Whether you have a secure garage or just a rain cover for your motor home, there are several things you can do to preserve its functionality during the winter, including the acquisition of adequate motorhome insurance

Winterise the Plumbing

If your caravan manual states it is safe to do so – you can use anti-freeze fluid to prevent the pipes from freezing during harsh temperatures.  Remember to disconnect the outside water source before anything else – the water could dilute the anti-freeze and its effectiveness.

Remove the Batteries

Any batteries inside the caravan, such as the 12v engine battery, need to be removed and babied.  Get rid of any residue with a quick clean and top up the battery fluid if necessary.  Store all batteries in a cool and dry place before reusing.

Tidy Up

Take out any soft fabrics and furniture as moisture can cause mould to grow on these when neglected.  Get rid of all crumbs or leftover food to keep rodents away and prevent uncomfortable scents from developing.

Ventilate

Though ventilation is important, closing everything up tight can cause wooden cupboards to warp – leave smaller drawers partly open.  Equally, sealing up all pipes to block entry points for animals can cause a lack of air flow – use meshes or nets instead.

Cover

The last and most essential line of defence for your winter-bearing caravan is caravan insurance.  Winter damage may or may not be something you are covered for so discussing this with a motorhome specialist is vital.

Winter Proofing your Caravan is from Campr - Everything Camping

No rule states that you must look dowdy when you camp; on the contrary, what better time than a camping holiday to indulge your personal sense of whimsical style?

Camping fashion must transcend mere appearances and give a nod to practicality. No matter how adorable you may find a pair of flamingo pink hiking boots, they still have to stand up to the rigors of a lengthy hike while protecting your feet from the elements.

Let your personal style influence your camping gear with these high-style, but still practical camping fashions.

Across Body Bags

Few styles translate well from the red carpet to the back of beyond. Evening dress and platform heels certainly wouldn’t make the cut for camping, but one fashion trend that works as well in the wild as on runways is the cross-body bag.

Extra-long straps worn sash-style from shoulder to hip keep across body bags out of your way as you trek through the woods. Choose a leather bag with durable metal fastenings for greater longevity on camping trips. The style is ancient, but modern touches include brilliant colours and finishes that add a splash of originality to your camping kit.

Microfibre

One of the newest examples of textile genius, microfibre fabrics weave or press incredibly fine strands of material into cloth that wears beautifully, feels soft and wicks moisture away from skin. These fabrics have revolutionised camping and sporting gear with their practicality and comfort.

It doesn’t hurt that they look as good as they perform. Stretchy microfibre undershirts are a perfect first layer under your other clothing, while thicker microfibre such as synthetic suede is an excellent choice for jackets and other outerwear. Animal prints and vibrant colours are the hottest trends right now.

Visible Layers

If you’ve spent even a single night camping, you know the benefits of layering for warmth. Multiple layers let you add and subtract clothing as a brisk morning becomes a warm day or a mild afternoon turns crisp. What’s new now is making those layers visible. A hip-length tank-style undershirt with a high neck peeks out from beneath your t-shirt, which in turn shows under your unbuttoned flannel top.

Dressing in visible layers has two advantages. It lets you show off your style with coordinating colours and prints. It also gives you a more streamlined shape than a mound of clothing topped with a bulky jacket would.

Feminine Fashion

The trend toward ladylike looks in the city is carrying over to the campfire. Well-defined waists in jackets and tops, pastel hues and fitted jeans look distinctively feminine rather than like scaled-down versions of men’s gear. Appealing colours and shapely silhouettes are fashionable, but not frilly; these clothes are every bit as ruggedly practical as their dun-coloured counterparts.

Camping and fashion are not mutually exclusive. You may not care to see and be seen as you would in the city, but you can certainly enjoy looking your best.

The Latest Camping Fashions is from Campr - Everything Camping

Propex, Webasto and Eberspacher are companies that make warm air heating systems for boats, caravans, lorries and motor homes. These units are compact, robust and produce clean CO free hot air by way of a blown air heat exchanger system that is fuelled by gas or diesel and only requires a 12V power supply. These units come in various sizes and a little research before heading out to find a unit is well worth while, www.propexheatsource.co.uk  for example.

1. Sourcing a unit

So unless you have deep pockets and can afford to pay £800 plus for a basic new unit, you need to find an old caravan, boat or motor home in a local breakers yard or on ebay.  Now what you are looking for ideally is a 12V unit and not a 24V one that most lorries are fitted with and also some of the larger motor homes. Once you have located a 12V unit, normally housed under a seat or bed unit, you will also need to locate the wall mounted thermostat and any other associated pipe work that is attached to the burner.

