Any campers/camper van people?

74jax

My OH often goes away in his transporter for weekend and sleeps on a rock and roller bed with a sleeping bag.

In summer I would go to, but this weather is MUCH too cold for me.

For those of you that camp in the cold is there any Christmas present ideas you can think of? I got insulated blackout blinds a while back, and wondered if anyone else has any ideas?

Sambucus_Nigra

Really? I love my camper van in the winter. Snuggling up under the quilt, sliding your freezing clothes on under the quilt with a cup of tea waiting, and the birds singing.

Aah - I see you have sleeping bags. Ditch those for a start!

We have the mattress, a mattress topper and a bottom sheet, which gets rolled back when we put the bed into the sofa - and a huge thick quilt. Lots of cushions and pillows. Just putting the kettle on warms the whole place up in minutes. A few pressie ideas there for you...

We keep saying we will go and camp somewhere spectacular Christmas Eve but so many places shut; so we might just go and camp on the side of the road in the peaks this year. Love it!!!

74jax

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Really? I love my camper van in the winter. Snuggling up under the quilt, sliding your freezing clothes on under the quilt with a cup of tea waiting, and the birds singing.

Aah - I see you have sleeping bags. Ditch those for a start!

We have the mattress, a mattress topper and a bottom sheet, which gets rolled back when we put the bed into the sofa - and a huge thick quilt. Lots of cushions and pillows. Just putting the kettle on warms the whole place up in minutes. A few pressie ideas there for you...

We keep saying we will go and camp somewhere spectacular Christmas Eve but so many places shut; so we might just go and camp on the side of the road in the peaks this year. Love it!!!

So you would say a quilt would work better than a sleeping bag? I'll look into that.

I do enjoy weekends away, but more when it's warmer. OH is a kitesurfer so often goes away to where the best wind is, and I stay home with heating and warmth:rotfl:

jaqui59

Ditto Sambucus really ... Get yourself the highest tog Duvet and a Mattress Topper, we also roll ours to the back of the van during the daytime too. And don't forget to wear thermals and thermal socks, and layer clothing during the daytime. I also find a micro fleece scarf worn during the day really helps too.

You don't mention whether you have gas, but again leaving gas burning always keeps the chill of, but make sure the Van has some ventilation.

Also, have a look at this site, its our favourite

http://www.justkampers.com/

Want to go camping now

Skinnylatte

How I miss my camper van! The advice above is right, ditch the sleeping bag! Duvets and layers, blankets. Also thick socks on and wear a hat (you lose 30% of your body heat through your head). I have been known when there was no hat to wear my pants on my head!!! :rotfl:
Also a hot water bottle works treat. Infact if you really suffer from the cold take 2, one for your feet and one for up top!
not sure about the advice re leaving a gas burner on, we had a carbon monoxide alarm in our van, that would be worth investing in.
We used to buy alot of stuff from justkampers.co.uk too.

JCP

There's nothing wrong with sleeping bags if you've got a good one.
Mine is rated down to -20C, and if it is dry, it is quite common for me to sleep out under the stars (ie no tent, no camper) and be perfectly warm.

Sambucus_Nigra

jaqui59 wrote: »

Want to go camping now

Me too! We only went away last week as well.

:T:T

Ilona

When I am camping, sleeping in a tent or in my car, I keep all my clothes on in bed. No point in taking them off if it's cold. I love snuggling under a duvet, anwhere.
Ilona

tracyk

This seems a little obvious given the comments above but what about buying a heater?

My friend & her fella have a camper van, they've just done a load of research & bought a heater & are looking forward to 'camping' in York next weekend when they go for the Christmas Market.....

YorkshireTraveller

Our memory foam topper is one of the best things we have bought for our motorhome.

Have a look at these:

http://www.duvalay.co.uk/Caravans_and_Motorhomes/Memory_Foam_Duvalay

http://www.duvalay.co.uk/Caravans_and_Motorhomes/Portable_Memory_Foam_Mattress_Topper

You might have seen this firm getting backing on Dragons Den.

We also have a two in one duvet that snaps together - 3.5 tog for summer, 8 tog for spring/autumn = 11.5 tog for winter. At 11.5 tog it's really too warm!

Hope this helps.

74jax

tracyk wrote: »

This seems a little obvious given the comments above but what about buying a heater?

My friend & her fella have a camper van, they've just done a load of research & bought a heater & are looking forward to 'camping' in York next weekend when they go for the Christmas Market.....

What power does it use, sorry being blonde:rotfl: does it run off the van's battery?