In the event you’ve ever needed to take your motorhome snowboarding or park up within the mountains over winter, this publish is for you!
Learn to winterise your motorhome & put together for snow and dwelling in excessive chilly. We additionally discuss find out how to discover in a single day parking locations for vans, aires or campsites throughout winter, find out how to handle energy throughout winter vanlife, issues to organise earlier than you allow and getting probably the most out of ski tenting.
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Motorhome skiing- what’s it?
One of many issues I like most about travelling in my motorhome is the liberty. The power to go the place I would like, once I wish to (world pandemics apart!)
I spend lots of time touring Europe in a motorhome and I prefer to assume I’m pretty good at adapting to my atmosphere. I’m fairly self-sufficient, know find out how to keep off-grid for a number of days with out concern and may handle energy, water, waste and all that different stuff which comes with expertise.
However…
There’s something about staying in a motorhome up excessive within the mountains, whereas temperatures drop properly under freezing, snow falls (lots!) and issues get much more inaccessible which is a completely totally different kind of vanlife.
Your choices are fewer and you must be rather more ‘on the ball’ with issues like campervan heating and taking good care of your car.
That is motorhome snowboarding (or ski tenting, because the Europeans name it).
So, what’s the large cope with motorhome snowboarding?
I’ve executed lots of winter highway journeys within the UK. I’ve been within the mountains in Europe as late as December, and once more in March. Each occasions there was snow, however I didn’t keep longer than a day and it wasn’t proper within the coronary heart of the chilly season.
A few years in the past, I had an epic winter highway journey in Europe and spent per week at Mont Dore in central (ish) France, and had a VERY steep studying curve each earlier than I went and while I had been there.
On this publish, I wish to share with you the largest ideas and tips learnt for dwelling in a motorhome over winter.
My fears earlier than we headed to the snow…
My greatest concern is whether or not the motorhome (a UK-built Swift 685) shall be as much as the rigours of winter motorhome dwelling in such a chilly, hostile atmosphere.
Would I be heat sufficient? Will the methods cope? What preparation do I have to do prematurely to make life simpler? What occurs if all of it goes fallacious?
To assist educate myself, I spoke to somebody who has spent months in mountains over winter. In truth, 95% of all her time in a motorhome EVER has been throughout winter.
Please notice that winterising your motorhome to be used in mountains just like the Alps is NOT the identical as getting ready your van to be used within the UK all through winter- that’s a lot simpler and also you don’t have to do a lot of the steps talked about under.
In the event you’re not going to be utilizing your van for a couple of weeks, I extremely advocate shutting it down safely to keep away from burst pipework or harm. Learn my step-by-step information to winter shutdown right here.
Motorhome snowboarding and winterising your motorhome video
Watch the video chat with Hannah from winterised.com and snomadsites.com. In the event you want to learn or need extra info on factors mentioned within the video, you’ll discover them under.
We hope you discovered the video helpful. In the event you did, why not comply with us on Youtube. We share new movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe weekly, plus highway journey concepts and epic locations.
Motorhome & Campervan skiing- important ideas & jobs to do to organize for winter within the mountains
As mentioned within the video above, listed below are some tricks to put together your motorhome or camper for winter spent within the mountains. A few of them genuinely are life-saving; getting caught in temperatures and situations like these with out being ready isn’t any joke.
Winterise & Put together your car
It’s extremely probably that your motorhome or campervan is not going to be ample in its present state (except you obtain one particularly for winter use!)
Due to this fact, you’re going to wish to do some work to it to get it snow-ready!
Insulating your motorhome
Apparently, the traditional ‘gray’ lagging insulation just isn’t sufficient. The black model (known as Armaflex) is the one to get- accessible from most European {hardware} shops or Amazon. Locations to focus on embody:
- Exterior water tanks and pipework (It’s value including some to inner water tanks too should you can)
- Any pipework which runs alongside the ground (that’s most of it!)
- Wheel arches
- The ground– attempt to create a ‘double ground’ impact utilizing insulated matting the place you may, or use carpet items
Important GEAR to take
There are some belongings you NEED to carry- and a few belongings you SHOULD carry to make life simpler for you!
This isn’t an exhaustive checklist, however a superb place to begin consists of:
Utilizing your motorhome throughout winter
It’s vital to do not forget that how you employ your motorhome between spring-autumn is not going to be the identical as utilizing it in the midst of winter up a mountain in -17c!
Your methods is not going to operate in the way in which you may be used to, and there shall be different jobs it’s essential do to maintain all the things operating.
Even should you’re used to wild tenting together with your motorhome, you should definitely take note of the following tips:
Waste tanks
Whenever you park up, place an exterior bucket or container underneath the gray waste drain, and go away it open. This helps stop freezing. You should definitely empty the bucket recurrently!
Most Aires could have locations to get rid of waste, though not all services can be found on a regular basis (we’ll get to that!)
