I would really appreciate any advice/tips from people who use their vans all year round.
I am very new to caravanning (done 2 nights at a local site with no EHU) and thoroughly enjoyed myself as did my son.
I would really love to go on a few more trips in Holi but have no winter camping or caravanning experience. My little van is 41 years old so no double glazing, insulated walls/floor or any mod cons like new vans! I do have mains power (6 sockets) so could take the fan heater we use for camping to provide heat and to power the mini fridge. Lights are 12v LED strip lights and I also have 2 battery powered wall lights.
The boys have good quality sleeping bags and I have a standard winter Duvalay.
We have an awning but have never used it (it's a Bradcot Portico Plus porch awning that actually covers the whole van so looks like a full awning because my caravan is so little!)
What do I need to consider/buy/use to make sure we have a happy and comfortable experience?
We are the proud owners of Lady Rose, aka Rosie and she is a young at heart 21 year old van. Make sure you're using propane gas instead of butane gas in the winter as butane gas freezes up at -5 degrees. I'm sure someone else will put me right if I'm wrong.
Butane LPG cylinders will have given up before the temp drops to -5C, Paula - compressed liquified butane can't turn to a gas if the temp is below about freezing (0C). Why does anyone ever use Butane? It's no cheaper than Propane, which is lighter, burns hotter and can be used year round.
Another winter caravanning problem is with the fresh water systems icing up, especially the pipe between an Aquaroll and the van. Insulation can help to some degree. Also the waste water can freeze, but you can add car anti-freeze to your Wastemaster to stop that happening (and so you can empty it in the morning!).
Helen, you can get plastic sheets (like thick clingfilm) from DIY shops that provide temporary double glazing to help keep the van warmer.
Other advice:
Remember, there's a lot less daylight in winter so make the most of every hour! Get up with the sun.
If snow or ice is on the ground, regularly lift and shake the mains cable or it may become permanently embedded.
Clear any drifting snow from under the caravan, to ensure air vents and appliance flues are kept free. Don't block off permanent vents in an attempt to keep warm! Try to site the caravan so that fridge vents etc are away from the prevailing wind.
Condensation can be a problem, so moisture absorbing crystals (available from DIY stores) can be useful, but better is to avoid excessive moisture production - one pressure cooker is better than three saucepans. Despite the cold, ensure adequate ventilation when cooking heaters are in use.
Be careful not to overload your electricity supply with heaters etc. Generally, winter power demands are higher and whole campsites can be blacked out by too many people using too many gadgets.
Keep moving parts on the caravan, like steadies, jockey wheel and handbrake well oiled to prevent seizing. If travelling through a lot of surface water before siting and if temperatures are likely to fall below 0C, it might be an idea to leave the caravan handbrake off providing the caravan is on the level and securely chocked - otherwise the brakes might seize. The same applies to a car or motor caravan.
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
our big freeze up at keswick taught us a lot overnight,the pump froze solid,now take it in at night if frosty.the waste pipes froze up solid as did the waste container.the gas froze and stopped gassing so no breakfast for hours.that's bad.the site toilets and showers were closed as they had no water.the site fresh water pipes and taps froze so you could not fill up.no brews.good thing was the lake froze over and we walked a long way out on the ice.woke up to 2 foot of snow on the ground the morning after.that day we drove all the way home in the heavy snow and the motorway was down to one lane in the centre all the way home at 25 MPH.happy days.best tip is have a large bottle of fresh water for brews and drinks,teeth,and hand washing in the caravan.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I was away over New Year 08/09 and everything froze, except the propane, which I use all year round.
I have a bag for my fresh water container. I got a camping bed roll and cut a piece to go in the bottom of the bag and stood the water container on that. Then I got a cheap duvet from B&M and cut it up to wrap round the whole thing, including up to the pump connection. I bought one of those thermal blanket - the sort of thing they use at the end of the marathon - and wrapped that round everything again and tucked it underneath. It was minus several degrees but the water didn't freeze.
I use a small convector heater and keep it ticking away on low 24/7 and just turn it up a bit when I'm in the van. A lot less noisy than a fan heater and doesn't dry the air out so much.
Have fun - it's great to be all warm and cosy in the van and wake up to the frost outside.
Don't have a problem with water freezing as Holi has no pumped water or Aquaroll container - I just use a small water carrier that sits in one of the cupboards in the van. Will keep an eye out for the waste water pipe from the sink and waste container freezing though (never thought about that!) I tend to use a small cartridge stove in the van but will consider changing to propane gas incase I do take the 2 burner stove (Holi doesn't have any built in appliances!) I kept the kitchen window open all the time and the sky light and 2 side windows were opened during the day so hopefully that will help with ventilation.
The heater we have is a small 1kw fan heater with variable thermostat - we use it in the tents to keep the chill off so it should be OK to use in the caravan without overloading the site electrics - only other thing I might plug in would be a small lamp and the mobile phone chargers.
Definately liking the sound of this winter caravanning, being all snug and cosy in my little van whilst it's cold and icy outside!
Quote: Originally posted by michael on 17/9/2010best tip is have a large bottle of fresh water for brews and drinks,teeth,and hand washing in the caravan.
That's a good tip at any time of the year.
I'd also add that you need to choose your site carefully. We've camped on some very open, grassy sites that are lovely in summer but turn to windswept mud pits in winter. Having to slosh through several inches of mud to reach a tap on a freezing cold day is no fun at all.
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
Hi Mini Mad Mum.
We've got an old van and we found that putting up the awning or porch makes a massive difference to the temperateure of the van at night in cooler/colder weather.
We worked out that it was the fact that we had a door where the rubber seals are a bit flaky so having another barrier between the door and the elements was enough to increase the temperature overall.
Have fun.
Feezee
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Took a break like everyone over covid, flogged the caravan and got a campervan!
We also learned the hard way with frozen water pump, no gas etc. At least we didnt end up with frozen (and subsequently broken) taps. I would worry that 1kw may not be enough if its freezing outside but again its realitive to the size of your caravan.
------------- The things that come to those who wait, may be the only things left by those who got there first.
I find that I can cope with cold weather on a campsite, as the van's warm and there are certain precautions to take against things outside freezing up (as described above). But what I can't be doing with is rain and wind. It's just downright unpleasant, whereas a crisp, bright winter's day is lovely.
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
The heater I have has 2 heat settings - 1kw and 2kw. Never had to use the 2kw setting when we've been away in the tent but the extra output would be there if necessary.
Holi is very tiny - internal size is just 9' 8" x 5' 9" x 6' tall so think 1kw should be enough to keep us warm!
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Topic: Using caravan over winter?
