Motorhome in winter - winter camping or winter storage? If you have a motorhome, what do you do? This year we're doing neither, in fact, and it looks like we'll end up somewhere in between.
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ShareWinter camping?
When we bought our motorhome second-hand in 2008, it came with winter tyres. We used them a few times in the first few years, maybe not so much for winter camping but more because we were longing for the spring season. In February 2011, for example, we took a small winter walk to Trosa, which, by the way, is very cosy.
We talked a few times about really winter camping, maybe for skiing or something, but we soon decided to have the camper for three seasons: spring, summer and autumn. It takes a lot of LPG to heat our motorhome when it's really cold and we felt that our interest in winter camping was not high enough to keep putting on and taking off winter tyres and so on.
After a while we got rid of the winter tyres. So there will be no winter camping for us, but if you want tips on winter camping, you can read our interview with Camilla Gunnarsson, who is an experienced winter camper:
Motorhome in winter - winter storage?
Most winters, we have stored our motorhome for the winter in some way. The best way is of course to store the motorhome indoors. Some winters we have found a garage where the motorhome can be stored. Last winter, the motorhome was in a garage in Värmland. This was of course good for the motorhome, but on the other hand it was a bit far and cumbersome to drop off and pick up. I (Helena) do not have a driving licence, so it was excursion to Värmland by train when the motorhome was to be picked up.
In other winters, our motorhome has been left outside. It works, of course, even if it's not completely optimal. It is quite tough for the motorhome to stand outside in the cold, and we have noticed, for example, that the windows have taken a beating. Some windows have small, small light cracks around the "handles" where you open and close them. One winter we put a plastic cushion around the whole car, which maybe at least protected it a bit.
Motorhome in winter - what to do this year?
We had initially thought that we would store the motorhome indoors for the winter this year, but this is not the case. We no longer have a regular car, so it's not a bad idea to have the motorhome "as a car" sometimes. Electric bikes works for the vast majority of the errands we do, but the campervan is good if we have to drive a bit further.
We hope for a mild winter. From 1 December to 31 March, you must use winter tyres if there is winter road conditions, according to the Transport Agencybut that's not always the case. As long as it's above freezing, we can use the motorhome when we need to, and as long as we drive it from time to time, it stays running.
IF it's a real wolf winter, we may have to give the motorhome some love by starting it on site or taking out a fan heater. The picture below is from northern Skåne, when we came back from our 1 year long Europe trip in November 2015. We slept with friends and when we woke up the next morning we got a shock! Maybe the winter weather will come to Stockholm this year, who knows, but usually it only stays for a few weeks.
If you have a motorhome, how do you use your motorhome in winter? Do you winter-camp or winter-store it?
You might also like:
Motorhome/caravan kitchen - tips and upcoming products
How we solved the problem of grey water in the camper van
Motorhome/caravan bathroom - tips and upcoming products
Finally here - new products with motorhome and caravan motifs
Spring cleaning your motorhome - preparing for your spring trip
Winter motorhome storage - our 10 top tips
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Solan says:
We usually store the car in Spain for the winter, but this year it is on electricity in a barn. Feels good!
However, we use all-season tyres. There are different opinions about this, but for us it works.
We can manage without a car, excellent transport links where we live...
🚉 🚲 🚍✈🌝
06 December 2020 - 9:23
Helena says:
It sounds nice that your house can stand with electricity in the barn!!! We also think that we can manage without a car really, but this year was a bit special when you do not want to go public transport as much. But the electric bikes often work 🙂
06 December 2020 - 12:06
Solan says:
Here I only use the commuter train/transfer railway, which works ok. Skipping the subway/bus. Good thing you can work from the boat.
06 December 2020 - 22:54
Matts+Torebring says:
We ourselves had a big house for 29 years, but too little land to build a garage for the camper... For many years we struggled to buy a deserted wooded neighbouring plot. I wanted to make a few guest parking spaces and build a garage. We were totally opposed, by just a few people. Eventually we got fed up, sold everything and moved away.
