6 Essential Tips for Winter Van Camping

Just because summer is over, it doesn’t mean that you have to stay huddled up inside the four walls of your home. In fact, many people would agree that winter is one of the best times to go camping here in Australia. After all, there’s fewer crowds at campsites, winter campfires hit differently, and best of all, there’s no annoying flies or mosquitoes buzzing around in your face!

Out of all the different ways to go camping, van camping is an extremely popular choice, especially during the winter. With your own personal mobile home, driving around from campsite to campsite requires minimal effort. Moreover, you won’t have to worry about setting up a campsite, getting wet or freezing to death outside!

If you’re interested in trying out van life, then there’s a few essential tips you have to consider before you go ahead and buy yourself a camper van. In this post, we’ll be covering six important points for winter van camping in Australia:

1. Check Your Campsite

Not all campsites will be open during the winter. So, it pays for you to conduct adequate research beforehand and make sure that your chosen campsite will actually be accessible to you during your trip. You don’t want to get all the way to your campsite only to be met with an inconvenient surprise.

2. Insulate Your Van

If you want to keep your van as warm and cosy as possible, the first thing you have to do is insulate it property. Insulating your walls, ceiling, floor and windows will make a whole lot of difference. Insulation foil is a great choice for windows. On the other hand, you can use sheep’s wool or foam boards for covering up your walls, ceiling and floor.

3. Bring Warm Clothes

Even though you’ll be camping out in an enclosed van, that’s still no excuse to skimp out on layers upon layers of extra warm clothing. If you’ how to layer your clothes properly, this article will tell you all you need to know. Make you sure choose the appropriate clothing materials for your base, middle and outer layer- and of course, stay away from cotton! Keep in mind that cotton is a hydrophilic material, so when it gets wet, it stays wet. As you can probably imagine, it’s not the best choice of material for cold and wet environments.

4. Consider a Heater

Unfortunately, you can’t bring the campfire inside your camper van. So, how are you meant to stay warm if the insulation and blankets aren’t cutting it? Luckily, there are a number of heating systems available that are perfectly safe for installation in campervans. Although you can have a permanent system installed to your van, you can also find small portable heaters if you’re looking for a cheaper option.

5. Pack Your Essentials

Never set off on your journey without packing all your essentials and accessories. This includes things like first aid kits, a drinking water hose, a surge protector, leveling blocks for uneven campsites, cookware, a sewer hose and a water pressure regulator. Caravan starter packs are a great way to get you started.

6. Prepare Some Indoor Entertainment

It kind of goes without saying that during the winter, not every day is going to be ripe for sightseeing and exploring. Aside from that, you can be sure that it will get colder and darker quicker, so you’re probably going to be spending a couple of hours inside your van before you pack it in for the night. For this reason, it’s worth bringing some board games, books, or attempting some challenging recipes to keep yourself busy. Try and avoid bringing electronic devices such as iPads, consoles, etc. Remember that this is prime time for a digital detox!

Deck Out Your Camper Van with Camping Essentials from Supex Products

Whether you’re planning a camping trip for the winter or summer, we can provide you with all your campervan essentials at Supex Products. We offer an extensive variety of RV essentials and accessories, fit for camper vans and caravans alike. Moreover, all our products have been designed to offer unparalleled durability and long-lasting strength. As such, you can always trust in our products to withstand against constant use and abuse, as well as the harsh Australian environment.

To browse our range of RV and caravan essentials, head into your nearest Supex stockist today!