Winter - do you tour or store?

RowenaBCAMC
RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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edited November 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hi everyone,

It's well and truly winter with Christmas just round the corner and temperatures falling. 

So, are you planning on touring this winter or storing your caravan? Is your touring season over or is the adventure continuing? 

We have advice on storing your caravan on our website or have a look at our Club Sites that are open all year or browse the CL pages to find a CL site open over the winter months. Alternatively how about a trip overseas to seek warmer climes? 

If you have any holidays in your caravan and motorhome planned, where are you going and what will you be up to? What would your top 3 tips and advice be for other members considering touring this winter? 

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Comments

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #2

    We will be touring this winter all being well. We did last January and really enjoyed it as there was very little need to book ahead.

    My tips would be 

    1. If its freezing take precautions with waste and fresh water.

    2. Carry a small fan heater or radiator with you just in case  you have a problem with the van heating.

    3. Enjoy, its a lovely time of year to be out and about.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #3

    We use ours all year round, we will be away over the New Year and again in February 

    tips would be 

    1. Listen to the local weather forecast 

    2. Take a good torch 

    3. Take the time to look at the sky, (at night) and try and name some constellations 

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2017 #4
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  • ggregu
    ggregu Forum Participant Posts: 214
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    edited November 2017 #5

    Away in Cotswolds (CL at Bibury) over New Year. Really looking forward to it! New van due in Feb so a week away at half term either in the current van or testing out the new one.

    I love the cold frosty weather but am happy with whatever!

    Gill

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited November 2017 #6

    snap!.....just cancelled NY at Hillhead in lieu of Greenacres....surprised there was any room, having been there before...

    tomorrow, off to Dulverton for the 'by Starlight' event in lieu of our usual trip to Dunster.

    so, yes we do 'van' in winter, we really enjoy it.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited November 2017 #7

    Just back. Next week looks reasonable so off on Sunday. Just look at weather forecasts and aim for say 3 days away.Cant really go wrong. Why put away an asset that has cost you tens of thousands. Necessar ry - Hard standing and EHU which limits a number of Cls but CC sites and commercials out there,many with excellent offers away from Xmas/New Year weeks.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #8

    We have the van on the drive, so easy to use, but we prefer to holiday when it is a bit warmer.

    November-February for us is the time for family and DIY things in our house and theirs.

    March - June we are usually away, July/August we tend the garden and do outside stuff on the house, then we head off again in September/October.

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited November 2017 #9

    We tour all year and always have done since buying our first MH 26 years ago. We will be away over new year for 7 days of geocaching around Huntingdon with like minded folk from Yorkshire and Northumberland. We are also hosting a mid week event in a nearby pub so will get to meet some of the local cachers too.
    Agree with TGs tips plus make sure you have plenty of gas in case the site electrics trip out due to demand.

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited November 2017 #10

    Store, October to April. With short days/long evenings one can only spend so long walking the coastal paths, bird watching, browsing museums, or stately home gift shops, or dallying over meals in restos. I don't bother with T.V. I could read but I can do that in my warm comfortable home and have family and friends nearby with whom I socialise. I never feel the need to 'get away' from my Downland village.

    I'm also of an athletic build (some might say skinny) and I don't do cold very well unlike those having a generous covering of insulating fat, but indulge in my winter hobbies/interests/house and garden stuff, plus various trips to warm climes. What's not to like?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2017 #11

    We use our c/van most months we are at Ferry Meadows and Seacroft(for New Year) then Sandringham and Ferry meadows(twice) again in January, nothing booked for Feb yet.

    Make sure you are useing Propane gas

    Watch weather forecasts for frosts and take pump inside,

    Keep about five litrs of water inside 

    And carry Fan heater in case of van heater failure

    A couple of torches,

    a cover for car windsreen

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
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    edited November 2017 #12

    First time for us to be away for the New Year.  Going to Pembrey CM&C Club Site.  Really looking forward to it.  We don't have propane gas only the blue one.  Just hoping it's not going to freeze.  Will a coat wrapped around the gas help?

    Lynne

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2017 #13

    I strongly suggest you get some propane, as butane will not gas  when it gets cold, it does not need to be a frost,

    ps we use propane all year 

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
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    edited November 2017 #14

    JVB thanks for the response will go to Brisco, that are just down the road to sort it out.

    lynne

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #15

    Remember to put the vent covers on your fridge, just put ours on today. Will be off to Exmoor House late December barring floods or heavy snow. smile

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #16

    I have never stored a caravan or a motorhome in the winter months but used them all year round.

