Useful tips for an Off-season motorhome travel

Off-season road trip

What to consider when traveling with a motorhome in frosty weather?

Motorhoming is a convenient way to spend free time, and travel with your loved ones or friends. It represents an easy-going mindset and outdoor lifestyle that caravanning enthusiasts share across borders. We want to share some practical tips for you to enjoy a unique late-autumn or winter adventure in the northernmost parts of Europe.

By the way, did you know that the British are also keen on caravan holidays? In the Nordics, this lifestyle has been popular all year round among families and winter sports enthusiasts already for many decades. So take a ride and enjoy an off-season getaway like the locals!

There are some small differences between traveling and camping with a camper during the coldest times of the year and during the hottest summer season. But even then, a camper is the only way to enjoy the ultimate freedom on your holiday. You can stay closer to nature, and experience things that are simply not possible in a crowded city or when traveling with a small private vehicle.

Continue reading our tips to enjoy the winter adventure of a lifetime with us!

Adventurous time of year

Traveling off-season can bring many benefits: from tourist destinations being less crowded for you to relax, to lower prices on plane tickets, motorhome hire, amusement, and local dishes.

Additionally, travel destinations offer completely different experiences in winter compared to summertime. Exotic winter wonderland with its quiet soundscape and visually sensual settings can be experienced at its best only far away from crowded spots. And if you want to hunt for colourful dancing waves of the Northern Lights on a dark Polar Night sky, it is trouble-free on your motorhome holiday as you can change your backyard and landscape whenever desired.

Be prepared for changes in weather conditions

Air temperature is gradually dropping down in the north, starting from September. In late autumn the weather gets chilly and humidity starts rising. Especially mornings are damp, fresh, and cool, a little prickly even. Did you know that due to this moisture, you feel much colder outside than while going out on a frosty winter day when the air is dry?

Enjoying activities and adventures all year round in all weather conditions is a matter of clothing. For off-season travel we suggest you bring along a warm, wind- and waterproof outfit and wear layered, fast-drying clothing to feel comfortable on every occasion. You should also be prepared to face the arctic weather changes, when it is sunny outside it can be bitterly cold and even if there is no indication of snow there is still a chance you might encounter a surprise blizzard.

Plan your drive according to weather

Already in early autumn, air temperature starts to drop down close to zero at night. We always advise our customers to be careful when driving and handling a motorhome. Smaller roads might be icy and remote rural pavements immersing soft. You can also feel stronger wind blows on the side of the vehicle while driving in autumn.

Before you hit the road, our professional personnel will provide you with a full orientation of your booked vehicle and share tips for off-season traveling. With a conscious anticipatory driving style and by avoiding excessive steering movements you will handle everything, and can enjoy a safe, incredible holiday with us!

Overall, when renting a motorhome it is good to keep in mind that a steady speed, without unnecessary overtaking, is the most ecological way to drive a camper or a van all year round.

Yan Krukov, Pexels

Winter equipment

According to the local traffic legislation in each country, winter tires are provided when the winter weather conditions require them. At the same time, a complimentary winter equipment package will be automatically added to your camper. Contents of the package may differ slightly in different rental stations but generally, it includes e.g. a snow shovel, a snow brush, lock oil and an ice scraper. Also in some destinations, snow chains are added as they can be useful on icy or snow-covered mountain roads.

A clean windshield is essential regardless of the season. We recommend using an ice scraper to remove ice or frozen dirt from windows. You might also need to use lock oil if your vehicle's locks start feeling frosty.

Heating with electricity and gas

Our motorhomes are protected with GRP from roofs and the camper's underfloor consists of weatherproof XPS heat insulation with a GRP underfloor coating. The windows are also double-glazed to keep the cold outside.

Windows of a camper can be covered both in the living area and on the driving cabin side. Those covers not only protect from the heat of the sun but also insulate from cold. Most of our rental stations provide separate insulation covers for front windows to keep the cold outside, because additional insulation reduces gas consumption and keeps the motorhome warm and toasty.

Motorhomes can be heated with a gas heater that also operates using electricity when a camper is connected to the electricity grid. Remember to keep the heating on at all times and make sure that the gas bottle has enough gas if you are planning to leave your motorhome for a longer period or time. When continuous heating is not possible, we advise you to empty the water system to prevent freezing. Please make sure you empty the fresh water tank, release the water control valve to the empty water boiler, remove the fuse for the water tank, and leave all water taps open to protect the water system. You can always call our 24/7 line for assistance if you face this problem.

In cold months, the heating system requires vehicle batteries to always maintain an appropriate charge level. To ensure a safe battery level, and guarantee a smooth start of the diesel engine, the vehicle should be connected to an external electricity grid overnight, whenever possible.

Under extreme temperatures, below -10 °C, gas will be the main source of power when heating the living area inside a camper. Please be prepared for the consumption of gas to be substantially higher than in the summer months. The duration of one gas bottle during the winter season can be reduced to one or two days depending on the weather. Please check that you have a sufficient gas level every once in a while.

