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Top Tips for Touring

What to Expect When You Arrive at a Campsite

Hopefully a very warm welcome!

At medium-sized and larger touring parks plus club sites, you’ll almost certainly find a short-term parking area in which to pull up with your motorhome or caravan while you check in. Make sure that you’re not blocking the main entrance and exit. All of these parks will have a reception area, which may only be open at certain times of the day – in the morning for checking out and a couple of hours in the evening for checking in. If the reception is closed, there will be details of what to do – either a specific pitch will have been allocated for you, or you’ll be advised to find a vacant pitch you like the look of so you can set up and return to check in later. Wardens live on site 24 hours a day on all club sites.

Small, certificated five-van sites are linked to a specific organization and, as such, you must be a member of the relevant club to stay. Often you’ll be able to join upon arrival and, in any case, these are certainly sites that you make contact with prior to arrival. You may be asked for an estimated time of arrival to ensure that someone is around when you appear. But as these are generally people’s homes, a quick knock at the door to say ‘Hello’ before you pitch up is courteous. That said, as many five-van sites are on farms, you may find the owners busy so, pitch up in the designated area and return to the front door later – or you’ll find that the owner visits the site every evening.

At the very largest holiday parks (of which none are included in Cool Caravanning), where check-in may be on a specific day – with Saturday to Saturday bookings taken in peak season, for example – you may find check-in staff waiting on the approach road to direct you to the check-in area. Otherwise there will be a reception where you can check in and be provided with details of your pitch.

A ‘van for all seasons’

There’s no need to lock the door, shut the curtains and put your ‘van into storage for the winter. With so many campsites open all year, take time to make the most of the chilly season with these top tips and advice for winter touring.

1. Check all water pipes for leaks; it’s important to keep them above freezing to avoid costly damage. In below-freezing conditions, keep the waste drain tap open. If your ‘van does not have Grade III classification (see opposite), where the water tanks will be insulated, a fish tank heater can be placed in fresh water tanks to prevent freezing. Make sure that you drain down both the fresh (including the water heater) and waste water systems and keep taps open when the ‘van is not in use. If you’re using an external waste-water tank with a caravan in really cold weather, it’s worth purchasing an insulation blanket to prevent the contents from freezing. Keep a roll of ‘Rescue Tape’ (www.rescuetape.co.uk), used by the US military, in your ‘van for emergency repairs to leaking pipes. It’s self-fusing, and creates a permanent water- and air-tight seal around pipes.

2. Your ‘van heater may have the option to use gas or electric power. Be very careful using additional electric heaters on site to keep your ‘van warm; unless very low wattage, ideally they shouldn’t be used at all. Check the rating of the campsite hook-up first, or you may find that you overload the circuit and leave fellow campers out in the cold!

3. Airing all soft furnishings in addition to bedding prior to a trip away will prevent them from feeling damp when you get into bed. Remember to keep some ventilation in your ‘van during your stay or condensation will build, causing mould and damp upholstery/bedclothes.

4. Keep an eye on air vents to ensure they don’t become blocked by fallen leaves or snow. Don’t be tempted to cover up external vents; they’re there for a purpose. It is possible to obtain a winter cover for fridge vents that aids performance in cold weather.

5. Add additional rugs and carpets to the floor for extra insulation and incorporate scatter cushions and throws into a living area to make it feel cosy. Keeping the blinds and curtains pulled during the day when it’s not sunny will help to insulate the ‘van and keep warmth in. Don’t forget the roof blinds too.

6. Use products to keep the exterior of your van ‘healthy’ such as Fenwick’s Overwintering Exterior, which will provide a protective wax coating and will protect your ‘van from winter dirt.

7. Ensure that you’re using propane gas rather than butane, which won’t work below freezing – and make sure that you have a spare bottle ready to go with a quick changeover.

8. Keep a winter touring emergency kit with you so that you’re fully prepared for poor road conditions or staying on site. A (plastic) shovel is essential but it should also include de-icer, an ice scraper and a brush. Carry wheel grip mats (such as Milenco or Fiamma). They’re useful to get traction started in slippery conditions – whether ice or a muddy field.

9. Make sure that you remove any snow build-up from the roof of your ‘van before driving off. The police – or indeed other motorists – don’t take too kindly to large amounts of the white stuff flying off while driving.

10. Towing a caravan is not recommended in icy or snowy conditions, but if it’s absolutely essential that you do so, add something clearly visible to the front and rear. Being (generally) white, they tend to blend into the environment and can be hard to spot by other motorists. When driving a motorhome, reduce your speed considerably and increase your braking time. If your motorhome starts to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and brake, and gently steer in the direction you’d like to go. Only apply the brakes once you feel the vehicle regain traction. Alternatively, sit tight at your campsite and enjoy an extra few days’ camping!

Grade III Classification

This is the highest industry standard for both insulation and heating. In addition to superb energy efficiency, it means that the water system will still work when the outside temperature is -15˚C. Until recently, ‘vans with Grade III classification have tended to be large coach-built motorhomes and premium-range caravans, but now many more mid-range caravans, motorhomes and campervan conversions have been awarded with the NCC EN 1646-1 Grade III classification for heating and thermal insulation.

Before any ‘van can be granted its Grade III classification, the vehicle or unit has to be rigorously tested in a specially designed cold chamber facility, where it will be subjected to -15°C. The interior of the ‘van must heat up to +20°C within four hours and be maintained at a stable temperature for a further hour. The water system must also work with a similar outside temperature. The test confirms that the ‘vans are capable of maintaining a comfortable internal temperature for all-year-round touring, keeping owners warmer in winter and cooler in summer.