Caravaning during winter
Hello
I'm new to the caravan world, and we'd like to spend Christmas in the caravan, and also to keep using it during winter.
My main concenr is about the water. I've read somewhere that a plastic bubble wrap would be enough to isolate the external water tank, is it corect? Are there any other advices regarding water, or in general related to the caravaning in winter times?
Thanks!
Alejandro
Comments
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I think all modern c/vans are more than capable of being used in most UK winters,without problems ,as for the water supply it is normally the inlet pipe from the water barrel that could freeze,,the one thing that is quite important is to use Propane (Red
cylinders)as butane (Blue) will not gas at low temps0 -
Thanks JVB66.
As for the gas, incidentally I was reccomended to use propane for some reason that I could not remember, but I decided to follow the advice. Now I remember why I was gioven this advice, and it was exactly for what you've explained.
Thanks again!
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Insulated jackets are available for Aquarolls - as is low power heating wire for use on staging in greenhouses. You can also fit that on a permanent basis to waste pipes if there is a tendance for them not to drain fully.
When blown air heating was first introduced some manufacturers got around the problem of routing the duct by running part of it below the floor. In cold weather only cold air ever came out the far end!!
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I added additional insulation to my pipe run by making a lightweight ply box lined with 1" polystyrene.
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Its water out that can catch you out.
Don't use a wastemaster. If that freezes you have had it, use a bucket that will make a big iced lolly that you can empty easily.
Put something UNDER the aquroll as cold is passed from the ground upwards and a hat or something on top because in air water freezes from the top down. You are unlikley to need the entire aquaroll covering. The pump hose as has been mentioned can be brought in at night.
A 5 lit container for water inside and happy days.
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I have a bucket with a rounded base that makes it easy to empty if frozen. Also shallow enough. Only take it if weather really cold. We have been a way with temeratures down to -14C at night and freezing in the day - lovely blue sunny skies though. If you
do use a waste master then don't have the waste pipe running down into the well at the top. I made that mistake in such weather. The small reservoir in the top is more prone to freezing. Waste water then stays in the pipe trapped by ice and freezes up. Better
to ensure the pipe is above the wastemaster rather than in it. I also have some typical domestic pipe insulation tube to put around the inlet pipe into the caravan. When it was really cold I plased a block of polystyrene under the aquaroll and zipped an old
works jacket around it with the pipe running through the sleeve. At -14 I brought he aquaroll into the awning at night and used a 4 pint bottle for brews. One chap did have an aquaroll freeze. He put it in the washing room for a couple of days to thaw. I don't
use an awning nowadays and so if it was that severe at night I would personally half fill the aquaroll on arrival and put what was left inside the car overnight before bedtime.0 -
I have an old fleece jacket for the aquaroll with one arm tucked in and the other for the water pipe - which I take in if really cold and an old waterproof jacket over the fleece. A polystyrene block for under both aquaroll and wastemaster. I have once
ruined the water pipe by trying to use it in an almost empty aquaroll that had thin ice at the bottom - expensive mistake! So far haven't felt I needed the bucket instead of wastemaster but I have one with me.Be sure to have something safe for the caravan step too - perhaps a little salt if on hardstanding - my step is covered by a fiamma "grass type" thing which hopefully is less slippery than the metal steps underneath.
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I have an old fleece jacket for the aquaroll with one arm tucked in and the other for the water pipe - which I take in if really cold and an old waterproof jacket over the fleece. A polystyrene block for under both aquaroll and wastemaster.
I have once ruined the water pipe by trying to use it in an almost empty aquaroll that had thin ice at the bottom - expensive mistake! So far haven't felt I needed the bucket instead of wastemaster but I have one with me.Be sure to have something safe for the caravan step too - perhaps a little salt if on hardstanding - my step is covered by a fiamma "grass type" thing which hopefully is less slippery than the metal steps underneath.
I have the same for when it's really cold, but I've a couple of insulated covers that fit over my aquarolls and then protect them from the wet/snow with empty plastic dog-food bags which fit over them. However I do take the inlet assembly into the van last
thing at night if I think it's going to be very cold.0 -
I have only taken the caravan away in winter once. It was several years ago and we visited our daughter on her farm near Edinburg. It was probably the coldest year for quite a time. -15 at night and below freezing all day, everyday. As we drove north, everything was covered in a haor frost and had to defrost the water pump in the van on arrival using a hairdryer! We were as warm as bugs in a rug though as, in the days before Safefill, we took a large 19 kg Calor cylinder and just stood in outside the locker and used a longer tail to connect it. The aquaroll was brought in at night after having to defrost it one morning! Now of course, internal tanks are useful. You learn very quickly when winter caravanning! I certainly intend to start again when time permits.