I managed to pick up 2 units, one gas the other diesel from a breakers yard for £60 but you may also be lucky and pick up a tested unit for just over the £100 mark on ebay and save yourself the hassle.

2. Housing the heater

Once you have your burner and all the other bits and bobs, you now need to think about housing it in a weather proof box of some sort. I found that a metal tool box from your local army surplus store is ideal, or, if like me you have a trailer for camping, you could always build a compartment under your trailer to house the burner.

I built a steel compartment under the back of my trailer, to house a diesel burner, and mounted a steel jerry can on the side of the trailer fitted with a motorcycle fuel tap to control the supply when not in use. The power supply I took directly from my 110AH leisure battery mounted in the battery box on the A frame, or if you are going the steel box route then a 12V power supply will need to be run too the box from your car or ideally a separate 12V leisure battery.

3. Connecting the hose

Once you have mounted your burner in its weather proof box and supplied it with power and fuel, you need to look at getting that hot air into your tent and for that you will need some re in forced weather proof hose and a means of connecting it too your tent. I used a Gripflex Hypalon to get the hot air too the tent and a silicone cover to connect it to the tent without sacrificing the tents structure:

4. Setting the thermostat

Last but not least you need to extend the wires between the burner unit and the thermostat so that the thermostat can be located within the tent. I fitted a sprung C clip too the back of my unit so that I can simply clip it onto a table leg or inner pole. You need to find a home for the thermostat in the tent that is not directly in the path of the incoming hot air and also about mid height so as to get a true temperature reading of the entire tent when the unit is running.

All wired and plumbed in and its time to fire up the unit, simply turn the thermostat to the desired temperature and the burner will light and within an instant hot clean and 100% safe air will flow into your tent. The burners are also very quiet and use very small amounts of power which means you can comfortably leave it running all night if needs be.

Good luck if you decide to take on the challenge and please let us know how you get on, but remember if you’re unsure of anything seek the advice of a professional!

Happy warm camping!

Photocredit

How to build a safe and efficient tent heating system is from Campr - Everything Camping

1. You must… get insured

The importance of travel insurance – be it single trip travel insurance or worldwide travel insurance – should never be underestimated, especially if you’re planning on spending any time out and about in the great outdoors.

Protect you and your family against all the unexpected scenarios that could crop up and put a safety measure in place in case you’re left with an expensive bill to cover everything from the cost of medical attention to replacement luggage.

2. You must… do a bit of research

Prior planning is essential before every camping trip, no matter how near or far you’re thinking of going. It’s vital to get up to speed with the terrain you’ll be setting up camp on and what awaits you in terms of climate and the different types of wildlife. If there are going to be potentially-dangerous animals roaming around near to your tent, you want to know about it in case you encounter any of them.

Also take the time to see if there’s any area-specific advice issued to tourists by the local authorities.

3. You must… pack a first-aid kit

This point, no doubt, has been reiterated time and time again, but that’s because it’s essential to have a few basic medical supplies safely packed away before you embark on any camping adventure. If you’re going to be tucked away in the middle of nowhere then you want to ensure that if things go wrong you can react quickly to prevent any health problems that arise from getting worse.

Just as important as stocking up on the usual first-aid box mainstays is taking any relevant medication along with you.

4. You must…have a portable water purifier

Having clean drinking water available at all times is crucial so invest in a portable water purifier to ensure you and your family don’t go without a drop of the good stuff. Clean water can also be used when cooking, which brings us nicely on to the issue of food.

Pack a little extra food in case of emergency as you don’t want to go short, particularly if you’re likely to have a few mouths to feed a couple of times a day.

5. You must… get mosquito nets and repellent

There’s nothing worse for a camper than leaving behind mosquito nets and repellent or not buying them at all and then having a shocking night’s sleep as the little blighters take chunks out of any exposed skin and cause general chaos. As well as being incredibly irritating, mosquitos also spread diseases so take the necessary precautions.

 Photo credit

Five musts when camping abroad is from Campr - Everything Camping

The North Wales caravan parks offer stunning views of the verdant countryside, the River Dee Valley, the Llangollen Canal and Snowdon. Most are open year-round, with access to fishing, hiking, golfing, horse stables and other activities for youngsters and mature travellers. Caravan parks near the town of Wrexham can be used as a hub to explore the area’s fascinating historical and outdoor sites. Amenities include paved pitches, well-appointed bathrooms and showers, disabled facilities, wi-fi, pet exercise areas and restaurants.

