Safe travel with a motorhome in winter
Summer is the most popular time to travel, and rightly so. But how about taking a campervan trip in winter and experiencing a completely new kind of travel? Winter as a holiday time has its own unique features and challenges, but it also has great potential to be unforgettable. Just think of vast snow-covered landscapes, hot tea after a winter walk, or skiing in beautiful mountain scenery.
Have we whetted your appetite? Then be sure to read our 5 tips to make your winter motorhome holiday as enjoyable as possible. Because, unfortunately, "just hitting the road" isn't possible in winter. Some preparations are necessary beforehand.
Features of your motorhome
There are two types of winter camping: camping in areas where the temperature is unlikely to drop below 0°C, and camping in winter where it's truly winter, with snow and sub-zero temperatures. If you prefer the latter, there's one thing you need to find out about your motorhome: Is it suitable for winter use, or is it winterized? Check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's specifications. Winterized motorhomes can heat up to 20°C within two hours after the interior has cooled down to at least 0°C for several hours. During this time, the room temperature must not differ by more than 7°C at any five measuring points.
Winter-ready motorhomes are sufficient for many areas. However, if you plan to visit ski resorts or regions where temperatures can drop below 0°C, your motorhome must be winterized. This means that after cooling down to -15°C for 10 hours, the motorhome should be able to heat up to 20°C again within four hours. It must then be able to maintain this temperature, and the water system must function perfectly once the motorhome is warm again. A frozen water system is definitely not something we want on holiday.
We recommend not taking a winter-ready motorhome to the most challenging ski resorts, but rather to milder regions. With a winterized motorhome, however, you're perfectly equipped for winter camping and don't need to worry about sub-zero temperatures.
Our 5 tips to ensure your winter motorhome trip goes smoothly
1. Fit winter tires
What applies to cars is also important for motorhomes. Winter tires are essential in winter because their tread pattern ensures grip on snow and slush and they are designed for low temperatures. All-season tires can't compete, as winter tires brake significantly better on cold or even icy roads and generally offer greater stability while driving.
2. Provide insulation material
Most people know this from home – wherever there are windows, the coldest air penetrates most. It's the same in a motorhome; that is, the coldest air comes in at the front, where the windshield is. But even the smaller windows can let in a considerable draft. Some caravans also have a pop-up roof, which can allow a lot of cold air to enter.
Insulating mats are helpful here. They can conveniently be used year-round, as they prevent the caravan from getting too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Depending on your vehicle type, you'll need to find out if there are suitable insulating mats available or if you'll need to cut them to size.
Attaching vehicle-specific insulating mats is quite simple. If you need to cut them to size yourself, suction cups are one option for attaching them to the window. Whether you attach them inside or outside is ultimately up to you; both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you attach the mat outside, the warm air from inside the caravan can reach the window and therefore won't fog up. The disadvantage is that they are exposed to all weather conditions and may therefore wear out more quickly.
Insulating mats are a great start. If you want to add another layer of insulation, thermal curtains for your campervan are a good idea. This will minimize heat loss when getting in and out.
3. Keep snow and slush out
You've returned from a long snowshoe hike, quite chilled, and your clothes and shoes are pretty wet. To avoid bringing this wetness into the caravan, the best option in winter is to set up an awning. This would serve as a mudguard, changing room, and storage for sleds and similar equipment.
It's important to note that the awning should be weatherproof and reasonably thick. To keep the awning warm, heaters can be used. These would also reliably dry wet clothing. Additional heaters can, of course, also be used inside the motorhome, provided there is adequate ventilation.
For those who want to treat themselves to a little luxury, heated carpets or an electric blanket for the bed are a great option. That way, the car will be really cozy.
4. Ventilate by opening windows wide for short periods.
As we just briefly mentioned, if you heat your home a lot, you also need to ensure adequate ventilation. Insufficient ventilation can lead to excessively high indoor humidity, causing condensation. This can become unpleasant over time and may result in bad odors or even mold. We recommend ventilating thoroughly two to three times a day.
5. Protect the water system from frost
During winter camping, temperatures can quickly drop below freezing. This poses a problem for the water system in your motorhome, as the pipes could freeze and, in the worst case, burst or suffer frost damage.
Some motorhomes are equipped with heated water tanks, which is ideal in low temperatures. Those without heated tanks can retrofit them. Heating mats and foils are available that can be mounted externally around the tank and pipes. Heating coils or rods can also be placed inside the pipes to keep the water warm. Antifreeze can also be helpful. The wastewater tank can be heated to a certain extent, but additional precautions should be taken during winter.
Those who want to be on the safe side should not leave the wastewater in the tank for long, but rather let it drain into a container that is then emptied regularly.
Winter camping needs to be well organized and prepared.
As you can see, there are a few things to keep in mind when winter camping to ensure it's a pleasant experience. With good preparation, winter camping offers many great opportunities. A big plus: campsites are usually less crowded in winter.
