Winterisation?

[Jaymacgee]

Hello

Our search for a motorhome continues (thanks for all the help so far) and one factor we are still to decide on is whether it needs to be winterised (is that the phrase? Able to be used in sub zero temps). We live in Scotland and while we don't plan to use the van in -20sC weather, it would be good to be able to plan to use it for a weekend in November when kids have a half term break, ditto in February. We are looking at a really nice Autotrail Apache 700 (2012) and at the Bailey 765. I believe the Bailey is winterised, the Autotrail is not. Both have their other pros and cons which just about balance out. So, my question is, do you think we need to get a winterised motorhome? Thank you!

 

[Wildbill]

If it has blown air heting a warm gas locker not too many exposed pipes
I have had several vans none winterized
And never had a problem but it you intend to go to the Alps yes
Other wise just lag any exposed pipes leve gray water to drane to a bucket and get out that and enjoy
Bill

 

[The Wino]

As said above if you intend to ski in it you might need it winterised but we use ours the times you say no problem. Even if its winterised you still need to drain down when not using as there will be no heat to prevent pipes freezing when not in use. If you have an internal cold water tank in the van you choose I wouldn't worry

 

[Northernraider]

Personally I wouldn't have a van that isn't winterised, my sister bought her autocruise against my advice that isn't winterised and has had a few occasions with water issues
We both live in Scotland I've seen temperatures in April which are low enough to cause the boiler to dump
I use my vans all year round

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't think the Autorail or the Bailey would be considered winterised compared to a German van.

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[John Stanton]

Personally I wouldn't have a van that isn't winterised, my sister bought her autocruise against my advice that isn't winterised and has had a few occasions with water issues
We both live in Scotland I've seen temperatures in April which are low enough to cause the boiler to dump
I use my vans all year round

Let's face it if your MH isn't winterised it isn't difficult or time consuming to prepare it for a UK winter - we've managed it for over ten years, including five of those in Scotland so it can't be that much of a challenge as long as you drain down properly. Yes, if we planned to winter in Chamonix or Val Thorens you'd need something which is designed to cope with the conditions, but storing a MH in the UK really doesn't need the extra thousands that a poncy winterised MH costs.

You should buy based on what you need and how you will use your MH, not what others dictate as "fashionable" or "essential".

If the Auto Trail or Bailey suit you in all other respects and you won't be actively using it during prolonged cold conditions then there is nothing wrong with the choice you have made - enjoy

 

[Northernraider]

Let's face it if your MH isn't winterised it isn't difficult or time consuming to prepare it for a UK winter - we've managed it for over ten years, including five of those in Scotland so it can't be that much of a challenge as long as you drain down properly. Yes, if we planned to winter in Chamonix or Val Thorens you'd need something which is designed to cope with the conditions, but storing a MH in the UK really doesn't need the extra thousands that a poncy winterised MH costs.

You should buy based on what you need and how you will use your MH, not what others dictate as "fashionable" or "essential".

If the Auto Trail or Bailey suit you in all other respects and you won't be actively using it during prolonged cold conditions then there is nothing wrong with the choice you have made - enjoy

Personally it's nothing to do with storing it.... It's using it. Underslung tanks and pipes just don't like low temperatures and unfortunately in Scotland that's pretty much 6-7 months of the year

 

[JeanLuc]

Personally it's nothing to do with storing it.... It's using it. Underslung tanks and pipes just don't like low temperatures and unfortunately in Scotland that's pretty much 6-7 months of the year

I agree about the pipes but an underslung waste tank can still be winterised. Our Hymer has one as did all Sprinter-based Hymers and the earlier (non-Alko) Fiat-based ones. The Hymer tank is insulated in an outer skin and heated by the Truma blown air system. We have used ours in temperatures well below freezing with no problems.
Now the underslung tanks on many British vans are a different matter. Fitting 12 volt fish-tank heaters is not winterisation and is, in any event, practically useless unless you are on a mains hookup or have a monster battery bank.