The Seven Wonders

The lore of dragons, myths about fantastical figures and feats of legendary Celtic King Arthur are intertwined with the spirit world of the pagan Celts. Later, Christianity had its impact, as seen by the churches from the Saxon, Norman and later periods. Among the many attractions of North Wales are the Seven Wonders of Wales, first described in a rhyme written in the 18th century.

These sites are microcosms of the pastoral countryside, dramatic geography, mythology of the Celts and the influence of Christianity. They are:

1. Pistyll Rhaedr, the highest single-drop waterfall in the U.K.
2. Wrexham Steeple on the 16th century tower of Saint Giles Church.
3. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, 3,560 feet, located in Snowdonia National Park.
4. Overton Yew Trees at Saint Mary’s Church, which dates to the 12th century.
5. St. Winefride’s Well, dating to 660, believed to have healing properties.
6. Llangollen Bridge, built in 1345, the first stone bridge across the River Dee.
7. Gresford Bells on All Saints Church, Wrexham County, known for the purity of tone, dating to 1775.

In addition to the Seven Wonders, Wrexham is near other places of interest. Chirk Castle, built by Roger Mortimer during the time of Edward I, was completed in 1310. A National Trust site, it is still lived in today, continuously occupied for almost 700 years. Its gardens display colourful foliage through all the seasons of the year.

Erddig, a Welsh country house and National Trust site, was voted Britain’s Best Historic House and Best Historic Site in Wales in September 2007 on the popular TV show, “Britain’s Best.” The extensive formal gardens and grounds of the working estate include a horse stable, smithy and saw mill, plenty of space for children to explore.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, part of the Llangollen Canal, is a World Heritage Site. The graceful arches that carry the canal across the River Dee rise more than 100 feet, truly an engineering feat. The town of Llangollen lies west of the aqueduct and approximately eight miles southwest of Wrexham.

Hiring a caravan

If this is your first experience in caravanning, hiring a van will let you try it out. If caravan holidays are an experience that you want to continue, you may want to inquire about caravans for sale  so that you can select the features, size and amenities that complement your style of adventure and fun.

Although the dragons and giants have been slain, the enchanting atmosphere still pervades North Wales. Several of the regional caravan parks are discreetly nestled into the countryside so visitors can enjoy the lands ruled by Arthur so long ago.

Caravan Holidays in Enchanting North Wales is from Campr - Everything Camping

However, getting the thing going and producing something tasty can be difficult if you haven’t got the proud scouting background of yours truly. Skills such as making tins of baked beans explode may not required by todays glamper, but creating a massive pyre to circle the Cath Kidston blankets around are still in demand.

Follow our simple guide and you’ll be collecting kindling to create a gourmet feast before you can say “Oh sod! The teepees on fire!”

Building the fire

Good kindling

Step 1.
Keep your fire at least 3 metres away from tents, trees, bushes and other flammable wildlife. If you’re at a festival ignore this at start the fire in the porch of your neighbour’s tent.

Step 2
You don’t need to make a ring of rocks if there isn’t already one there, it looks pretty but doesn’t add any real containment to the fire and will needlessly char the rocks.

Step 3
Gather firewood and kindling using fallen branches, there’s no point ripping it off living trees as it won’t burn, you’ll just make a lot of smoke. If you’re staying on a managed campsite they may have a firewood store so check first.

Step 4
Build a small, loose pile of your lovingly gathered kindling.  Allow space for air to feed the soon to be roaring fire. Include paper scraps (if you’re wild camping you may find someone’s dirty stash of grot mags. But this may be an 80s thing) dry bracken and other small, flammable ‘stuff’.

Step 5
Build a pyramid of twigs and sticks above the kindling. This is the key to the whole enterprise as a sturdy base will ensure the massive logs you have optimistically dragged into your ‘kindling’ pile will be able to burn.

Step 6
Move all womenfolk to a safe distance and take your flint find the person having a crafty fag who has stolen the matches and light the kindling. If you’ve followed these instructions properly it should go up with a WHOOSH and you’ll be cooking weiners in no time. The reality may be kneeling next to the fire and getting half asphyxiated as you blow into it.

Step 7
Add larger sticks and then logs as the fire grows, always leaving enough space between them for the fire to breathe.  If you are at Reading festival chuck a port-a-loo on at this point.

Build the Perfect Campfire is from Campr - Everything Camping

The main things you probably look for within a family resort are as follows; does it include Swimming Pools. Sport’s activities such as Basketball courts Kids’ and clubs? And most importantly how close to the beach is it?

Northern Brittany

Carantec Parc les Mouettes

If the kids love to swim and parents are taken away by beautiful scenery then this is the location for your family. The main attraction is a fantastic swimming pool complex, overlooked by the terrace. Children can grab a dingy and whizz round the waterslide in minutes along with being surrounded by
pretty trees and flowers. A relaxing and safe environment!

