WINTERISING YOUR MOTORHOME

[the1andonly]

We do a number of things
1 drain water all tanks clean , grey, boiler and then blow out any excess in the pipework with my home made floe system (one in the resources area).
2 remove all dry cell type batteries (not SB and LB)
3 remove all fresh and dry food, tins ok.
4 set up ventilation, crack open vents to allow flow but not water ingress
5 set LB to winter settings on BMV712 (SB all ready sorted with solar all year around) Both have bluetooth monitoring from inside the house.
6 try to remember to switch main panel off (sometimes dont bother)
7 never waste electric trying to heat it up.
8 Remove clothing (from cupboards not me silly).
9 Change bedding ,remove pillows.
10 lower bed a tad (electric bed in ceiling) to allow air flow.
11 Pump tyres up .
12 chock wheels and Take handbrake off
13 tax it for 1 month time monthly 30mile runs to occur twice in a calendar month and sorn for 2months either side of it.
14 must be at least 2 more
15 lockit up and put on all yellows
16 sacrifice a virgin.
17 use it if you can and repeat steps 1 to 15. (virgins at a premium)

 

[68c]

Virgins at a premium? I am sure as a young man many of us were. Not so sure about the fifth firm girls.

 

[WoodysTravels]

After just arriving back from the last trip this season I’ll be getting the van ready this weekend for Winter. No i normally take out all liquids like shampoos, hair care stuff and all batteries or devices with built in batteries. Does everyone else bother to that extent or am I being OTT ?

Yes we take out all toiletries, foods even in tins, take down curtains as after 4mths not getting down re covid we found mould, bring in all cushions and i leave mattrix protector on. Only stuff we leave in is equipment.

 

[snowpaddler]

I plan to live in mine for 3 months next winter in Norway. Not sure what to do about water when traveling - will it stay warm enough to not freeze, when I am on the move.
When I leave it overnight, think I will drain it all, but would want some water on return. Anybody who has lived in van through the winter got ideas?

 

[L' Hobo]

I plan to live in mine for 3 months next winter in Norway. Not sure what to do about water when traveling - will it stay warm enough to not freeze, when I am on the move.
When I leave it overnight, think I will drain it all, but would want some water on return. Anybody who has lived in van through the winter got ideas?

When you get to Norway, chat to the locals, they're really helpful and advice will vary depending on how far North you go.

Water should be okay inside your van, because if you can, it can, but when it gets in the minus, I wrap some in an old 4season sleeping bag. Do not leave any water in the system, just use containers.

Concentrate more on being able to start your vehicle each morning and, if possible, insulate your hab. batteries as the cold will decrease their efficiency.

Last but not least, practice in this country where you are familiar with things and can speak the language, if Norwegian is anything like Swedish, it's complicated and, despite what everyone tells you, not everyone does speak English, especially on a cold night, when you have a problem!

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[Reallyretired]

We leave in all toiletries and tins/jars/bottles. If cold the olive oil goes solid but soon thaws. Never removed curtains or had mould, surely there must be some damp to get that, inadequate ventilation perhaps.

 

[steve69]

Sorry to be a newbie, but should I leave electricity on, assuming it will keep the batteries charged? Thanks for any advice please

I plug my leccy hook-up into a timer - 1hr per day seems to work just fine.

 

[CazPaul]

I plan to live in mine for 3 months next winter in Norway. Not sure what to do about water when traveling - will it stay warm enough to not freeze, when I am on the move.
When I leave it overnight, think I will drain it all, but would want some water on return. Anybody who has lived in van through the winter got ideas?

A lot depends on what sort of Motorhome you have, for 3 months in the Norway winter you need a van with good insulation, double floored which contains all the water pipes and release taps, toilet cassette compartment heated etc etc.
Access to fuel for the heating too.

 

[Ian Bosman]

After just arriving back from the last trip this season I’ll be getting the van ready this weekend for Winter. No i normally take out all liquids like shampoos, hair care stuff and all batteries or devices with built in batteries. Does everyone else bother to that extent or am I being OTT ?

I thought that this is about converting the vans to be useable fully during the coldest weather in winter, not the laying up process. Mine is as built fully winterised anyway.

 

[Jonno1103]

Lives on the driveway on EHU. All tanks drained, taps & locker open. Bedding & upholstery in the house. Heating left on the frost setting and the fridge stays on.

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[L' Hobo]

Lives on the driveway on EHU. All tanks drained, taps & locker open. Bedding & upholstery in the house. Heating left on the frost setting and the fridge stays on.

To everyone who's van sits all winter on the driveway it's worth visiting it, at least once a week, just in case the skylight starts leaking (as mine once did) and to deter a visit from the "Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beasties".

It's sometimes easy to forget in the middle of a cold wet winter.

 

[Jonno1103]

To everyone who's van sits all winter on the driveway it's worth visiting it, at least once a week, just in case the skylight starts leaking (as mine once did) and to deter a visit from the "Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beasties".

It's sometimes easy to forget in the middle of a cold wet winter.

Agreed. It also gets a monthly run up to the A1m roundabout and back to keep the juices flowing and no tyre flat spots.

 

[nicholsong]

We live in S. Poland.

MH is under cover.

We drain down all water. Clear fresh food. Stays on EHU, but all electrics off.

All bedding/clothes stay inside and in 11 years we have had no problem with damp. Maybe the N&B insulation helps, plus lower humidity away from the Atlantic.

That is all.