    My top tip for motorhome owners, buy a good quality, Taylor Made or Silver Screen, external thermal screen to cover the front cab windows and close all cab vents when parked up.

    peedee.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited November 2017 #17

    Can’t see the point of caravanning or motorhoming in bad or cold weather. I’m afraid we get on an airplane and go somewhere hot in the winter. The Motorhome is kept on a smallholding about 20 minutes away and gets checked once a month or so from October to April.

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
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    edited November 2017 #18

    Off in the morning

    4 nights Burrs Country Park then 4 nights at Castleton

    Tips:

    If you haven't been away in winter then try it.

    Take a slow cooker. This is the time of year for warming beef stews

    Turn the heating on on arrival and go to the pub whilst the van warms up.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #19

    Our van has just been put to bed till mid February when it'll be out for a service and then up and running again from the start of March. Luckily for us, we've got an alternative bolt hole so we'll still be away almost as much as at home! smile

    When we were both working though we'd go away all year round, so top tips are to take plenty of extra warm clothing and blankets, especially if no (or limited) EHU is available and, if like us you want to be out walking, the best, largest scale OS map you can get your hands on - nothing worse than  being stranded miles from the nearest pub when it's getting cold and dark. wink

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #20

    I'm not a winter caravanner and if I owned a motorhome it would be no different. My three tips would be

    • Stay at home
    • Stay at home
    • Stay at home

     

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited November 2017 #21

    We still use our caravan during the winter, although not as much as during the summer. Off to Ferry Meadows next week for a few days, and hope to get away in January too.  We always enjoy our winter breaks. 

    Take lots of warm clothes,  we always keep a pair of wellies  in the van too, just in case! laughing

     

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #22

    We're all-year-round caravanners. All ready for the off next week till some time in the middle of January, hopefully, using mainly CLs and one commercial site. Travelling through Yorkshire Dales to York, then to the Humber for X-mas and to Old Brampton for the New Year. It will depend on the weather after that where we head. 

    BB pass on our seasons greeting to Alan at Greenacres, please.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #23

    We're hoping to get out on Sunday for a few days.  Possibly to Broadway.  Then It'll be after Christmas when we get out.

    David 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #24

    We go to North Norfolk (CLs) for a long weekend each month of the winter although I sometimes do a solo trip or two for wildlife watching.  Our first touring trip will probably start on 2 January for 10 days or so.

  • brightstar2
    brightstar2 Forum Participant Posts: 128
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    edited November 2017 #25

    Just back from Moreton in Marsh this week ( Christmas Market - lights switch on - carol singing etc - good food - good beer)

    Will he at Chapel Lane Wythall for New Year - then may give van a break for few weeks.

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
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    edited November 2017 #26

    Recommendation to change to propane seconded - I've had the blue stuff failing to work on a camping stove in quite moderate weather before now. Cuddling it for a while got it going, but seriously chilled me!

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
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    edited November 2017 #27

    Just had a long weekend at Chatsworth for the Christmas market but the run up to Christmas is a bit too busy with concerts, work and church activities so nothing else before Christmas. January is our stay at home month but we've a long weekend in February and a week in March and, on frenzy day, we'll be booking for next year.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,862 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #28

    We are away soon to Chatsworth and probably will be it until February/March. Try and fit in all the regular appointments like eye,teeth and regular check ups in January. But you never know if the opportunity arises. It would help if a few more sites were open until Christmas, it would be lovely to visit Blenheim Palace for their Christmas event but Bladon Chains closed on 6th November!!!

    David

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #29

    Well, the snow has certainly arrived in East Yorkshire this morning - although it never lasts very long near the coast.  Once again, off to one of our favourite CLs at Flamborough for Christmas/ New Year.  Walk on Brid beach on Christmas morning - see the sword dancing outside one of the pubs on Boxing Day and we might make the Viking Festival on New Year's Eve.  Lots to do and see and a lovely time to be away. Not planned January / February yet but we always use the 'van all year-round.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2017 #30

    Not a great lover of short cold days so we usually go into hibernation mode from mid November to mid/late February. Having said that, now we have a MH, we are thinking we will probably do some 'days out' to keep the vehicular cobwebs at bay. We are having the driveway modified tomorrow to better accommodate the MH so we are taking the van off for the day to get away from the chaos.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #31

    We haven't used our motorhome in the 10 years we've had it during December January and February. Not keen on cold days and lobg dark evenings, plus we visit daughter in NZ so much warmer there then here over our winter. We SORN it for those months so couldn't take out from storage without re-taxing. Can't say I'm tempted and OH definitely isn't 😉

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