Winter Caravanning 15 Tips To Stay Safe & Warm

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Winter caravanning can be an amazing experience, but it does come with some unique challenges. With the right preparation and winter gear, you can enjoy a safe and comfortable winter holiday in your caravan.

From anticipating inclement weather to packing winter essentials, here are 15 tips that will help you stay safe and warm while winter caravanning.

Whether you’re new to winter caravanning or just want to brush up on your knowledge of how best to prepare for this type of camping trip, these tips for winter caravanning will provide valuable information about how to make life easier when you go away out of season.

This includes, Mud, ventilation and damp prevention strategies, types of heating systems for caravans as well as advice other essentials for cold the weather.

So if you’re ready for a winter adventure in your caravan then read on!

1) Anticipate inclement weather and safeguard accordingly.

Weather forecasts can be an invaluable source of information when holidaying at this time of year. It is important to regularly check the weather forecast for rain and especially wind, particularly when towing your caravan.

Heavy rain can make roads slippery, making it more difficult and dangerous to tow a caravan. Wind when towing speaks for its self. Knowing the expected level of rainfall will also help you plan any activities for winter caravanning. The forecast will also help you to decide on what essentials to pack.

I personally tend to use BBC Weather as I find it the most accurate.

2) What to Do About Mud

Mud can be a major hazard when winter caravanning and should be taken into consideration when travelling. Not only does mud make roads slippery and dangerous but it can also make a real mess of your caravan both inside and out.

Try taking a bucket and a brush with you so that you can clean your caravan (particularly the front) when you arrive on site. You may choose to protect the front with a cover.

Another good tip to protect yourself from slipping on mud is to take a cardboard box. You can fold the box flat and use it to walk on.

3) Awnings For The Winter

It is also important to think about awnings. Awnings are great for providing extra protection from the elements. I personally use my summer Suncamp porch awning. I can be easily dried in my garage when I get home and, being small it it easy to clean. Also, with it been quite low value, it doesn’t really matter if it got damaged.

You can however go the the other extreme and invest in a winter porch awning. they are tested to very low temperatures and even come with extra strong poles so that they can cope with snow.

Peg The Awning

Based on a recent trip that I tool I can advise to peg the awning down well and try to peg it out a little off the caravan, so that if it is windy the awning doesn’t bang agains the side of the caravan all night, keeping you awake.

4) Ventilation and Damp Prevention

Damp is never far from caravaners minds, so it’s important to ensure that your caravan is properly ventilated. Poor ventilation can lead to the build-up of condensation and mould in winter months, which could damage your caravan. Try leaving a window slightly open overnight, as this will allow fresh air to circulate while you’re not there.

Let Some Air In

If you can, try to open all your windows during the day when winter caravanning, as this will help to ventilate your caravan and reduce moisture levels inside. You should also ensure that any window blinds are kept open during the day, in order to allow some natural warmth into the caravan.

Electricity Included

At the end of the day, most caravan sites don’t charge for electricity by the unit, so you are best to over heat your caravan and leave some windows open a fraction.

How I Prevent Condensation

Personally at night, I leave my heating set to 18 degrees and leave the bathroom and kitchen windows open on the first catch.

Next morning (as long as its not raining) I turn the heating up to maximum and open the caravan skylights, and the bedroom window for about an hour to get rid of the condensation.

5) Remember The Cassette toilet

When you are not heating your caravan ie on the way to site or on the way home, remember that the caravan will get cold inside. Make sure that you drain down the cassette toilet to prevent it from freezing.

6) Insulate Your Aquaroll, Waste Container and Pipes

So there are three areas here. The Fresh water going into the caravan, the pipes and the waste water.

Stop The Fresh Water From Freezing – You have two options.

• Get an onboard tank – This will work, however for one off trips it may not be worth the expense or the increased risk of extra pipes and taps to switch over from internal (on board) tank, to outside tank in the summer.

• Get an Insulated Jacket for your Aquaroll – This will work agains frost but if it drops really cold it will still freeze. The jacket also comes with some pipe protection.

Use A Thermometer

My advice is to keep an eye on the temperature with a thermometer that transmits the outside temperature to a device you can read on the inside of the caravan. If it looks like it will get cold over night then empty the aquaroll and bring it into the porch awning.

How to Stop waste water from freezing

Some people have suggested the use of antifreeze in the waste water container.

Done Put Antifreeze in the Waste Tank

On the face of it this may work. you should however consider environmental issues with both animals that may be looking for a bit of unfrozen water to drink and also you have to consider the disposal of antifreeze – so not a good idea at all!

7) Staying Warm When Winter Caravanning

Imagine waking up on cold winter mornings to a warm, cozy caravan – it’s an experience like no other! Whether you prefer heating with the caravans own heaters or even an electric blanket, there are plenty of options available to keep your caravan snug as a bug during those chilly winter months.

Types of caravan heating

There are two types of heating systems available to help keep your caravan at a comfortable temperature: blow air heating and Alde wet heating.

