Should you’ve ever wished to take your motorhome snowboarding or park up within the mountains over winter, this submit is for you!
Discover ways to winterise your motorhome & put together for snow and residing in excessive chilly. We additionally speak about easy methods to discover in a single day parking locations for vans, aires or campsites throughout winter, easy methods to handle energy throughout winter vanlife, issues to organise earlier than you permit and getting probably the most out of ski tenting.
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Motorhome skiing- what’s it?
One of many issues I like most about travelling in my motorhome is the liberty. The flexibility to go the place I need, after I wish to (world pandemics apart!)
I spend loads of time touring Europe in a motorhome and I wish to assume I’m pretty good at adapting to my setting. I’m fairly self-sufficient, know easy methods to keep off-grid for a number of days with out situation and might handle energy, water, waste and all that different stuff which comes with expertise.
However…
There’s something about staying in a motorhome up excessive within the mountains, whereas temperatures drop nicely under freezing, snow falls (so much!) and issues get much more inaccessible which is a completely totally different sort of vanlife.
Your choices are fewer and it’s important to be rather more ‘on the ball’ with issues like campervan heating and caring for your car.
That is motorhome snowboarding (or ski tenting, because the Europeans name it).
So, what’s the large cope with motorhome snowboarding?
I’ve carried out loads of winter highway journeys within the UK. I’ve been within the mountains in Europe as late as December, and once more in March. Each instances there was snow, however I didn’t keep longer than a day and it wasn’t proper within the coronary heart of the chilly season.
A few years in the past, I had an epic winter highway journey in Europe and spent every week at Mont Dore in central (ish) France, and had a VERY steep studying curve each earlier than I went and while I have been there.
On this submit, I wish to share with you the most important ideas and methods learnt for residing in a motorhome over winter.
My fears earlier than we headed to the snow…
My greatest concern is whether or not the motorhome (a UK-built Swift 685) will probably be as much as the rigours of winter motorhome residing in such a chilly, hostile setting.
Would I be heat sufficient? Will the methods cope? What preparation do I must do prematurely to make life simpler? What occurs if all of it goes improper?
To assist educate myself, I spoke to somebody who has spent months in mountains over winter. In truth, 95% of all her time in a motorhome EVER has been throughout winter.
Please notice that winterising your motorhome to be used in mountains just like the Alps is NOT the identical as getting ready your van to be used within the UK all through winter- that’s a lot simpler and also you don’t must do many of the steps talked about under.
Should you’re not going to be utilizing your van for just a few weeks, I extremely advocate shutting it down safely to keep away from burst pipework or harm. Learn my step-by-step information to winter shutdown right here.
Motorhome snowboarding and winterising your motorhome video
Watch the video chat with Hannah from winterised.com and snomadsites.com. Should you favor to learn or need extra info on factors mentioned within the video, you’ll discover them under.
We hope you discovered the video helpful. Should you did, why not observe us on Youtube. We share new movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe weekly, plus highway journey concepts and epic locations.
Motorhome & Campervan skiing- important ideas & jobs to do to organize for winter within the mountains
As mentioned within the video above, listed here are some tricks to put together your motorhome or camper for winter spent within the mountains. A few of them genuinely are life-saving; getting caught in temperatures and circumstances like these with out being ready is not any joke.
Winterise & Put together your car
It’s extremely possible that your motorhome or campervan is not going to be adequate in its present state (except you obtain one particularly for winter use!)
Subsequently, you’re going to wish to do some work to it to get it snow-ready!
Insulating your motorhome
Apparently, the conventional ‘gray’ lagging insulation is just not sufficient. The black model (known as Armaflex) is the one to get- obtainable from most European {hardware} shops or Amazon. Locations to focus on embrace:
- Exterior water tanks and pipework (It’s price including some to inner water tanks too in case you can)
- Any pipework which runs alongside the ground (that’s most of it!)
- Wheel arches
- The ground– attempt to create a ‘double ground’ impact utilizing insulated matting the place you possibly can, or use carpet items
Important GEAR to take
There are some stuff you NEED to carry- and a few stuff you SHOULD carry to make life simpler for you!
This isn’t an exhaustive record, however a great start line contains:
Utilizing your motorhome throughout winter
It’s vital to keep in mind that how you employ your motorhome between spring-autumn is not going to be the identical as utilizing it in the course of winter up a mountain in -17c!
Your methods is not going to operate in the way in which you may be used to, and there will probably be different jobs it’s good to do to maintain all the pieces operating.
Even in case you’re used to wild tenting along with your motorhome, make sure you take note of the following tips:
Waste tanks
Whenever you park up, place an exterior bucket or container underneath the gray waste drain, and go away it open. This helps forestall freezing. You’ll want to empty the bucket commonly!
Most Aires may have locations to get rid of waste, though not all amenities can be found on a regular basis (we’ll get to that!)
