Message Forums

I would go for it - with a dandy would think you are a lot more insulated.. you can always change as mentioned earlier.. might even get a mild winter this year!!

Let us know how u do 

About 10-12 years ago I lived fulltime in a VW camper (what you can do without responsibilities!), 2 winters in Snowdonia. The first winter temperatures were well below freezing, and I had no heating to start with. Got fed up scraping the ice off the inside windows, measuring my milk in lumps etc, but was always warm in bed.

Make sure you have a good set of longjohns, socks, gloves and hat to sleep in, coupled with a good sleeping bag with duvet and blankets.

I put a small woodburning stove in my van, and have been mulling over the practicalities of putting one into a FC - in our Cardinal hardtop I'd put it where the wardrobe is, and cut a flue hole in the hardtop. You can buy kits to install stove pipes into canvas tents (and asbestos sheet to protect sides), and I've wondered about fitting one to an old canvas folder. Probably a bit extreme for ordinary use, but you can't beat a woodburning stove for warmth and cheer. With decent wood mine used to burn all night.

Assuming you will have EHU, I'd look into electric blankets to pre-warm your beds. I've never used them myself, but would give them a go.

It also depends on your location - are the winters where you are planning to stay generally mild? (like here on Anglesey) or can you expect alot of ice and snow. Coastal areas are usually warmer than inland.

I am also thinking of making a fitted winter 'jacket' for our Cardinal, using a double layer of insulation with a waterproof outer layer, which will fit over the beds, and also possibly roll down over the main unit.

Going stir crazy may be your biggest problem, especially in winter. Going out once or twice a week is OK, but coming back to a freezing camper is sometimes less enjoyable than going out. 

Just a few random thoughts!

Pete

I lived in a mobile home back in the late 80's over winter.

Cold but OK.  It was the year of "THE hurricame" which Micheal Fish said wasn't goinf to happen.