Winter Caravanning
Many people plan caravanning holidays while the sun is still shining and the weather is hot, but the popularity of winter caravanning is reaching an all time high, and it is no wonder – it’s a great way to get out of the house and get a change of scenery without all the summer rush of camping crowds!
The great thing about being in a caravan as opposed to a tent is the luxury of warmth in the cold winter months. Modern caravans, both static and mobile, are well insulated nowadays and are a lot more like mobile homes than older models. All you need to do is head to a site near a location you are interested in. You may even like to try a site you visit during the summer – a light covering of frost or snow can give even the most familiar of places a whole new feel.
Icy conditions generally aren’t safe to drive in, especially with a caravan; however, winter tyres can provide your caravan and car with the right amount of grip, and cold conditions are fine to travel in. When the temperatures drop below zero, it’s not only your tyre treads that will suffer. A water tank left outside could freeze, so keep it insulated or keep it in the caravan.
Gas heating your caravan is an effective although slightly dangerous if left on at night. Try electric heating with a small electric heater – this can be adjusted so that it can be turned up and down as and when is needed.
When camping in the summer months, tents and caravans can get hot and you will usually pack clothes according to the weather for your holiday. In the winter, you will need to pack extra wellington boots, thick jumpers and a tracksuit to sleep in (it’s better to be too warm than to not have enough clothes) definitely pack some extra thick socks as well.
Keep parts of your caravan and camping equipment moving and keep hinges well oiled to ensure that they don’t seize up. Double glazed windows in caravans help keep the heat in and the cold out, and to save electricity at night, turn the electric heaters off and simply have a good quality sleeping bag with thick insulation.
To prevent condensation (a common problem when winter caravanning) you won’t want to open windows or keep doors open to ventilate the caravan. To keep air circulating throughout the caravan, leave all the internal doors open.
If you are a lover of camping you will love the winter caravanning. It may be colder, but ultimately you have a lot more choice and space wherever you go camping due to others really only camping during the summer. Do all your preparation on your caravan before the temperatures drop and you won’t have to worry about standing outside in the cold while you do all your maintenance checks.
