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

 

[Yamas]

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.

We do have good wind break, thanks

 

[David and Sally]

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

Depends if you are going to move the van or not. If you do you need a driveaway awning. If not we have just bought one of these.

Dometic Leggera Air Redux 220 S Awning 2024

The new Redux version of the Dometic Leggera Air 220 Awning is definitely a game changer. Dometic have combined a simplistic inflatable awning with an Eco friend material. The Eco Leggera is made from Recycled Plastic Bottles making it lightweight but goo

www.attwoolls.co.uk

Big enough for the two of us.

 

[Hedgewitch]

Hot water bottle, bed socks (might not be very romantic but neither is being too cold to sleep )

With all the electric devices being suggested (and the dehumidifier is a great one) make sure you are not overloading the EHU on your site.

 

[cyberyacht]

When I had a coachbuilt, I found even an ordinary curtain across the cab made quite a difference. It doesn't need to be anything too fancy. I picked them up at the charity shop for a quid and added a bit of velcro down the centre. Cheap and cheerful but wouldn't make the front cover of Good Homes mag.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Yamas]

Hot water bottle, bed socks (might not be very romantic but neither is being too cold to sleep )

With all the electric devices being suggested (and the dehumidifier is a great one) make sure you are not overloading the EHU on your site.

This is working and living in the cold, romance can take a hike and we don't have many electrical devices anyway

 

[Sdrawde]

A topper mattress on the beds will help and can be purchased at a reasonable cost.

Also, single sleeping bags when it's very cold are a must..... but you should know that they work best by getting in them nearly naked so that your body heat warms them up. That's how they work. Get in them fully clothed and you'll be cold within minutes.
Decathlon or Go Outdoors sell reasonable quality ones for £30 ish.

Woolen clothing is fantastic for keeping you warm - easily as good as the very expensive technical garments. Woolen jumpers are easily picked up from charity shops but decathlon and Go outdoors sell great quality merino wool tops and leggings for a fair price (have ever seen a sheep shivering).

Also, I know it sounds daft but a balaclava would also be useful - it's true that you don't lose more heat through your head, but you do still actually lose heat from your head.

 

[Sdrawde]

Plus, especially if your van isn't going to move much - choose a spot to pitch that allows as much winter sunshine to fall upon the van, but as much out of the way of the winter winds.
A quick check on Google should tell you which direction the winds usually come from.

 

[Yamas]

Plus, especially if your van isn't going to move much - choose a spot to pitch that allows as much winter sunshine to fall upon the van, but as much out of the way of the winter winds.
A quick check on Google should tell you which direction the winds usually come from.

That is great advise except hubby would not stand for the sleeping bag business

 

[Jo-jo]

Thermal fleecy fitted undersheet. Fleece/teddy quilt cover.

Aldi & Lidl sell merino ski Base layers in their specials, usually before Christmas and reasonably priced.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[headlight]

That is great advise except hubby would not stand for the sleeping bag business

I slept in my motorhome for a few nights Xmas time the winter before last.
It was minus 8c in the nights, heating on low kept the van at 21.5c overnight, in fact it was to warm.
YMMV.

 

[Ianbenny]

In ours the cab area is the cold spot. We use an electric oil rad - not a massive one - in between the seats Infront of the glovebox - saw it on here somewhere. Keep it on 1 bar - about 750watts - it keeps the chill off as I sleep that side. Also we turn the heating down - and it comes on at about 4am.

 

[dunnah01]

An air fryer for when you run out of gas and just can't be @r$ed going to get some. A massive dehumidifier for spring when the air starts to warm up and creates condensation havoc when you live full time in the van

 

[Manic]

One of these

DeLonghi 800 Watt Oil Filled Radiator Home Office Heater TRNS0808M

DeLonghi 800 watt Oil Filled Radiator Home Office Heater TRNS0808M small compact portable room, bathroom and conservatory heater.

www.mgdonline.co.uk

 

[Minxy]

Hoodies! When we go away in winter in bed I have fleece/thicker PJ's on, sometimes bed socks too and also an old hoodie, the latter means I can cover my head at night and it really does make a difference. Before I wore a hoodie it was an old sweatshirt and a woolly hat (well mock wool as I can't wear real wool) but it was a pain trying to keep it on my head! Remember in the olden days they used to a wear bed bonnet, ask yourself why ... it wasn't to keep their curlers in!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

We do have good wind break, thanks

I'm thinking of something say a couple of foot high, not full sized ones, as it's getting to the end of the summer season you should find them being sold off cheaply soon so you could get one (or two) and:

• cut it in half (same pole lengths)
• reduced the height of the material on what was the top half (take it off what will be the bottom of it, not the top)
• make a spike of the now exposed bottom bit of pole, ie match what the bottom half looks like

voila 2 short windbreaks which can be placed close to the MH without damaging the sides as being shorter they are less likely to be rocked in the wind - if your concerned though just put a bit of pipe lagging on the top of the poles.