There is also a crazy golf course and extreme activities available within the complex. You can even take a family kayaking trip.

South of France

Languesdoc- Roussillon

A resort that is close to the beach and walking distance of the lively bars and restaurants. Canet Place, is the one of the safest beaches that offers water sports for all the family along with a range of fishing villages so you can be sure that Dad doesn’t get bored. If you are an energetic family and love
cycling then the Roussillon’s nature reserve made up of winding roads, crossed with cycle tracks will be a definite appeal.

Catalonia

Salou; Cambrills Park

Cambrils Park offers a fantastic range of pools that are themed to suit the interests of kids with different personalities. Some of the pools include animation and others simply offering a vast amount of sporting activities, competitions, aerobics, discos and shows.

If you and the kids are chasing an adrenalin rush, then the Port Aventura themes park is only 3km away from this location. Definitely a fun day out for all the family!

Greece

Neos Marmaras- Camping Areti

Family holidays don’t have to be loud and crazy with masses of people in one place. It is sometimes nice to escape from this and head for a more private resort. Camp Areti is a more laid back, relaxed and fairly quiet resort which includes private beaches. Really live outdoors by cooking on the communal BBQ or take a trip to the on- site restaurant. There are plenty of sight-seeing opportunities available in beautiful Greece and fun things to do such as horse riding, karting and water sports.

USA

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Thinking further afield? Myrtle Beach, South Carolina can offer you a family holiday of a life time. Packed full of exciting events and available excursions you simply want to stay for ever more. The resort is situated within walking distance of two amusement parks miniature golf courses and live
music theatres. There are some of the most beautiful beaches in this location which makes the holiday even more worthwhile.

Written on behalf of Eurocamp Family Holidays

5 Hot Spots for a Family Camping Holiday is from Campr - Everything Camping

Before we start to look at heating the tent we first need to look at what we are wearing. Multiple thin layers of clothing is the way to go and far better than just a chunky jumper or fleece. Thermal base clothing, including socks, is always a good idea (woman’s) (men’s) but you must ensure that the base layers are made of moisture-wicking materials and not plain cotton as this will hold moisture against the skin which will quickly have the reverse effect and chill the body. Perhaps the most important piece of clothing is a fleece or wool hat because, as we all know, we lose a significant amount of heat through our heads, and covering it, especially when sleeping, will help to keep you warmer.

Getting prepared for a cold tent

An hour or so before its time to jump into your sleeping bag, or before it gets too cold, get yourself changed and put on what ever it is you are going to sleep in, under your clothes, as this will ensure that when the time comes you will be ready that much quicker and you wont lose so much of the body heat that you have built up. Eating a good meal with lots of calories during the evening is important as calories are also units of heat and without them your furnace won’t burn hot during the night.

Always go to bed WARM, don’t get cold and jump in expecting to warm up because your sleeping bag will insulate cold as well as heat, just like a Thermos, and don’t get so hot that you are sweating either as this is the fastest way to end up cold in bed. Warm up by taking a brisk walk to the toilets just before bed which will also mean that you hopefully wont have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the loo and lose all that lovely heat that you have built up in your sleeping bag. As a final treat, pop a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag before heading out for your walk so that it has time to get nice and warm for you to jump into on your return.

Sleeping mats and air beds

Click for our sleeping mat roundup

We now need to take a step back and look at what you are planning to sleep on. Air beds and mats must be insulated as the cold in the ground will draw any heat out of both the bed and also who ever is sleeping on it. Throwing down a good heavy blanket or better still a thermal rug under the bed first will help and make a big difference. However, if you really want to do the job properly and you have a bit of spare time on your hands before your trip, then grab yourself a roll of Thermal Bubble Foil Insulation and a roll of Duck Tape. Now measure your sleeping pod, or just the area of your bed and Roll out the Thermal Foil. Now cut lengths according to the size of your sleeping pod or bed and simply join the lengths together and edge with Duck Tape to create a highly effective thermal barrier.

Alternatively if you are handy with a sewing machine you can join the lengths together with strips of binding and edge the whole mat in the same way to make a very professional job of it. To top things off a nice warm blanket, between you and the bed, will be as much as you need to ensure that the air in the bed, as well as you, remains as warm as possible.

Sleeping bags

Get a good sleeping bag

Finally, sleeping bags, this is a subject worthy of its own feature and one that we will cover in more detail at a later date as it can be very confusing. All I will say at this stage though is save money on gadgets that you possibly don’t need or will never use and spend the money on a good quality sleeping bag. Don’t be tempted to go overboard though and get a bag capable of extremely low temperatures as this could mean that you simply get too hot and end up unzipping the bag to cool down rather than maintaining a comfortable temperature. Remember, you can always add an inner liner to increase the efficiency of your bag if need be but you cant take away what is stitched in i’m afraid.

