Looking for advice re winter care of our t6.1 camper ?

[John Drake]

We got our van in March so this is our first winter.
What should we be doing to look after it, battery wise and anything else ?

 

[Bav]

If you have solar + LB, then fit an Ablemail AMT 12-2. It'll trickle charge your SB via the solar and you won't have to ever worry about your SB over the winter months.

 

[Salty Spuds]

We leave all the cupboards/fridge/drawers open. Leave the internal thermal blinds in, and have a small oil filled radiator set on frost protection plugged in. We leave the van on EHU when not in use. this keeps everything topped up & dry.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Empty your water containers!

 

[Jimer]

Don't store any bedding in the van over winter as it absorbs moisture. I open the tap with the pump off and any water in the system drains back in to the tank, then empty the tank.

 

[Sasquatch]

Drive it, even if only moderately.

Smart charger.

Get underneath quickly for some rust protection. The lanolin based sprays (Buzzweld, Lanoguard, Lanoshield, Dynax UC, etc) require the minimum of prep and are super quick and easy to apply.

 

[Camper_Chris]

Drive it, even if only moderately.

Smart charger.

Get underneath quickly for some rust protection. The lanolin based spares (Buzzweld, Lanoguard, Lanoshield, Dynax UC, etc) require the minimum of prep and are super quick and easy to apply.

I agree, drive the van don't just park it up for months that will more harm than good. I use a Lanolin product on the underside and keep an eye on battery voltage, charging periodically. Ensure you drain down any water tanks, waste tanks or hot water heaters.

 

[DXX]

Use it, plenty of things to see and do through the winter and you won’t have to queue or pay though the nose for it.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Use it, plenty of things to see and do through the winter and you won’t have to queue or pay though the nose for it.

Agreed, just fitted our ski carriers to the bike rack today, getting into winter mode. Swap the BBQ for fan heater, bikes for skis, plenty of winter strength washer fluid and off we go.

 

[Square Peg]

Don't store any bedding in the van over winter as it absorbs moisture. I open the tap with the pump off and any water in the system drains back in to the tank, then empty the tank.

We have an underslung water tank and pump as much as possible out, then pour some food grade antifreeze into the tank and pump it through, collecting the mix and pumping through again. This ensures that the pumps have the best possible chance of not freezing. Having said that, we do live in Somerset, which is practically sub tropical.....