 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone
In Feb me and my boyfriend are bringing our converted van to Alp D'huez (that's the plan at the mo).
We've been in touch with the tourist info who say that you can't reserve a place and it's 10 euros for parking and water.
I wondered if anyone had had a motorhome experience in Alp D'Huez - we'd love to have a chat with you.
We'd also like any one who has lived in a motorhome for the winter season for free to get in touch.
Thank you
Caroline
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Burks, have a great time, that's on my bucket list! You'll need a dog with a bandanna too don't forget, trust you've got dreads, these are obligatory.
Take plenty of warm blankets for those -30C nights.
One other point how do you get wifi? Often wondered how this works. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hey
Thanks for replying 
yeah have checked out those sites. Some of the info is out of date. The info for Alp D'Huez said it was free parking - but alas that is not true!
Unfortunately no pooch as I think it's a bit unfair leaving them all day whilst boarding!
As for keeping warm, we just fitted out woodburner in to the van - it pumps out a lot of heat!
Wi fi - we won't be expecting to have wi fi in the van but will just head to internet cafe to do emails and stuff.
Caroline
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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If you haven't got winter tyres make sure you take chains if you want to be allowed up.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh yeah will do. My partner's spent the last 8 seasons in the Alps so we're all clued up when it comes to that sort of thing.
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Good luck, whilst camping in our caravan in the snowy Alps we've met plenty of folks who'd done whole season in a motor home for many years! The ones we met generally chose to book into a caravan site for a couple nights every now and then to take advantage of the better facilities/washing machines etc However, by default we would not have met those who did whole seasons in motor home aires but we heard of plenty that did!
I have no idea how a wood burner could safely work in a camper but I have no idea about lots of things
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Gosh, looks lovely but isn`t all that wood rather heavy?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hello, yes theirs would be very heavy. We've used it as inspiration but have used much lighter materials such as ply and pine. Once it's done I'll send photos
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Here is a picture of the van I used in Tignes les Boisses free car park. I parked in Alp d'huez and Les deux Alps for a few nights. I went to the campervan area in Alp d'huez and it was less crowded (in terms of vehicles parked there) and was well hidden from the main thoroughfare. I do not think they were charging at that time, but it is difficult to tell. I did not park in that area though, as I was only there for a weekend. I parked across the road from some bars.
Both Alp d'huez and Les deux alps have steep windy hills to climb, and to get to the campervan area in Apl d'huez would require some fairly good driving in anything other than a small van.
My van was particularly useful for parking where no other vans could park (roof lower than 2m so could get into most car parks and heated underground parks too).
It is best not to park and stay too long, as everything will freeze up and never get a chance to thaw out properly. Of course, most people run their engines at night for a few hours to boost their heating systems.
A catalytic gas fire is probably the safest and longest lasting low noise heater. They are fitted in most winter vans. You can get a Coleman black cat for a good price (I have one spare), and just screw on a gas canister which lasts about 8 hours with 1kw heat. There is no open flame with a catalytic gas heater. It is enough to keep the temperature at around 0C on those really cold nights. It needs some ventilation system though. I put one of those gas flues on the side of the van, which allowed the smelly hot air out, and also sucked in cold air which got heated by the hot flue.
I had a carbon monoxide alarm in the van, and a fire extinguisher. As well as a fire blanket.
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1793776&highlight=timeout+2005#1793776
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You know it makes sense.
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Would a yacht style diesel fueled heater not be suitable - subject to the usual caveats on venting fumes etc. ??
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I have never been on a yacht with one, but I suspect that if they can withstand the rocking to and fro of a yacht at sea then they would be able to take the back of a van. If they are diesel, then maybe they could be connected straight to the diesel tank of the van. On second thoughts, it is probably a good idea to keep a safe distance between any fire and the diesel (or petrol) tank of a vehicle. The back of a van is about as far as possible from the tank.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have lit the parrafin heater tonight, as I have some 4 litre tubs of parrafin from previous years that need using up. I put it in the chimney stack so the fumes get extracted up the chimney.
It brings back happy memories....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have a look on https://www.winterised.com blog / website / advice from seasoned winter motorhomers - don't know if they'll have specifics on your plans but might be a few useful ideas / pointers
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
Would a yacht style diesel fueled heater not be suitable - subject to the usual caveats on venting fumes etc. ??
