WINTER CAMPING ESSENTIALS

People use the cold weather as an excuse not to get out camping and travel during the winter months, meaning the campgrounds are empty and the firewood is plentiful. So whether you’re one of the few that take advantage of this or you just happen to get stuck in the middle of a cold snap, knowing how to adapt your camping setup during the cooler months can set you up for the perfect camper trailer trip.

Camping in the cold can be difficult at times. Many of us believe that by putting extra layers on when sleeping we will be warmer, when in fact if we add too many layers, we don’t reap the benefits of a good quality sleeping bag. Instead of layering up before bed, chuck blankets on top of your swag mattress and set the swag up on top of a mesh floor. That way you can create a thicker barrier between you and the cold ground or air. Sleeping bags work by trapping small pockets of air, this air warms from your body temperature and because it’s not able to escape it stays warmer for longer. By having no extra layers on while in a sleeping bag you are maximising the warmth that can be generated.

We all love our tea or coffee on the cooler bush mornings, but unfortunately our butane burners don’t feel the same – the cold air inhibits the butane burner’s gas flow. A simple trick is overnight keep the gas cartridge insulated so it won’t be affected by the cooler air. Simply wrapping it up in a towel or jumper will keep the gas at a more stable temperature so you will be able to enjoy that early morning coffee without any dramas. Filling the billy up the night before will ensure that you have water the next day too, it’s not uncommon for the water in our camper trailer water tanks to freeze up overnight in some of our alpine areas.

Thermals, whether merino or synthetic, are a must have in every camper trailer emergency box. You never know when you may need them and as they are so small when packed away they take up very little room.

Camping in the cold weather normally means a heavy frost in the mornings and nothing is worse than having to try to start a fire with wet timber, so having a stock pile of timber under your camper trailer or covered by a tarp will mean that fire will be roaring much easier at the beginning of each day.

STAY HIGH AND DRY

Let’s face it – none of us plan to head out camping in wet conditions, but it only takes one soggy trip to understand the need to be prepared for when the rain hits us unsuspectingly. Look at what camping sites are available and choosing what you think is the highest and driest is obvious, but positioning your camper trailer so the rain isn’t blowing into your rooftop tent is what will make the prevailing conditions much more bearable. If we can position our camper trailer so that the entrance ways are some what protected we can reduce the amount of water and mud finding its way into your rooftop tent.

Keeping water and mud to a minimum inside your offroad camper trailer can be aided by staying away from gullies and troughs that flow with the excess run-off that occurs in heavy rain. Digging makeshift trenches around your camper trailer can help divert run-off away but be sure to clearly mark any trips hazards and fill them in when you leave camp.

Too much pooled water on the roof of any canvas rooftop tent can result in water breaking through the waterproof barrier and dripping onto your belongings. That’s why it’s so important to properly secure your rooftop tents guy ropes tightly to the ground to make the canvas extra taut. Of course, the Adventure Kings Tourer Rofftop Tent comes with a polyester fly on top which means this wont really be a worry at all. And if you’re running an aluminium rooftop tent like the grand tourer MkII¸ it’s irrelevant.

The addition of extra ground sheets like the kings mesh floor in your camper trailer set up will ensure that your camping area will stay drier for longer during wet conditions. Adding a couple of awning walls to your set up will also give you more protection from the wind by adding even more coverage to your campsite. These awesome bits of gear are super affordable, take up about as much space as a newspaper or magazine and they can mean the difference between most of your camping gear being soaked because you’ve run out of room under the awning itself and remaining bone dry with heaps of room to spare!

Sometimes packing up with a wet rooftop tent can’t be avoided, making an effort to find a spot in the yard once you get home is vital in prolonging the life of the canvas and keeping all of your camping gear in good nick. Finding a sunny spot in the yard and letting the sun dry out the camper trailer and rooftop tent will ensure that mould and mildew won’t take over while it’s packed away waiting for the next big adventure.

SUMMING UP

Adapting and adjusting your camping setup and looking at what ever Mother Nature presents with a positive outlook will ensure that our time trekking around the country in our camper trailers is most memorable. All it takes is a few extra bits and pieces to turn any extreme condition into a bearable camping experience. So no matter what the weather make the most of the time you have and get out there and enjoy what this incredible country has to offer!