Water
Many aires and campsites will go away a contemporary water faucet operating, in order that it doesn’t freeze. We additionally counsel utilizing a water filter for ANY campsite water- simply in case (or get one in all these AMAZING lifesaver jerrycans)
TOP TIP: Don’t drink yellow snow… 😉
Energy & Heating
Many campsites within the mountains don’t have 16 amp electrical energy provide and so your campervan or motorhome heating may not work in addition to you might be used to! It additionally means it’s essential be selective about how a lot electrical energy you might be utilizing directly (you don’t wish to be THAT van which is consistently tripping everybody’s electrical…)
Gasoline heating is a good alternative- nevertheless it makes use of lots of fuel. I can get via a 6kg bottle in about 3 days. I extremely advocate becoming refillable fuel bottles in your motorhome should you’re going to be travelling in Europe a lot- be sure to know the place the closest provide is (and if it stays open throughout winter!)
Diesel heating can also be an incredible various, however many vans don’t include it as commonplace. In the event you do match it, concentrate on the load and the way it impacts your motorhome payload.
Don’t neglect, you’ll need someplace to dry moist gear. It helps if in case you have a toilet with heating- string a line throughout the highest and cling all the things as much as dry in a single day.
READ MORE: All the things it’s essential learn about motorhome/ camper heating
Photo voltaic
You’ll be able to’t depend on solar energy throughout winter in the identical manner you may at different occasions of the 12 months. The solar isn’t as sturdy, there are extra dead nights and extra areas of shade. Additionally, you’ll be utilizing extra energy than you may usually.
If you have already got a photo voltaic panel fitted, then by all means use what you may, however don’t depend on it as your solely energy supply.
Battery
Batteries don’t like chilly. They don’t run as successfully so it’s essential be extra vigilant about taking care of them, ensuring they don’t run too low, giving them a superb cost recurrently and usually babying them.
READ MORE: All the things it’s essential learn about motorhome leisure batteries
Generator
In the event you’re going to take your motorhome snowboarding, you’ll most likely wish to carry a motorhome generator. Everybody does- simply you should definitely use it throughout the day, not late at night time!
LED lights
I all the time advocate LED lights to avoid wasting power- particularly should you’re doing lots of motorhome wild tenting, however in winter it turns into important.
In fact, don’t neglect your clothes. Right here’s an important information of what to put on when snowboarding
Hiring a motorhome or campervan for snowboarding
There are firms which lease out motorhomes or campervans for snowboarding. In the event you select to do this, please ensure the van is correctly insulated and geared up with all the things you want.
Motorhome skiing- aires or campsites?
One of many greatest questions was HOW do you discover someplace to remain within the mountains? Motorhome touring in France is straightforward sufficient in ‘regular’ seasons, however I do know many mountain roads shut throughout winter- so how have you learnt the place you may go or the place is open?
It’s true that many websites shut throughout winter, however there are locations, together with free motorhome parking and in a single day stopover spots which stay open all 12 months. Sadly, it appears to be like like some aires are being closed, however there are nonetheless campsites open and accessible.
There are professionals and cons as to if you keep in an aire or on a campsite on your ski tenting journey!
TIP: In the event you’re on the lookout for ski tenting websites, search for the phrases ‘caravaneige’ or ‘snowmobiling’- each phrases utilized by the French
Professionals of campsites
- Can usually be booked in advance- simpler should you’re reserving ski colleges or gear rent
- Extra dependable electrical hookup
- Simpler should you’re motorhoming with youngsters
- Bus or service to take you to the lifts if it’s not close by
- Drying rooms- this looks as if an incredible answer to the moist clothes issue- there’s nothing worse than damp ski jackets and pants the day after! (Bear in mind to take your personal padlock for safety within the drying room)
- Assist getting towed out should you get caught
- Different services, akin to a small store or restaurant, which will be helpful
Right here’s an instance of a campsite I’ve heard good evaluations about which caters to motorhomes, campervans and even caravans throughout winter! (I like the actual fact it has an indoor pool!)
Professionals of Aires
- Cheaper
- Extra flexibility to comply with the snow
- Feels extra like an journey!
How you can discover locations to stick with your motorhome throughout winter
It may be tough to discover Aires in Europe within the typical manner for motorhome snowboarding. It’s not simply discovering the places- it’s realizing if they’re open throughout winter, what services they’ve open throughout winter and what number of areas shall be accessible (aires can go from 140+ areas to lower than 50!)
A greater choice is to make use of snomadsites.com, which caters for winter websites and has extra info than you might even assume to ask!
Is motorhome snowboarding cheaper than happening a ski vacation?
It is a powerful one. Most individuals who go on a snowboarding vacation solely go for per week or two most.
Most individuals who take their motorhomes to the mountains both reside close by or are going for a few months.
Nevertheless, as Hannah says, the hassle and expense wanted to ensure your car is correctly in a position to hand a winter within the mountains usually makes it not value it except you intend to spend months on the market.
It’s additionally much more tough when it comes to sensible life- you’ve moist clothes and damp to cope with, water, fuel and electrical points and the fixed concern about getting snowed in. In the event you’re simply doing it to get monetary savings in your highway journeys, you may wish to assume once more or at the least do the sums very rigorously earlier than you commit.
Phew! That was lots of info to soak up however, as we found, ski tenting is a completely totally different kind of motorhoming or vanlife.
Nothing beats ‘doing it your self’, however I hope you are feeling rather more knowledgeable earlier than your first motorhome ski journey.
In the event you’ve been snowboarding and brought your motorhome or camper and have some other ideas, please do go away a remark and share your knowledge.
Secure travels!
Final replace on 2025-08-24 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API