The most important thing to remember with a sleeping bag though is that they should never be kept rolled up when not being used. Always unroll your bag and keep it on top of your wardrobe, or hang it somewhere out of the way and only put it back in its bag the day you leave to go on the trip. By leaving your bag packed it will compress the fibres and the bag will go flat which means that it will not be anywhere near as efficient as it should be as it will have no loft and little insulation. Also, when you unpack your bag, vigorously shake and fluff it up to open all the fibres up as it is the air between the fibres that holds the heat.

Photo courtesy Karl-Petter Åkesson

Keeping Warm at Night When Camping is from Campr - Everything Camping

Asking yourself the following questions could lead to considerable savings the next time you renew your caravan insurance.

Where is your vehicle stored?

Insurers will often offer lower premiums to caravan owners who safely store their vehicles. Having a caravan or motorhome on a driveway all year round is likely to increase the cost of insurance, so owners are generally advised to store it elsewhere.

The Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association has various registered sites throughout the country, which are recognised by industry experts as being safe and secure.

Spending a little money each year on caravan storage could lead to considerable savings when it comes to insurance. Similarly, motorhomes are best kept in a secure garage or lockup rather than on the street where they may attract unwanted attention.

What type of cover do you need?

Certain types of caravan and motorhome insurance are generally cheaper than others and may be worth considering if costs need to be kept down. For example, third party fire and theft cover is more affordable than a comprehensive policy and may be especially useful for second-hand or older models.

However, it is worth noting that there are far fewer benefits to having a third party fire and theft policy, meaning it will not pay out for all eventualities. Weighing up the pros and cons is important before deciding which level of cover to take out.

Is your caravan or motorhome secure?

Security is looked on favourably by all insurers and caravan and motorhome insurance providers are no exception. Having an alarm or immobiliser fitted is therefore likely to bring down the cost of insurance, as is investing in a tracking device. Wheel clamps and hitch locks can likewise help shave pounds off a premium. It may be worth checking with
an insurance company beforehand what sort of devices they will offer discounts for.

Where do you use your vehicle?

If owners are planning on holidaying outside Europe, they need to consider taking out continental cover. However, if the vehicle is highly unlikely to be used outside the UK, this is an add-on that they can avoid paying out for. In many cases, this type of cover
can be added at a later stage if necessary.

Lowering your caravan and motorhome insurance premiums is from Campr - Everything Camping

Don’t resort to a can of beans in the camp fire. We have searched the web, our mother’s cookbooks and some dusty old Scout annuals to present to you, dear reader the first in an occasional series of gourmet camping recipes.

Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings are delicious, warming and easy to cook in a single pot on a campfire.  You’ll need a Dutch Oven (a thick-walled iron cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. A casserole dish will also do the trick) for this recipe.

Ingredients:
Serves 6
2 rotisserie chickens, meat taken off and pulled into pieces (or turkey)
2 tbsp canola oil
2-3 tbsp butter
Mix of herbs such as chopped rosemary and herbes de provence
1-3 tsp cayenne
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small shallot, chopped
1 ½ cups carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
3-5 cups chicken broth (or veggie with turkey)
salt/pepper
1-2 tbsp flour (to thicken)

Dumplings:
4 cups of Jiffy mix
1 1/3 cup milk
1 tbsp butter (I added this to the directions)

1. Heat 20 briquettes in campfire and remove 14, leaving the other 6 in the fire, place them on the side away from the fire.

2. Place dutch oven (lid on and pre-seasoned) over those 14 to begin heating.

3. Add canola oil after 30 minutes or so, then butter. When you see bubbles, add onion, celery, carrot, shallot, salt/pepper, herbs of choice and cayenne. When they begin to soften, add a small amount of broth, mix and place the lid on top for 10-15 minutes or until veggies are soft.

4. Add the chicken and enough chicken broth to cover. I added more briquettes to the bottom and a few on the lid at this point to really heat things up. Allow this to reduce a bit and heat the chicken, then you might need to add some flour to thicken, stirring it in the entire time.

5. Make dumplings in a bowl until you have a chunky mix and plop them over the chicken mix, 6 to 8 dumplings.

6. Place lid back on and cook 10-15 minutes or until the dough is cooked through. Ta-da!

Recipe and image courtesy of thedabble

Gourmet Winter Camping Recipes – Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings is from Campr - Everything Camping