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Topic: Using the Van through the winter months

Candly

23/11/2015 at 2:23pm
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Hi all,

We took delivery of our lovely new van, a Bessacarr 496, in September. We love it and have been away at least every other weekend plus a full week since we got her. Our question is what do people do during the winter, when they are still regularly using their motorhome?

This weekend has been well below zero and so we drained the tanks and left the heating on low in the van, but we didn't do the full 'winterisation' drain down which would have included draining the pump, as we will be out in her again this Friday for the weekend. But should we have drained her properly?

Our van has a frost protection button which appears to heat the water tanks if the temperature drops to danger levels. But am I right in thinking this would not protect the pipes all linked to the tanks?

Sorry if this seems really basic, but all the info I have read seems to be aimed at those who pack the van up snuggly for the winter months, not those like us who will be using the van every couple of weeks? The van is on our drive so we can always nip out and turn the heating on when frost threatens.

Thanks for any help.
Candly

feeblecat

23/11/2015 at 6:18pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara)

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When we had our campervan we used it over the weekend. We were away in minus 10 at one point. We fully drained the system at the end of the "season" and worked with containers (large bottles) of water and used kettle for heating it if we wanted hot water when camping in extreme cold. Dont know if that was a normal way to work things. But then again we're not normal lol.

Edited to say winter, not weekend!

Post last edited on 23/11/2015 18:25:42

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Fiona W

23/11/2015 at 6:22pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs

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I've read something about the gas you must get for sub zero conditions - our Gaz stopped working one very cold night, no hot breakfast next day. Someone here will know the details.

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feeblecat

23/11/2015 at 6:26pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara)

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/11/2015
I've read something about the gas you must get for sub zero conditions - our Gaz stopped working one very cold night, no hot breakfast next day. Someone here will know the details.

Orange gas bottle for low temps not blue.

David Klyne

23/11/2015 at 8:16pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome

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WE still hop to go away again in December but immediately we return from our November trip I drained down the water and emtied the water tank plus the toilet header tank. All this is easy enough to reverse when we want to go away again.

David

Hacksaw Bob

23/11/2015 at 8:55pm
Location: West Midlands
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Quote: Originally posted by feeblecat on 23/11/2015
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/11/2015I've read something about the gas you must get for sub zero conditions - our Gaz stopped working one very cold night, no hot breakfast next day. Someone here will know the details.

Orange gas bottle for low temps not blue.

Yes, propane (in a red/orange cylinder, or may just have a red "collar") but check the space in your gas locker first - the smallest Calor or Flogas group ones (3.9kg) are wider and taller than a Campingaz R 907.

Capt Lightning

24/11/2015 at 9:25am
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens

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Candly, I assume you've got the van permenantly hooked up at home to run the heater. I would expect that would be enough to keep the internal temp above freezing and protect the pipes.

We down-sized to a Romahome R30 and this is small and economical enough to use as a large car. We use it for our fortnightly shopping trips and if the weather is good enough, as a 'picnic wagon'. This keeps the van in good running order and the batteries fully charged.
I've just drained down the water and if I need any, I'll just take a fresh container with me.

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Candly

24/11/2015 at 12:43pm
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Thank you all so much for the advice. Yes the van has been on hook up at home and keeping at a low temperature. It looks like the frost may have passed for a while, so I may turn it off again.

We have gasit lpg cylinders fitted so other than keeping them topped up (which I believe helps) I guess we will just have to run on electric if they get too cold.

I think I will follow David's lead and drain it down completely after this weekend away. Thank you again.

pepe63

27/11/2015 at 1:13pm
Location: Shropshire
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Hi Candy..

We used to use our MHs throughout the winter, and similar as others have said, we'd just leave it fully drained down and use containers/plastic bottles...

Be aware that, if you are going to use the water system during cold spells, some boiler drain valves will auto-dump their contents if/when the *temp' drops...it's a frost protection "feature" (..something like 3 degrees C..but needs to be up to 8 degrees to reset?).

With our last van, I used retain the valve plunger up with an "R" clip...some reportedly use a clothes peg. (our previous van(s) just had the manual , yellow tap).

JTQU

27/11/2015 at 2:02pm
Location: Hampshire
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/11/2015
I've read something about the gas you must get for sub zero conditions - our Gaz stopped working one very cold night, no hot breakfast next day. Someone here will know the details.

If using Propane, the stuff usually in red/orange bottles you will not have gassing off issues. If using Butane, usually in blue to greeny grey bottles you will have all sorts of issues with it not gassing off. This becomes an issue with ambient temps below 6 C where large demands are placed on it like keeping warm.

Camping GAZ is butane so no use at all in winter unless you cuddle the bottle to get heat into it.

pallett

01/12/2015 at 5:27pm
Location: Warwickshire
Outfit: Hymer TSL 668

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Has it got the new Truma electronic heating control?

Candly

02/12/2015 at 1:04pm
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Hi Pallett, yes it has. Does that make a difference?

pallett

02/12/2015 at 1:32pm
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It does mean that you can set it very low so that it does not dump water at 4 degrees, we are experimenting at the moment with not draining down and having the heat set at 4/5 degrees all the time to see how much gas it uses. We are lucky with our Hymer as it is double floored so all the pipes are inside, so check round where your pipes run and if they are inside you can set the night temperature at what ever you wish and use everything as though it is summer. We use our van every month summer and winter and would not dream of not having full facilities working. BUT empty the waste tank as that is always under the van and will freeze up in low temperatures.

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