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Post by Ems&Beau on Sept 14, 2013 7:03:04 GMT
This might be a silly question, I am planning on using my van as much as I can this winter. Its drained down now but if I use it I will need water. If I don't turn the hot taps on will that leave the boiler empty and can I then leave the drain open? I'm worried about it freezing while I'm in it! It does have a heater but I'm not planning on using it overnight. For the cold water I can turn the pump off and leave the taps open overnight then if it freezes the water should just come out of the taps in theory and not damage the pump? Alternatively I just bring a large container full of water! I only use the boiler for the odd shower and I can't see me attempting a shower when temperatures are near to freezing! Its just nice to have running water out of the taps! I might be worrying too much but I'd be interested to know what other people do
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Sept 14, 2013 7:16:33 GMT
well always got ten litre container for drinking water will drain it down for winter then will see used to manage with ten ltr container as for water heatewr mine has a drain plug and it holds six litres of water and according to the manual it say drain down so will do that and run water out of system so it is dry coldwater tank is empty just whats left is in pipe work at moment
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Post by robmac on Sept 14, 2013 9:45:35 GMT
We carry on as normal in Winter and have had no problems, including Scotland well into the minuses.
Might be tempting fate though. May be wise to take containers and get a bigger kettle for your hot water needs.
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Post by kangooroo on Sept 14, 2013 12:12:42 GMT
This might be a silly question, I am planning on using my van as much as I can this winter. Its drained down now but if I use it I will need water. If I don't turn the hot taps on will that leave the boiler empty and can I then leave the drain open? I'm worried about it freezing while I'm in it! It does have a heater but I'm not planning on using it overnight. I might be worrying too much but I'd be interested to know what other people do I don't have a boiler - just a cold tap. I've always used my van year-round in snow and frosts but I don't drain anything down although I do allow space for the water to expand and freeze in the tank and keep a few litres spare in bottles incase it takes a long time to thaw out. Any hot water has to come from a kettle. Before I had gas for boiling water it was an even simpler system of jerricans and a Whale manual-pump tap - but it all worked, year-round and I never missed having hot water.
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Post by Mini on Sept 14, 2013 12:27:22 GMT
Last winter we used everything as normal but occasionally left the boiler on overnight if temps were set to be below freezing... on the basis that a new boiler is heaps more expensive than a bit of gas! We don't use the heater/fire overnight, so it also served the purpose of keeping the chill off the van a tad. Naively, perhaps, we didn't worry too much about the cold tank except to only fill it half way at any time to allow for expansion... ditto with the waste tank. We tend to drain down completely after every trip when we get home (just let everything go on the driveway!), plus leave the taps open in the winter. We also carry fresh drinking water in a separate container.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 14, 2013 12:48:20 GMT
I don't drain mine either.The van isn't used in the week ,so if its going to drop below zero a small oil fired rad keeps the chill off.I also leave the hot water on at night when its really cold and the fresh water tank is inside the van .
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Post by tommy on Sept 14, 2013 15:14:17 GMT
I dont drain, but I do leave the truma heating the water to 40c and find the non existent truma insulation alows enough heat to escape and circulate to avoid any freezing but addmitedley my van is fully winterised. Might even use the airtop set at 5c this year.
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Post by Firefox on Sept 14, 2013 15:23:05 GMT
I just carry on as normal as I use the van all the time. I don't have a boiler apart from a kettle and all my tanks are inboard. Water tank pipe to tap has only ever frozen twice. Once was in the Lake District (-20 at Coniston) the other time at the Southern Frosties meet Stonehenge (-14)
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Post by ross on Sept 14, 2013 17:36:06 GMT
I don't drain mine either.The van isn't used in the week ,so if its going to drop below zero a small oil fired rad keeps the chill off.I also leave the hot water on at night when its really cold and the fresh water tank is inside the van . Interested in your small oil rad. Presume this is elec on 240v - do you run off an EHU or inverter? Im sure it's possible to have a small oil rad running on 12v, but I haven't been able to source any. Tempted to try to mod one myself, as it would be handy to set a thermostat to frost & have this kick in when the temp drops. Downside would be the drain on the battery though.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 14, 2013 17:57:13 GMT
It runs off 240v hook up ,also have the charger on as well to trickle the batts on dull days when there's no solar.
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Post by Ems&Beau on Sept 15, 2013 6:31:28 GMT
Thanks for all the replies. Lots of different ideas and interesting to hear that some just carry on as normal, I must be worrying or thinking about it too much! I think use the van as normal unless the forecast is very cold and see how I get on! My water tank is inside the van so that should help. I hadn't even thought about the waste tank freezing!
