Full timing in England and Wales, I am going to get cold.

[trevskoda]

As my mum used to say in winter when she tucked my brother and I in bed ..." there you go me ducks, snug as a bug in a rug !!"

Channa

I remember those days to,ice on inside of widows ,only a old coal fire downstairs which went out over night,single glassing wooden doors with drafts and the aladdin paraffin heater in bathroom to stop teeth chattering in the morning whilst having a wee, water bottles in bed & if you were lucky maybe hot water in them,feck sake id better stop or you lot will be sending me red cross parcels full of hankys.:sad: .

 

[The laird]

Welcome n enjoy

 

[Rowena32]

Thanks for all your help and advice - what happened next...

Thanks for all your help and advice - what happened next...

I took a lot of advice from this forum, double and triple sleeping bags, hot water bottle + hats + socks, moving the van into the sun and orientating it for maximum solar gain -very effective in the autumn sunshine.

I ended up running for shelter on when the first hard frosts came, to a Caravan Club Certified location which had electric hookup for a fan heater, while I scoured the charity shops in Abingdon looking for heavy curtains.

I considered fitting a heater, but while looking for cheap and quiet heaters, discovered that narrowboats have wood-burning and solid fuel stoves. I also realised that much of my wildcamping had taken place along canals - my favourites including crt car parks on the Oxford and Grand Union canals. all handily near excellent pubs.

I ended up after another 4 weeks moving onto a lowcost narrowboat. (and approaching the pubs from the other side). I still have my campervan, which I am still wildcamping in occasionally but only when the weather forecast is optimistic.

Narrowboating is very similar to wildcamping except that everyone is doing it and the facilities are better. Now when I use my van, I will stay close to crt facilities so that I can use their toilets and water. The stoves in narrowboats are very effective, but to keep them going until the morning, users have to bank them up at night - this usually requires doors and windows to be opened and users sit around in minimal clothing until it cools down.

Thanks again for all your help, I hope to meet some of you, when it gets warmer.

R.

 

[wildman]

there is nothing in a narrowboat that cannot be achieved in a van for fulltiming that would have to include a woodburner and the windy smithy in Devon make lots of a suitable size to fit in most vans, insulation and double glazing plus blinds and heavy duty curtains help as well. Sue an I lived one winter in snow whilst in a part converted horsebox, the rear half unheated had icicles hanging from the ceiling whilst the main saloon was toasty hot, no shortage of waste wood and pallets to burn. No need to be cold with a decent means of heating.

 

[Rowena32]

These look excellent, but I just don't have anywhere to put it.

there is nothing in a narrowboat that cannot be achieved in a van for fulltiming that would have to include a woodburner and the windy smithy in Devon make lots of a suitable size to fit in most vans, insulation and double glazing plus blinds and heavy duty curtains help as well. Sue an I lived one winter in snow whilst in a part converted horsebox, the rear half unheated had icicles hanging from the ceiling whilst the main saloon was toasty hot, no shortage of waste wood and pallets to burn. No need to be cold with a decent means of heating.

These look excellent, but I just didn't have anywhere to put it. The habitation area in the van is about 10 feet long; the habitation area in the narrowboat is 22 feet long.

R.:idea:

 

[Nesting Zombie]

as I am about to embark on this mystical journey of self discovery, I am keen to read more.

I favour an extra quilt, hot water bottle and woolie cap (if it ever gets that cold)

4/5 of heat is drawn down, so what are you laying on?

your major heat loss areas are Head Hands and Feet

as your head sticks out from under the quilt, there is one place to add a little etra and loose wool socks if you poke your feet out of the other

WAY ahead of you,,Right I'm ready for bed LOL LOL
Dropbox - IMAG1782_1.jpg

 

[jagmanx]

Maybe

A Toyboy would help !

Not volunteering I am too old to be considered a Toyboy.

 

[rockape]

Thermal full length undies & a really good sleeping bag. You have to strip down to the undies before getting in the bag for it to work properly.
Lots of others will come on & offer more technical solutions I'm sure.

A dog works well too!

I was taught when I was in the forces to sleep with your change of clothes IN your sleeping bag,( wanking chariot) that way the extra clothes will keep you warm and if they are only slightly damp they will dry out in the night from your body heat.
Don't forget the odd sock, ex squadies will understand the odd sock.
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