Club 80-90 Forums

Fingers crossed, Easter will be our first trip
Just booked a site at Filey for us all (me, the wife and kids 9, 4 and 15 months) and maybe Max the dog if he can ever just toileting inside!!
As we've left the booking till now all the hook up spots have been taken so are on the camping field with no electric. Just our leisure battery. British weather and all that so nothing gauranteed.
Don't have any thermo mats or eber/propex heating. The wife worried about keeping us all warm should it be a real cold one. Obvously blankets/hot water bottles etc not a problem.

What are your thoughts on the thermo mats? should I be buying a cheap portable gas heater to take the chill off first thing?

Please feel free to post your replies - serious or other!!

I'm doing same with a trip to Holmesly for Easter, first trip ever in Tinkerbell for us!

No EHU as spots all gone but am hoping to have some thermo mats courtesy of Rainman and Mr & MrsCC.

I am reliably told that a cuppa before bed will warm the van up nicely and I just bought my 3yr old some rather lovely fleecey all in one pjs PLUS I will be packing duvet and blankets aplenty! After all that I shall just hope for the best!

It kinda helps that me and daughter will be cuddled up together and she's better than a hot water bottle!

Have fun, take some bedsocks and just wrap up warm so you're not already chilled before bed.

Sarah

I find thermal mats make a big difference, they keep the cold out and keep the warmth in.
Boiling the kettle first thing is usually enough to take the chill off unless is really cold.
Before I fitted an Eber I used a catalytic gas heater for those really cold nights/mornings

As windy says, the mats keep the warm in.
But if you ain't got any warm to keep in then they will keep it cold.

personally I wouldn't sleep well with a gas heater on.
but there are gas heaters with catalytic converters in them so you can use them safely in a van.

stay safe
30 tog duvets and a woolly hat.

Here's a quick guide to your first camping trip:

Bring supermarket bags for refuse...have a hanger to hang them on.
Paper plates and cups will save you from spending time washing plates and using up your water
Bring a set of forks/knives/spoons
Bring cups (disposable?)
Bring cordial drinks
Leave a set of toiletries permanently in your van
Bring only the amount of food you need - stock up on canned goods and bring a can opener - bring salt/pepper - leave leftover canned goods and condiments in the van
Plan your meals - you don't have much space
Bring a mobile phone and 12v charger
Buy a catalyic camping heater with associated gas bottles. It can get nippy at night in an uninsulated tin can even with the precautions listed above. Or a buy good household 1.5KWH heater and bring a generator (with petrol) along - pricey at first, but VERY useful.
ANY GAS HEATER MUST ALWAYS HAVE A WINDOW OPEN WHEN ALIT
Pack warm clothes
Pack a rope (useful as a clothing line if clothes get damp).
Buy everyone a sleeping bag rated for zero degrees or colder
If you have kiddies sleeping in the top bunk, buy a 12 volt electric blanket to run off your leisure battery. It usually colder in a poptop up there. Bring a torch with spare batteries. Useful for the kiddies to read at night too if they are on the top bunk.
Make sure you have an elongated gas lighter to light the stove/ cat heaters
Make sure you have RAC/AA cover and be sure not to tread too far from a main road
Bring napkins & towels
Do not keep any valuables outside the camper overnight
Make sure you have a porta potty with paper and chemicals
Bring bottles of drinking water - don't rely on the quality of water in your van
A kettle for your tea, along with bags, milk and sugar
Take a liter bottle, fill it with water, and then freeze it in your freezer at home then put it in your camper fridge before setting out...will keep items in fridge cooler
Do not leave any food outside your van ever or refuse until it's time to leave
Bring plastic sheeting/tarp to lay on wet ground
Plan to bring things like magazines, newspapers, a laptop with movies, kids games, etc. to help pass the time if the weather turns bad
Plan local trips via walking if possible.
Bring a couple of foldable chairs
Dont park on muddy ground. Park on level high ground if possible.

I think that covers it. Enjoy your first Easter camping trip!

what are these catalytic gas heaters you speak of? never heard of them before.... you can keep them on safely inside your van?

kathyshack wrote:what are these catalytic gas heaters you speak of? never heard of them before.... you can keep them on safely inside your van?

Yes, provided they are new - they do not emit any noxious gases but they do consume oxygen. As such, a window must be left open. People in tents/awnings use them and they are safe enough to sleep with, provided a window is left open and they do not turn over.

This is a portable one:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=114" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is one you install off your calor gas connection in your camper:
http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merc ... _Code=mrst" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We never used our Catalitic gas heater whilst we where asleep.We also have a carbon monoxide detector but this never when off when using the heater.
Don't use the heater any more as I've now fitted and Eber

I have a small portable heater, which is ONLY EVER used when we are up with window open - either first thing (although the kettle is never off then) or in the evening. This is camping in the UK, so expect to be sitting there with your fleece on.
We always have the roof light open when camping anyway, as the condensation build-up in the morning is enormous otherwise.
Once in bed, it's all down to the thickness of the duvet and fleecy blankets, and the quality of the whisky!