Is Alde or Blow Heating Best?

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before making a decision. Let’s take a look at what each system has to offer.

Blow Air Heating

This does exactly what it says on the tin. It blows hot air into the living area of the caravan. It is often a faster way to heat the caravan but can cause a very dry environment.

Alde Wet Heating

This is very similar to the central heating system in many peoples homes. It heats a mixture of water and Alde antifreeze and pumps the liquid around radiators and even towel rails.

The Alde heating system can work on gas, electric or both. It maintains a lovely heat in the caravan.

For me the Alde heating system was the game changer that motivated me to try winter caravanning.

8) Be Prepared And Stay Alert

It’s important to keep in mind that it is winter, and being prepared for the colder weather can help ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Make sure you have plenty of warm clothing, blankets and other items like a hot water bottle to keep your caravan comfortable during cold nights.

Check The Appliances Before You Leave

Additionally, check that all of your appliances are in good working order before leaving on your trip, as well as checking the seals around windows and doors to make sure no draughts can get into the living area.

9) What Is The Best Gas, Propane or Butane?

Propane and butane are two of the most common fuel sources used to power gas appliances in caravans during lower temperature use. Both fuels are very similar in composition, but there are a few important differences that make each one better suited for different types of applications.

Propane is said to be better in the winter, however its my choice of gas all year as it is also good for barbecue.

Either way, make sure that you have plenty of gas left in your gas bottle or replace before you go.  You can now also get refillable gas bottles for motorhomes and caravans. If you have on then again make sure you fill them before you leave.

10) Are Winter Tyres Necessary?

You don’t need to change the tyres on the caravan or car to winter tyres, unless you plan to caravan in the most extreme snow, wet or icy roads. For this reason snow chains are not necessary either.

My personal thoughts are that planning to tow in such conditions is unnecessary and an avoidable danger to your vehicle, yourself and other road users.

11) Extra Insulation Ideas to keep in the Heat.

When it comes to keeping the heat in your caravan when the temperatures fall, there are a few simple things you can do to help.

Curtains & Blinds

One of the most effective ways is to use curtains and blinds, as these can provide an extra layer of insulation that will keep warm air inside and cold air out. Not only will this make your caravan more comfortable, but it could also save you money on heating bills should you be using your own gas!

12) Remember to Pack Winter Essentials

When planning a cold weather camping trip, it is essential to pack some items that can help you stay warm, safe and comfortable during your travels. Firstly, make sure you have plenty of thick blankets and extra layers of clothing to keep you warm at night. It’s also important to bring a few hot water bottles and warm and waterproof clothing around. You may also want to ensure that you have cleaning equipment for the mud!

13) Prepare your Battery Winter Caravanning

I have heard suggestions that you should take a spare leisure battery as batteries don’t perform as well in the cold weather. Realistically this would be impractical.

Fully Charge Your Battery

I would however suggest that you use a battery charger to fully charge your caravans leisure battery before you leave.

Its also worth remembering that if you have a solar panel on the roof of your caravan that it wont perform as well at this time of year.

14) Safety First For Your Trip

Winter caravanning can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t take the necessary precautions. From ensuring your vehicle is properly equipped for cold weather to packing warm clothing and blankets, there are several steps you need to take in order to stay safe and comfortable during your travels.

Bring your step inside

Bringing your caravan step inside is an important safety precaution to take when winter caravanning. Not only can the icy frost create slippery, hazardous conditions, but it can also freeze the steps in place which can cause accidents and injuries. By bringing the steps inside during cold weather, you are ensuring that they remain easy to access and safe to use.

Prevent Slipping on Mud

Wet mud can be a major hazard, as it can cause slips and falls that could lead to serious injury. To help prevent slipping on wet mud, it is important to wear proper footwear with good grip and traction.

Additionally, you could lay down old cardboard boxes on the ground in areas where there is a lot of mud to provide an extra layer of protection against slips.

Emergency Kit

If you are winter touring, you may want to put together an emergency kit. This may include tools, deicer a lighter and anything else you can can think of for sub zero temperatures.

15) At the End of Your Holiday

At the end of your holiday, it is essential to take the necessary steps in order to prevent damage to your caravan’s water system and cassette toilet.

Remember to Drain Down

Draining all water out of these systems is important, as cold temperatures can cause these pipes to freeze and become blocked. As mentioned above don’t forget the toilet and toilet header tank.

Conclusion

We hope that out 15 winter caravanning tips have been useful. It always seems a long wait to the summer so going away on a winter caravan break, can be a great experience if done safely and correctly. By following these tips for winter caravanning, you should now have all the information needed to stay safe and warm during your winter travels.

From preparing your battery to packing extra layers of clothing and blankets, taking precautions such as bringing steps inside or laying down cardboard boxes on wet mud is essential for avoiding any potential accidents or injuries.

With proper planning and preparation, you’ll be able to enjoy an unforgettable adventure with peace of mind while remaining comfortable throughout!