 

[Reallyretired]

I thought that this is about converting the vans to be useable fully during the coldest weather in winter, not the laying up process. Mine is as built fully winterised anyway.

Most are except British ones, but only winterised if they're used. No amount of insulation is going to work if there's no heating. Someone like us for various reasons are stuck with little use in the winter or indeed summer in our case

 

[Michael Rennison]

We always use ours as much as we can throughout the winter. We have been caught out though,we lived high up on a hill in West Wales arriving home knackerd on a Sunday afternoon and just parked up. But temperatures plunged overnight to about minus 10 and we had a £70 tap break as it froze solid

Wondered whether you recommend driving up onto levelling blocks to ensure the water runs off the solar panels and roof before ice freezes on them?

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[steve69]

Agreed. It also gets a monthly run up to the A1m roundabout and back to keep the juices flowing and no tyre flat spots.

So you don't SORN it then & save £27 per month? Expensive way to prevent flat spots. Mine stands for 5 months sometimes with no problems at all.

 

[poppycamper]

So you don't SORN it then & save £27 per month? Expensive way to prevent flat spots. Mine stands for 5 months sometimes with no problems at all.

Only £13.75/month if >3500kg..
Small price to pay prevent flat spots... air con dedegration, and general well being of the whole vehicle.
I know all our situations are differant but I would question the point of spending a considerable amount of money for it to "rot" for 5 months out of 12 doing g nothing.
Note my feeli g would be same if it was a huge £27.00/month I was saving..

 

[steve69]

Only £13.75/month if >3500kg..
Small price to pay prevent flat spots... air con dedegration, and general well being of the whole vehicle.
I know all our situations are differant but I would question the point of spending a considerable amount of money for it to "rot" for 5 months out of 12 doing g nothing.
Note my feeli g would be same if it was a huge £27.00/month I was saving..

Mine is >3500kg and it's £27+ a month so i don't know how you are doing that.
Most moho owners lay their vehicle up for winter for several months - even longer during Covid - and they don't "rot" away, as you put it. Mine is 12 years old and no problems anywhere. Passes MOT every time, no issues.

 

[poppycamper]

Mine is >3500kg and it's £27+ a month so i don't know how you are doing that.
Most moho owners lay their vehicle up for winter for several months - even longer during Covid - and they don't "rot" away, as you put it. Mine is 12 years old and no problems anywhere. Passes MOT every time, no issues.

Tax of £165/12 =£13.75/month.!

 

[Jonno1103]

So you don't SORN it then & save £27 per month? Expensive way to prevent flat spots. Mine stands for 5 months sometimes with no problems at all.

Nope, leaving it alone for a few months isn't set in stone, we may just decide one weekend to nip off somewhere.

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[steve69]

Tax of £165/12 =£13.75/month.!

Accordng to some websites:

Current road tax cost for vans, applies to all models registered from 1 March 2001 excluding exceptions below:​

£290 per year.

Be interested to know what your exemption is.

 

[poppycamper]

Accordng to some websites:

Current road tax cost for vans, applies to all models registered from 1 March 2001 excluding exceptions below:​

£290 per year.

Be interested to know what your exemption is.

Nope no exemption.. standard cost for PHGV. £165. Just renewed 1st Oct 22

 

[bladerunner]

Past 12 years:

Seldom don't use MH for 3 weeks straight even in Winter - Winter sites and camping can be my favourite times, plus 5 weeks skiing Austria
MH is parked by house
EHU plugged in
12v on
Alde set around 10'c (blinds open so greenhouse effect means warms up during day)

All food out
Keep some clean water in tank (double floor)
Empty grey water & loo

Very occasional dehumidifier - I know MH not airtight but does feel "drier" after.

I usually find an excuse to go into MH each day!

Not had an issue ..................yet

 

[Jonno1103]

Accordng to some websites:

Current road tax cost for vans, applies to all models registered from 1 March 2001 excluding exceptions below:​

£290 per year.

Be interested to know what your exemption is.

It's over 3500kg.

 

[poppycamper]

It's over 3500kg.

It's over 3500kg.

#48 he also stated his was also >3500kg!

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[Jonno1103]

#48 he also stated his was also >3500kg!

Yeah I know, but it's the only way the RFL drops to £165.

 

[poppycamper]

Yeah I know, but it's the only way the RFL drops to £165.

Thats why I could not understand that if he was over 3500kg he was saving £27/month making his annual fee £324.

 

[BikerGraham]

Thats why I could not understand that if he was over 3500kg he was saving £27/month making his annual fee £324.

Could be that whilst he may have had it up plated with someone like SV Tech it may not have had it updated to PHGV with DVLA. So road tax (yes I know) wont have been reduced.

Think there was a comment a while ago from someone who had done similar. Effectively not up plated then.

 

[steve69]

Thats why I could not understand that if he was over 3500kg he was saving £27/month making his annual fee £324.

My mistake. It is my car that is £27.56 per month
The moho is £24.50 per month.

 

[ChesterB]

After a worrying ingress of field mice several years ago, we now make sure every trace of sweets (esp Polo's) and suger is removed before the winter. The little blighters can get in ANYWHERE, believe me.

I have used a special humitidy plug (as opposed to timer plug) before, which is probably more relevant than worrying about the actual temperature, & that combined with several of those humidity traps spread about seems to work well.

I think there is something to be said for trying to ensure that the air circulates occassionally, even without heating, as this does seems to reduce the damp. Again, a little plug-in fan/heater worked through a humidity switch is helpful.

Cb.

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