Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Contact Us

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Motorhomes and Campervans 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Storing MH at home Post Reply Post New Topic
Personloulee
via mobile 28/9/2024 at 8:47am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift View loulee's Profile View Profile   Reply to loulee Reply   Quote loulee Quote  
Joined: 09/2/2014

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   122
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Hi
I see plenty of MHs on people's drives with the orange electric cable plugged in.
We are thinking of doing this over the colder months.
Is it advisable to just plug in an oil filled radiator or to use the Truma on board heater.
Any advice is much appreciated

Thanks 😊

-------------
Thank you and happy Van


PersonFiona W
via mobile 28/9/2024 at 10:41am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5072
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 232
Site Reviews 2024: 16 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 34
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30
We plug in a day or two before every trip to get the fridge cold, with heating off. We use the Truma heater in winter (as in frost, snow) because we can set the thermostat to something like 10 deg: more controllable than the oil filled radiator & the blown air gets further than the radiated heat. Your water will be drained for winter so make sure you don’t put the water heater on at the same time. And you’ll notice your house electric bill goes up.
We also struggle to keep the storm door letterbox draught proof, with the cable coming through: our socket in the lobby is an RCD one because we also plug in an electric lawn mower.

-------------
2024 = 18 sites / 38 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


Campervan and Motorhome Insurance - Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members
Caravan Guard Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members on Campervan and Motorhome Insurance. Get 5 star rated cover and big savings - for a quote simply click Online Quotation

Personloulee
via mobile 28/9/2024 at 11:41am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift View loulee's Profile View Profile   Reply to loulee Reply   Quote loulee Quote  
Joined: 09/2/2014

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   122
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thank you for this. The only thing is I have read somewhere that truma don't recommend the heater to be on permanent for hours and hours. I think.it said something like 5000hours max at a time. I can't find the place where I read it now....

-------------
Thank you and happy Van


PersonDavid Klyne
28/9/2024 at 9:19pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome View David Klyne's Profile View Profile   Reply to David Klyne Reply   Quote David Klyne Quote  
Joined: 13/2/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9593
Site Reviews Total: 257
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 6  
Site Reviews 2022: 15 
Site Reviews 2021: 7  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 16 
Site Reviews 2018: 15 
Site Nights 2024: 3
Site Nights 2023: 22
Site Nights 2022: 62
Site Nights 2021: 33
Site Nights 2020: 4
Site Nights 2019: 56
Site Nights 2018: 15
We were able to store our motorhome in the back garden and it was connected to the mains via the garage lights. It wasn't on 24/7, only when I flicked the switch to the garage around dusk. It was mainly connected to make sure both batteries where charged. Unfortunately heating the van, even if infrequently, is expensive these days so latterly we didn't bother. I suspect the point made by Truma is because their electric heating elements tend to go and they are pretty expensive to replace, hence the suggesting/instruction not to run them all the time?

David


Personbirdman101
via mobile 29/9/2024 at 7:57am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2655
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
I have never seen why people worry about heat. They don’t heat their cars that stand outside and very few use a garage nowadays. Have now had caravans for nearly 53 years and never put heat in any of them over Winters, and never suffered and problems. Just stand seats up on edge to let the air circulate around them.

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


Advertisement



PersonLukeledge
via mobile 29/9/2024 at 9:41am
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Adria Compact 590SP View Lukeledge's Profile View Profile   Reply to Lukeledge Reply   Quote Lukeledge Quote  
Joined: 01/1/2012

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   444
Site Reviews Total: 41
Site Reviews 2024: 4  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 8  
Site Reviews 2020: 3  
Site Reviews 2019: 7  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 21
Site Nights 2022: 16
Site Nights 2021: 24
Site Nights 2020: 8
Site Nights 2019: 11
Site Nights 2018: 1
I leave ours on hook up with a little oil filled radiator inside, set to lowest setting just to prevent it going below freezing inside. Also keeps the batteries topped up.


PersonFiona W
via mobile 29/9/2024 at 10:29am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5072
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 232
Site Reviews 2024: 16 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 34
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30
Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 29/9/2024
I have never seen why people worry about heat. They don’t heat their cars that stand outside and very few use a garage nowadays.


Cars get driven most days, with the heating on (some have heated seats) & topping up the battery. Our MH doesn’t get driven much over winter: supposed to drive it so the tyres aren’t always resting on the same spot…

-------------
2024 = 18 sites / 38 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonPaul_B
29/9/2024 at 2:02pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan View Paul_B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul_B Reply   Quote Paul_B Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   808
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
My caravan is also plugged in, not to heat it or anything, but to keep the battery topped up, 100w of solar doesn't do much when the days are short, the suns low and its cloudy


Persondk168
29/9/2024 at 4:49pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
Joined: 19/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9577
Tent Reviews:   6
Site Reviews Total: 56
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 9  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 9  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 45
Site Nights 2023: 47
Site Nights 2022: 46
Site Nights 2021: 34
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
For the first winter, I put the Webasto heater on as low as possible and found it still used up the diesel in no time.

I then discovered there is a over-winter setting on the roof-mounted air con unit that comes on when the interior temperature drops below 10degC and have been using that ever since.

The van is hooked up to the mains all the time when it is parked outside my house behind the gates.

There is a switch inside to toggle between the van's leisure batteries and the car battery.

I was advised by the company that carried out the customer conversion on my van to keep the switch on "Van" to keep the leisure batteries charged, and flick it to "Car" every two weeks or so for a few hours to top up the car's battery.

I have a repeated task reminder on my mobile phone to remind me to flick this switch every 2 weeks.

After the very last trip over the New Year weekend, I would empty the fridge and turn it off until it is time to go out again at Easter.

Can't comment on the electricity usage, sorry! I have a smart meter and pay by monthly direct debit.

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Motorhomes and Campervans - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

8017 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement

Advertisement



Advertisement