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I wonder why more caravans dont have their fresh water tank inboard? seems a daft place to leave a water reservoir outside in the cold when it could be inside the heated structure of the van as in a MH.
I realise that some MH do have an underslung (and often , not insulated fresh tank) but most of those that i would real,y class as 'fully winterised' will have an inboard tank.
obviously tavelling with water might not be desirable (easily got round) but, on site, better or not really....?
again, imrealise this doesnt take care of the waste issue as caravans wont be wheeled round to the sefvice dump point for emptying, but on the fresh side, isnt inside better?
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I wonder why more caravans dont have their fresh water tank inboard? seems a daft place to leave a water reservoir outside in the cold when it could be inside the heated structure of the van as in a MH.
I realise that some MH do have an underslung (and often , not insulated fresh tank) but most of those that i would real,y class as 'fully winterised' will have an inboard tank.
obviously tavelling with water might not be desirable (easily got round) but, on site, better or not really....?
again, imrealise this doesnt take care of the waste issue as caravans wont be wheeled round to the sefvice dump point for emptying, but on the fresh side, isnt inside better?
How do you fill the onboard tank ? - from an external tank presumably i.e just duplication - more weight - more cost - more complicated - takes up space in the van. Stopping an Aquaroll freezing in the winter is really not that difficult. One of these around the aquaroll and feed pipe works really well.
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been caravanning down to -11 and not had my aquaroll freeze, just make sure its raised off the floor and then have an old fleece jacket round it using the sleeve for the filler pipe. Waste is taken care of with a drop of bio degradable antifreeze. Used to
have van with onboard tank but you still have to have the facilities to fill it so not much point really.0 -
One of
these around the aquaroll and feed pipe works really well.Unless you are off grid in which case wrap it up well and hope for the best.
Do many people really go off-grid in severe sub-zero temps ? I suspect not.
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In the 60s and 70s we had a winter dauerplatz (permanent winter only pitch) in the Hartz mountains in Germany.
The biggest secret was to store the water container and waste container under the caravan.....with modern Aqarolls this isn't easy!
In very low temperatures the fresh water feed pipe was removed at night and a small supply was kept inside.
We never seemed to have any problems at all....although it does seem that people today are beset with far more problems!
Taste it and see and enjoy yourself
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Why wouldn't you go off grid just cos its winter? It certainly won't stop me keeping snug with gas heating.
I sure it's fine if you like sitting the dark and don't bother with a tv but if that's not the case unless you have a massive solar panel your battery wont last long.
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I am a romantic - and go for candles VERY carefully placed and normally floating ones or nightlights - also I know how good for my brain and relaxation candlelight is. Its good to have a rest from TV but mine seems to use very little.
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One of
these around the aquaroll and feed pipe works really well.Unless you are off grid in which case wrap it up well and hope for the best.
Do many people really go off-grid in severe sub-zero temps ? I suspect not.
We do.
and for the record we don't sit in the dark do watch tv if we want to. Got a solar panel sure must weigh about the same a hook up cable.
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For more than a decade you have been able to buy a padded aquaroll cover, with an insulated pad to sit on, inclusive of an insulated inlet hose sleeve. I'm surprised at the number of people advocating old jackets, bubble wrap, moving barrels etc when for
£33 you can buy a well made insulating jacket. Try bags4 everything as a start to your search.0 -
However in the last 12 years I would have used it once.
Write your comments here...
Are you advising the OP that because you have only used your caravan in sub zero temperatures once in 12 years, that they don't need insulation? I'm not sure how your point is relevant to their enquiry. Perhaps you could explain further so that we can all
learn.0 -
Jennyc, I think easyT's point was that £33 is a lot of money for an item he would have used just once in 12 years. Personally, when we have caravanned in the snow I found that a double skin of bubble wrap & a bungee was ok for the aquaroll & a couple of
layers wrapped round the inlet pipe & secured with gaffer tape worked exceedingly well.0 -
I just put a "hat" on the aquaroll, something like wood level ramp underneath and bring the pump in at night.
It's got to be sustained sub zero conditions to need more than this.
Write your comments here...
Interestingly, we too have only occasionally enjoyed sub zero temperatures while Caravanning in winter, so a folded tarpaulin laid on top is all that we have ever used. On the other hand if I was planning to spend an important period like Christmas in the
van, with unknown weather, I don't think that £33 would be a lot to pay for extra security.0
