Van camping checklist for UK winters

Winter van camping in the UK is mostly a condensation management problem dressed up as an adventure. Get that right and the rest follows.

Here's what actually matters, based on a lot of cold nights in lay-bys.

**Insulation first.** The biggest mistake is spending on heating before insulation is sorted. A diesel heater running hard all night in an uninsulated van is expensive, loud, and still leaves you cold. Spray foam in cavities, 50mm PIR board on walls and ceiling, and a reflective barrier on the floor panels. Do this once and you only need the heater to top up, not to fight.

**Diesel heaters.** The Chinese-manufactured units (sold under various names — Vevor, Hcalory, and others branded identically) work adequately. The genuine Webasto or Eberspächer units work better and last longer but cost three to five times more. Budget heaters fail most often at the control unit and the glow plug. Keep spares of both. Run the heater a few hours before you want to sleep — not from cold.

**Condensation.** Even with good insulation, humans produce 0.5–1 litre of water each overnight. That water has to go somewhere. A roof vent (Maxxair or similar) cracked an inch lets moisture out without losing meaningful heat. Cooking inside makes it much worse. Cook outside or in the doorway when temperatures allow.

**Sleeping bags.** A four-season bag rated to −10°C or below, used inside the van, is over-engineered in most UK conditions. A quality three-season bag plus a liner, or a good two-season bag in an insulated van with the heater running, covers most UK winter nights comfortably. What matters more than the bag's temperature rating is whether you're wearing base layers.

**Water.** A 25-litre fresh water container is enough for a few days. In temperatures approaching freezing, keep it inside rather than in an external locker. Frozen waste water tanks are more common than frozen fresh water — remember to drain them before parking up in hard frost.

**Battery.** Winter van camping is hard on battery. Solar produces little between November and February in the UK. A 200Ah lithium battery with a DC-DC charger from the alternator, or a small generator run once daily, keeps you functional. If you're on a site with hookup, use it.

**Ground clearance.** Sites that are accessible in summer may not drain in winter. Wide tyres spread weight and reduce the chance of getting stuck on soft ground. Know how to use a traction mat and carry two.

**Personal kit.** Merino base layers. Spare dry base layers for sleeping. A decent head torch that works with gloves on. Wellies or waterproof hiking boots — not trainers. A dry bag for anything that can't get wet.

The UK rarely gets extreme cold, but damp cold at 2°C is miserable if you're not set up for it. The van is the heater. Invest in it before anything else.