You have invested a lot of money in your motorhome. The last thing you want is to pull it out of storage in the spring only to discover costly winter damage. How do you avoid such an experience? By winterising your motorhome before putting it into storage.
Winterising is the practice of preparing your motorhome for winter, regardless of whether you are storing it or you plan to camp. Bear in mind that winterising is necessary after each winter trip. So even if you are camping during the winter, any downtime of more than a couple of days is cause for going through the necessary steps to winterise.
Our complete guide to winterising your motorhome will explain everything you need to know about the process. Following our winterising tips is extra information about winter camping and driving your vehicle in winter weather. Remember that we are always here to answer questions.
Draining the Water System
More About Water Heaters
Keep the Leisure Batteries Charged
Additional Winterising Tips
Winter Touring in Your Motorhome
- Fresh Water Tank and Pipes
- Wastewater Tanks and Pipes
- Heating Your Motorhome
- Your Gas Supply
Additional Tips for More Comfort
Winter Driving Tips
Campsites Open Year-Round You Might Want to Visit
Among all of the winter threats to motorhomes, none is more worrisome than water. Any water left in your motorhome's plumbing systems can freeze in cold temperatures. If that happens, expansion could destroy everything from pipes to valves. Therefore, the most crucial step in winterising your motorhome is to completely drain the water system.
Also be aware that motorhome warranties and insurance policies almost never cover frost and ice damage. So if you fail to drain the water system and damage occurs, you'll be left to pay for it yourself.
Every component in your water system needs to be drained, including:
- sink and drain taps
- shower heads
- toilet systems
- pipes and valves
- water heater
- water tanks
Thankfully, draining most of the systems is not difficult. First, open all of the drain taps and valves. Open all sink taps as well. Remove shower heads and waterspouts and, after you've let them sit a while to drain, store them with your drain plugs. Just make sure they are drained and dry before you store them.
For your water heaters and tanks, open all valves and connections to allow water to completely drain. There is more information on water heaters in the next section of this guide. It is important that you don't forget to disconnect water pump connections. Water trapped inside your pump can expand and damage internal components. With the pump disconnected, remove the filter cover as well. Store the cover in a safe place.
Not draining your water heater is a big mistake given that it is one of the most expensive components to replace. Boilers are not all designed the same way, so the method for draining your boiler may be unique. Three of the more common boiler types are as follows:
- Carver Boilers – You'll find the drain tap on the outside of the flue cowl.
- Truma Ultrastore Boilers – There is a yellow lever either in the boiler compartment or in a compartment nearby. Opening it will drain the tank.
- Truma Combi Boilers – This type of boiler is drained in one of two ways. If it doesn't drain identically to the Truma Ultrastore Boiler, then it will have an automatic drain valve located either in the boiler compartment or a compartment nearby. The valve will automatically drain at temperatures below 5°C.
If you are not sure how to drain your water tank, consult the manual that came with your motorhome. Consult with a professional if you still have questions. Remember, it is absolutely critical to make sure your water tank is fully drained.
It is necessary to ensure your motorhome's leisure batteries remain charged even if you are not camping in the winter. All batteries self-discharge and motorhome batteries often discharge fully within 2 to 3 weeks of non-use. Allowing batteries to fully discharge could damage them beyond recovery.
One way to keep your batteries charged is to hook your motorhome up to mains power for 24 hours every couple of weeks. In some motorhomes, this method does not charge the battery sufficiently, if at all. If this is the case with your motorhome, a separate DIY charger will do the job. You may have to charge for up to 48 hours if your charger has a low output.
Some of our customers store their motorhomes in private storage areas, creating the need to remove batteries during storage. Any such storage dictates the batteries be kept in a dry, well ventilated area. They should be charged monthly with a trickle charge. In the event you use private storage but cannot remove the batteries, make a point of taking your motorhome for a drive every few weeks. Drive it for 2 to 3 hours.
Draining water systems and paying proper attention to leisure batteries addresses the components that could cost you the most if damaged. However, you are not done yet. There are a number of other things you can and should do to prepare for winter:
- Top up the engine coolant antifreeze to protect the engine.
- Inflate all tyres to the correct pressure. Some experts recommend over inflating by 0.2 bar.
- Add an anti-freeze component to the windscreen washer tank.
- Switch off gas bottles. Disconnect and store in an upright position and in a well-ventilated area.
- Check ventilation holes to ensure they remain unobstructed. This will help manage moisture levels.
- Install fridge vent winter covers to keep out rain, snow, and rodents.
- If possible, use a convective heater for a few hours in the morning and evening (to prevent mildew).
- Pull upholstery away from walls (where possible) to prevent condensation damage.
- Remove any and all food from the van that could attract rodents.
- Clean the fridge. If you do not plan to camp over the winter, prop the door open to prevent mildew.
- Apply a light coat of silicone to locker hinges. This will fight off rust.
- Apply a tank cleaner to remove odours and lime in your toilet. Apply a lubricant to the lip seal.
- Prepare the exterior for winter storage by cleaning your motorhome with a specialised winter protection fluid. Consider a winter cover as well.
