Any help and advise appreciated

[Yamas]

It looks like we will be spending the winter in the van in Northumberland . We have gas cooker and hob, gas blown heating and water and a small electric fan heater. We will be on a site on Ehu. So ladies and gents what other appliance/gadget would you suggest to survive a winter in the cold wet north. Thanks in advance

 

[Guigsy]

External thermal silver screen.

 

[Cookieboy68]

It looks like we will be spending the winter in the van in Northumberland . We have gas cooker and hob, gas blown heating and water and a small electric fan heater. We will be on a site on Ehu. So ladies and gents what other appliance/gadget would you suggest to survive a winter in the cold wet north. Thanks in advance

Heated throw blanket

 

[Guigsy]

A lot of heat is often lost through the floor. You can reduce it quite a lot with a skirt to reduce the breeze under the van. When it gets really cold, it'll reduce the chances of your tanks and pipework freezing too.

 

[Stag man]

Thermal leggings and vest, not fashionable but the good stuff really does work well
If poss, position the ‘van in sheltered locations away from high winds, the really cold stuff will most likely be coming from the North/East
Beanie hat or similar, we loose a lot of body heat thro our heads (especially folks like me who are a bit thin ‘up top’)

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[Flairy]

We had made an insulated curtain eg out of carpet across the dash,helped a lot.

 

[Yamas]

External thermal silver screen.

Thanks we have a nice new longer one

 

[Barriesimpson]

we loose a lot of body heat thro our heads (especially folks like me who are a bit thin ‘up top’)

That is actually an urban myth I'm afraid, we lose no more heat through the head than we do through the rest of the body, in fact it's a lot less apparently - reason being the head is only bone, brain (if you're lucky, but it's only fat anyway) and a few blood lines to keep it running. So no heat as such to lose.

 

[Yamas]

A lot of heat is often lost through the floor. You can reduce it quite a lot with a skirt to reduce the breeze under the van. When it gets really cold, it'll reduce the chances of your tanks and pipework freezing too.

Never thought of that, thankyou

 

[Yamas]

Thermal leggings and vest, not fashionable but the good stuff really does work well
If poss, position the ‘van in sheltered locations away from high winds, the really cold stuff will most likely be coming from the North/East
Beanie hat or similar, we loose a lot of body heat thro our heads (especially folks like me who are a bit thin ‘up top’)

Will definitely be getting the thermals

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[Cookieboy68]

That is actually an urban myth I'm afraid, we lose no more heat through the head than we do through the rest of the body, in fact it's a lot less apparently - reason being the head is only bone, brain (if you're lucky, but it's only fat anyway) and a few blood lines to keep it running. So no heat as such to lose.

So why is it your head sweat first,that you douse your head in water when hot and ladies used to use fans

 

[Yamas]

That is actually an urban myth I'm afraid, we lose no more heat through the head than we do through the rest of the body, in fact it's a lot less apparently - reason being the head is only bone, brain (if you're lucky, but it's only fat anyway) and a few blood lines to keep it running. So no heat as such to lose.

I will still be wearing a hat though as I'm sure hubby will. But thanks for the lesson

 

[The Coops]

Work remotely. go to Benidorm!
Look for the the fleecy onesies and thermal socks/and the rechargeable body warmers, look on screwfix for an idea of price

 

[Barriesimpson]

So why is it your head sweat first,that you douse your head in water when hot and ladies used to use fans

Because that's where the ECU is (BMS, Solar controller - call it what you want).

 

[Minxy]

A lot of heat is often lost through the floor. You can reduce it quite a lot with a skirt to reduce the breeze under the van. When it gets really cold, it'll reduce the chances of your tanks and pipework freezing too.

Definitely a good point, we had a static without the base cladding and it really made a big difference when we had it put round. A few lengths of low 'windbreaks' round the base will suffice, easy to put up/move when you want to go off site.

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[Barriesimpson]

I will still be wearing a hat though as I'm sure hubby will. But thanks for the lesson

Well yeah, the hat prevents sunburn.

 

[HugoBNB]

A snow shovel may be a good idea. We can get a good dollop of the white stuff. Enjoy.

