Camper van skiing

A snowHead

Morning guys Newbie here so thanks for your patience.

Great to read all the comments about upcoming trips, adds to the excitement of mine.

We are planning on taking our Adria Twin camper van to Munich at the end of January and then spending February skiing in Austria. Interested in folks views on:
1) benefits of LPG conversion to refill without any bottle hassle?
2) recommendations for thermal windscreen & doors cover?

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum

AndyS

A snowHead

@AndyStewart6, this isn't a question you've asked, but, are you planning on staying on campsites?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You will need LPG as you will get through lots of gas and German exchange bottles are not compatible with uk fittings.
Go for external screens that also cover the bonnet.
Unless you are on hook up on a site and have a waste water tank heater leave drain open and drain into a bucket.
If you look on the Moterhome fun website there is info re winter camping

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Thanks for the responses guys.

I will be staying mostly on sites so will have hookup but I’d like the option of staying in some smaller resorts and doing a bit of ski touring (just up the pistes as I will be alone). I also plan on going to Norway in the Spring for a month or so, it seems like LPG is a no brainer.

I’ve been looking at external screens and I thought that Silver Screens appeared to be best but there’s don’t seem to cover the bonnet & grill, I’ll check Motorhome fun for further advice.

My waste water tank is external and doesn’t have a heater so I’ll be following your advice re the bucket.

Any views on the fresh water tank which is inside?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

A downside to an lpg tank or bottle is that european autogas can contain a lot of butane, even in winter it can be over 50%, which won't change state to gas at sub zero temperatures. This can sometimes mean that you end up with a a partially full but useless bottle. On the other hand I guess your locker won't hold a couple of large propane bottles. I'd fit an additional underslung tank and leave the locker free for local propane bottles, you just need the correct hose to your regulator (eg 21.8LH which fits French and others) and a few adaptors, 21.8LH to German being one.

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Thanks BoardieK, the butane content could definitely be a problem. Unsurprisingly I don’t have the money for an underslung tank and an LPG conversion. I’m hoping that filling up regularly in mountain/ski areas where the temperature is regularly <0 would mitigate the concern, but definitely a potential problem.

Any other views welcome.

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You need to keep the inside of the van above freezing and the area where the dump valve for your boiler above 5c to stop it dropping your water tanks.
Valve is usually next to your boiler/heater so as long as that's ticking over it should be fine.

After all it is free

Duplicate post rolling eyes

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You will get a lot of good advice on this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/152867802030600 Re- Gas - You can get a set of adaptors which will alow you to use German / Italian gas bottles

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If you look at the mylpg.eu website you will see there are very few stations in Austria where you can refill. Careful planning is required. My well insulated Hymer typically uses one of my two 11kg bottles (Gaslow) in 5 or 6 days. Otherwise use local bottles and an adaptor. I have never had a problem with the winter lpg - even down to -12 deg C.

You must stay on campsites in Austria. Apparently the police actively discourage overnight stays anywhere else, unlike Germany and France. The campsites will be rammed with Dutch skiers at the end of February into March for Fasching.

Also you must have suitable tyres with the 3 peak rating and should carry snow chains - not snow socks.

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Morning

instead of going for a full LPG conversion have you thought about getting a "safefill" bottle.

We have the 10KG one and a set of european adaptors which would allow us to fill up anywhere on the continent.

(there are other types of refill bottles available but DYOR).

Also, I have a "polar screen" for my transit based motorhome that does not cover the bonnet. it is 100% used to stop condensation on the windscreen, any thermal benefits I see as a bonus.

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Hi, so we normally do our entire 12 week season off grid in our camper so I will give you tips in that area.

Considering the countries you have listed I would suggest refillable LPG make sure you have your adapters. When off grid your space heating will burn through a lot of gas so will your fridge if it’s 3 way. For off grid diesel is actually best but I doubt you want to go to the expense of switching out your gas Truma for a diesel one.

Get an external thermal screen cover they are about £90 from Magnum Motorhomes

When off grid the biggest winter challenge in the alps is fresh water because most of the normal fill ups are switched off.

Also unless you have heated tanks or like us you have a double floor with tanks inside the heated space then be prepared for frozen water tanks and no running water.

When off-grid electricity use can be an issue we have lithium batteries and over 800w of solar which helps but many campers use generators to top up their batteries.

Anyway we love using our van it gives you a lot of freedom.