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 15, 2013 9:09:47 GMT
I've been thinking about this same problem. The fresh water tank is underslung externally and not insulated as far as I know, so I reckon it will freeze if not drained. Neil, who's always one for not spending money, uses 4 pint plastic milk bottles, sterilised, for fresh water needs and we fill several up before setting off and store under the bench seats. No need to lug great heavy water containers about Never been out in the van when it's been below freezing, but my instinct tells me that if the weather is going to be freezing then the external water tank should be drained well before and not used until it warms up. Tell me if I'm wrong? Obviously we won't have access to pumped water, hot or cold, but I reckon for the few short trips we'll be doing we can manage with water bottles and hot water from the kettle.
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Post by Mikehanky on Sept 15, 2013 9:57:29 GMT
We use or van all year fresh warter tank not insulated .we carry on as normal but we have valve that drains all pipes and boiler back to holding tank and we drain every night or in extreme cold weather only drained holding tank once in pyrenees -9
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Post by gaz on Sept 15, 2013 11:33:47 GMT
we have been out in freezin weather conditions and weve had no troubles at all .....when we are not using the van the tanks are fully drained water n heater drained ....if you knock the pump off open the taps the water in the pipes drains back into yer holding tank ..i suppose in really extreme weather a wind proof or thermal matting bit of material use it like s skirt along yer sill near yer tank it will stop the wind chill factor btw both my tanks are underslung and i have a PVC sprinter
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 15, 2013 11:42:21 GMT
I might have known you'd have a leatherette camper, gaz I also heard your tanks were well slung :-)
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 11:43:33 GMT
Don't even go there with his underslung tanks!
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Post by gaz on Sept 15, 2013 11:50:20 GMT
I might have known you'd have a leatherette camper, gaz I also heard your tanks were well slung :-) you silly bugger took me ages to work that out.... ihad to reread my post pmsl.... look you numpty ill educate you PVC.....means panel van erm ermm god this is embarrassing
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Post by kangooroo on Sept 15, 2013 13:34:04 GMT
Thanks for all the replies. Lots of different ideas and interesting to hear that some just carry on as normal, I must be worrying or thinking about it too much! I think use the van as normal unless the forecast is very cold and see how I get on! My water tank is inside the van so that should help. I hadn't even thought about the waste tank freezing! I'd do exactly that - just carry on as normal. My waste tank tap doesn't fully close so it drains as I drive or as a slow drip/trickle while parked on grass, but it's not a major problem or even noticeable as I limit water usage to a maximum of 2 litres per day. As for camping in very cold weather - there's nothing better than being snug in a van while the world freezes around you. Go for it and enjoy the white frosty mornings where, if you park well, you can enjoy them all to yourself!
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Sept 15, 2013 16:16:01 GMT
I might have known you'd have a leatherette camper, gaz I also heard your tanks were well slung :-) you silly bugger took me ages to work that out.... ihad to reread my post pmsl.... look you numpty ill educate you PVC.....means panel van erm ermm god this is embarrassing panel van camper pvc
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 15, 2013 16:30:57 GMT
No way! Polyvinyl Chloride, for rubber fetishists I've heard that's what Rubbertramp's knickers are made of.
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Post by gaz on Sept 15, 2013 17:59:16 GMT
panel van conversion...thats it.. hell my head hurts
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Post by Rubbertramp on Sept 15, 2013 19:10:24 GMT
No way! Polyvinyl Chloride, for rubber fetishists I've heard that's what Rubbertramp's knickers are made of. Erm....no! PVA Actually...Polyvinyl acetate. Moulded for comfort and to suit the mood!
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 19:13:04 GMT
No way! Polyvinyl Chloride, for rubber fetishists I've heard that's what Rubbertramp's knickers are made of. Erm....no! PVA Actually...Polyvinyl acetate. Moulded for comfort and to suit the mood! Wouldn't that stick to your victims, erm I mean companions Mark?
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 19:24:02 GMT
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Post by gaz on Sept 15, 2013 19:47:52 GMT
where do ya find them rob pmsl ...no honestly do they do different colours?? BTW this thread has gone a bit offbeat... ponggoose again... i think
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 15, 2013 19:48:01 GMT
Nice !!!!
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Post by Mikehanky on Sept 15, 2013 19:59:21 GMT
thats not a gimp mask it a health and safety aid to stop you geting burnt when boiler explodes
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