.png)
The terms "cold resistant" and "cold compatible"
Terms used by manufacturers are defined in the EN 1646-1 standard . It is quite possible that the campervan is resistant to the cold. But not all winters are the same… weather conditions can change dramatically and put the car to the test beyond its limits.
"We were told our campervan could survive the winter..."
We've had a few customers come to us for the first time since they bought their caravan, and they eventually ended up with frozen water pipes in a ski area. After solving their problems, the same sentence always came: “The seller told us that the trailer was resistant to the cold…”
Will my caravan or motorhome withstand freezing temperatures?
Its ability to withstand winter conditions and sub-zero temperatures while maintaining a pleasant warmth inside your caravan depends on several criteria:
Where is the vehicle parked – at an altitude of 1000 m or 1800 m above sea level?
How much snow is there?
How long is snow?
How low does the thermometer go?
Does the thermometer stay below zero for several days?
Is the RV well insulated?
What is the power of the heater?
Preparing your RV for winter
Insulation indexes
These are the questions we face when building a house or apartment windows as well. Thin walls or walls with primitive insulation materials will never have the same insulating properties as high-quality materials with a complex structure. The same applies to the materials used on the side walls, ceiling and floor of caravans. Often times, price makes the difference. Ditto for windows or floors. Simple laws of physics also come into play: framed windows, for example, have a better insulation coefficient because the wind blowing through the vehicle can't remove the hot air. Another example: Heating pipes coming out from under the floor to circulate outside before re-entering the car from the floor greatly affect the heating performance. Even if you have the most sophisticated heating system, the wind will destroy a significant part of the heat supplied. Yet another example: skylights. As everyone knows, the temperature rises. Therefore, hot air is mostly found under the roof. If you have a skylight with forced ventilation, the loss of heating energy can be significant. The winner here is the builder. It has made his life easier on ventilation, and one thing is for sure: there will never be any accumulation of moisture. On-board climate management is one of the criteria where the biggest difference in quality from one vehicle to another is. In addition, caravan manufacturers sell their partially integrated models as if they were made for wintering. However, it is important to explain to buyers of these campers that the driver's cabin can never be insulated as well as the rest of the vehicle. Doors, partition separating the cabin from the engine compartment, etc. cannot have the same insulation power. It is also very rare in these partially integrated vehicles that heat from the central heating can be diverted via pipes to the driver's cabin. Finally, things need to be looked at from a pragmatic point of view. Before you buy a campervan, you should ask yourself how often you will go camping in the winter. If the answer is every two or three years, our explanations won't matter much. In this case, the additional cost of actually buying a real winter vehicle will be much higher than the additional gas or electricity bill to be paid for a conventional vehicle. Our statements will not matter. In this case, the additional cost of actually buying a real winter vehicle will be much higher than the additional gas or electricity bill to be paid for a conventional vehicle. Our statements will not matter. In this case, the additional cost of actually buying a real winter vehicle will be much higher than the additional gas or electricity bill to be paid for a conventional vehicle.
What are the important winter parameters for the RV?
Water pipe systems should always be laid along hot air pipes so that they do not freeze along the way. An exposed portion of 10-20 cm of an unheated, rarely used pipe is sufficient for the water to freeze.
All water lines must be properly drained. Are there floor drain valves before or after the rise/fall lines?
Condensation often forms on the door along the seal. It is important that the door also has a warm air diffuser. Otherwise there is a risk of freezing and will have to be thawed with a hair dryer before going to the oven early in the morning.
The gray water tank must be heated or directly drained.
If a gray water tank is to be placed under the vehicle, it must be conical so that the ice piece inside can come out. Winter camps always have a service point where they can be destroyed.
Caravans and motorhomes today tend to be larger than before. This is again a consideration for the heating power. You can buy a caravan at an affordable price, but in no case should you save on heating power. Electric fans as additional heating can be compact and practical, but at a price of CHF –.70 to CHF 1.– per kilowatt hour, the bill gets salty very quickly. Beyond this aspect, not all campsites are electrically shielded enough to handle a few large consumers.
Standard heating should be proportional to the area to be heated. Almost all manufacturers offer the opportunity to order a more powerful heater. Even aftermarket equipment is more economical than a backup heater.
Tip: Electric underfloor heating provides a better indoor climate. Even if you're not sure about camping in the winter, it's an investment you can only recommend. Because in spring or fall, it's a welcome addition.
We rarely advertise a particular product. Let us deviate from the rule: by choosing Alde heating, you can be sure that you did not go wrong. As in the home, this water heating (there is glycol in the pipes of course, otherwise they would freeze) is available with a radiator or underfloor heating. The investment quickly becomes profitable, as this heater perfectly manages low temperatures (less dry air and a more pleasant atmosphere at a more bearable temperature).
Ventilation behind the furniture is not 100% guaranteed, even though it is often reported. This causes an undesirable moisture build-up. Therefore, care should be taken during the examination.
Heating pipes running under the vehicle are prohibited. Either we isolate it later or we are willing to heat the underside of the car.
Partially built caravans must always have external insulation on the windshield. Indeed, the windshield has a very low insulating power.
Solution
If you have a field all year round or if you are going camping in the winter every two years, you should definitely consider the insulation quality of the vehicle you will buy. It's worth spending a little more. If you are looking for a powerful, extremely quiet fan heater that does not permanently blow out camping fuses, we recommend the Ecomat heater fan, which is the benchmark in this segment .
Campingberatung.ch is happy to assist you
Not sure of yourself? Do you have any other questions? We are at your service to assist you during your purchase. Even if you already have a campervan, we are happy to advise you on specific problems. Campingberatung.ch is at your disposal to assist you. Contact / Appointment: You can reach us by phone at +90 544 627 07 37, via the communication document , by e-mail or by phone.