Roamer design and build campervans for off grid adventures in extreme winter conditions. So when we say we’re ready for winter, we mean it! The video and detailed explanations below outline the steps we take to winterise our campervans. We also talk about campervanning in winter in general terms in our blog post, What is a winterised campervan.
Four Wheel Drive is actually a very rare feature on a campervan and we’ve never seen it on a motorhome. Is it essential? Well you could get by with a front wheel drive campervan and good winter tyres but 4WD definitely improves safety in difficult conditions. 4WD is like most safety features, you won’t notice it until you really need it. And where it comes into its own when you’re stuck in a snowy car park or need to drive up a slippery incline. In these situations it’s worth it’s weight in gold.
4WD, AWD, 4×4, 4Motion, it’s all basically the same. 4Motion is the brand name for Volkswagen’s version so this is the badge you’ll see on our campervans. 4Motion is based on a Haldex coupling system (another brand name) which automatically sends power to whichever of the 4 wheels needs it, at any given moment. If it senses a wheel starting to spin, the system cuts the power going to that wheel and sends more power to whichever of the other wheels can best use it. For fuel efficiency, in normal driving conditions 4Motion systems default to two-wheel-drive, all four wheels are only powered when the system decides that extra traction is needed.
We fit Eberspacher S2 D2L heaters in all of our campervans which blow consistent hot air through a vent near the floor. The 2200W Eberspacher S2 is quiet, efficient and reliable, and kicks out more than enough heat to keep you toasty all winter.
For hot water we have different solutions in each van. Chewie has an internal shower and a bigger water tank so we fitted an Eberspacher Hydroplate system, which is another diesel powered system that can provide unlimited hot water (until tank runs out anyway!). In Homer, we fitted a 10 litre Surecal calorifier. It’s connected to the engine and heats the water up while driving so you can arrive at a new location with a full tank of hot water ready to go. It will also plug into a campsite electric hookup.
Thermostatic controls
The Eberspacher S2 includes the ability to automatically adjust the burner cycle according to altitude (up to 3000m). You can also use the thermostat to keep the campervan at a consistent temperature 24/7, or set a timer to switch on the heater before you get back from the slopes.
We keep all pipes inside the main campervan insulation and also lag them individually with Armaflex insulation. Despite this, pipes can still freeze so it’s important to have a backup. We fit a separate drinking water tank underneath the sink. Water runs through a filter and to a separate tap so you can use it as your main supply if you want, or keep it in reserve just in case.
Built for Adventure
Styled For Comfort
Designed For Groups