"Winterise" a caravan?.

[PHOENIXFLIER]

Just doing a bit of forward planning............
As we want to get the max use out of our van, we are planning to try and use it all year round.
Is it possible to "winterise" a caravan?.
For starters, I was thinking of fitting heat activated plastic sheet "double glazing" to the inside of the somewhat flimsy and thin plastic type windows. I have used this on other projects and it works a treat, and does not cost a fortune.
Any other ideas?
What do others do?
Don't really want to leave it on axle stands for 6 months!
TTW.

 

[tadhgocuilleain]

I think modern caravans are generally well enough insulated for winter use, but any water pipes outside the caravan, including the drain pipes running along the underside, will have to be insulated to stop them freezing.

Also, use propane instead of butane, as butane turns to liquid form around 0°C, so doesn't perform well.

 

[thosoneill]

Yes your wee caravan should have decent enough insulation to accommodate all year use - not tempting fate however UK winters have been relatively modest of late - water obviously freezes so don't fill your water heater - use common sense and your good to go

 

[Martin24]

Anti freeze/screen wash in waste water.

Propane not Butane.

Cover for aqua roll and pump.

That's it

 

[Hutch]

PF, We "try" and get out all year round and have found our caravan is great, no need to fit anything extra, We do have an insulated covers for the Aqua rolls and also insulated the water pipe feed into the van and carry a second pump inside the van incase the pump does freeze over but only had that once. A drop of antifreeze down the sink and shower, to stop the wasterun away pipes from freezing. And a good pair of "Onsies" for sitting around in , in the evening, after the pub.

 

[Parksy]

I wouldn't bother with the plastic sheeting over the windows, modern laminated perspex caravan windows are already 'double glazed' and anything stuck to the perspex could damage or mark it.
I don't know what heating system your caravan has, but the advice already offered is spot on, especially about using Propane.
We keep a warmer winter duvet for the caravan in cold weather and we take a blown air electric fan heater (from Argos) because any cold air will usually be at floor level, and the cold can enter via the front bulkhead behind the gas locker.
Apart from covering the Aquaroll (an old anorak makes a good cover) it helps if it's raised off the cold ground slightly, one of those wooden shower tray slatted squares does the job nicely.
A gas hob kettle is a must, sometimes overhead power lines go down in the countryside but a wind up LED lantern and a hot drink can make all the difference.

 

[Raywood]

I would think that when in use your caravan will not be a problem in winter although you will need to watch the water container outside and get some lagging for that. At one time there was a conversion on the market that allowed you to bring the water indoors to feed the caravan but I do not think it is still going so the lack of sales must prove it was not needed.
The heating should be fine as our far larger caravan has the same system and it heats that easily enough.
As said before though be sure to drain everything after use. I find the best bet with the on board water is to drain it before leaving the site and leave the valve open on the way back which should get the last few drops out. The taps should be left in the open position half way between hot and cold and make sure the shower pipes are empty.

 

[audiorob]

A child's padded anorak, tuck one sleeve inside out, pop the water intake through the other sleeve, then zip the coat around the aquaroll - or of course you will find a dedicated purpose made item on the shelves or web! Caravans are well insulated, but do have outlets to the outside which must not be blocked - gas drop holes and the like, through the floor.
A mattress topper beneath your bedding and a thicker duvet on top will keep you cosy at night - the old boy scout adage of 3 blankets, 2 underneath and one on top!
You can also keep some heating on low overnight to keep air circulating.
Definitely 'red' gas. I can recall when first caravanning having to stand the 'blue' cylinder in warm water one frosty morning before reconnecting in the locker and then being able to make tea!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

- the old boy scout adage of 3 blankets, 2 underneath and one on top!

That was when one was directly on the cold hard ground. A caravan bed is above ground and has at least several inches of foam/sprung mattress.

