
I'm with you on the gas heater. By all means, get one for a bit of a quick boost in the morning, or when you get back at night, but you're right; it's not a viable option for night time use, which is what you're mainly going to need. An oil filled radiator, or something similar will keep the interior nice and snug at night, and can be safely left on, unlike a gas appliance, which, of course, also has the potential issue of fumes.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
Well I would invest in an ehu before the trip, take an oil filled radiator with you and leave it on and running in the unit during the day to keep the cold/damp away....
We've been out in our Raclet a few times when its been colder and its amazing how warm they are with a heater just left on......we didn't even have it full blast.....
we have used a gas heater to keep warm and found it effective but obviously not overnight, I also wasn't comfortable using it when the kids were still awake, and def. not with dogs.
I think it would be worth biting the bullet and getting electric hookup and a cheap fan heater. We only use this off season but have found it invaluable. The fan heater can also be used on the morning of your last day to help dry out the tent before packing away.
------------- 2015
May - Balloch O Dee, Newton Stewart
July - Ilse de Re, France
August - Cruachan Farm, Killin
We have been given an electric hook up and two fan heaters from a couple who previously had camper vans but unfortunately don't anymore. It's just a long standard ehu lead with two sockets at one end.
I'm bringing enough bedding and blankets, hot water bottles, warm fleece pjs to keep us toasty. I even bought an awning carpet for a little comfort. We've even bought a little toilet bucket (I didn't fancy my usual 4am trek to the toilet block like on Shell Island) and the stand alone toilet tent which will go inside the awning.
I think I just have to remember that the tent is only our base and probably will only be in use 1st thing in the morning and on an evening after we've been out visiting relatives.
It's fast approaching and I'm accumulating more and more things that I think may help. He's buying all the tools to keep the tent road worthy, usable and make it storm proof, especially since there's potential for really bad weather being the good old british winter and all.
FYI to anyone interested. We went camping in Aberdeenshire at a campsite called Craighead Camping at Caravan Park on the 1st of December for 4 nights.
When we arrived, it had been raining all day and the ground was sodden. We have a Raclet Tribune Trailer Tent with an acropolis awning. It didn't take long to set up and inevitably we got a bit muddy, but once it was up and we unpacked, set up the ehu and heaters, it was actually a really nice little set up.
We had packed loads of thermal and warm winter clothing, hot water bottles and flasks. We had two small fan heaters that kept the awning reasonable but the sleeping compartments so cozy that you really wouldn't think that it was frosting over just on the otherside of the canvas.
The only issue we had was having to pack it away wet because it was drizzling on the Friday as we packed up. At the moment, it's still unfolded in the garage with a fan heater on it.
Otherwise, it was a great holiday. Really enjoyed it. Either it wasn't as cold as we thought or because of all the layers, we just didn't feel it as much lol.
I have reviewed the campsite on this website. I recommend it to anyone. Though I would warn that the area is a high air traffic area for helicopters from the rigs. Mostly booming Sikorskys
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Winter Camping in Scotland. Advice
