You would like to try camping in your van during winter? You don't want to store your van at the end of the year? You want to face the colder months and have some fun in the snow?
Make sure your fire extinguisher is not expired.
Carry an extra diesel/gasoline jerry can for emergencies.
Invest in good winter tires. You won't regret it.
Dress in layers.
Carry firewood for your wood stove or campfire.
Your engine's battery may get drained if you're parked for a long period of time.
Go for a drive and use the alternator charger to charge your house batteries. You will have trouble charging with solar during winter because the power is low.
Freezing rain on windows and solar panels is not funny.
Try not to fall off your ladder. You could break your ankle or neck. That's not good.
Good for getting unstuck, when you're stuck. Because you will get stuck in deep snow. I know.
Get this ingenious little camping gadget to make some hot tea in a second.
Sleep with the dog to keep you warm. If you have a dog, or a cat. If you're a real vanlifer you have a dog, or something like that.
Empty your fresh water tank, grey tank and plumbing systems because they will freeze. You absolutely want to prevent frozen pipes.
Go to truck stops, gyms or campgrounds (if they are open during winter) to take a hot shower. Otherwise, you can wash yourself with baby wipes.
A lot of campsites could be closed. Check online or call before you go to be sure they're open during the winter.
You can pee in a bottle when it's too cold out in the woods.
You can put your hot pee bottle under the covers to keep you warm! #SurvivalSkills
You could have a portable gas or propane generator if you're in a bigger bus or if you're going off-grid for a long period of time.
Always take a look at The Weather Network before taking the road. The conditions can get bad very quickly.
Winter driving can be tricky sometimes. Be careful on icy and snowy roads. Drive slowly and stay away from other vehicles.
Try to keep your van dry to avoid mold and moisture.
Good ventilation is important to reduce condensation. Crack a window or ceiling fan.
Wipe off the condensation from your windows and walls every morning.
It will be harder to refill your water because everything is frozen. You will have to carry your water jugs into a gas station or a restaurant and kindly ask the manager. You can also call a friend that lives nearby.
Parking for the night will be a challenge! You can still use apps like iOverlander but your spot could be buried in snow and you won't be able to access it.
You can stealth camp in residential streets or anywhere in the city but you have to be quiet. Arrive late at night and leave early in the morning. Do not cook dinner or get out of the van. Just park overnight and move on.
Your first aid kit has to be up to date. Accidents and injuries can easily happen on slippery terrain.
Dump stations will be closed during winter. It will be harder to dump your poo. You could poop in a bag instead of using your toilet. Ok that's gross, sorry!
If you hate shoveling snow and you don't like cold weather, you should drive south to Florida, California or Mexico to spend the winter months.
If you follow these simple rules, you will have a lot of fun. Get a well insulated van, good winter tires and a decent heating system. Be careful with winter driving on snowy and icy roads. Go slowly and stay far from other vehicles. You will have to deal with a lot of moisture inside your van during the cold climates. It is recommended to have a dry heat source like a wood stove to reduce moisture.
Winter van camping is getting more and more popular. There are a lot of ski resorts and year round campsites that are ready to welcome you. There is a lot of fun stuff to do during this beautiful season and winter sports are perfect to help you stay warm.
I hope this list was helpful. Now, you have to go out there and try it to see if this lifestyle is for you. Get your vanlife stuff ready and go live the adventure! Life is good! Enjoy the simple things and have fun!
Happy travels and see you on the road!
* updated on March 22, 2024
Photo by FRI.ontheroad
There are however a couple of snow lovers who are willing to face the freezing cold and continue to camp in their van during the winter. This lifestyle is getting more popular and a lot of people are brave enough to try it.
Photo by FRI.ontheroad
Sleeping in a metal box in the middle of nowhere during winter time doesn't sound comfortable! The most important piece of equipment you absolutely have to install in your van is a heating system. If you want to enjoy your experience and be comfortable, you have to invest in a decent heater. Campervan heating is the key to enjoying this season.