Water
Many aires and campsites will go away a recent water faucet operating, in order that it doesn’t freeze. We additionally recommend utilizing a water filter for ANY campsite water- simply in case (or get considered one of these AMAZING lifesaver jerrycans)
TOP TIP: Don’t drink yellow snow… 😉
Energy & Heating
Many campsites within the mountains don’t have 16 amp electrical energy provide and so your campervan or motorhome heating may not work in addition to you’re used to! It additionally means it’s good to be selective about how a lot electrical energy you’re utilizing without delay (you don’t wish to be THAT van which is continually tripping everybody’s electrical…)
Gasoline heating is a good alternative- but it surely makes use of loads of fuel. I can get by way of a 6kg bottle in about 3 days. I extremely advocate becoming refillable fuel bottles in your motorhome in case you’re going to be travelling in Europe a lot- ensure you know the place the closest provide is (and if it stays open throughout winter!)
Diesel heating can also be a terrific various, however many vans don’t include it as customary. Should you do match it, pay attention to the load and the way it impacts your motorhome payload.
Don’t overlook, you’ll need someplace to dry moist gear. It helps when you’ve got a rest room with heating- string a line throughout the highest and cling all the pieces as much as dry in a single day.
READ MORE: Every little thing it’s good to learn about motorhome/ camper heating
Photo voltaic
You may’t depend on solar energy throughout winter in the identical method you possibly can at different instances of the 12 months. The solar isn’t as robust, there are extra nighttimes and extra areas of shade. Additionally, you’ll be utilizing extra energy than you would possibly usually.
If you have already got a photo voltaic panel fitted, then by all means use what you possibly can, however don’t depend on it as your solely energy supply.
Battery
Batteries don’t like chilly. They don’t run as successfully so it’s good to be extra vigilant about taking care of them, ensuring they don’t run too low, giving them a great cost commonly and usually babying them.
READ MORE: Every little thing it’s good to learn about motorhome leisure batteries
Generator
Should you’re going to take your motorhome snowboarding, you’ll in all probability wish to carry a motorhome generator. Everybody does- simply make sure you use it through the day, not late at evening!
LED lights
I all the time advocate LED lights to save lots of power- particularly in case you’re doing loads of motorhome wild tenting, however in winter it turns into important.
After all, don’t overlook your clothes. Right here’s an important information of what to put on when snowboarding
Hiring a motorhome or campervan for snowboarding
There are firms which lease out motorhomes or campervans for snowboarding. Should you select to do this, please ensure the van is correctly insulated and outfitted with all the pieces you want.
Motorhome skiing- aires or campsites?
One of many greatest questions was HOW do you discover someplace to remain within the mountains? Motorhome touring in France is straightforward sufficient in ‘regular’ seasons, however I do know many mountain roads shut throughout winter- so how have you learnt the place you possibly can go or the place is open?
It’s true that many websites shut throughout winter, however there are locations, together with free motorhome parking and in a single day stopover spots which stay open all 12 months. Sadly, it seems to be like some aires are being closed, however there are nonetheless campsites open and obtainable.
There are professionals and cons as to whether you keep in an aire or on a campsite in your ski tenting journey!
TIP: Should you’re on the lookout for ski tenting websites, search for the phrases ‘caravaneige’ or ‘snowmobiling’- each phrases utilized by the French
Execs of campsites
- Can usually be booked in advance- simpler in case you’re reserving ski faculties or gear rent
- Extra dependable electrical hookup
- Simpler in case you’re motorhoming with youngsters
- Bus or service to take you to the lifts if it’s not close by
- Drying rooms- this looks as if a terrific resolution to the moist clothes issue- there’s nothing worse than damp ski jackets and pants the day after! (Bear in mind to take your personal padlock for safety within the drying room)
- Assist getting towed out in case you get caught
- Different amenities, akin to a small store or restaurant, which may be helpful
Right here’s an instance of a campsite I’ve heard good evaluations about which caters to motorhomes, campervans and even caravans throughout winter! (I like the very fact it has an indoor pool!)
Execs of Aires
- Cheaper
- Extra flexibility to observe the snow
- Feels extra like an journey!
Easy methods to discover locations to stick with your motorhome throughout winter
It may be troublesome to discover Aires in Europe within the standard method for motorhome snowboarding. It’s not simply discovering the places- it’s figuring out if they’re open throughout winter, what amenities they’ve open throughout winter and what number of areas will probably be obtainable (aires can go from 140+ areas to lower than 50!)
A greater possibility is to make use of snomadsites.com, which caters for winter websites and has extra info than you could possibly even assume to ask!
Is motorhome snowboarding cheaper than occurring a ski vacation?
It is a powerful one. Most individuals who go on a snowboarding vacation solely go for every week or two most.
Most individuals who take their motorhomes to the mountains both dwell close by or are going for a few months.
Nonetheless, as Hannah says, the hassle and expense wanted to ensure your car is correctly in a position to hand a winter within the mountains usually makes it not price it except you intend to spend months on the market.
It’s additionally much more troublesome by way of sensible life- you’ve gotten moist clothes and damp to cope with, water, fuel and electrical points and the fixed concern about getting snowed in. Should you’re simply doing it to lower your expenses in your highway journeys, you would possibly wish to assume once more or a minimum of do the sums very rigorously earlier than you commit.
Phew! That was loads of info to soak up however, as we found, ski tenting is a completely totally different sort of motorhoming or vanlife.
Nothing beats ‘doing it your self’, however I hope you’re feeling rather more knowledgeable earlier than your first motorhome ski journey.
Should you’ve been snowboarding and brought your motorhome or camper and have every other ideas, please do go away a remark and share your knowledge.
Protected travels!
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