- Once parked, leave the motorhome in gear and chock the wheels. DO NOT apply the handbrake. The goal here is to prevent the brakes from binding while in storage.
- Take the motorhome for a drive every few weeks. This will protect the engine and transmission from damage caused by seized parts. It will also be good for the tyres. Be sure to fill the diesel tank after each trip to prevent condensation and vapour lock.
While it might seem like this list is much too long, you will discover that it all becomes second nature after you've done it a couple of times. With a little experience under your belt, you should be able to winterise your motorhome in a few hours.
Before we actually talk about winter touring, a word about coronavirus and COVID-19. We recommend not travelling whenever lockdown conditions exist. Stay home and stay safe. When it is safe to travel, feel free. Winter touring is an entirely different experience.
The practicalities of winter touring boil down to three things: water, heating, and your gas supply. Beginning with water, it is important that you take the steps necessary to ensure water continues to flow. Frozen tanks and pipes are not any better when you're touring.
Fresh Water Tank and Pipes
Many modern motorhomes have a subfloor underneath the main floor. The space in between is taken up by water systems. If yours has such an arrangement, you should have very little worries about freezing – as long as you are heating your motorhome.
In the absence of a subfloor, your fresh and wastewater tanks are at risk of freezing. It is no big deal to insulate the freshwater tank and discharge pipe. Insulating kits are available online and from motorhome dealers. Note that insulation alone may be ineffective if the temperature drops well below freezing and stays there for an extended amount of time.
You can consider installing a water tank heater if you do a lot of winter camping in areas where there are no hook-ups. Just remember that a tank heater draws a lot of power from your batteries. As for exposed water pipes, they can be protected with a combination of insulation and 12V pipe heaters.
Wastewater Tanks and Pipes
Insulation and a tank heater can prevent your wastewater tanks and pipes from freezing. For a lot of people though, extra effort and money invested in the wastewater system isn't worth it. They simply leave the drain open and allow wastewater to drain into a bucket. The bucket can be emptied as needed. If it freezes, no big deal.
Heating Your Motorhome
Motorhome owners unhappy with factory heating often supplement with an electric heater. This is all well and good at a campsite with hook-ups. Off grid, you may have to rely on your gas supply. Just bear in mind that heating systems use an awful lot of gas. If you have a dual-fuel heater, heating with diesel could be more cost-effective.
It is a good idea to keep your motorhome heater running during the day even if you are out and about. A temperature of around 10°C is adequate. This should prevent valves, taps, pipes, etc. from freezing. Winter camping at campsites with hook-ups resolves most of your heating issues. Use the campsite's electricity to keep your motorhome toasty warm around the clock.
Your Gas Supply
Most motorhomes in the UK utilise two different gas options. The blue bottle is typically butane while the red bottle is propane. Propane has a lower freezing point, making it the better choice for winter touring. If you plan to be out and about for long periods of time, you may have to replace your propane tank during the trip. Be sure to check out retail locations before you hit the road.
Here are a few more tips for making your motorhome more comfortable during the winter:
- Insulate internal components like roof lights and prop tops. Even inexpensive insulation is better than nothing.
- Insulate wheel arches as well. Wheel arches can be so thinly insulated that cold air still gets in.
- Use a windscreen cover to prevent condensation on the inside of the motorhome when cooking or washing.
- Lay down carpet or rugs to improve floor insulation.
- Despite the temptation to close vents to preserve heat, they need to remain open to guarantee an adequate supply of fresh air. This is especially true when using a gas heater.
Winter driving can be challenging in your car. It can be even more challenging with a motorhome. Here are some winter driving tips to keep you safe:
- Make sure your windscreen wash reservoir is full before you hit the road.
- Replace regular tyres with winter tyres that provide better grip in all conditions.
- When necessary, consider adding tyre chains for greater control.
- Match your speed to weather conditions. Give yourself extra distance to stop.
- Minimise distractions when driving. Keep your eyes and mind on the road.
Please note that some European countries require winter or all-season tyres during the winter months. Check with whatever countries you plan to visit for their specifications. You may discover that snow chains are required when local conditions get especially difficult. We recommend always carrying a set of chains for winter touring, even if you are not planning to visit a locale where they are recommended.
In closing out this guide, we want to offer a few suggestions for campsites that are open year-round. Again, be mindful of coronavirus lockdowns. Only visit these campsites when it is safe to do so.
1. Green Hill Farm Caravan and Camping Park - Salisbury, Wiltshire
Green Hill Farm isn't the largest campsite in the UK, but it is one of the most highly rated. This is an award-winning park set inside the New Forest National Park in south-central England.
2. Elm Cottage Touring Park - Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire
Elm Cottage is just a short distance from the Oulton Park race circuit in Cheshire. This well-kept and tidy park is open year-round to motorhomes and caravans. Family camping is only open from spring to autumn, meaning there will be fewer campers around during the winter months.
3. Highlands End Holiday Park - Bridport, Dorset
If you have ever wanted to camp on the coast, this park is for you. Motorhome pitches with hook-ups are available from mid-February through November. However, self-catered camping is available year-round. You can camp without hook-ups from November through mid-February.
