Hi Paul.
We've been permanent caravanning for nearly three years and endured the worst winter for 30 years in Herefordshire last winter.
I've posted most of my hints & tips on winter caravanning on here before, but I don't mind sharing them again if it helps anyone to have a good time in the winter cold days.
1/ Always have a 10 Litre can of water with you inside the van, so that you can make a hot drink.
2/ A small generator would be advisable in your case, just incase the gas fails.
3/ You can change from calor blue Butane gas to orange Propane gas if you want. We haven't in our van and the gas bottles are kept in the front locker without problem, but then, we do use electricity to heat the van.
4/ Go to your local charity shop and spend a £5er on an old xxl size puffa jacket preferably 3/4 length. Use this to cover the water barrel and use a sleeve to feed the water pump through to insulate that.
5/ Keep your barrel at least half full at night and stand it on some blocks of wood keeping it about 100mm off the ground. If it is realy cold take your pump in at night.
6/ To add insulation you could errect a lightweight nylon porch awning on the RH side of the van to shelter the barrels from the winter winds.
7/ Empty your waste water every 2 nights to avoid freeze ups.
8/ By keeping the van heated, you can avoid needing to do anything different to the loo and you will have a warm van to boot.
9/ Inside the van, lagg all the water pipes. The common ones forgotten about, is the pipework behind the fridge and kitchen units.
10/ fit winter fridge vents to your van. DO NOT use propriatory methods to avoid the £22 for two vents I had to buy for our van. You are restricting air flow and thus ventilation of your fridge. Check with the fridge manufacturer that your fridge can have winter vents fitted while on gas.
11/ Chock the wheels of the van instead of using the parking brake to avoid sticking.
12/ Leave the stabiliser hitch head in the unlocked position, again avoiding freezing in the ON position.
13/ Take plenty of dry warm clothing and bedding.
14/ Have Jump leads, tow rope, hazard triangle, WIND UP torch, shovel, and a hand winch. Keep these in the car. A first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are also helpfull.
15/ Have at least one mobile phone, charger and car charger that works in your area.
16/ Make sure that everyone except the dog of coarse, knows the correct map reference/post code for your campsite, just incase you need help.
As you are touring and not static like us, you will also have to make sure the car has 50% antifreeze in it, good tyres with plenty of tread fitted. Also you should have it serviced twice yearly idealy one service before winter and one before summer to have oil and coolant etc at optimal performance before hardest use.
Finally. Inform a friend back at home of when your going and when your expected back. Tell them that if your not back on the designated day to inform the police of your no show and the location of your campsite, telephone number and reg of your car.
I know the last bit sounds a bit OTT but if your stuck in the highlands for instance, notifying people in safer town situations makes a good start to an action plan for your rescue.
I sail dinghies on the sea at times and always leave contact details, proposed route, expected return time etc with either the Harbour master or coastguard office for the area. Then on completion of the journey I phone in to say I'm back and all's well. Trust me they respect sensible adventurers and are there for support if needed.
Most of all keep a clear level head and make light of the tasks as even getting water can be a challenge in a blizzard.
Have fun.
ATB Steve L.
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