Copyright © 2007 Caravan and Mike Cazalet

Heating / Ventilation:

Caravans are actually very well insulated and most have enough heat output to be quite warm even in really cold weather. But good heat distribution and clean air does depend upon ventilation. Under no circumstances should you block off any fixed ventilators. You might be able to improve ventilation by slightly opening one window - the so called night position.

It is better to have some heat on all the time, even when the caravan isn't being used. When you first put the heat on in a cold caravan most of the heat goes into warming up the walls, ceiling and floor.

Be very careful about using any heat other than that provided by the caravan manufacturer. For example open to atmosphere gas and paraffin heaters create carbon monoxide gas, the so called silent killer. Proper caravan heaters are room sealed so no exhaust gas gets into the living area. Don't use your cooker to provide warmth.

Plan your trips out of, or in to, the caravan. Nothing helps the interior temperature drop quickly than the entry door continually being opened and closed.

If you have damp clothes to dry, for example an anorak, don't hang them up to dry in the caravan. All that will do is increase the moisture content in the caravan.

Whilst it is tempting to use a small electric blower heater to raise the caravan's internal temperature I wouldn't advise it. Almost certainly you'll be powering the caravan's mains electricity supply off a single 13amp socket, and even small blower heaters use a lot of power. If it is absolutely vital that you have extra heating it is probably better to use a halogen heater. All the halogen heaters I've seen have a safety switch built into their base so that if the heater is knocked over it immediately switches off.

If using a fairly modern touring caravan fitted with an Electrolux / Domestic fridge it is possible to buy clip on plates which restrict air flow around the back of the fridge.

Cooking:

To anyone who has never lived in a caravan it might look difficult to cook a proper meal on a small caravan stove. It is actually very easy, but does require a bit of thinking.

For example don't pick vegetables that need to be boiled for a long period of time. That just puts moisture into the atmosphere. Frozen peas, for example, take just a couple of minutes in boiling water whilst fresh brussel sprouts take - well for ever.

Pressure cookers also put moisture into the atmosphere, but you can cook three different vegetables and meat / fish at the same time.

Much as you might like fried food remember that the smell of cooking will linger in the air. However a stir fried meal using olive oil uses little power and doesn't generate too much smell.

Whilst air fresheners will clear the air after cooking, the smell will linger in soft furnishings. An antibac product like Fabreeze will kill the smell.

You cannot use most domestic electrical kitchen tools with the limited mains electrical power available in a caravan. Microwaves are a particular problem because all though they may be rated at (say) 750watts at start up they may require twice the nominal running power. Most domestic electric kettles are too powerful for caravan use, but caravan specific kettles don't use much power and don't take much longer to boil enough water for a cup of tea.

Any family and friends who have the full use of their homes can be a valuable help. For example a casserole takes for ever to cook, but if someone cooks one for you it doesn't take long to heat it through on the caravan cooker.

With limited cooking facilities it is very easy to forget the need for a balanced diet. You may not be able to cook too many vegetables, but can still eat fruit through things like bought-in, pre-cooked apple pies from a local baker.

Family:

Active children are a real problem. During spring to autumn caravanning they will be outside the caravan most of the time, but in the dark winter months ahead they are going to spend a lot of time inside the fairly confined space of the caravan. They need to be occupied, and enjoyably occupied, if they aren't to be bored and fractious. Obviously they can't retreat to their own rooms and play electronic games, or for that matter play on their computers. My guess is that a lot of modern children wouldn't take to well to old fashioned board (bored) games. If the husband and / or wife has a stressful working life they might find it difficult to come home and spend all evening with over active children climbing all over them. To some extent that problem can be prevented by just explaining the situation to the children.

One tip which might translate from touring caravanning is to get the children involved in chores. On a caravan site the children would be furious if they were denied the right to collect the fresh water and to wash the dishes, although on a caravan site part of the attraction of both chores is that they get to meet their friends again.

I think that part of the secret of a happy family life is to start with some rules and rewards. For example perhaps the children could pick which television programmes they want to watch up to bed time even though one of the parents might prefer to watch Coronation Street. Most active children can't stand soaps, so Coronation Street and similar would just be an excuse for them to get fractious.

Smoking:

And this is written by a cigarette smoker. You really can't smoke in a caravan because in a relatively small space the tobacco smoke very quickly becomes annoying, even to other smokers.

Sleeping:

Although these unfortunate people can sleep in their houses, without heat it won't be comfortable. The good old fashioned hot water bottle may be very low tech, but they are a great comfort on a cold night.

Security / insurance:

I hate to say it but I'm sure there are some thieves who are looking at these caravans parked in people's drives as an opportunity. There should be no doubt, static and touring caravans can not be as well secured as a bricks and mortar house, so don't leave portable valuables (like cameras) in the caravan and if you do not where they can be seen from outside.

Touring caravans must be secured against theft which means at the very least a  good quality wheel clamp.

I'm not sure what responsibility the house insurers have in a situation like this, but it is certainly something the insured should discuss with them. I would have thought it not unreasonable that the insurers might want to pay for some sort of secure storage.

Gas supply:

Most caravans used during the spring / autumn period run off butane gas, the blue bottles. If the temperature drops towards freezing the liquid in the cylinder thickens and it may not be possible to draw off enough gas.

I would strongly advise changing to propane (red) cylinders. If the families are using Calor Gas their main dealers will be able to advise on how easy or otherwise it is to make the change over. I suspect very cheap. Propane is marginally more expensive to use in terms of cost per amount of heat produced, but I did a cost analysis on this some years ago and the difference really is tiny.

Water:

Touring caravans draw water from a portable tank which stands outside the caravan. In really cold weather that water can freeze. When the forecast is for freezing temperatures over night the water tank should be emptied, or if heat is left on in the caravan then placed in the caravan.

I would also advise filling a kettle of water before bed so people can quickly get a hot drink down inside them when they get up.

Toilet:

If a touring caravan chemical toilet is being used then during really cold weather an anti-freeze type product must be used in both the fresh water (flushing) tank and the holding tank. These products are sold by larger touring caravan dealers. If a number of "homeless" families decided to bulk purchase they should be able to negotiate a good price.

Wind chill:

Despite good insulation and heating touring and static caravans are subject to wind chill. Unlike a house the wind can blow under as well as over the caravan. In most instances the caravan will probably be parked up alongside a wall, fence or hedge but positioning a car to protect the exposed side of the caravan is beneficial.

However don't try and block off the underside of the caravan because this interferes with ventilation.