Instead, we built our dream house, placed on the dream plot five years ago, now this became reality. For everything to become reality, it was priority one, that it would be a motorhome garage with heating, and black water drainage in the floor. Words are not enough to describe how happy we are about this. Now the motorhome stands in +10 degree heat, no worries about frost damage, just security, Ditec treated clean, nice and waiting for spring.
We also bought six (expensive) winter tyres mounted on stainless steel wheel sides. Last winter we stood still and lived in the camper van, throughout the winter, as we built our dream house. The winter tyres are still unmounted at the "Tyre Hotel"... I still don't feel tempted to go out, we have it so wonderful at home.
06 December 2020 - 9:34
Helena says:
Yes, I remember how you fought and were opposed!!! It's good that it all finally got a solution, albeit a completely different one. Your motorhome is doing really well now!!!
06 December 2020 - 12:10
Peter says:
Our car is at home without any special protection. It's nice to be able to get away if it's bare ground and the urge strikes. When we had a caravan, they were also outside and so far we have not had any problems that we have not caused ourselves...
06 December 2020 - 9:53
Helena says:
Yes, a little convenient to be able to stand out when you want to! Nice that you have not had any problems! As I said, we have noticed a little on the windows, but we will try to keep an eye on it this year!
06 December 2020 - 12:11
Annar+Aas says:
We keep the car on the plot, ready to be used as soon as we have time and desire. Year-round tyres work great and in February it will be Funäsdalen again. Skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Wonderful for the old body. Christmas we meet friends in the same age and risk group as me. New Year at Hönö Klåva. The wife who works in the health care and had Coronan decides when we travel. We cover the roof and have heat on in the car. The whole year-round car.
06 December 2020 - 10:42
JoY says:
As little as we drove this year, has never happened since we got a motorhome in the early 2000s. Very sad when the refrigerator broke on the autumn trip to the north and the spare part took time to get, 4 months. Otherwise, it is ready to start at home and we hope to go out on a short roll eventually if, have winter tyres on.
Have a nice weekend
06 December 2020 - 10:52
Maggan says:
Our motorhome has all-round tyres and for the last 9 years has been in Spain during the winter. Last autumn we went home in November, and then in the spring we went out again....or so we thought. This year it has been outside and will continue to do so. Over the years we have had both caravans and motorhomes outside. Never had mice or other problems with it. We sometimes use electricity to heat it, but even that costs money. If we want to go out, we just switch on the electricity and heat it up and then leave. Feels good to us.
06 December 2020 - 10:59
Peter Petersson says:
We live in our motorhome and drive as much in winter as in summer. Winter has an advantage, it is never full anywhere and quite cosy to start a fire and sit outside and grill where it is appropriate, we often change environment and like to experience things even in winter. Think life has become much easier to live since we sold the house and avoid all the musts and maintenance that must be done, we have more time for each other and enjoy each other's company.
We feel that more and more people have come up with the idea of driving in winter.
@lifeonwheels_sussopeter
/Susanne & Peter
06 December 2020 - 11:01
Peter & Susanne says:
We live full-time in our car and drive as much in winter as in summer.
The winter can even be a little easier as there is no direct wood, easier to find places so... Best thing we did when we sold the house and all the musts disappeared as maintenance of both gadgets and house.
More time for each other, which is good as we enjoy each other's company. We also realise that more and more people are driving all year round.
@lifeonwheels_sussopeter
/Peter & Susanne
06 December 2020 - 16:20
BP says:
Then both you and I hope for another green winter, but for completely different reasons.
06 December 2020 - 17:49
Kors och Tvärs says:
Before we started travelling to Spain during the winters, we had an annual pitch at the campsite. However, the car was cancelled during the winter and we had no electricity. Swept the snow off the roof if there was any. We thought that if all traders store their stock outdoors, we must also be able to do so. The main thing is that it is emptied of food (read crumbs because of mice) and water so that nothing freezes.
07 December 2020 - 7:37
Hasse says:
Always been outdoors, but this year it had to be indoors. Partly because the ongoing pandemic does not attract any more skiing this winter, but also to try to be without it for a few months. Merry Christmas to you!
18 December 2020 - 12:00