Is the Motorhome OK (1 Viewer)

[GregM]

We're off to sunny Colchester this Saturday for a few days, and as newbies this is the first time we've been out in cold weather.

Is there anything we must or should have done before going away?

The fresh water and hot water tanks are under the habitation seating. The waste tank is under the van, neither the waste tank or the pipes going to it appear to be lagged or anything.

Obviously when in the motorhome the heater is more than likely going to be on, we are likely to be driving about visiting relatives so the van is likely to be left unattended without heat for just a couple of hours a day so hoping the tanks inside should be OK, but will the heat be enough to stop the waste pipes/tank from freezing overnight?

Is the Motorhome going to be OK?

Thanks

Greg and Tracey

 

[Mikemoss]

Hi Greg and Tracey

I think you'll be fine. Will it be possible to leave your water heater on while you're not in the motorhome? If so, that should certainly stop that freezing up. The only other thing I can think of is to leave your waste water tap open so the water goes straight into a bucket (or similar) rather than into the tank.

The fresh water tank should be fine inside the van.

Hope you have a great time away!

 

[GregM]

Yes mike, normally we only turn the water heater off at night but this time will leave it on 24/7.

Thanks for the waste suggestion, I had wondered if that would be better.

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[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Just make sure to empty all the water tanks and taps when you come back - dont leave them to freeze up xxxxxx

am sure you will have a great time

 

[finby]

You should be fine - weve been away in winter and not had any problems. Good advice to leave the water heater on as much as poss and drain down when back home again.
Cheers
Martin

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Greg

we live in Colchester, have you planned where you are staying yet ?

There is a great CL not far from the town center, we stayed there while we were full time and are friendly with the owners.. http://www.thelodgecl.co.uk/

hope you have a great week end, if you need any other advice or help re Colchester let me know

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[GregM]

Thanks Jim

That is where we are staying

Last year our first trip in the van was to Colchester and we stayed on a CL in Ardliegh but it is closed this time of year. We found 'The Lodge' and that actually suits us better as my parents live in the town, near what I call the Williams and Griffins car park (is it still W&G).

 

[GregM]

Jim

Just thought thanks for the recommendation by the way, although we had already booked it's good to have someone recommend a site.

 

[froghopper]

out in cold

have a great time, dont forget to drain toilet water,, you should be o k for warmth this weekend,,, after all it is valentines day :thumb:

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[scotjimland]

Thanks Jim

That is where we are staying

Last year our first trip in the van was to Colchester and we stayed on a CL in Ardliegh but it is closed this time of year. We found 'The Lodge' and that actually suits us better as my parents live in the town, near what I call the Williams and Griffins car park (is it still W&G).

Hi

It's still W&G ...

We live near the Priory about 10min walk from town center ..

I was there last week visiting another couple with an RV, ended up helping them extract the RV from the soft ground.. oh: .. now left for France..

Take care on the grass and stay away from the fence on the left bordering the country club..

 

[Larrynwin]

We have just had a couple of nights in Colchester. To get a hardstanding we stayed at Colchester Camping, boy thats expensive, £28 a night for RV and 2 adults. Good quality pitches though.

 

[geoff1947]

cold bed

Nothing to do with the water & pipes etc but if you are staying in the van overnight wear a woolen hat in bed,. not very sexy on Valentines weekend"!!!! but you will lose a lot of heat from an uncovered head if the weather is cold

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[pappajohn]

following on from mikemoss suggestion re: leave waste tap open, if it looks like feezing then check the drain valve from time to time.....a dripping tap will freeze quicker than a closed one and as you move around the van it will drip a bit.
if it starts to freeze then a T towel soaked in boiling water and placed over the valve will thaw it.:thumb:

 

[barryd]

IT will be fine because your using it and unless you like sitting around in sub zero temps then nothing should freeze. We were away for a month at Christmas in our Kontiki and the only thing that froze occasionally was the kitchen sink drain which for some strange reason Swift decided to run it under the outside of the van to the main grey tank. It only happened a couple of times when it was mega cold. -12 one night wild camping in Devon. A bit of warm water soon shifted it.

 

[GregM]

Hi
Take care on the grass and stay away from the fence on the left bordering the country club..

Is the country club what used to be Kingsford Park Hotel?

Larrynwin:
We have just had a couple of nights in Colchester. To get a hardstanding we stayed at Colchester Camping, boy thats expensive, £28 a night for RV and 2 adults. Good quality pitches though

I stayed there once years ago as a tugger, good pitches but wouldn't go back because of the price, would rather use the Lorry Park up the road.

I suppose it's OK if you've just come accross from Harwich or somewhere like that.

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[Larrynwin]

Is the country club what used to be Kingsford Park Hotel?



I stayed there once years ago as a tugger, good pitches but wouldn't go back because of the price, would rather use the Lorry Park up the road.

I suppose it's OK if you've just come accross from Harwich or somewhere like that.

Think I'm getting soft, its cold so prefer hook up as well as hard standing in winter .

 

[scotjimland]

Is the country club what used to be Kingsford Park Hotel?

I really don't know, but more than likely, it's called Link Removed

 

[davejen]

Just make sure to empty all the water tanks and taps when you come back - dont leave them to freeze up xxxxxx

am sure you will have a great time

Leave all the taps OPEN too- this will stop any water freezing in them and buggering the seals up. Just be careful when you fill up after and switch the pump on!
Cheers, Dave:thumb:

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[GregM]

Thanks for all the advise, it's greatly appreciated.

THere is an open invite for anyone in the area to pop in for a cuppa but we do not have plans while we're there so do not know when we will be on/off site.