Caravaning in winter
Discussion
bristolracer said:
Anybody into this?
just wondered how you found it
We bought a van this year which has a heater and i guess with hook up we could also use a small electric heater.
seems a shame to let an expensive caravan sit about doing nothing for 6 months.
Winter caravanning is great fun!just wondered how you found it
We bought a van this year which has a heater and i guess with hook up we could also use a small electric heater.
seems a shame to let an expensive caravan sit about doing nothing for 6 months.
I find it a lot more simple - no need for outside furniture, large awnings, BBQ's, etc.
Get yourself a simple porch awning and a collapsible hanging rail and your're good to go! Gives you somewhere to hang wet coats and leave muddy boots.
On electric hook up your on board heater will be more than adequate - you can leave it on all day and return to a lovely snug caravan.
And there's nothing quite like the sound of rain when you're dozing in your caravan!
I'd really recommend it.
yep only got our van three weeks ago and we are off to Cornwall , Tintagel this weekend for our second trip out and really excited to hear the rain on the roof on Saturday, whilst dosing as said. We hang our wet stuff in the shower to dry off. No point buying one and not using it a heater is a heater as far as i'm concerned weather it be in the van or my lounge. I am slightly lucky as it was my girlfriend who pestered me to get a MH and I only agreed so long as we use it a lot or else I would sell it on again. Can't wait for the new race season to start now.
I've been in the snow before, really no reason not to caravan all year round.
Personally, i never bothered with the awning (especially in snow) as it's more hassle than it's worth. I also used small oil filled radiators to keep things warm when the blown air heating wasn't man enough.
Oh, and i also used the jacket from a hot water cylinder on the water barrel to stop it freezing!
Personally, i never bothered with the awning (especially in snow) as it's more hassle than it's worth. I also used small oil filled radiators to keep things warm when the blown air heating wasn't man enough.
Oh, and i also used the jacket from a hot water cylinder on the water barrel to stop it freezing!
I was always fascinated by this place when I went skiing in Italy a few years back, mainly because one of the ski lifts runs right over the campground. You could literally step out of your van, walk 20yds to the side of the slope, click into your skis and be away.
http://www.campingcolfosco.org/index.php?page_id=1...
It was mainly MHs, but a few caravans there. Not sure how many had been dragged up the mountain in the snow or how many were long-term seasonal pitches, but I just loved the idea of a full day's skiing, then back to a cozy van for a kip later!
http://www.campingcolfosco.org/index.php?page_id=1...
It was mainly MHs, but a few caravans there. Not sure how many had been dragged up the mountain in the snow or how many were long-term seasonal pitches, but I just loved the idea of a full day's skiing, then back to a cozy van for a kip later!
We are regulars to winter caravanning ,Definitely recommend a porch awning for boot changing , and if on a full 16a hookup you can leave a 1kw fan heater running to dry and air wet coats etc .
You can then have your caravan heater running to keep the inside warm , once up to a comfortable temperature in side the caravan we find the heater set to 1kw keeps it just right.
An outside water container will , if frosty , need to be wrapped up to stop freezing , I use an old quilted Hi Vis jacket on mine
Blue (butane ) gas will not work below zero , so you will need Red ( propane )cylinders , I have a pair of each so swap summer and winter .
Condensation can be a problem so you should try to keep a car drying towel or micro fibre cloth handy to wipe the inside of windows regularly .
Nothing like a stroll out on a frosty crisp morning if it is sunny , you can end up walking in just T shirt.
Then back for a hot glass of mulled wine
You can then have your caravan heater running to keep the inside warm , once up to a comfortable temperature in side the caravan we find the heater set to 1kw keeps it just right.
An outside water container will , if frosty , need to be wrapped up to stop freezing , I use an old quilted Hi Vis jacket on mine
Blue (butane ) gas will not work below zero , so you will need Red ( propane )cylinders , I have a pair of each so swap summer and winter .
Condensation can be a problem so you should try to keep a car drying towel or micro fibre cloth handy to wipe the inside of windows regularly .
Nothing like a stroll out on a frosty crisp morning if it is sunny , you can end up walking in just T shirt.
Then back for a hot glass of mulled wine
Yep...we use our MH right throughout winter (every other weekend plus half terms) and always go away for 5 or so nights between Xmas and NY as well.
