WINTER VANLIFE: I should have known this...

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We had a recent cold spell in the UK, with a couple of weeks of below-freezing temperatures.
Apart from a quick jaunt to the mountains in Mont Dore (France), I’ve not spent much time in the motorhome when it’s been really cold.
Turns out, there was a LOT I didn't know about living in a motorhome during winter. I’ve learnt all sorts of things (some of which I feel I really should have known! 🙈) so I thought I’d share what I learned with you (just in case there's anyone else out there spending time in their van this winter!)
Find out more about winter van life and winter motorhoming here: www.wandering-bird.com/winter...
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Happy Wandering!
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ABOUT WANDERING BIRD
In 2018, I quit my job as an air traffic controller to travel in a van. That's adulting, right?
Since then, I've spent most of my time living in a motorhome, touring the UK and Europe, sometimes with my husband, sometimes with my daughter and sometimes enjoying solo female van life (well, with my dog, Mac!)
Wandering Bird was created to help motorhomers and campervanners make the most of their time on the road.
We share weekly tips, tricks and reviews to encourage and inspire your next adventure, whether you're a complete motorhoming beginner, or a more experienced owner looking for new ideas or places to visit.
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Thanks for watching!

[@savingelectric]

We camped at Moreton in Marsh during the snow and in our van we switch the cab vents to recirculate instead of fresh air helps stop cold air coming in

[@elpresidente8730]

First thing I purchased for my MH was a TaylorMade silver screen cover, and its brilliant. When it comes to unfreezing things like outside taps, I fill a large-ish ziplock back with hot water from the tap and just place it over the frozen part so it sort of wraps around. It works pretty well though if it's really super cold you may have to do it a couple of times.

[@sandyperceval6593]

I changed to a diesel heater for the interior. Water is gas & electricity.

[@jannieharding265]

We've lived in our motorhome full time for over 2 years, we always make sure before we switch the engine off we put the vents on to recircle air.. it makes a huge difference.

[@MarkEdsforth]

Thanks Kat. I wouldn't be too shy of using site electricity? Maximum current for most Truma heaters is 1800 watts or 7.5 amps which won't trip many campsite supplies. This will allow you to get dual fuel to get your van and water warm (around 4kw or very fast heating). Once the van is warm, electricity only will keep the van warm, even at below freezing outside. After all, on the site, you will have paid extra for the hook-up and, once the van is warm if you will save lots of gas using the electricity.

[@carolynandcocohaywood2638]

Good advice as usual, thanks Kat.

[@moto_roaming2119]

Hi Kath, a lot of good information there, thankyou. People need to know that electrical supplies on ALL campsites are low because of volts drop. Your 25m cable causes more volts drop. My best 2 winter assets are; 1. An electric blanket on the bed, very efficient and economical. 2. I had a 4kW diesel heater fitted 3 yrs ago. Incredibly efficient and quite economical to run. Thanks for all of the videos and information you provide. Hope you have a happy and prosperous new year 😎😎

[@cassyallen2694]

Just a note re unfreezing the grey waste if the worst happens. Don’t waste electricity using hairdryers or fan heaters under the van, instead add 6 heaped tablespoons of salt in boiling water, stir to allow to fully dissolve in the water, and then pour down your sink drain. Add no more waste to the drain while its doing its work. Mine dissolved the ice after three hours, and then as Kat says, remember to leave your waste valve open for the remainder of the cold snap. Great video Kat, it helped to understand the Mix element of the Truma. I don’t think my van will do heating on my engine or leisure battery.

[@duncanpark1634]

Love listening to your experiences. I did the Alps last winter and going again this year. Have an Elddis and winterised it, I can keep my waste closed because I fitted 12v self regulating heating cables from Ali Express. £9 for 1.5m length, have them fitted on my waste if I need them just in case. One thing you definitely need is a diesel heater, best thing I’ve bought and fitted to compliment the factory fitted 4kw space heater. The last cold spell was -11 here in the uk and with just the diesel heater kept it snug.

[@karenmorgan6455]

Thanks for the video Kat, we weren’t aware of the different settings either as we put out our van away over this cold period. We did however go to turn the engine over last week and check on the van but found the battery flat as a pancake☹️ will certainly look into this on our next trip in cold weather. Happy New Year and please keep the videos coming x

[@richh6790]

Hello Karen, Maybe look onto something like the Battery Master, which is provided by Van Bitz? It links your leisure and engine battery, to (hopefully) keep the engine one in a better state for longer (theory being that at least then you can start up the engine and re-charge the leisure one). Cheers, Rich.

[@deborahhewitt8688]

I assumed fridge vent covers were for use when winterised. We were parked up in a windy spot (on electric) after Christmas and the air coming from behind our fridge was something else. Luckily we had the heating on thermostat so our bed was ok. Wouldn't have thought you can use the covers if fridge is in use, but perhaps it's a gas v electric thing.

[@ianmatlock1]

I can't see the point of putting on the waste tank heaters and then leaving the dump open. The Swift Escape handbook makes clear the tanks have to be >1/4 full before they will work (quotes from my handbook - 'Before heating each tank the system will check that the water level in each tank is at the 1/4 level or higher (the heaters will not operate if the tank is 'empty'). If the water level is appropriate, the heaters will then switch on'.). I think the heaters are fine when the tank is over a quarter full and the temp is hovering around the freezing mark. For instance, when its above freezing in the day, but may drop below freezing for a few hours at night. But in periods of sustained sub-zero temps then Leaving the dump valve permanently open with a bucket is you best option with an external waste tank like the Escape model. I've also seen it suggested to to put hot salty water down the waste to help thaw it out. I've never done this and am wary of the corrosive affect on the system. But, in an emergency it might help providing you rinse through the system ASAP after.

