Winter might be creeping up upon us, but that’s no reason to abandon all thoughts of hitching up the caravan and taking a weekend – or longer – away from home. Caravans these days can be surprisingly cosy and warm, so that you remain snug and well insulated against winter’s chills.
Even so, as you prepare to make the most of milder breaks in the winter weather, a timely tip or two might help ensure that your outings run smoothly, comfortably, and without serious incident.
Open all hours – every day too
- there is a growing number of camping and caravan sites open all the year around – both the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club publish updated lists of those sites – and in these off-season months, you’re likely to find it even more peaceful and relaxing with fewer people around;
Time your arrival
- a fairly obvious reminder from the Caravan and Motorhome Club is how dark – really dark – it gets in the wintertime, so when you’re planning your trip because you’ve allowed plenty of time to arrive early instead of having to fumble around in the pitch black of night;
Get organised
- along a similar theme, organise your evening routines so that, once you’re onsite, you get all the essentials done before it gets dark – will there be enough gas for breakfast in the morning? Are water tanks replenished? Will the toilet need emptying before it gets too dark to see what you’re doing?
Hardy essentials
- even though you’re checking regularly, a cold snap can freeze the available water supplies and you’ll be glad of the emergency reserves of fresh water you’ve stored in a spare water carrier;
Heat …
- as temperatures drop, your thoughts will have turned to ways not just of heating your caravan but of keeping the heat in;
- efficient insulation is the answer, of course, and you can buy exterior cladding that is relatively inexpensive, easy to put up, and will help retain the heat;
- cheaper methods include sealing draughty windows – and anywhere else the wind seems to be blowing through – while leaving the curtains open during the day so that you get the benefit of every last ray of sunshine and close them at night to help prevent the heat from leaving through the windowpanes;
… ventilation
- on no account should you close or block ventilation ports in a misguided attempt to conserve heat;
- the vents are essential for reducing condensation – a particular problem for caravans but even more so when it’s cold outside and you’re trying to keep it warm on the inside;
Gas – butane or propane?
- the overwhelming majority of caravan owners use appliances fuelled by butane gas – mainly because it’s so readily available and typically cheaper than other fuels;
- at lower temperatures, however, propane gas has been shown to burn more efficiently, so you might want to consider switching the type of LPG you use;
- as the Camping and Caravanning Club warn, however, if you are thinking of switching, you will also need to make sure that you have the appropriate gas regulator installed in order to continue to use your appliances;
Pack wise
- when you’re preparing for a winter break, it’s more important than ever that you pack wisely;
- don’t take too much – are you really going to be using that barbeque when there’s ice on the ground – but make sure to take more than enough of things such as warm clothing, coats, scarf, hats, socks, or even a pair of long johns;
- extra blankets will go down well, and you might want to check the tog rating of your duvet – investing in a warmer one if necessary;
Avoid the freeze
- when there’s any chance of freezing weather, one of the last things you’ll want is for your wastewater pipes to freeze up – add some anti-freeze to prevent it (rather than the salt that some of your fellow caravanners might suggest but will contribute to corrosion);
Step it up
- while you have that canister of anti-freeze handy, consider wiping a few drops of the liquid across the metal of your step up into the caravan – it’ll help to prevent the ice from forming and leaving the step dangerous for the unwary early in the morning;
- alternatively, of course, you could always just remember to bring the steps inside at night;
Pack a punch … or two
- you’ll be relying on your battery system to keep the electrics running throughout your winter adventures, so make sure that you leave home with the battery fully charged;
- even so, you might want to pack an extra, standby battery in case the weather worsens, and you become still more reliant on that power source.
Modern caravans tend to be designed for all weathers – so continue to make the most of yours even while the days shorten, and the temperatures begin to fall. The occasional winter outing will provide some much-needed relief and provide a constant reminder of all those warm and sunny days that lie just around the corner come next Spring.