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I think Eberspacher diesel heaters are already quite widely used in caravans etc
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Eberspacher and Webasto are the quality ones but nearly a grand, apparently the Chinese copies are pretty good for a little over £100. Externally mounted so no fume issues but a bit noisy.
The aire at ADH used to be quite extensive and took about 50 vans but that has closed and the new spot only takes a few.
Get the van on a weighbridge; my neighbour converted his Iveco van using timber and it was overweight with no water, no food, no gear and no occupants! (big 7.3m van for 3.5t though).
Ps. Is there anywhere to get wood in ADH? We met a guy with a wood burner in his VW years ago at the spot @Bigtipper mentioned in Tignes and he was out every day after riding collecting sticks in the woods.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
Externally mounted so no fume issues but a bit noisy.
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Yes. We have one on the boat I sail - it's fine using it out on a mooring, or anchored, but it's embarrassingly noisy in a marina, and one is also conscious of inflicting fumes on the neighbours. A wood burner sounds mad, and any van-living skiers with a wood burner would need to pray for very little snow if they plan to gather sticks in the woods. My nephew had a socking great coffee machine in his (quite small) van - that was mad, too! A woman I know who has built her own steel boat has a compost toilet. And a cat.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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One would hope that the original poster has thawed out now. This thread dates back to 2013.
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@andy n netty, I looked through the list of 15 essential items required for your motorhome trip. The items I took on that list were
2. Snow chains
3. Screen cover (self made cut to size using insulation bubble wrap and only used on the inside of the van)
4. Snow shovel
7. Water containers. Flasks are useful! Particularly for storing hot water when you have boiled it, for later use like washing up and coffee.
8. Grey water catch : A 5l petrol can and a large funnel.
11. several tool kits, especially spare electrical items and wires and connections, multimeter
15. heavy duty winter electric cable
The rest of the items I considered non essential.
Winter tyres are probably not essential, especially if you have new well treaded tyres and a heavy enough vehicle. On the other hand chains are essential, and I used them whenever I might have got away with snow tyres. Rubber floor mats, is this a joke? Generators are a waste of space. Your engine is a generator. Run the engine and charge a leisure battery, and heat the van. Slightly more expensive on fuel, but saves a lot of space and inconvenience in the van. Hair dryer? Are you kidding, it uses up far too much electricity. Use a towel. Every garage in the alps will sell cheap appropriate screen wash. Why carry it with you, when it will be cheaper to buy it there? Old snowboard? I ski! Extendable brush? - come on how is that essential?
I had an electric heater. 1kw blower. I used it to really thaw out the van when I had free electricity. Yes, there were places which give you free electricity. Probably no longer the case.
Tow rope. I carried tow rope, but must admit I would only have used it to help someone else out. I also had jump leads, which I only used to jump start someone elses car. I had to get a professional once to tow my van in order to bump start it, and he did not need my tow rope. I would go along with the tow rope, no need for it.
I did carry extra anti-freeze, specifically for low temperatures, because my van kept overheating driving up steep inclines. It sometimes required a top up, and you really need it there and then rather than when you get to a garage.
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Been doing some calculations on prices of 4 litre parrfin. I purchased some for £2.75 a litre, which is a lot more expensive that heating kerosine which is delivered to your tank. (about 2.75x currently)
The parrafin heater delivers 3kw of heat for about 14 hours on a full tank. (4 litres) This is about 26p per kwh, cheaper than an electric fire if my calculations are correct.
I think 14 hours use is incorrect, and might be closer to 12 in reality. This would make it equivalent to eletricity prices at 30p per unit.
In previous years electricity was much cheaper, but parrafin (sold by the 4l tubs) has not increased in price as much. (usually it is about £2 a litre before coronovirus)
I think the reason for the disparity, is that most of the cost of the parrafin sold by tubs is the packaging and retailer costs. (rather than the paraffin itself)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@boredsurfin, looks like a good idea, if you live in a diesel van.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Bigtipper wrote: |
| Tow rope. I carried tow rope, but must admit I would only have used it to help someone else out. I also had jump leads, which I only used to jump start someone elses car. |
Jump leads are really useful. I've twice had to jump my car after the battery went flat. My and the wifes car both have new jump leads in the boot.
I would like a whinch too . Could have used that a few times.
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FAQ
