Winter Caravaning

[Diane1]

Do any of you guys and girls use your caravan summer ans winter?

If so what is winter caravaning like? Do you need any special lagging equipment? do use use an awning, if so which one is best? Just looked outside and thought it was late September so i thought i would ask these questions sooner rather than later.

 

[Val & Frank]

Yes Diane, we use our van in winter.

Our favorite site is Invercauld, Braemar. We do have an inboard tank, and aldie pumped hot water central heating so these help.

To wake to see the snow on the ground, and to see the deer on the hills is well worth the drive to get to a site like Invercauld. The CC have built a good sized drying room, with heated shower blocks etc so the site is geared up for winter.You may also be able to ski if your lucky !!!!!!!

Val & Dear Old Frank

 

[NorfolkMike]

Diane,

On current form you will be able this year to practice winter caravaning during your summer hols.

I have used the van all year round for about 15 years, ever since the insulation improved on the vans I have had, A Coachman and two Abbeys. All have been good. The only real consession I have made is a lagged outside water barrel and pump line and Propane gas. I have never had much difficulty even in places like Austria and Switzerland ( although I was not there during the depth of winter. A number of times we have woken up to frozen glasses of bedside water and trying to break frozen eggs, but they are just good memories.I do not use an awning. The best thing is to go and do it. You like it or loath it, there is not much of a halfway house.

ttfn

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Diane, it's not as bad as you imagine. Having lived in ours from September to December 24th last year, because our daughter and family moved into our home until their house was built.

We had the cheap Sunncamp Panorama XL, which was a must because it gave us somewhere to dry the dogs off after their walks. The downside to the awning was on frosty nights. Due to the inside of the awning roof freezing, when it thawed it dripped over everything so we put our shoes etc. under the caravan. The awning took everything that the weather could throw at us with the exception of snow. Heavy rain, hail, gales, it took the lot.

Inside the van it was as warm as toast, at no time were we cold. If frost was forecast we left the heating on low. Last thing at night I brought the water pump inside because we got caught out once, having to thaw it out. Another item I bought was waterproof leggings, a boon for taking the dogs. When it was raining I would take the 3 dogs, one at a time, while Her Ladyship stayed and dried them on their return. It all worked like clockwork.

Whether you would like these conditions and call it a holiday I don't know but as I said before, it's not that bad and don't forget, we do get some nice days at that time of the year even if they might be damper from previous rain or dew.

When I went home on December 24th I was a little sad. After a few days I actually missed being in the caravan. The most pleasing thing about being at home though was when the dogs wanted a pee I could just open the back door without getting wet myself :O)

 

[Oldfogey]

Our van is not suitable for winter camping - insufficient insulation, and requires the awning to be used as the "lounge".

For me, caravanning is a means to an end, so in the winter we are quite happy to stay in rented cottages or static vans, particularly as the rental usually costs less than the site fees would be for a tourer!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

From Oct 1st I paid

 

[Countrylass]

Yes Diane, we use our van all winter. Like Frank our favourite site is Invercauld. We keep a 500watt convector heater on a frost setting on overnight and this seems to keep us warm enough. A good duvet helps too.

We don't use the pumped water system but just carry water as we need it in a 5 litre container. We use propane like Mike but have never used an awning. We've seen a few collapse under the weight of snow.

Another of the sites we use in winter is Edinburgh CC site. It has a lovely heated shower block and Edinburgh in December is a great trip.

A

 

[Diane1]

Thanks all.

Mike P. Were did you get your water and pipe lagging from? Did you make it or did you buy it. I think we will take our bradcot XL porch awning as we need somewhere to dry our dogs as they are not dainty. We already use propane gas as Adrian had the forsight to have this instead of butane.

We have an Abbey spectrum 540 So do you think it is winterised enough, do i need to add anything else.

 

[Oldfogey]

From Oct 1st I paid

 

[LMH]

Hi Diane

I'd really like to try winter caravanning, a couple of years on the trot, we booked to go away at Christmas but I was ill on both ocassions so we had to cancel.

There's only one thing that puts me off and that is towing in icy conditions. Knowing my luck, each time I booked, there'd be unprecidented amounts of ice on the roads!

I'd give it a go if I were you.

p.s. The gelding is off to his new home tomorrow morning, subject to weather conditions.

Lisa

 

[Diane1]

Will give it a go.trying to find somewhere for Christmas. You have a four by four dont you? Should be ok to tow in ice conditions if you put it in to 4 Low.

Don't be too sad tomorrow as i am sure he will be loved just as much at his new home, And don't forget you have your new baby now!!

 

[LMH]

Hi diane

No, I haven't got a 4X4, I have a Mondeo which is a brill tow car but I would feel a little safer in ice towing with a 4X4.

It's the 5YO which is going tomorrow. I've got him up to scratch for the girl who has bought him.

Lisa

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Think of the squirell - what do they do for winter? They get their nuts together, disappear down a tree trunk and sleep through winter and wake up in spring with breakfast in bed - and they say the human is the intelligent form of animal life. Why bother with caravanning when we should follow the squirell and hibernate for the winter.

 

[LadyMo]

Colin,

But the forum would need to shut down then for the winter )

 

[Diane1]

Colin, unlike yourself, we are not on what we call gardening leave. We have to take our time away when we can. Adrians job is means he has to work 6 mornings Monday to Saturday.

 

[ed1]

hello, diane, give it a go , we did it for the first time this year and went 3 times in winter months.....woke up every morning to perfect frosty scenes...i was only put out because it snowed the week after we left one site...that would have been even more perfect.....and yes we have a landrover discovery 3....so i wouldnt panic in snow....but i can give first hand advice in icy conditions...it doesnt matter what you drive...a 4 x 4 does not stop any quicker on a hill that has sheet ice....so your car will be fine, and if you come across exteme conditions you have to deal with it...i think you said a mondeo...ive driven a mondeo in quite a lot of snow years ago and i trusted it every bit of the way. so give it a go...you can always change your mind if the weather is too severe, which of course would be the safe thing to do...take care ....ed

 

[Diane1]

Thanks for that ed, am going to try it this summer! Wink! It Lisa that has the Mondie, i have a Nissan Navara 4x4. I must admit i do feel a lot safer in the Navara rather than my type R in winter conditions,

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Yes we caravan in the winter.

Its the same only colder (not much ice or snow in cider country), nothing like cuddling up in a nice warm caravan when it is cold outside.

 

[Diane1]

Aww! Bless.