Overwintering.

[steve 6644]

How do you store you van overwinter, Silvers screens, large covers or naked. I never bothered with my first two vans but I'm feeling it might be a good idea with this one but not sure what to get.

 

[maison]

We don’t store it, we use it all year round.

 

[movan]

Is it in storage or your own property?

If the latter, then wouldn't cover it but keep spending couple of hours in it each week with heating on and checking all is well.

If in storage.. Personally, I wouldn't cover it as I need my solar panel to keep topping up batteries. I still visit it about once a week or fortnightly to check all is well...... and no mice!!!!

 

[steve 6644]

Is it in storage or your own property?

If the latter, then wouldn't cover it but keep spending couple of hours in it each week with heating on and checking all is well.

If in storage.. Personally, I wouldn't cover it as I need my solar panel to keep topping up batteries. I still visit it about once a week or fortnightly to check all is well...... and no mice!!!!

Its an (an aclass) at home on a sloping drive and I have it on hookup most of the time.
As I say, I never did a thing with my last two coachbuilts as they were new and I didn't much care too much back then, but this is a 2008 rapido on a ducato and I want to maintain this one properly.

 

[Northernraider]

I wouldn't cover it and I wouldn't heat it either. It doesn't need heat it needs aired regularly to keep out any damp. I'm not a fan of covers they can damage paintwork by trapping moisture under the cover despite them saying they don't.
I'd also be taking it a run every few weeks told I things from seizing up and flat spots on tyres.

But I prefer to use mine all year round also

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[Lenny HB]

I certainly wouldn't cover it, even silver screens are every time you want to take it for a run to keep it in good order.
Best thing for it is to use it as much as possible.

 

[Bobandfay]

The last two years we have taken our motorhome for some winter sunshine on the Spanish coast,
booked again for January till start of April next year.Don't now if it benefits the van,but me and the wife feel the benefit ?

 

[PhilandMena]

Mine is left on the drive when not overwintering outside of the UK. Two vents slightly open as far apart as possible to ensure damp does not occur. Fresh water system and boiler drained, then I blow down the shower hose with the taps open and the pump on to get the last few drops out and water pump filter emptied. That's it! I will polish the roof end of October and that's me done. Take it for a 20 mile run every month and that works for me.

 

[Minxy]

We have an old set of silver screens which we use over the winter period when we're at home as we face North with open fields so get a lot of wind/weather coming onto the front of the camper, it also means if an idiot goes by and throws a snowball with a stone in it, it should give it some protection (we had one prat do throw one at our front door and it cracked the uPVC!). If it's gonna be a nice day we usually take it off and open the roof vents to let the camper 'breathe' before closing it all down again late afternoon, by doing this we've never had any issues with damp etc.

We also give it a run round every now and then to keep everything moving as it should, ideally getting it up to speed to really get the oil warm and circulating well.

 

[Northernraider]

I certainly wouldn't cover it, even silver screens are every time you want to take it for a run to keep it in good order.
Best thing for it is to use it as much as possible.

Ere how come your flag is showing Portugal yet mine is showing UK when I'm in Spain?

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[Lenny HB]

Ere how come your flag is showing Portugal yet mine is showing UK when I'm in Spain?

Using a NoS SIM in my mifi, 20 days unlimited data for €20. Great for streaming.

 

[138go]

We use our van all the year round, why wouldn’t you?

 

[steve 6644]

I've just today come to a final settlement with the dealer we bought it from, Webbs Reading. We have had a seemingly endless progression of problems with the van and we have not been able to use it for the last month. I thought we would end up rejecting it but all is okay as of this afternoon.
I'm really talking about the deep winter time here, we live in a very hilly area with retard infested roads when we get any frost or snow so I wouldnt venture out in those conditions and anyway this winter is rammed with work on the house.

 

[Fontie]

I've just today come to a final settlement with the dealer we bought it from, Webbs Reading.

Glad your van is now ok, I've always found Webbs very good although i have not had any major problems with the can I got from them.

 

[wiljoy]

Using a NoS SIM in my mifi, 20 days unlimited data for €20. Great for streaming.

Sim, please tell us more. Where to purchase?

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[Lenny HB]

Sim, please tell us more. Where to purchase?

A NoS shop or any phone shop thats not a single company one.
€15 days or €20 20 days & 25 & 30 days available.
Bought one in a small NoS shop last year they charged me vat on top of the €15, this time bought in a phone shop in E.Leclearc supermarket paid €20 for 20 days.

 

[Speve]

Covers can do more damage than leaving it with nothing as they will rub on paintwork we have never covered ours and use it as much as possible.?

 

[steve 6644]

Glad your van is now ok, I've always found Webbs very good although i have not had any major problems with the can I got from them.

I'm going to put up an honest review of them soon.

 

[hymerman]

When not in use I just leave the roof vents slightly open to help prevent condensation problems, drain down the boiler and water tank, open all taps and leave them open in the center position in case any residual water left in the pipes.
Good idea also when running the engine to put the engine air con on for a while to lubricate all the seals.
None of the dealers heat their vans or cover them whilst stood outside over the winter, and heating could possibly increase the possibility of condensation.

 

[PeteH]

Mine is on EHU, and has 2 small electric radiators set to come on below 15C. Never had an issue with damp, except where it came from an external source! (seam leak). If the weather is suitable I open it up for a few hours to "air" it. We do get to use it but not normally as often as during the "summer"!. I take it to the Supermarket about one a month, for us that is an almost 20 mile round trip. Or take the dog to the coast for a run on the beach, and go for a Meal. Enough distance to exercise the Motor and systems. I concur with using the A/C if fitted as non use is the death of the Pump seals!, and its a quick way of de-misting the screen too!.

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