It’s crucial to get your campervan ready for winter or year-round use. You must guard important components against harm. As the days become shorter and the temperature drops, you must ensure your van won’t freeze.
The professionals at Highland Vans have given tips on winter van life. We provide information and advice on how to take care of your van during the winter. This article will discuss why, when, and how to winter your van.
Why Do You Have to Winterize Your Camper Van?
Getting your campervan ready for the cold is extremely important if you’re going to a location where it’s chilly. If you own a campervan, you definitely should do this when it gets cold. It keeps your vehicle safe; the big thing about getting your campervan winter-ready is to stop everything inside from getting frozen. If you don’t, you could end up with caught water pipes, shaky fittings, wrecked filters, and other detrimental items in your van’s water setup. Also, if you want your batteries to last longer, it’s key to keep them fully charged. Batteries can get ruined by really hot or really cold weather, no matter what type they are.
10 Tips to Stay Warm and Enjoy Your Winter Van Life
Getting your campervan ready for winter takes good thinking to make sure you’re both comfy and safe. Look at these 10 tips to prep your van for the cold times.
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Proper Insulation
The secret to keeping the interior of your campervan warm is proper insulation. Use high-grade insulation materials, such as foam boards or Havelock wool, to insulate the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. Remember that windows and doors are familiar places for heat loss, so insulate them as well. Thermal curtains and weather stripping are additional useful tools for reducing heat loss. Insulation is significant in winterizing your campervan and keeping warm if you’re just starting with your project.
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Heating System
Having a heater in a van is really important if you want to stay warm during the cold part of the year. If you don’t have one, the cold can be pretty rough to deal with. With a heater, you can relax, sleep well, and have a good time on the road.
Keeping the inside of the van from freezing shields you from possible diseases, including frostbite and hypothermia. It also improves your experience by creating a warm atmosphere, making cooking comfortable, and offering protection from harsh weather. A heater, whether an integrated system or a portable one, is crucial to the safety and enjoyment of your winter van travels.
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Block Windows
If your van has windows, insulate them. You also get the added benefit of having curious eyes. If you’ve looked into ways to keep windows warm, you’ve likely come across reflectix. It’s the most popular way to keep heat from escaping through camper windows.
Flexible reflective insulation called reflectix performs better in windows than on your van’s walls. The reflectix on your windows will reflect heat into your van rather than having it disappear if it is heated.
You should remove reflectix from all of your windows, including the front windscreen. You may rarely use it in the summer because the van is warm enough without it.
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Ventilation
Your camper needs enough air flowing through even when you’re not using it so it doesn’t become damp and gross with mold and that abnormal mildew. Crack open vents so the fresh air can come in. Inside, you might want to throw in a portion of those things that suck up water from the air or maybe even a machine that dries out the air to stop any damp issues from happening.
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Plumbing
Keeping the inside of the RV warm is really important to protect the pipes. You must make sure it stays cozy inside so the air doesn’t get so cold that it freezes. This means you might have to turn on the heat more often, but you have to do it so the cold doesn’t destroy things with the plumbing.
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Moisture Control
When you’re getting your campervan ready for winter, managing water in the air is extremely important. When it’s cold outside, there’s a higher chance that your van will become foggy inside, which can bring items such as mold and funky smells because everything feels rather wet.
To keep the interior dry, use a compact dehumidifier or moisture absorber. Also, make sure your campervan has enough airflow, and if you don’t currently have any, consider adding vents or roof fans.
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Keep Your Battery Charged
Winter conditions are harsh on batteries, draining their life and making them unusable. When your camper van is not in use, keep the battery plugged in as often as possible. Long-term exposure to cold temperatures can quickly harm additional batteries. A fully charged battery is a healthy battery.
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Upgrade Your Tires
Winter or all-weather tires significantly increase traction on plowed or icy roads. When purchasing our camper van, you can choose to update the tires, or you can replace them as winter draws near. You can add weight to the back of your camper van conversion to help with stability throughout the winter.
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Clean Solar Panels
If your campervan has solar panels, ensure they are clear of snow and ice and kept clean for optimal performance. Making the most of light exposure is crucial because the sun’s reduced angle during the winter may reduce solar power generation. To prevent damage to the panels, do not chip away at any ice buildup or clean them with hot water due to the temperature differential.
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Keep Water Tank Inside
You should have used your fresh water tank under one of your benches. It is a good idea to store all or part of your freshwater supply within your insulated van. Tanks outside will freeze. You should be fine if you routinely empty our outside grey tank. As we carefully discovered, when you travel into the Arctic, you should not leave it full since, when it freezes, that is one large ice cube that won’t melt anytime soon.
FAQ
When Do You Need to Worry About Winterizing Your Campervan?
Where you live mostly decides when you need to get your campervan ready for cold weather; the parts of your van that deal with water, like your taps, shower, pipes, filters, and water pump, can freeze if it gets colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s safe to assume that, in many parts of the United States, you should begin winterizing your campervan as soon as October arrives, far before the first cold. Winterizing should start when you detect chilly nights if you reside in a region with early or erratic cold spells. The last thing you want is to discover that your campervan’s water system has broken due to a sudden dip in temperature.
How Much Does Winterizing Your Camper Cost?
Winterizing your camper can cost different amounts depending on what items you need or if you decide to do it on your own or get someone to do it for you. If you handle it yourself, you might spend around $50 to $100 for basic things and a lot more if you have to repair the heater or put in better insulation. Paying a pro to winterize your camper could be pricier, especially if their work is really tricky.
Can You Handle Driving in the Snow?
You must be prepped for surprises while driving in winter. Watch the roads before things get messy; take it easy on the gas, and don’t slam the brakes. Hang back from other cars, so there’s plenty of room. If you can’t see much, pull over. Doing these things means you drive safer and crash less. When it gets really bad, look out for signs warning you and slap chains on your tires for better grip; this way, you’ll be driving safely and without risks during wintertime.
Conclusion
Highland Vans invites you to look at an amazing trip where spectacular adventures and safe, cozy spots combine in the world of winter van living. We’re really into making vans into amazing homes and get even more into it when it’s frosty and snowy outside.
Ready to live out your “van life” dream? Look at Highland Vans. We’ve got you covered on cold nights to keep you cozy, and each morning, you’ll wake up to amazing new adventures. Highland Van engineered a special winterization manifold into our plumbing systems that allows for a quick and easy way to drain and flush the system. Get psyched for the thrill of the open road and the spectacular, peaceful winter tenor. Come with us and make memories that’ll remain long after winter. Your van life experience is around the corner.
