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Subject Topic: Winter caravanning Post Reply Post New Topic
Persontamglasgow
06/9/2021 at 9:22am
 Location: Glasgow
 Outfit: 1997 ABI Dalesman 450CT View tamglasgow's Profile View Profile   Reply to tamglasgow Reply   Quote tamglasgow Quote  
Joined: 14/7/2004

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Hi all,

planning to use van over the winter months so looking for any tips that you have.
E.g What do you use in toilet to stop flush water freezing?

Any comments at all most welcome to help us (Former) fairweather caravanners.


Personmarg6
06/9/2021 at 9:47am
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Joined: 11/8/2016

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never had a problem with that happening and we have been out in -15 degrees, just make sure that your gas is the red bottle (propane) and that you bring in your water pump on a night, fill the kettle before hand and have a bottle of water inside if you dont have an internal tank


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Personbirder99
06/9/2021 at 10:22am
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

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If it is going to be very cold you need to consider the possibility of the waste water tank freezing. Trying to get a very large block of ice out of a wastemaster can be entertaining (more so than trying to put up an awning for the first time). I use a large plastic box with a removable lid that I think was originally an under-bed storage box. When the water freezes it is possible to then tip out a large ice cube.

Keep your heating on all the time to stop internal pipes from freezing - it happens quicker than you realise.

Have a suitable place to put wet or muddy outside shoes and never bring them into the caravan or you will forever be worrying about carpets etc.

Consider under carpet heat mats as they use very little power but they keep your feet nice and cosy.

If it going to be snow weather ensure you keep an airflow under the caravan to enable the ventilation and gas appliances to function safely.

If you have an awing and snow is forecast try dropping the front poles to create a slope that the snow will slide off and also consider a set of winter storm poles.

There are many more other things to take into account but in practice it is down to you thinking about what you need to do before an issue develops.

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


Personsaxo1
06/9/2021 at 11:41am
 Location: None Entered
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We had a Walker Snow and Fun Porch awning with additional roof supports to support the weight of snow. It is rock solid.
saxo1


PersonDaveS1
via mobile 06/9/2021 at 11:57am
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
 Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3 View DaveS1's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaveS1 Reply   Quote DaveS1 Quote  
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If you are anticipating a frozen toilet then I don't think that I would risk sitting on it!
The only things you need worrying about are having propane gas, snow on the awning, keeping ventilation points clear and waste water.
Otherwise just enjoy yourselves.
DaveS1


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PersonFiona W
via mobile 06/9/2021 at 3:41pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
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MH might be different, but we have covers that clip over the 2 fridge vents; in theory they go on when it’s below 10 deg. In practice they go on when we notice the cold draft coming in.
Not a huge choice of sites open over winter.
Towing may be a problem in bad weather but maybe you’re planning on laying up somewhere for several weeks. I can’t recommend going too far north except to a city - even here in Ayrshire, in the depths of winter, it’s not light until 10 am & goes dark after 3 pm: it’s a short day if you want to go walking, for example, but ok for museums or winter light displays like Edinburgh Botanics has.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 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.


Personnavver
06/9/2021 at 7:36pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
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Aquaroll might be a problem frozen. You can get an insulated jacket for it. Also get some pipe lagging to slide over the pump hose.

Alternatively buy a jerrycan with tap and keep indoors.


Personiank01
07/9/2021 at 8:50am
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser View iank01's Profile View Profile   Reply to iank01 Reply   Quote iank01 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by tamglasgow on 06/9/2021
Hi all,

planning to use van over the winter months so looking for any tips that you have.
E.g What do you use in toilet to stop flush water freezing?

Any comments at all most welcome to help us (Former) fairweather caravanners.


We lived in our caravan through two bad winters. No need to worry about flush water as heat in caravan will keep water liquid however when putting back into storage make doubly sure flush tank is drained, how water boiler drained and all water removed from caravan.
In addition to some excellent suggestions in previous posts. Remove the filter as this will hold water, freeze and then crack. We have never had a filter in our caravan for the past 16 years.   The first you know about it is when caravan floods on your next outing.   
Insulate aquaroll and pump as very important. We had the water in the waste master freeze solid so empty it at night or do as we did and add a bit of toilet blue as for some reason that stops it freezing. We found that less than 1/2 cup was sufficient to stop it freezing.
Be prepared to continue your stay beyond your booked time if you have a heavy snowfall and be prepared to leave the caravan on site until snow clears. Twice that has happened to us.
One year coming back from a CL no snow anywhere and I hit black ice and the 4x4 went into a skid whiplashing the caravan, the 4x4 regained traction, but caravan still on black ice jerking 4x4 around. Caravan rear end caught a branch on a tree scratching rear end.
Christmas in the caravan on a site is really great and you will find that the site is probably full to the brim with most people displaying lights and even Christmas trees outside their caravan. We use a small porch awning in the winter as easier to dry than our Magnum awning and we have the Xmas tree up on a table. Wed are away on a CL for this Christmas, but we check the weather first for snow as that can create problems. otherwise enjoy your winter caravanning.
BTW the suggestion for the under carpet heating is probably one of the best suggestions as heat rises to keep you nice and warm.


PersonSupatramp
via mobile 13/9/2021 at 7:18am
 Location: Ayrshire Scotland
 Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645 View Supatramp's Profile View Profile   Reply to Supatramp Reply   Quote Supatramp Quote  
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Tam, we spent 10 Christmas's and New Years on the trot at the Glenmore site when it was owned by the Forestry Commission.
It was great fun and even back then, the site was busy. You'll have the heating on 24/7 so no problems keeping the loo liquid fluid.
I have a pic from back then, showing a huge white mound beside the caravan, it was the car completely covered in snow. Great memories!

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David.


I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!


PersonChalkie0456
13/9/2021 at 4:34pm
 Location: Staffs
 Outfit: Elddis View Chalkie0456's Profile View Profile   Reply to Chalkie0456 Reply   Quote Chalkie0456 Quote  
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How about a fish tank heater popped in the aquaroll and insulate the pump and tank.


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if your car could travel at the speed of light and you turned on your lights what would happen?


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PersonHairywol
06/1/2022 at 1:38pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5 View Hairywol's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hairywol Reply   Quote Hairywol Quote  
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We camp throughout the year and have had no major problems - part from being snowed-in on sites a couple of times.

Keep the van warm and you should be ok.


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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.



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