Why not use your van in winter?

[tonybvi]

What have you done to your van to make it suitable for full winter?

heated grey water tank?
Extra insulation?
insulated pipework?
anything else?

We're getting a 2nd had van soon, but not sure just how ready it is for sub-zero temps.

We we have only had 2 motorhomes in more than 12 years of motorhoming (both have been ideal for us so no reason to change) and luckily both have been double floored with warm air heating pipes passing between the floors and both fresh and grey water tanks in the void so no special action taken to prevent winter freezing, except to keep the heating on low throughout the night. Both motorhomes have coped admirably with cold weather - the only issue we had was wildcamping near Braemar a few years ago when the overnight temperature dropped to -18degC. No water issues but the tyres froze to the ground!
However we are in the process of changing to a Hymer which doesn’t have a double floor. The tanks are both described as insulated and heated, the salesman informing us that the tanks and water pipes all have warm air ducted around them when the heating is on - time will tell!
Tony

 

[Trublu33]

As previous posts have mentioned. Can be best time of year to use the van.
Used to take the kids skiing after Christmas to France. Would wild camp and be on the floodlit slopes until 10 at night on our own.
These days can be out in it every other weekend .
We were in Aberaeron last week. Wild camped on the sea front. Nice and quiet. Would not be able to do that in the summer.

 

[Robmac]

I do.

 

[Phillybarbour]

Main reason we bought our first van was for skiing. Never looked back, three ski trips planned this year but only one in the van as others with our children.

 

[Deleted member 1478]

Wow, you guys are brave. My vans really old (1981) and the insulation isn't great at the best of times. Used her solidly for 6 months Apr-Sept but as soon as the weather turns I get scared of the chill. Also I'm not sure how well she'd start in the cold weather tbh. I am missing it though and have been wondering if I can build up the courage to take the plunge into the world of winter adventures. I'll be reading any tips with interest.

 

[Asterix]

Keeping my van warm in winter is akin to carrying water in a sieve,as a fulltimer I take it to a warmer place or I'd die of exposure. This is my first winter fulltiming in the UK so hopefully when my truck is converted it will be toasty enough to survive the coming months.

 

[wakk44]

Definitely! Quiet roads, easy parking, as long as you've warm clothes it,s great.

lesley

I agree with that apart from quiet roads,from now until christmas everyone seems to go frantic on the roads

 

[edina]

Down yere in the south west, it is probably the best time to explore the places which are over-run with tourists in the summer. Though a lot of sites close, overnight parking is usually easy to find.

 

[Campervanannie]

I agree with that apart from quiet roads,from now until christmas everyone seems to go frantic on the roads

Then your driving on the wrong roads toy have to choose your destination and use the less travelled route all part of the adventure.

 

[Campervanannie]

Down yere in the south west, it is probably the best time to explore the places which are over-run with tourists in the summer. Though a lot of sites close, overnight parking is usually easy to find.

Yes Devon, Cornwall sure great after the season has finished even Kent and Essex are worth exploring .

 

[marymary]

Carmha...I usually drain down the water system for winter and then just buy £1 5L bottles of water from Tesco on my way..when I stop for the essentials ie milk, bread and wine...not that I am religious or anything....the van has gas heating or convection heater when on hookup....lovely and toastie...you can still run the water systems etc in winter and a lot do but my van isn’t that big and I don’t bother....try it, you will love it, it’s liberating especially when you have good company too...

 

[barryd]

Like Rockburner, we want to use our new van in winter but aren't sure how suitable it is. Can anyone tell us what they've done to make their van OK for winter use? Do you need to insulate pipes, heat water tanks, insulate pipes etc etc? We have heating (gas or electric) and could take water with us, if it's not safe to use the onboard pipes and tanks in really cold weather.