Please, note that with exterior temperatures below -25°C, the engine will not start without connecting the vehicle to an exterior source of electricity for pre-heating.

Large storage areas, available from outside of a vehicle, are also isolated and heated. You can pack strollers, skis, diving equipment, and extra hiking or camping gear with you without worries because they will stay there safe, clean, and warm regardless of weather conditions. If the exterior temperature drops below -30°C and you have a full garage, it is possible that the floor of the compartment does not get enough heat and starts freezing. Please see that there is sufficient airflow to the bottom of the garage if temperatures drop significantly.

Photo by Eric Lindqvist

Grey water, freshwater, and black water tanks

All campers and vans are equipped with three different watertanks. Those names may vary in different countries but let us explain the meaning of greywater, freshwater, and blackwater tanks.

A freshwater tank – a fixed container for clean water. The tank is located inside a motorhome, usually under the sofa. Interior heating ensures water does not freeze in the tank.

A grey water tank – a wastewater tank for sinks and showers. As this tank is located under a camper, it is often heated and isolated. However, due to differences in tank location and technical structure of each vehicle model, it still can freeze easily in a freezing temperatures.

A toilet cassette is named also a black water tank. This container is located under the toilet seat and used only for toilet waste. The cassette is placed inside a heated space, and it should be removed for cleaning outside a camper. It should not freeze.

Integrated grey wastewater and cassette toilet systems are sustainable features on a motorhome holiday. Those features enable you to stay in nature without leaving any trace behind. Please note that emptying the tanks is only allowed at specially designated sanitation places.

As the grey water tank (wastewater from shower, kitchen, and bathroom sinks) is located outside of the vehicle in an unheated space, we advise you to keep the tank empty and the control valve open during winter to prevent the water from freezing and causing permanent damage.

Important notes

All our motorhomes are equipped with a functional shower, toilet, and kitchen sink with a freshwater system.

During the cold months, you should ensure that the rental vehicle is always heated because the water system is especially sensitive to damages and malfunctions under extremely cold temperatures. Please, note that the use of the water system cannot be guaranteed if exterior temperatures fall below -10 °C.

Especially during the coldest times, we advise using separate drinking water bottles and utilizing services on a camping site to avoid using the water system. However, in general, even if there is a freshwater system integrated into all vehicles, we always recommend using it mainly for washing hands, cooking, and rinsing vegetables.

If you need any caravan services on your way, check the nearest service provider or a gas station by using Google Maps or the Park4night mobile application (App Store & Google Play). You can always call our 24/7 line if you run into any issues.

24/7 service throughout your journey

Let us remind you that, whenever you feel uncertain about a vehicle or its technology or you notice an error notification sent by the system, Touring Cars provides a complimentary 24/7 Road Service to help you with all those technical challenges. The Roadside Assistance service is available around the clock free of charge.

Your satisfaction and safety are always our priority!

Parking and camping with a camper

Motorhoming is the best travel type which enables ultimate freedom to go and the possibility to enjoy your free time without schedules or plans. However, when traveling in autumn or winter, we advise you to make at least some plans for your road trip. During the winter season, there are fewer camping sites open along your journey, so it is good to anticipate and book accommodation in advance. You can check available sites e.g., park4night, Camping.se or Eurocampings.co.uk.

Did you know that many ski resorts provide all-year-round camping services for individual overnight guests? We recommend booking your stay in advance to ensure your parking spot and the possibility to enjoy camping services from showers, saunas, toilets, cooking, dishwashing facilities, special sanitary cleaning rooms (for wastewater and cassette toilettes) as well as playing rooms for children and clothes washing & drying facilities. And of course, the slopes!

Traveling abroad

All our motorhomes can be taken abroad with some limitations. You can contact us regarding your plans, if you are planning to travel abroad and are not sure if the your route is ok, we are happy to help you plan your trip according to our company and insurance policies.

If you are planning to visit other countries, you might find some challenges with gas bottle connectors or gas format. This means that you might have trouble filling the gags cylinders of your vehicle. Therefore, it is important to let us know your travel plans, especially if you visit several countries during your journey. Our local team is always happy to assist you with any questions you may have and they will tell you more about the country specific details during the pick-up process.

Enjoy Good Feeling holiday with us

Would you like to enjoy an adventurous off-season road trip with us in Northern Europe or England?

Please visit our vehicle categories pages to read and see more about TC motorhomes to choose the best setting for your travel group. Basic guidelines for vehicle booking can be found on our general rental info pages.

Whether you need any additional guidance, please do not hesitate to contact our international sales office (service in English) by phone, email, or online chat.

MOTORHOME RENTAL IN EUROPE - Touring Cars International Sales Office

tel. +358 9 849 4050 info@touringcars.com