Preparing Your VW Campervan for the Winter Months!

Preparing Your VW Campervan for the Winter Months!

As the time of year comes around again where the sun starts to set earlier and the mornings become that little bit more chilly. We start to think about all the necessary precautions we need to take regarding the colder temperatures.

As you pull your jumpers and winter coats out of storage to deal with the wind and rain, you will need to give thought to your campervan over these winter months! If you’re planning on hibernating this winter then there are plenty of things you will need to do to ensure your campervan doesn’t get damaged across this time.

Similarly, if you’re planning on taking your campervan out and about, thought needs to go into how to make it road and trip-worthy for the coming colder months!

Caravanning in autumn and winter time can be a joy that most people miss out on when they solely use their campervan in summer. You can wake up in the middle of a beautiful field with the frost clinging to the blades of grass whilst you sip your hot tea and look over at the rising sun. You can spend your days walking and hiking before retreating to the area’s local pub for a hot meal and to warm your hands by the fire.

Body Work

Before the cold weather sets in, you should wash the exterior of your van thoroughly and coat a couple of times over in wax to seal the paint job and ensure it looks its best through its travels. Don’t forget to clean your van’s roof too – this can often get missed and after weeks of travelling it around in the summer time, you’ll need to keep it looking spick and span. Check the body work all over and watch out for any rusty patches of paint, or dented metal.

Watch Out for Mold

Mold can be a campervan killer and you should regularly check your campervan and take precautions against mold and mildew as often as possible. This will be especially virulent when you haven’t used your campervan for a period of a few months. Avoid that damp and musty smell by checking all your cupboards and your fridge for old food and drink and cleaning these with antibacterial cleaner regularly.

The most important thing is to air your campervan out regularly, especially when using moisture. After cooking or cleaning, ensure you open the windows and allow the air to fully circulate. Tiny spores will reproduce when they land on moist, warm surfaces, so ventilating your campervan and allowing moisture to evaporate will be the key to avoiding this fungus.

Check It Over

You need to check over your van to ensure you have all the parts in working order, especially before doing a trip in winter. Check all your mechanics, replace your oil and keep water fully stocked! Purchase more VW T5 parts ahead of time so you’re prepared for your trip. Getting them at the end of summer will mean the summer sales should make them a little cheaper too!

Your Gas Supply

Most campervanner are aware, but always use propane gas during the winter months for your trip as butane won’t vaporise when the temperatures fall. If you’re away from mains electricity and are heating your campervan for long periods of time, you’ll use a lot of gas before you realise it! Make sure you research before you leave where you can top up your supply on your trip ahead of time. This will save any mishaps and any cold nights. Spending a night in your van without heat would be the worst thing you can do in the winter time!

Whatever and wherever you end up doing for your winter camping trip, being prepared will be the key to surviving in the cold and will save you lots of headaches and stress along the way.

Do you winterize your campervan?

Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!