 

[Northernraider]

I agree about the pipes but an underslung waste tank can still be winterised. Our Hymer has one as did all Sprinter-based Hymers and the earlier (non-Alko) Fiat-based ones. The Hymer tank is insulated in an outer skin and heated by the Truma blown air system. We have used ours in temperatures well below freezing with no problems.
Now the underslung tanks on many British vans are a different matter. Fitting 12 volt fish-tank heaters is not winterisation and is, in any event, practically useless unless you are on a mains hookup or have a monster battery bank.

Yep thats what I was referring to, my sisters 2011 autocruise starfire has both fresh and waste tanks underneath, the boiler dumps at anything below 4 or, 5° which it decided to do driving up the a9 last November, there's zero insulation around her tanks yet the dealer claimed the van was winterised when she bought it, she listened to her new husband when buying the van and because it had a fancy satellite dome and the upholstery she liked she bought it over the burstner I showed her at the same price at the time.

If she didn't want to use the van from October till Easter it would probably be fine but as it is it isn't as practical in colder months as a fully winterised van is.

So I guess it depends on the op and what they plan to use it for, I'd rather have the comfort that I can use it whenever want than the restriction of not being able to

 

[John Stanton]

If she didn't want to use the van from October till Easter it would probably be fine but as it is it isn't as practical in colder months as a fully winterised van is.

So I guess it depends on the op and what they plan to use it for, I'd rather have the comfort that I can use it whenever want than the restriction of not being able to

That's exactly the point I was trying to make - maybe my post wasn't clear enough !

If the OP has no intention of actively using the MH during severe weather then splashing out on a "winterised" van is unnecessary expense - like I said "You should buy based on what you need and how you will use your MH".

When we had it, our Auto Trail served us extremely well in the five years we were in Scotland but others who seek to go out all year round regardless of weather conditions (we don't) would probably need to think differently - simples !

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[Northernraider]

He does mention that A) he lives in Scotland. And B) he would like to use the van in November and February.

As someone who lives in Scotland and knows it is rarely above a few degrees in those months that's why my first reply said buy a winterised van

I wouldn't even consider not buying one

 

[bigtwin]

I see that the usual confusion over the term winterised remains!

A vehicle that is winterised is designed to cope with living 'off grid' in sub-zero temperatures.
It is not something that can, effectively, be back fitted (yes you can fit electric heaters to tanks but that will soon deplete your batterie size so is not sustainable).

Generally, if a van does not have a double floor (in which the water tanks are located), then it is questionable if a claim of winterisation can be made (yes, people manage with waste tanks that are outside/underneath the vehicle floor by leaving the waste valve open and draining into a bucket so that it doesn't freeze).

The process of preparing a van for storage over winter isn't winterisation. That process is required whether the target vehicle is winterised or not!

I doubt that the Autotrail or Bailey are winterised (you should compare specifications with, for example, popular German vehicles) but that doesn't necessarily mean that they wouldn't suffice for your needs.

Ian

 

[138go]

If you want a winterised MH you need one with a double floor and LOADS of insulation. The cold comes in from down below and works it way up. ALDE heating as it WARMS everywhere. Blown air just warms the air and if you switch it off it gets COLD very quickly. Have a look at what the Scandinavians use will give you a better idea. Ours has an internal water tank with heating pipes from the ALDE heating running alongside. ALDE heater is away from the wall and under the seating in the cab. We have heating pipes running round the front of the dash and twin blinds on the front windows.

 

[Northernraider]

If you want a winterised MH you need one with a double floor and LOADS of insulation. The cold comes in from down below and works it way up. ALDE heating as it WARMS everywhere. Blown air just warms the air and if you switch it off it gets COLD very quickly. Have a look at what the Scandinavians use will give you a better idea. Ours has an internal water tank with heating pipes from the ALDE heating running alongside. ALDE heater is away from the wall and under the seating in the cab. We have heating pipes running round the front of the dash and twin blinds on the front windows.

Same system as mine

And of course there's other benefits to the double floor like the abundance of storage