Good advice on this thread.
We don't bother with any kind of awning in winter: we use a decent size mat to take shoes/boots off inside the MH and hang wet jackets over our main door area(it has a foot well and I put up a couple of hooks for jackets). An oil filled radiator with a timer is a must: I set it to come on at 7.00am so its well toasty when we get up!
There are plenty of sites that open all year round but make sure that they have hard standing!
Good advice on this thread.
We don't bother with any kind of awning in winter: we use a decent size mat to take shoes/boots off inside the MH and hang wet jackets over our main door area(it has a foot well and I put up a couple of hooks for jackets). An oil filled radiator with a timer is a must: I set it to come on at 7.00am so its well toasty when we get up!
There are plenty of sites that open all year round but make sure that they have hard standing!
77racing said:
yep only got our van three weeks ago and we are off to Cornwall , Tintagel this weekend for our second trip out and really excited to hear the rain on the roof on Saturday, whilst dosing as said. We hang our wet stuff in the shower to dry off. No point buying one and not using it a heater is a heater as far as i'm concerned weather it be in the van or my lounge. I am slightly lucky as it was my girlfriend who pestered me to get a MH and I only agreed so long as we use it a lot or else I would sell it on again. Can't wait for the new race season to start now.
Make sure you see the castle and old post office, small admission charge but well worth it.The main snag with winter caravanning is your onboard water and or heater freezing....expensive.
Be careful.
Rosscow said:
Interested to hear where you went, Bill? What time of year, how was the skiing?
Going in the caravan really appeals so would like to give it a go one day!
You replied to my thread! Going in the caravan really appeals so would like to give it a go one day!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=156...
Bill said:
Rosscow said:
Interested to hear where you went, Bill? What time of year, how was the skiing?
Going in the caravan really appeals so would like to give it a go one day!
You replied to my thread! Going in the caravan really appeals so would like to give it a go one day!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=156...
There are clearly mixed opinions on the subject of an awning / porch awning .
Ours is a 2 berth caravan , so every morning / evening is the fight with bedding etc .
Our summer routine is to leave the bedding set up all the time and live in the main full sized awning .
A year or so age we tried the same for our winter trip to the Cotswolds , and lived in the porch awning ,leaving the bedding in place , we had no trouble keeping the awning warm and cosy , so that is now our routine .
The trip to the IOW week after next is a different matter ,Grandson and dog are with us so full awning ,inner tent and all that goes with it , including loss of peace and personal time
Ours is a 2 berth caravan , so every morning / evening is the fight with bedding etc .
Our summer routine is to leave the bedding set up all the time and live in the main full sized awning .
A year or so age we tried the same for our winter trip to the Cotswolds , and lived in the porch awning ,leaving the bedding in place , we had no trouble keeping the awning warm and cosy , so that is now our routine .
The trip to the IOW week after next is a different matter ,Grandson and dog are with us so full awning ,inner tent and all that goes with it , including loss of peace and personal time
When I say porch awning, I literally mean a basic porch awning. It takes me 20 minutes max to put it up, we have one like this (not our picture!):
I got it on eBay for £30 when it was about a year old and used once, an absolute bargain. Now is a good time to start looking!
It's nice to keep everything that is wet and muddy out of the caravan.
I got it on eBay for £30 when it was about a year old and used once, an absolute bargain. Now is a good time to start looking!
It's nice to keep everything that is wet and muddy out of the caravan.
Rosscow said:
When I say porch awning, I literally mean a basic porch awning. It takes me 20 minutes max to put it up, we have one like this (not our picture!):
I got it on eBay for £30 when it was about a year old and used once, an absolute bargain. Now is a good time to start looking!
It's nice to keep everything that is wet and muddy out of the caravan.
Ah I see ,mine is a touch larger I got it on eBay for £30 when it was about a year old and used once, an absolute bargain. Now is a good time to start looking!
It's nice to keep everything that is wet and muddy out of the caravan.
https://www.towsure.com/kampa-rally-pro-260-awning...
Got it a lot cheaper though , ex display for about half that price , also about 20 mins to put up
Look at the in/out thermometer
Edited by MX51ROD on Friday 14th October 09:00
Edited by MX51ROD on Friday 14th October 09:07
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