Winter camping is becoming increasingly popular. But just driving off like in summer is not recommended. There should be some preparation for the cold season. Winter tires are mandatory in some border regions. In addition to a tire tread depth of at least four millimeters, the Society for Technical Monitoring recommends that mobile home owners take snow chains or other starting aids such as traction mats with them. The handling should be practiced at least once before departure.
Of course, the control of lighting and antifreeze in the radiator and in the windscreen washer system also applies to campers. Does the heating work and does the battery still have enough capacity? GTÜ also recommends taking an ice scraper, jumper cable and tow rope with you, as well as a broom with telescopic rod and snow shovel and, for taller vehicles, a sufficiently long ladder to be able to clear the roof including the chimney, especially of wet, heavy snow.
The walls of a modern caravan and larger motorhomes are usually well insulated at the factory. But you can do more. Insulating mats on the windows also contribute to the pleasant indoor climate. In motorhomes with an integrated driver’s cab, the cold tends to creep into the living area through the single-glazed windows. This can be remedied by a separating curtain and thermal protection mat or a thermal hood that is appropriate in size and attached to the outside of the windows in the front area of the vehicle. Pop-up roofs can also be insulated with thermal mats. Additional floor insulation is also useful. We recommend robust carpets or microfiber or thermal mats, which the accessories trade even offers with integrated heating. It is important to ventilate the room several times a day, preferably with the closet doors open. This is for the good air and prevents accumulation of moisture.
The consumption of gas or fuel for heating the mobile home is naturally higher in frosty temperatures. Gas cylinders and tanks should therefore always be well filled. A switching system is useful for larger vehicles with two gas bottles on board. So there is no risk of campers waking up in the bitterly cold caravan at night and then having to connect the new bottle outside. It also takes time and energy for the interior temperature to recover. Should the gas nevertheless run out, a small electric fan can bridge this emergency. In any case, pay attention to the power cable. It should be frost-proof with a conductor cross-section of at least 2.5 square millimeters and laid out in such a way that it cannot be damaged if snow is cleared. Corresponding cables are marked H07RN-F 3G2.5. If the water tanks are in the heated vehicle, neither they nor the water pipes will freeze. However, the waste water tank is often unprotected outdoors. In this case, the GTÜ recommends leaving the drain valve open at all times and directing the water directly into a bucket.
Special winter awnings are particularly stable to withstand heavy snowfalls and gusts of wind. They are usually smaller than summer tents. A good tent has many advantages. It serves as a climate lock, and when the caravan or van door is open, the icy cold does not immediately penetrate into the living area. The awning can be used as a refrigerator extension and as a storage area for skis, ski boots or sleds if the campsite does not offer a drying room. A good and sufficiently thick floor mat can also do no harm, because at plus temperatures the frozen ground can quickly become soft and muddy. The accessory trade also has special screws as pegs that can be driven into frosty ground with a cordless screwdriver.
As with the awning, it is also important to ensure that the ground in a mobile home or caravan can thaw and become soft once more if the temperature rises slightly. Therefore, appropriate plates should be attached under the supports or a piece of wood should also be placed under the wheels so that the mobile home does not get stuck on the descent.
Because winter camping is becoming more and more popular, it is now advisable to reserve a site even in the cold season. After all, finding alternative accommodation is not as easy as it is in summer – many places are closed during the winter. (awm)