Does your van have internal or external water tanks? IF they are internal then you wont have a problem. If they are external you might have but it has to get pretty cold. you can I gather get heaters for them though. Most of the internal pipework should be fine whether the van is winterised or not. As long as you have decent insulation and good heating any van whether its winterised as the term goes should be ok in Winter. That really bad winter of 2011 we were over in the Lakes for Christmas and New Year and it got down to -17c. We were fine inside though. Used a lot of gas when wilding though. One night we were on a CL and an Autotrail with external tanks lost his water as it was all frozen up but its not a deal breaker. Just carry a 25 litre water carrier with you just in case. One thing that did catch us out that year though was despite me draining the tanks when we came to go away the van had been sat for a few weeks in the freezing conditions and some pockets of water left in the internal pipes had obviously frozen and it took three days to thaw them out so the taps would work. This could happen to any van whether its winterised or not so best to check a few days in advance if everything is working before you head off.

Im not as fussed about winter touring now though. Summer is best for me I reckon. June to October, cant beat it. I just tend to hibernate now.

 

[karakachan]

I've no choice in the matter,other than winter camp.Hopefully will be back on english soil just before xmas.After living 9 years in the wilds of Bulgaria I've decided to call it a day here.
Reason I say ''no choice'',is that we are bringing back our 6 og_Emoji:,5 of them rescued from certain death.Two of them,one a large ***** and the other a big karakachan do not get on well with the others.So I'm having the 2 naughty ones with me in the truck,wild boogers, whilst my other half is having the other 4,not so naughty,at our house.
Not even got any sort of heating fitted in the truck yet...
The winters here though get you prepared for far worse than is to be had in England.
We are looking forward to the long 2000ml trip...in a van,all caged out,even one for er indoors if she's naughty:wink:

 

[2cv]

I think being cosy in a van whilst it's freezing outside is brilliant. Having tent camped until a few years ago I really appreciate the comfort that camping in a van can bring.. Certainly never had any freezing problems when out in the winter and some of the best views are to be had then.

 

[Joy zigzag]

I've lived for over a year with my dog in my Hymer 584 , not had a problem with the winter months.
In France now and been very low overnight temperatures . Lowest in Madrid a few years ago
-12 , long icicles hanging of heating vent !

 

[Winks]

Our van gets as much use as we can fit in all year round, although we do still grab a month of the Canarian warmth in February / March if the funds allow.

Our current van is a Hobby 750 and has a double floor with the tanks between the floors and we have fitted a Gaslow system to cope with the demand of keeping the heat ticking over if we're not on hook up. Excellent to return from a frosty walk to a nice warm van. The previous Hymer was a single floor job but the fresh water tank was inboard so kept frost free. We even used it in Worcester a few years ago when overnight temperatures got down to -14c with no problems, just a lot of gas used in two days.

So, yes do try to make the most of your van all year round. It's probably cost you a lot of dosh and will keep better if it's on the move occasionally.

Cheers

H

 

[MarilynF]

We are back in our house again now after 5 years full timing and I can honestly say that winter in the van is not only no problem but a positive pleasure. Yes, we used a lot of gas (2 litres/1Kg a day in the worst weather) but we were warm and comfortable. Our van does have a double floor with on board water tanks and the insulation level is superb. It's not an expensive van, we plumped for much older but higher spec German MH which suits us just fine. We have never taken the van abroad but the lowest temperature we had was here in Cheshire when it went down to -14 one night!

 

[QFour]

We had a week in Cornwall in January. We stayed near Rock on a CL farm site, it was great. We went to Padstow to Stein's and to Nathan Outlaw's. The beaches were deserted and wonderful for walking the dog. Winter is definitely the best time to see Cornwall.

 

[alwaysared]

I had no choice as I bought my MH in October last year and there was no chance of me waiting until the spring to use it! I love the winter trips. :Smiling_Face_Emoji:

 

[Kontiki]

While I'm not against using the van in the winter unless we want to go somewhere or there is something going on I don't see the point of going out in the van just for the sake of it during our often miserable winters. Agree nice frosty/snowy weather can be enjoyable but days when it's just dull/damp/drizzling with rain when it goes dark around 3:00 pm or even somedays when it just doesn't get light I find depressing. In saying that we nearly always used to head to the south of Spain to get some winter sun for 3 months, trying to decide if we are going this winter but the thought of the long drive south is putting me off, done it about a dozen times & it isn't a novelty any more, still considering taking the long ferry to Spain.