Just because the temperature has dropped, doesn’t mean your caravan adventures have to stop. It just means you need to take extra precautions to prevent any damage and to keep your caravan warm.
Insulate your external water tank
With low temperatures being a guarantee when caravanning in winter, you will need to make sure to insulate your external water tank. To do this, you can use a specially designed insulating jacket that covers the container and connecting pipes. However, if you can also use an old duvet to save money.
Prevent wastewater from freezing
One thing you don’t want is for your wastewater to freeze as this can lead to many issues. To stop this, you just need to add a little anti-freeze to the water. Whatever you do, do not put salt into it as this may cause corrosion.
Insulate against the cold
Whilst most caravans come with double glazing to help retain heat, you may still find yours a little cold. To help make it warm and cosy, you can fix plastic sheeting to the windows or keep the curtains shut to keep the heat in.
If you struggle with cold feet when staying in your caravan, you may benefit from fitting foam matting to the floor to prevent the cold seeping through.
Ventilation
Even though you may think that blocking your vents will help stop a cold draught, it will cause lots of other issues in your caravan. The main one being condensation. Which can lead to mold – something you definitely don’t want in your caravan. Instead of blocking your vents, park you caravan so that your air vents are shielded from the prevailing wind.
Invest in a winter awning or porch
If you regularly go caravanning in winter, you may benefit from investing in a winter awning or porch. Not only do they provide a place to keep your wet and muddy clothes, they also help keep cold air out when you open your caravan door. Whilst you can use an ordinary caravan porch or awning, winter awnings are specially designed to protect you from winter weather conditions. They are made from a thicker material and have heavy duty poles to withstand the cold, wet and windy conditions that are part of winter caravanning.
Pack sensibly
Just like you would pack shorts and t-shirts for a summer holiday, you also need to pack sensibly and appropriately for the weather conditions. That means lots of waterproof coats, wooly jumpers and thick socks – just in case you are cold at night. You should also swap your duvet for one with a higher tog during the winter to keep you warm when the temperature drops.
Swap gases
All caravans use gas to fuel the appliance. If your caravan uses butane gas, you should check to see if your appliances are compatible with propane. Propane gas is more effective in lower temperatures compared to butane. If you are swapping gases, make sure to use the correct regulator.
Don’t leave your step out
As caravans have steps to get into it, it is important you bring it in overnight during the winter. This will help prevent your step icing over and causing injuries. Just remember to put it back out in the morning!
Check your vehicle’s weight
If you have a tourer caravan, you will need to check the weight of your caravan and car before you leave for your winter caravanning adventure. Whilst you may be under the legal limit during the summer months, in the winter you will be taking a lot more things and can easily exceed the legal limit.
Drain the tank after your trip
Once you have finished your caravanning trip, you need to empty the hot water and inboard tanks. This will stop anything left in the tanks from freezing and causing the pipes to burst. When you have emptied the tanks, also make sure to turn the taps in the caravan on to help relieve any pressure built up in the system.
Now that you are all clued up on how to tackle winter caravanning, you can go off and enjoy your adventures in the colder months.