 

[Widge]

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

Two tbings I can think of, will you be using the fridge? Is it a compressor fridge or standard 3way fridge? Usually one big area of draft is the fridge vents, i am not sure if you can get away with sealing the vents if using EHU, if you cannot seal the vents, spend some time to ensure that you block any drafts around the fridge, and into any adjacent cupboards. How tame is the site owner, would he let you erect a small shed, big enough for you to have a standard compressor fridge/fridge-freezer, if he wont let you erect a small shed, he might let you have a small covered trailer instead, trying to live out of a normal van fridge long term may not be easy.

Secondly floor insulation, have you carpets or lino? A suggestion is to get some of those 6mm thick jigsaw type floor tiles that you can get for putting on workshop floors etc, you usualy get them in packs of 6, and cover the floor with them the are fairly cheap fairly easy to fit, and clean, but will realy help take the edge off a cold floor.

 

[Puddleduck]

Private message sent.

 

[Gromett]

A bucket that will fit under the grey water outlet. If it gets down to freezing temps leave the tap open and let the grey tank just flow through.

It is still possible for this to freeze up and leave nasty coloured icicles. If your missus has a hair dryer and you are on hookup it can be a life saver. Otherwise take your propane blow torch to warm things up (but be careful )

 

[Yamas]

An air fryer for when you run out of gas and just can't be @r$ed going to get some. A massive dehumidifier for spring when the air starts to warm up and creates condensation havoc when you live full time in the van

Yes we do have an air fryer forgot to mention it and we also have a dehumidifier, thankyou

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

Lots of warm blankets, you can put them into the site tumble drier to warm them up and then snuggle into them!!!!

You will also need a telescope, monoscope or binoculars to look at all the stars.

 

[Yamas]

Two tbings I can think of, will you be using the fridge? Is it a compressor fridge or standard 3way fridge? Usually one big area of draft is the fridge vents, i am not sure if you can get away with sealing the vents if using EHU, if you cannot seal the vents, spend some time to ensure that you block any drafts around the fridge, and into any adjacent cupboards. How tame is the site owner, would he let you erect a small shed, big enough for you to have a standard compressor fridge/fridge-freezer, if he wont let you erect a small shed, he might let you have a small covered trailer instead, trying to live out of a normal van fridge long term may not be easy.

Secondly floor insulation, have you carpets or lino? A suggestion is to get some of those 6mm thick jigsaw type floor tiles that you can get for putting on workshop floors etc, you usualy get them in packs of 6, and cover the floor with them the are fairly cheap fairly easy to fit, and clean, but will realy help take the edge off a cold floor.

We have a 3 way fridge and vent covers. We also have lino and carpets, don't want to put up a shed though when we have been away in the colder months if it is windy I roll up a t towel to stop the draught above the freezer

 

[Yamas]

A bucket that will fit under the grey water outlet. If it gets down to freezing temps leave the tap open and let the grey tank just flow through.

It is still possible for this to freeze up and leave nasty coloured icicles. If your missus has a hair dryer and you are on hookup it can be a life saver. Otherwise take your propane blow torch to warm things up (but be careful )

I am the missus

 

[Geistguy]

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 with me being a baldy bloke how come I get freezing cold without a hat on ?

 

[Yamas]

On other news, RXY (our motorhome) has just passed her MOT with no adversaries

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barriesimpson]

So with me being a baldy bloke how come I get freezing cold without a hat on ?

Because you are freezing your ECU so it thinks you are naked and the only way it can tell you is to make you want to put on some warm clothes.

 

[Stonemags76]

A small oil filled radiator & if you are on hook up, leave it on low in the night. If not, leave your heating on low!

 

[Yamas]

Thanks everyone for all your advice, you are all superstars So for now I need to pack the van ready for a trip this weekend to Northumberland to meet up with our potential new employers

 

[Gromett]

I am the missus

Apologies. Remember to take your hairdryer then, but only if you trust him to crawl under the van with it

 

[Yamas]

Apologies. Remember to take your hairdryer then, but only if you trust him to crawl under the van with it

Nope, I wouldn't be able to find it again oh yes thats right its under the van

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Spriddler]

Two tbings I can think of, will you be using the fridge?

Probably come in handy in a Northumberland winter for thawing stuff that's taken out of the cupboards.