Here are the best diesel heaters, propane heaters and wood burning stoves recommended for winter van life.
Webasto offers the best camper van heater. It is the most efficient air heater you can find. It is simple to use and it provides hot air rapidly. It is very efficient and keeps a constant temperature in your bus or van. If you want some fresh air circulation in your vehicle, you can switch modes between heating and ventilation. It is reliable, performant and low on fuel consumption.
This is another very good diesel heater. It is a quiet and compact heating solution that provides hot air quickly. It performs well in high elevation and auto-adjusts up to 3000m. Perfect for a small space like your camper van.
Cubic Mini Wood Stoves is one of the best options on the market. Their smallest wood burning stove, the CUB model, is perfect for heating a small space under 200 square feet. It is ideal for removing humidity and for staying warm and cozy in the cold climates.The GRIZZLY model is slightly larger and is better for a van or bus with higher ceiling. Both models offer a glass door. It would be my number one choice if I had to change the heating system on my bus.
Tiny Wood Stove offers another campervan heating option. They offer several models specifically for bus and camper van conversions. The Small Stove The Dwarf model comes in different sizes and goes from 833$ to 1460$. They are energy efficient, easy to use and provide you with a nice cozy fire you can see through the glass door.
This is the most popular portable heater in America. It is reliable and safe, a good source of heat and it automatically shuts off if it tips over. It is a good portable option for van life to get warm air fast. Very simple to use, you turn the knob and push. You will have to buy small 1 lb propane cylinders in order to use it.
It is not recommended to run propane indoors. However, if this heater is used properly, there won’t be any problems. You have to be careful with carbon monoxide poisoning. Test your carbon monoxide detector and make sure you have proper ventilation in your van. You can crack a window or ceiling fan for some fresh air. Make sure you don't have any propane leaks.
This one is more powerful than the Portable Buddy Heater. It can be permanently mounted on a wall and the propane tank can be mounted outside at the back or under the vehicle. The product comes with radiant flame or blue flame. The blue flame heats the air. The radiant heats the surrounding objects, then the objects heat the air.
This heater is safe indoors but you have to be careful with carbon monoxide poisoning. Test your carbon monoxide detector and make sure you have proper ventilation in your van. You can crack a window or ceiling fan for some fresh air. Make sure you don't have any propane leaks.
Living the vanlife during winter is totally possible but you will have to break your piggy bank and get yourself a decent heater. They are not cheap but they are essential to keep you warm.
Photo by FRI.ontheroad
There are a lot of heating options out there and you have to choose which one suits your needs. Diesel air heaters are very efficient for a camper van. They can run directly from your van’s diesel tank or a separate auxiliary fuel tank. Webasto offers the best diesel heater and the Espar Airtronic is another excellent option. Portable propane heaters are okay but burning propane inside your van is not recommended. It can be totally safe with proper ventilation and make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working properly. There is nothing more comforting than a nice cozy fire. This is why wood burning stoves are great! They are efficient and fun to use.
The installation can be tricky because you have to drill a hole in your van. Therefore, it's totally worth it! The diesel air heater requires a hole in the floor for air intake, fuel line and exhaust. The wood stove requires a chimney pipe and you need a hole in the ceiling. The propane heater requires a little hole only if you want to mount the propane tank outside your van. It would be a safer option.
Photo by FRI.ontheroad
The most important thing for safety is the fire extinguisher! Do not forget to check the expiration date and keep it close and visible.
Keeping your van warm with diesel or propane can get very expensive over time. You could get an electric heater and plug your van in shore power on a camping spot or a friend’s house. It would be the cheapest option if you plan to heat your van for a long period of time.
In our bus, Blue Bird , the retired school bus, we have a custom made wood stove. It gets warm and cozy very quickly and it's nice to have a little fire right next to our bed. Even if it's not the most practical option, the wood stove is a great heating system for a bus. I love the experience! If I had a full size long school bus, an efficient diesel heater would be useful as a second unit. It would cover the back of the bus.
Happy travels and see you on the road!
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