Before purchasing my first folding camper, I had a concern that it was just going to sit in my garage or on my driveway during the colder months of the year. I found out if folding campers are warm and how a camper can be kept warm if it isn’t naturally warm.
Are folding campers warm? No, folding campers are not warm in the winter months and during the night. Folding campers are warmer than tents, but typically colder than caravans. There are several ways that you can keep your camper warm in the colder months and at night, such as using oil filled radiators.
If you want to use your folding camper all year round, through research and trying different things, I have discovered many ways to keep a camper toasty 24 hours a day, no matter the time of year.
How to Keep Your Folding Camper Warm
There is no insulation in the canvas of your folding camper, so you may find that it is cold at night even during the warmer times of the year. Fortunately, it is easy to keep your camper warm. Here’s a list of some ways that you can warm up your folding camper, no matter the time of year.
- Use oil-filled radiators – up to 500 kwh for a very important reason
- Use electric mattress pads and blankets
- Insulate your folding camper
- Wear warm sleepwear
- Pitch in a protected area
5 Tips for Keeping Your Folding Camper Warm, Even During Winter
#1: Use 500w oil-filled radiators. An oil-filled radiator will rapidly increase the temperature of a camper of any size. If you keep the radiator on throughout the night, the radiator will keep your folding camper warm.
It is important that you use 500w oil-filled radiators, rather than a radiator requiring more wattage to generate heat. If you are stopping at campsites in the UK, it’s imperative to remember that most campsites give you a maximum of 16 Amps to power all of your electrical items. If you have a 2000w radiator taking 230V, it will draw approximately 8.6 Amps. Most campsites in Europe and the US only have a 10 – 16 Amp supply available, so a big radiator would use virtually all of your energy.
A 500w radiator will still heat your folding camper, albeit at a slower rate. By using a larger radiator, your camper could try to draw too much power resulting in an outage.
I personally use a De’Longhi 500w oil radiator in my folding camper. It’s a great brand and I’ve found it heats my folding camper very well. It’s got overheat protection as well, so I normally leave it on overnight. I’ve linked to the radiator I use below, as you can find it on Amazon.
#2: Use electric mattress pads and blankets. In my experience, you only realise how cold your camper is when you go to bed. That is why it’s so important to keep your sleeping area as warm as possible. By using electric mattress pads and blankets, you’ll stay warm and cosy all night long.
When you are camping with an electric hook up (often known as EHU), it is important to be aware of how much power is available. All campsites offering electric hook up will have an electric supply fitted with a MCB – miniature circuit breaker. If you plug too much in, you could trip not only your own electrics but also anyone else’s using the same electric point. Fortunately, the average electric mattress pad only consumes approximately 180 watts, so you can typically use them without worrying about tripping your electrics.
While you could also use heated blankets, electric mattress pads will sufficiently heat your mattress and your blankets before you get into it. You’ll be able to sleep in warmth and comfort using electric mattress pads.
I use this Russell Hobbs electric under blanket in my folding camper. It has an automatic safety cutoff, so you can use it throughout the evening without worrying about keeping an eye on it. You can find it here on Currys if you’re based in the UK.
I also use a Dreamland heated mattress pad, but these are a little more expensive than electric blankets such as the Russell Hobbs one I use. However, it’s well worth the money if you use your folding camper a lot in the winter, as it quickly heats up your bed.
#3: Insulate your folding camper. Your folding camper won’t have much insulation built in, so it’s crucial to insulate your camper as soon as possible. Camping can also be cold during the summer without insulation, so investing the effort into insulating your camper will ensure your trips are enjoyable all year round.
These are some examples of great ways to insulate your camper:
- Line the windows with reflectix
- Use a rug or carpet to insulate the floors
- Install underskirting under your camper
Reflectix is a thin material that reflects radiant energy. It is best to line the windows of your camper with reflectix as it keeps warmth in while preventing cold air sneaking in. Reflectix is also good in the summer months, as the reflective material prevents your camper from becoming too hot when the sun is on it.
Insulating the floor of your camper is very important. After heating my own camper in the past, it seemingly became cold quickly again. As soon as I started using a rug to insulate the floor, the camper began to retain heat better. You don’t need an expensive rug to insulate the floor of your camper; a cheap rug will do the job just as effectively as an expensive one.
Particularly when camping in the winter, insulating the underneath of your camper is pivotal. Insulating underneath your camper prevents cold air from circulating and cooling down the camper. If cold air is allowed to circulate, it will cool down the rest of your camper regardless of the internal insulation that you have installed.
There are plenty of videos on YouTube, such as this one, that you can follow to insulate your camper. Buying the products you need to insulate is easy, as you can find them all on Amazon, Ebay and other online marketplaces.
#4: Wear warm sleepwear. This one is pretty self-explanatory. No matter the time of year, you should always ensure that you pack warm clothing and warm sleepwear in particular. I’ve found that sleeping in my folding camper can be cold even during my summer camping adventures. That’s why you should take clothing suitable for all weather conditions and temperatures. At a minimum you should always try and take:
- Midweight base layers
- Fleece pants
- A warm, puffy coat
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Warm socks
- Hat and gloves
- Warm sleepwear
I buy most of my gear from either Go Outdoors or Camping World. Camping World’s generally my favourite place to shop, but Go Outdoors has a wider range of products generally speaking.
#5: Pitch in a protected area. If you’re stopping at a campsite in your folding camper during the winter months, always try to pick a sheltered spot before you start putting your camper up. Although insulation is extremely effective, it will be far more effective if you put up your folding camper in an area that is sheltered from the worst of the rain, snow and wind.
When I first went away in winter with my folding camper, I didn’t consider how important shelter is. Shelter from the worst of the rain and wind is important as it helps to keep your camper warm but also makes the job of putting it up and taking it down much easier.
Here are 3 key tips for pitching your folding camper in the right position:
- Level ground
- Ground sheltered from the wind
- No overhead hazards
If you follow the above tips, you will be able to put up your folding camper in a protected position where the worst of the weather is avoided.
Folding Campers Can Be Warm
Folding campers are warm with a bit of effort, as you can see. Don’t let your camper just sit on your drive or in your garage for months on end; get out and explore the world with my tips in mind and you’ll be warm and cosy no matter the weather.