 

[ProfJohnL]

...Also, use propane instead of butane, as butane turns to liquid form around 0°C, so doesn't perform well.

tadhgocuilleain is correct but his explanation is a little vague. A new LPG bottle will contain both liquified and vapour held under pressure. That pressure is determined by the temperature of the bottle, and if the bottle temperature falls the pressure will drop, and there will be insufficient pressure to drive enough gas out to supply your regulator and appliances.

However there is another twist to this, when you convert a liquid to a gas as happens inside the LPG bottle otherwise known as evaporating or boiling, the energy needed to allow the conversion comes from the temperature of the liquid and in this case the bottle. So the more gas you boil off the more energy is needed and that cools the body of liquid and its bottle further. This is normally offset by the ambient air surrounding the bottle. But if the ambient is already low, the bottle will cool further, and in the case of Butane for practical use in a caravan the air needs to be 4 to 5C above zero.

So if you intend to caravan in ambient temperatures below about 5C, a Butane bottle may well be unable to supply enough gas for your heating needs. You should swap to Propane.

The same process occurs with Propane,but it has a much lower boiling point of -42C, temperatures we are never likely to see in the UK until the next Ice age.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

...Also, use propane instead of butane, as butane turns to liquid form around 0°C, so doesn't perform well.

tadhgocuilleain is correct but his explanation is a little vague.

The explanation might be vague but good enough for 99.9% of caravanners.

 

[Dustydog]

...Also, use propane instead of butane, as butane turns to liquid form around 0°C, so doesn't perform well.

tadhgocuilleain is correct but his explanation is a little vague.

The explanation might be vague but good enough for 99.9% of caravanners.

Come on WC. Indulge the Prof. He spent hours Googling

 

[Anseo]

Come on WC. Indulge the Prof. He spent hours Googling

Sometimes a less than detailed bit if info does indeed suffice, however, I do appreciate in depth summaries and analysis, I learn from them and I am one of those who tries to understand in more than basic form, I emphasise "tries" :blink:

Keep up the good work Prof, nobody is getting at you, just a bit of banter

 

[ProfJohnL]

Come on WC. Indulge the Prof. He spent hours Googling

hmy: No I didn't :evil: It was required knowledge for the work I did. B)

Besides which If you don't want to know that sort of detail just don't read it!!!!

 

[Dustydog]

Come on WC. Indulge the Prof. He spent hours Googling

hmy: No I didn't :evil: It was required knowledge for the work I did. B)

Besides which If you don't want to know that sort of detail just don't read it!!!!

Sorry Prof. Only joking Keep 'em coming.

 

[Mogwyth]

We use ours all year and while we carry the necessaries to insulate the water and waste tanks, been kucky enough that we haven't needed to yet, apart from that we don't change anything for winter.

 

[Grey13]

Do you ever worry about anti freeze for toilet water?

 

[otherclive]

I put some antifreeze in the grey waste tank but have not had a problem with the toilet flush as the fluid I add must depress the freezing point and the tank isn't exposed so picks up can heat in the evenings and then again when the heat comes on in the morning.

 

[Hutch]

I put a small amount of anti freeze solution down the shower after using it to stop the U bend from freezing up.

 

[ProfJohnL]

What waste of good whisky

 

[otherclive]

I put a small amount of anti freeze solution down the shower after using it to stop the U bend from freezing up.

Just give up showering on winter trips which can also cut down on laundering too. So no need to take the ironing board either. hmy:

 

[Craigyoung]

I put a small amount of anti freeze solution down the shower after using it to stop the U bend from freezing up.

Just give up showering on winter trips which can also cut down on laundering too. So no need to take the ironing board either. hmy:

Give up showering ,
ironing board hmy:
Never had a shower in the van yet always use on site facilities , kids have though , do enough ironing at home to keep the 4 off us clothed so that don't go either !!

 

[Martin24]

Showering? I gave that up years ago. I've got Lady Therapy so a good bed bath suits me just fine.

Ironing? Shirts for hatch, match and dispatch the rest just gets folded.