 

[edgewood175]

ditto the silver screen

 

[Guigsy]

That is actually an urban myth I'm afraid, we lose no more heat through the head than we do through the rest of the body, in fact it's a lot less apparently - reason being the head is only bone, brain (if you're lucky, but it's only fat anyway) and a few blood lines to keep it running. So no heat as such to lose.

Mmmm, not quite. The US Army study proved that you loose a lot of heat through your head... if the rest of you was already well clothed. And generally you are when it's cold! It did demonstrate that wearing a hat is very beneficial.

Your brain has major blood lines because it uses a lot of energy. And pumping a lot of warm blood though an exposed lump above your shoulders that's poorly insulated, does radiate and convect off a fair amount of energy.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Mmmm, not quite. The US Army study proved that you loose a lot of heat through your head... if the rest of you was already well clothed. And generally you are when it's cold! It did demonstrate that wearing a hat is very beneficial.

Your brain has major blood lines because it uses a lot of energy. And pumping a lot of warm blood though an exposed lump above your shoulders that's poorly insulated, does radiate and convect off a fair amount of energy.

That's just one 'study' there are many more that are contrary to this 'proof' and you can believe what you want. I base my belief on advice from friends in the medical business. But hey, each to his own, and albeit 'Google is your friend' don't believe everything you read there.

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[Riverbankannie]

I wonder if a small dehumidifier would be useful. My daughter keeps one in the shower of her static and it is very useful for keeping towels and other wet gear (swimming costumes etc) dry and keeping the damp out of the rest of the static.

 

[Guigsy]

That's just one 'study' there are many more that are contrary to this 'proof' and you can believe what you want. I base my belief on advice from friends in the medical business. But hey, each to his own, and albeit 'Google is your friend' don't believe everything you read there.

Your head has a lot of blood flowing through it. A reasonable amount of surface area. It's exposed and poorly insulated. You've also evolved to sweat from your head rather well, again suggesting it's a location that has a lot of heat that can be exhausted. It also makes logical sense that your head looses a lot of heat.

 

[Figaro]

I think you'd find an old blanket or duvet draped over the dash and down tucked in around the pedals useful.
The cab vents can sometimes be very drafty and difficult to isolate.
Good luck, not something I'd want to do, can you not get to spain for winter ?

 

[David and Sally]

A porch awning.

 

[Yamas]

Work remotely. go to Benidorm!
Look for the the fleecy onesies and thermal socks/and the rechargeable body warmers, look on screwfix for an idea of price

We would normally be somewhere warmer but unfortunately poorly dog has kept us home for the past year but the plus side we had our daughters wedding so now have to up the funds so we can travel Europe again next year

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[Yamas]

I think you'd find an old blanket or duvet draped over the dash and down tucked in around the pedals useful.
The cab vents can sometimes be very drafty and difficult to isolate.
Good luck, not something I'd want to do, can you not get to spain for winter ?

We wish see post 25 and yes will definitely be blocking all hab gaps

 

[headlight]

Yamas I have a coach built motorhome.
I found that putting a thermal screen between hab and cab, even though I use a good quality thermal screen on the windscreen, cut my heating by about a third as I was no longer heating the cold uninsulated cab area.

 

[Yamas]

I wonder if a small dehumidifier would be useful. My daughter keeps one in the shower of her static and it is very useful for keeping towels and other wet gear (swimming costumes etc) dry and keeping the damp out of the rest of the static.

Ooh I have a little new one, never thought of taking it away, thank you

 

[PaulW2]

That is actually an urban myth I'm afraid, we lose no more heat through the head than we do through the rest of the body, in fact it's a lot less apparently - reason being the head is only bone, brain (if you're lucky, but it's only fat anyway) and a few blood lines to keep it running. So no heat as such to lose.

It occurred to me though that some of these studies may not really be a 'fair' test. If we were completely naked, sure. We lose heat evenly.

But we wear trousers and shirts, socks and shoes. And when it's cold additional layers.

Where we then lose heat is where we are still naked. Head, face, maybe hands.

 

[Yamas]

A porch awning.

We thought of something like a small awning just to keep muddy stuff in but not sure which one to get