Winterising your van?

[TONUP]

It's unlikely that I will be taking the van out again this year, so I have decided to clean it up and put it away on my drive for the winter.

Does anybody do anything else other what I have listed below when putting their van away for winter. Mine is left outdoors on the drive...

- Drain the heater
- Drain the flush
- Remove the battery
- Leave all the taps open

Regards

Alan

[Timbo_1975]

Keep it plugged in and a small heater on set at say 5 deg C to keep the moisture out???

[zippy656]

ours gets a service, and they do all that.

drain every thing and unplug as much as posable,

hearter set to frost a good idea, even better if you can plun in to next doors garage.. :naughty:naughty

[Paul]

Keep it plugged in and a small heater on set at say 5 deg C to keep the moisture out???
If not, put 2 bowls of salt inside the van, they act as a great dehumidifier.

[lacroupade]

...and don't forget to let the wife and kids out.

:lol:lol:lol:lol

[BigBlack]

I aint got no power to my van so put plenty of salt in it, drain everything down - toliet, heaters etc, take out the carbon filter (they have a habbit of holding water, then freezing and cracking!) open the taps, but put the plugs in the sinks to stop any smells. Empty all tins and sprays out of the cupboards (then tend to rust and leave marks) give the fridge a good clean and leave the door wide open.
Open the flush on the cassette toilet, and smear some olive oil on the rubbers.
Open all the cupboards and draws to let air circulate, stand all seats and backrests up in the middle of the van to let air circulate.

Chock the wheels, and release the handbrake. :thumbs

The final thing it to ratchet strap the caravan to the floor.... it gets damn windy where its kept, and actually once moved the van!!!!! :eek::eek:

[Adz]

With my mobile home i also put anti-freeze in the loo / sinks / shower & that way what little water is Left in there after Ive drained & left everything open it wont crack the pipes or bugger the boiler :D :thumbs
Bit different to a tin can though i suppose :nenau :confused:

& once i move out this year on the 22/11/09 i wont be going back as i now have a bungalow in Maylandsea :D

[TONUP]

Thanks for all of the tips guys.

Alan

[CaptLimey]

Hi Tonup
I've also heard of folk blowing (pumped/compressed air or such?) through their water pipe systems to ensure that they are free of water that might freeze and split them. This is my first 'van winter so I'll be heeding all the good advice above, many thanks.
Rgds CL

[BigBlack]

CaptLimey,

I find it alot easier to remove all bungs before setting of home from last outing, with the 'van bouncing about all the way home it gets rid of 99% of the water left in the systems.... just remember to keep the 'bungs' safe and put them back in once home!!! :augie

[(RIP) PLANK]

I get confused calling a caravan a van, perhaps as i also have a van?

anyway i never use on board water stuff so no need to drain, my winter preperations are: buy more gas :thumb2

[wildbri]

Dont forget to uncouple the shower head and tube as water stays in the tube when it is hanging up. My caravan is plugged in the mains all the time so I leave the battery in and switch the charger on for 24 hrs each month. I also put the upholstery in the garage where its warm and dry regards bri

[Deleted account DD]

If one end of a pipeline is open eg the draincock for the water heater , any fluid left in has room to expand and escape if it freezes. Thats all you need to do.

Prior to having a van with a water heater I never used to bother with any fannying about and had no problems. Now we've got the all singing dancing van I just drain it and leave it, again no problems.

As far as putting anti freeze in, why bother? theres probably nothing to freeze if youve drained it. There are several seals in the sytem that arent designed to take anti freeze and other chemicals though :augie

[Deleted account DD]

Hi Tonup
I've also heard of folk blowing (pumped/compressed air or such?) through their water pipe systems to ensure that they are free of water that might freeze and split them.



Absolute complete waste of time. maybe theoretically good but in practice, probably a waste of beer drinking time :D

[Deleted account DD]

I get confused calling a caravan a van, perhaps as i also have a van?



its a 'van for lazy typists and poor spellers loke mee :D

[Deleted account DD]

the fridge a good clean and leave the door wide open.

Open all the cupboards and draws to let air circulate, stand all seats and backrests up in the middle of the van to let air circulate.

Chock the wheels, and release the handbrake. :thumbs



All good stuff :thumb2

[(RIP) PLANK]

well the 'van' thing confused me! but now i'm lost!

If i leave the fridge door open, my beer will get warm!

If i leave the upholstery in the garage where will i sleep?

If i charge the battery once month how will i watch the telly or read a book?

If i leave all the cupboard doors open surely i will bang my head or my socks will fall out?

NO, jst more gas, oh and a bottle of brandy, maybe even a nice single malt, thats all you need, forget all the rest :thumb2

[CaptLimey]

Nice one PLANK - good to see you back.
Rgds CL

[(RIP) PLANK]

Nice one PLANK - good to see you back.
Rgds CL

:):):):):):):):):)

[millie2]

Hi dave hows your van now mine is gettimg worse but i do the same just open drains and leave taps open and plugs in

[(RIP) PLANK]

so how did all your "vans" survive the winter? Mine did ok, just as well as i was in it ;)

[MudLifeCrisis]

My van has no problems from the freeze but as a dealer we have had lots of people with cracked taps , filters and damaged water heaters.

Some will never learn.

Brian

[Paul]

Ours is ok, was alot stored with ours that are damaged though..:doh

[BigBlack]

Oooo.... I'll get to find out next weekend when I go to give it a clean and check over!
Hope noughts wrong, going away at the end of the month to that there 'Welshland'

Parents have got a brand new Bailey Senator, came to fill the onboard watertank and flooded the inside... pump had b*ggered! They phoned local dealers and they were having to order more in due to customer demand :doh

[briggie]

our family have a static , and haven will do this for you if you wish , plus they put some moisture attracting crystals in a couple of tubs around the caravan , disconnect from electric /gas/water... ive heard some owners who put a little antifreeze in the toilet cistern :eek: , but we dont , we just drain the water completely , also we leave the fridge door open , as well as remove the seating cushions and place in a pile in the middle of the floor , same with mattresses . hope this helps .

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

I'm with Plank on this why park caravan up, when you've got an all weather tug?

get out there, crikey in our soup of seasons, how do you tell when its winter
anyway...I know how I do, theres a lot more room on the sites without all those
part timers taking up space...

get thee sen some propane and crank that heater up, lovely n cosy in no time.

[briggie]

ive heard a rumour that summer will be on a wednesday this year , sometime around july , and about 2 pm .

[zippy656]

nope

last two weeks in august!

oh Im a way then.. that lucky

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

yeah and 30 degrees, 15 in the morning.......and 15 in the afternoon

better de rust the bbq

[ChefClay]

No need to bother with any of the advice, just use the van through the winter like we do!

[rustic]

Winterising a boat is similar to a caravan, but there is more moisture around you, I use 4 water apsorption crystal packs, and top them up.
The biggest risk is the Paloma water heater, you have to drain this fully and I slacken the 4 screws on the water temperature valve, since one winter it froze and bent the assembly.. £40 for a new one and few spares available now.

[(RIP) PLANK]

water heater? you stand mine on the cooker, also known as a kettle!

like i said whisky, gas for cooking, and chop more wood for the stove :thumbs