Choosing A Camper – Page 3 – Folding Camper World

After investing in my folding camper, I didn't want it to be sat around during the winter months without getting used. I decided to find out how I could still get enjoyment from my camper despite the weather. Can a folding camper be used in the winter? Yes, a folding camper can be used in the winter, if you take steps to protect your camper from the elements. Before using my folding camper during the winter, I knew that it was important to take steps to protect it. Below I'm going to explain some of the ways that you can use your folding camper in the winter as enjoyably as you would in the summer and answer some of your burning questions. Can I Use My Folding Camper In The Winter Without Modifications? Winter camping. Image from: lifeundersky.com While you can use your folding camper in the winter, it's important that you make modifications so that it doesn't become damaged. It's also hard to camp in a folding camper that hasn't been modified because it's so cold! The first winter that I had my folding camper, I decided to take it out for a weekend away. While my family and I had a great weekend, for the most part, it was very difficult to keep our camper warm and at times it was uncomfortably cold. I've created a blog post specifically about keeping your folding camper warm which you can view here, but here are some quick tips for keeping your camper warm in the winter. #1. Use radiators and fans. Both radiators and fans can heat your folding camper safely and effectively. When using a folding camper, I would always advise that you choose a 500w heater as these don't use too much of your electric supply. If you need to quickly heat your folding camper, a fan will do the job better than an oil-filled radiator will. It's important to remember that you can leave oil-filled radiators unattended, but you can't with fan heaters. If you need to maintain the heat of your camper throughout the night, ensure that you don't use a fan heater. One of the best fan heaters I have used is the Kampa Diddy Heater. This is the perfect size heater to take with you on any kind of camping trip and is also ideal to use in your folding camper. It is energy efficient and also has two heat settings so you can adjust the heat as you need it. #2. Look out for air leaks. Before heating your camper, you need to make sure that it is actually fit to hold heat. If your camper won't hold heat, you'll waste the energy available to you heating a camper that just won't stay warm. Some folding campers will have small air leaks that can have a big impact on how warm your camper stays. If you have air leaks around the doors and windows of your folding camper, you will find that no matter what you do the temperature of your camper will rapidly decrease. #3. Pitch in a protected area. If you are stopping at a campsite during the winter, you should always try and pick a sheltered spot before you put your camper up. Shelter is a really important factor when it comes to keeping your folding camper warm because all the insulation in the world will lose its effectiveness if your camper is barraged by rain, snow, and wind. Here are some tips for pitching your camper in the perfect area: Choose level groundSelect an area that is sheltered from the windMake sure there are no overhead hazards, such as trees, that could fall and damage your camper Preparing For Using Your Folding Camper In Winter Folding camper. Image from: flickr.com You can easily use your folding camper in winter provided that you put in the necessary preparation beforehand. Preparation is imperative to ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable. Here are some ways that you can prepare yourself for your winter break in your folding camper. Keep an eye on the weather conditions. No matter where you are travelling during the winter, it is important to keep an eye on the weather conditions. You should also do all that you can to learn about the area that you are going to stop before you travel there. An easy way to keep an eye on the weather is to use a resource such as a weather app on your phone. Most weather apps on phones are regularly updated with the latest weather reports, so even if the weather looks set to take a nasty turn you will find out about it quickly. If the weather reports look really bad, make a decision as to whether you should pack up and travel elsewhere. Although folding campers are sturdier than tents for the most part, they're not fit to face terrible weather conditions. If you were already intending to take down your camper soon, try and take down your camper before any heavy rain. You don't want to be taking down your folding camper in heavy rain and you don't want to be packing the canvas away whilst it is soaking. Bring warm clothing. No matter the insulation installed on and in your camper and the measures you take to keep your camper toasty, nothing beats a cosy night in wearing warm winter clothing. Even if you're struggling to keep your folding camper at an ideal temperature, wearing comfortable cold weather clothing can keep you warm. Make sure you pack plenty of blankets and clothing. It's an unfortunate fact of life that your folding camper will become cold during your winter adventures, so prepare by bringing suitable clothing. Don't just bring warm pyjamas for when you're lounging around your camper - make sure you have warm clothing for when you go out too. It's particularly important to ensure you bring waterproof clothing when using your camper during the winter. I would recommend a good quality insulated jacket such as the Packlite Alpinist Down Jacket. This is a very practical jacket as it isn't bulky like other insulated jackets, which means it will feel comfortable to wear and doesn't feel restrictive while also keeping you warm and waterproof. You can find this jacket here on Go Outdoors. When the weather isn't the best, you won't be able to hang out wet clothes to dry them like you would be able to do during the summer. Expect the unexpected. What a great saying - expect the unexpected! However, if you are going away in your camper during the winter, you really must ensure you have an enjoyable stay at your destination. You never know what's going to happen when you are using a folding camper during the winter. From power cuts to canvas damage, it's important to be aware of the potential emergency situations. Whenever you travel in your folding camper, there are a few essentials that you should make sure you have. You should always have a pack of emergency gear that you can rely on should you find yourself in an unexpected situation. Here are some examples of emergency gear that you should take when using your folding camper during the winter: Non-perishable foodClean drinking waterCandlesFirst-aid kitBackup power supply Emergency gearRecommendationsNon-perishable foodWhen I go away in my folding camper, I personally like to take Trekmates Adventure Food. They have a lar variety of food like muesli, pasta bolognese and even mince beef hotpot. All you have to do is add boiling water, making it convenient for camping. Clean drinking waterThe Outwell Collaps Water Carrier is an excellent way to ensure you have enough clean drinking water stored with you in case you don't have access to any. The reason why I love this product is that it collapses down to make it easy to store. CandlesI personally use the Hi-Gear Citronella Bucket Candle. Its bucket design makes it easy to carry around while having up to 36 hours of burn time, making it perfect for repelling mosquitos and insects during your trip. First-aid kitI use the Technicals Deluxe First Aid Kit. It is designed to take along with you for any type of outdoor activity and has everything you might need in case of an injury. You can find it on Go Outdoors.Back-up power supply The backup power supply I use to power my portable fridge in case my main power supply fails is the Totalpower Portable Lithium Power Technology. It has some of the highest quality components which makes the high price worth it. The above are just examples of some resources that you should take with you for your winter adventures. There are loads of other items, such as torches and maps, that you should also take dependent on the circumstances. Related Questions Folding camper. Image from: obicampingandleisure.co.uk Should I insulate my folding camper? When using your folding camper during the winter, you should always make efforts to insulate your camper. Here are some great ways that you can insulate your folding camper: Use rugs and carpets to stop the cold coming through the floorInstall underskirting underneath your camper to prevent air from circulatingLine the windows with insulation material such as reflectix I wrote about insulating your camper more comprehensively in this blog post if you'd like more detail on folding camper insulation. Can I stow my folding camper damp? Although you should try to avoid stowing your folding camper while it is damp, it is possible to do so. I've had to stow my folding camper damp on numerous occasions. Sometimes it's just completely unavoidable, particularly when camping during the winter. If you do stow your camper while it is damp, open it when you get home to allow it to dry out. Usually, hanging the canvas out in your garage does the trick. How do I deal with condensation? Leaving a window open very slightly can help air flow to prevent too much condensation in your folding camper. Don't open all the windows though, or you'll end up with a cold camper!