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Temperatures are falling, summer holidays are long gone and maybe the first snow has already fallen. Winter is here!
The only remnant of summer during the cold season? The passion for camping. The problem is that the subject of winter camping sets off alarm bells for some people no matter how much they enjoy travelling by camper or motorhome. Winter camping is cold, uncomfortable and generally unattractive. It can be - but it doesn't have to be! If you take a closer look at the prejudices against winter camping you'll realise that it doesn't have to be so terrible - it can be quite the opposite, in fact.
One of the biggest prejudices against winter camping probably is the assumption that camping in winter is uncomfortable, cold and generally unpleasant. However, the type of camper or motorhome you're travelling in plays a decisive role here. The good thing about our camper models is that they all have a parking heater that keeps the cold where it belongs - outside! Pack a few extra warm blankets and socks (don't forget hot chocolate) and winter camping becomes quite a cosy, hyggelige affair.
The special thing about winter is that the camper or motorhome becomes a real home. While in summer you can't get out of the vehicle fast enough to jump into the nearest lake, in winter the camper is a cosy retreat after outdoor activities. The feeling of ´coming home` is even more intense when you're looking forward to escaping the cold outside and getting back inside.
When winter camping, you enjoy ´the best of both worlds`: on the one hand you're very close to the beautiful winter landscape outside with everything it has to offer and on the other hand you're back in the warm camper in a flash and can make yourself comfortable. Amazing!
Winter camping is boring
Just because outdoor activities are a little different in winter than in the peak summer season doesn't mean that camping in winter has to be limited to the inside of the vehicle. There's a whole range of varied outdoor activities that are great fun in winter - besides snowshoeing, ski touring or tobogganing (the classic from childhood that just never gets old!) there are plenty of other outdoor activities. The big advantage of winter camping: with a camper you can set up camp very close to the ski slope of your choice! There's now a large selection of campsites close to ski slopes just waiting for you to visit.
Of course, it's still true that winter camping tends to involve spending more time inside the van than in summer but even time spent inside the camper doesn't have to be boring! When all the card games have been played and all the books you brought along have been read, how about a little cooking experiment? Since our bodies need a higher calorie intake when it's cold anyway, winter camping offers the ideal opportunity for culinary tastings. Small tip on the side: Here you can find delicious recipes for the camping kitchen.
Winter camping is only suitable for experienced campers
The right equipment
Do you need a lot of camping experience for winter camping? No way! If you take a few things into account and turn to the right contact points if you're in doubt even beginners can have a really good and safe time winter camping.
The most important thing for winter camping is probably the right equipment. Your vehicle and/or you should definitely be equipped with the following things before you plunge into the snow:
A powerful auxiliary heater (which, by the way, all Off vehicles have on board!) is the be-all and end-all for winter camping - as the auxiliary heater basically runs on diesel we recommend that the tank is always at least half full, especially if you want to run the auxiliary heater for a longer period of time.
Additional insulation, especially for the windscreen and the pop-up roof on our Beach and Ocean models. The good news? You can easily book both with Off!
A small hairdryer makes a good emergency de-icer, otherwise a door lock de-icer can be extremely handy just in case.
When winter camping with Off it makes sense to take thick winter socks or warm slippers despite the auxiliary heating as the floor in our vehicles is unfortunately not or only insufficiently insulated - and let's be honest, who doesn't like cosy socks in winter?
Still not sure what to pack for winter camping? Then take a look at our printable winter packing list. There you'll find a list of the most important things for winter camping. General tip: it's better to pack too much (clothing) than too little!
In addition to the equipment on board, there are a few things to consider when you arrive at the campsite to get the most out of winter camping:
In the cold, the performance of the batteries decreases considerably, and since the fan of the auxiliary heater consumes additional electricity, we strongly recommend using the shore power connection at campsites.
Especially if you want to go skiing, we recommend booking a campsite that has a drying room - having damp skiing clothes in the camper can quickly make you feel like you're sitting in a ´steam bath`.
Especially in winter, it's important to ventilate the camper regularly, especially if you use the gas cooker in the camper - short but regular bursts of ventilation are ideal to reduce the humidity.
Make sure to park in such a way that your vehicle does not sink in or even tip over when the snow has melted away under the tyres.
General tips
In addition to these specific camping tips, you should of course be careful when driving in winter as there's often ice under snow-covered roads which can cause you to slide if things go badly. Because we care about your safety, our campers are equipped with all-season tyres. For routes with a lot of snow and ice you can also rent snow chains from us.
On the road with Off in winter and the heating breaks down or something similar happens? For such cases we have set up an emergency hotline for you. You can reach us on +49 (0) 8141 396 3000 - even at the weekend.
Even though the typical summer campsite crowds are gone in winter you're usually in good company when camping in winter because the hard core camping lovers are not deterred by snow and icy temperatures. Just invite your campsite neighbours over for a hot tea or mulled wine - in combination with the cosy winter atmosphere that we all get into when we spend time in the quiet, idyllic snow-covered countryside good conversations with or without a fire bowl are certainly gonna happen.
Not in the mood for conversation? When camping, winter is the best time to spend some time alone. The cosy camper is the ideal refuge for those who prefer to have their peace and quiet and watch the snow flurry from indoors.
Whether in company or alone: Experiencing winter in nature is always something very special. The world around you is more peaceful than in the warmer months and it's a great way to calm down - something most of us need to take a break from our stressful everyday lives.
The Off Winter Specials
Despite all the prejudices that still surround winter camping, more and more camping enthusiasts are discovering camping during the cold season. If you believe the testimonials, the extra preparation is well worth it if you get to discover a whole new side of nature. Still not convinced? Here you can find more tips on winter camping - among otherthings, we give you extra tips on winter campsites and why an awning is an absolute must for winter holidays. Here you can find a selection of our favourite winter campsites.
On our winter camping website we have summarised all the suitable models for you and tell you what you should look out for when camping in cold areas. Take a look!
