Get wrapped up and keep caravanning – Why off-season is great

It doesn’t seem 2 minutes since we were advising you on how to have a great Summer out on the road with your ‘van. Now, as the first really cold nights start to draw in many people start to think about putting the caravan away for the autumn and winter. Have you considered not doing it as early this year?

I appreciate that the summer months are great fun. Kids running round in the sunshine, grilling food out in the open and maybe even deciding to sleep out under the awning to listen to the countryside at night make Summer holidays in the ‘van the best of times – so why not extend that into the autumn; and even the winter months? Here are a few tips to make off-season a little more ‘on season’ and get more from your investment.

  • Get a good heater. The van will be toasty and warm as long as you have a good heating system in place. A lot of caravans now come with really efficient central heating which will do you for most of the year, but why not invest in a small heater that you can pop on to boost up the warmth in case you get caught in a really cold snap.
  • Check your seals and draft proof. A good, old-fashioned, sausage dog draft excluder will cut down on the drafts from under the door.
  • Change your gas supply. This is something that can really catch you out. Butane cylinders will not work so well in very cold weather. You could find that if the temperature drops to below -2c the gas will stop flowing. Propane operates at a much lower temperature and will continue to work through the coldest winter weather.
  • Pay extra attention to where you put your caravan. Winter ground can be muddy and soft so try to avoid areas of heavy run water run off and similar places. If you are staying more than one night then check morning and evening for any sinking.
  • Leave your heating on. We are used to popping the heating on when we need it in the spring and summer months but in the colder seasons you may want to leave the heating on very low when you are out and about during the day. This will mean your ‘van will be a little more welcoming and could stop the scourge of the frozen water pipe.
  • Get a sturdy awning. We love awnings here at Venture because they are so versatile. We have a good range and good advice for you if you want to pop in and discuss them. For the winter you will need a sturdy one that will stand up to the rain. They are a brilliant place to dry out those muddy hiking boots and soggy umbrellas.

In recent years the weather has been pretty good in autumn so why not get a little bit more use from your caravan.

Author

This blog was written by Dave Brown. Dave is a Director of his family business which began in 1971. He has a wealth of experience in this sector starting as a workshop apprentice straight from school in 1982. Married with two children, Dave has been an enthusiastic Rugby player since the age of 8, only retiring this year. He will now spend more time travelling in his VW Campervan and watching his favourite team, the Northampton Saints.