[@dream0460able]

Batteries strength is measured in volts not amps . Capacity is in amp hours

[@darrylgleave8276]

thanks for the swift (sargeant ) heads up very interesting as i haven`t used mine in the cold but am conscious of looking after the batteries

[@tracyrobertson3083]

Thanks Kat....Loving the videos, thought pooch might have attacked his bed but very well behaved. I'm living in my motorhome this winter, solo, first time. I prefer the Alde heating system I'm afraid 🤷🏼‍♀️...draw back for me, boiler is under the bed and not entirely happy sleeping with it on all night, so have a portable heater for the cab area. So much to learn about motorhomes, I'm going to be trading mine in after the NEC in 2023 👍🏻 See you there 😁

[@WanderingBird]

See you there!

[@OurWedding2012]

We had -12decC at the Strathclyde CAMH site a couple of weeks ago …. Your tip about mix 1/2 is helpful for the future is appreciated, I thought there was a problem with my heating the week before in freezing temps when the heating on Elec 2 was not working. Phone call to a caravan tech, had me worried my heating element had gone (rubbish), call to dealer, he explained the 2kw Elec heater would struggle to heat the van and all compartments, to use the 4kw diesel heater initially to bring the van to temp, then switch to Elec to maintain. Didn’t think on using the mix setting, good tip.

[@theonemotorhome]

Just admiring your channel, big well done, I could definitely learn a lot from you.

[@WanderingBird]

Thank you 🙃

[@theonemotorhome]

@@WanderingBird pleasure

[@lindajames7083]

You are lovely, many thanks ❤❤

[@WanderingBird]

You're welcome 😊

[@richh6790]

Hi Kat, Hope you had a great Christmas?! Reference tank heaters, my Autotrail Cheyenne doesn't have any (as far as I know) - do you know if they can be retro-fitted to existing tanks? Cheers, Rich.

[@l33jcm]

Thanks Kat!

[@WanderingBird]

You are so welcome!

[@user-nd7pm4vb9i]

Hi Kat, we have the same MH as you, where did you get your silver screen ?

[@jimmckellar2696]

Thanks Kat! Awesome videos. Can you please tell me who is the maker your control panel you show in this video?

[@WanderingBird]

Thanks Jim. Do you mean the Truma one or the main one which shows the batteries etc?

[@alberttickle1106]

What about using the power packs to run electric/oil heaters?

[@WanderingBird]

You can do that. I use mine to run my electric blanket. Not sure how many hours you’d get out of a small one though- might need a larger one. Then you’ve got the issue of recharging it

[@gordonirving24]

You mean volts not amps.

[@WanderingBird]

Yep, I did. Thanks for clarifying

[@victoriabarnfield6488]

Hi 👋 your my only port of call. We're in a pickle!!! Please help... we've bought a very old motorhome and set off on a whim to Europe trying our best to avoid ztl etc... we set off jsn 4th currently in Switzerland...turns out if the vehicle your in is uncategorized (like ours 😶) were totally banned from entering ANY eu country! We've only just found this out and we're panicking and devastated. So trying to find the quickest fastest route back to UK! X can you verify if this is correct what my partner has just read online please 🙏 x

[@WanderingBird]

Oh dear! I’m so sorry for your stress. I’d not heard about this but my thoughts are if you’re already in Switzerland it’s possibly not as enforced as you’ve read. 🤷‍♀️ but obviously you need to do what’s right for you.

[@victoriabarnfield6488]

@Wandering Bird Motorhome Adventures hey thankyou for your reply kat. We did luxembourg after as they have no restrictions and fantastic free public transport too. We did head home afterwards though and spending our last week in Scotland. Currently just outside of Edinburgh. We're going to just hope n pray it's not as bad as we think with the fines 🤪 x your videos have been helpful in many ways for camperlife keep up the good work x

[@TR5Q3]

Not 10 amps - 10 volts!

[@WanderingBird]

Yep. I misspoke.

[@markwilkinson2673]

Did the batteries drop to 10 amps or 10 volts ?

[@JanJarvis]

It must be Volts

[@andrewgent9334]

Volts. It was on a Voltmeter.

[@WanderingBird]

Sorry- I meant volts

[@ipirrie6734]

The way you explained the power options of the Truma and how it works on Mix setting isn't quite correct. It's 900w on electric 1. 1800w on electric 2 and on mix it's a combined output of 3800w. It doesn't heat up on gas and then switch to electric unless you set it manually. Without winter vents your fridge will still cool to the correct temp but will use more gas or electric doing it. Other than once you know your Amps from your volts its another good video😀

[@WanderingBird]

I agree with you about the 900w/1kw, but my aim is always to keep things simple and it was close enough not to get too pedantic. Not sure about the 3800w- that’s not what it says on the Truma website. They reckon it’s around 850w on 1, 1700w on 2. And every time I used mix, it kicked in the gas to get up to temp, then turned it off and used electric unless the temp dropped too far. Gas heats the space up much quicker than electric.

[@kevinmullin4504]

So the leisure battery can run the heating( to a point ) ??

[@savingelectric]

No, the 12 volt system runs the fan that sends the heat round the van

[@WanderingBird]

Hi Kevin. Without battery (12v) power, the heating won’t work. But yes, in normal conditions you can absolutely run your heating using the leisure battery and either gas or diesel (whichever your system has)