Guys many thanks for all the advice and suggestions. What I’ve taken from it is that in Austria we will be on sites (really clear that wild camping not a good idea) with EHU. Decided against LPG at the moment so will plan to use electric 2 Kw heater to maintain inside the van constantly above 5 degrees to avoid dumping the water and “top-up” with the Truma when eating etc. We will leave the waste water dump valve open except when showering and catch the waste in a bucket. After showering will dump the water into the bucket and dispose before it freezes. I know we can and will use site showers but want to practice for off grid at a later date, does this seem like the correct sequence?
Still looking for an insulated windscreen cover that goes down to the radiator, any suggestions?

Thanks again guys.

You know it makes sense.

I don't think a screen cover over the bonnet is necessary, you aren't going to keep the engine warm. There are a few designs that also cover the cab doors which is a bonus. It does need to cover the scuttle, be a good snug fit and be reasonably thick.
You do need to set the heating controls to recirculate when parking and close any fresh air vents.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Have you looked at Taylormade screen covers and bonnet covers?

Regarding the use of a 2kW heater, how well insulated is your van? Also, have you seen the current cost of EHU in Austria? Two sites I have used (Mayrhofen and Kitzbuhel) are now charging 0.80 and 1.60 euro per kWh. Some sites might charge per day but limit the rate to say 6A.

Realistically, if you're on a decent campsite you will be using their showers. Filling and emptying water is not my favourite task in snowy conditions. A lot of people use the campsite facilities for washing up etc to minimise usage in the van.

A snowHead

A thermal curtain across the inside of the back doors is worth considering.
The doors tend to be cold spots.
Even European convertors tend to not insulate the doors.

A snowHead

Guys again many thanks for the benefit of your experience.

Really appreciate it and look forward to the experience.

AndyS

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Slight thread hijack here but saves starting a new one; Does anyone have any info on what type of exchange propane bottles are available in Switzerland? We have a hybrid of 14 kg refillable lpg and a 6 kg exchange bottle that is presently of German type but do I need to get the French type (already have the adaptor) or are the German ones freely available?

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Vitogaz is the only option, https://www.vitogaz.ch/gas-in-flaschen/gas-in-flaschen-fuer-privatkunden
You can find a map of retailers on their website but they are very widely available, often including in resort.
You have to pay a chf50 deposit, make sure you get a deposit card with which you can get a full refund at the end of the trip.
I think an 10.5kg propane bottle was about chf44 last year. Uses a 21.8lh (French) connection.
Have fun.

ps I don't recall seeing composite bottles, always used the steel 10.5kg of which there were always plenty I'm not sure about steel 5kg bottles but suspect they were most places.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

An Adria Twin camper with a plug in radiator/s running is not going to use much electricity at all.

When we have been winter camping, most of the other vehicles on site have been much, much bigger than a camper. When you compare the amount of juice some of the long wheelbase motorhomes are pulling, a camper running a rad or two is nothing by comparison. I always take the 10A upgrade if offered but never had a problem in several seasons of winter camping.

After all it is free

Many thanks again guys, really appreciated. We have a 2Kw oil radiator that I’ll leave on all the time on as low a setting as possible to stop the van freezing, turn it up when we are in and use the gas to boost the temp when required. The site we are booking charges €1 per Kw so that could easily mount up if not careful.

I have always been very wary leaving non "insurance approved" heating appliances on whilst the van is unattended.

Our MH is fitted from new with a Truma Gas/electric heater that gets "tested" every year when the van gets serviced (I pay for it so I assume they are doing something)

Heaven forbid if something should go wrong with a fan heater just plugged in and you lose your van in a fire,I do wonder if your insurance company will try and wiggle out paying.

When in the van we do use a 2kw plugged in panel heater (like a very large fan heater (but silent to run at night))

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/daewoo-hea1137-portable-panel-heater-white-10215900.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istFeedId=4d7eb93e-055f-499d-8ee5-1cdcc50d67d1&istItemId=imlxiqtaq&istBid=t&gQT=1

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It’s a good point and I’m sure you are correct about insurance companies trying to wriggle out of paying. We have a similar oil filled heater that should be ok (famous last words).

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I would worry that depending on a plug in heater might risk pipes freezing whereas using the built in systems electric option mean all the low down corners get heated, especially when very cold.

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Yep, I don’t intend having any water on board for exactly that reason.

Thanks again for all the comments guys.

Help!!

Camper van skiing

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