How To Winterise Camper Vans In Melbourne
10 December 2013, Category: camper vans As the weather begins to warm up and with long weekends just around the corner, many people are pulling out camper vans in Melbourne and preparing them for a getaway. If you didn’t properly winterise it during the last autumn, however, you might find that it has developed a few problems. Never make the same mistake again with this helpful guide.
- Drain all of the plumbing and holding tanks. You may need to take the van to an authorised dumping station (they are often found at campgrounds and interstate rest areas). Then, add some antifreeze to the tanks and down each drain to prevent them from freezing up.
- Change the oil over to a cold weather based one. Consult your owner’s manual first for recommendations, but if you don’t have access to the manual use 5W30 as a general oil.
- Adjust each of the tyres to a lower PSI; read the side of the tyres for the recommended settings. Remember that winter driving requires a better surface area and that this can be achieved by letting a little air out of the tyres. You might even like to change them for studded ones.
- Place some extra sleeping bags and blankets into the storage areas of your camper van, just in case you decide to travel during the winter. Some nights will be freezing and you need to stay warm.
- Adhere heat-shrinking cold weather film over each of the van’s interior windows (in the sleeping area only and not the cabin). Use a hairdryer to get the film to set onto the windows, preventing heat hemorrhaging from the window seams over the winter months.
- Remove any batteries from the inside of the van and store them in a warm place over the winter to prevent freezing. This is also a good time to make sure that they are fully charged.
By ensuring that you have properly winterised your camper van in Melbourne, you can rest assured that it will be in tiptop condition when you pull it out the following spring and that you can travel when it’s cold with ease. Whenever the van is not in use, it is also recommended that you keep it undercover to prevent the exterior from becoming damaged.
