DIY Camper use all year round ?

[berreke]

I thought I would give them a try as they are not expensive thought  I would use them on the windscreen as that is the hardest to get rid of the condensation  the rear and side windows are easy to wipe.  I don’t mind a slight mist on the windscreen not the heavy condensation.
I have used cat litter in an old sock which did work a little but it was the powder it left after a few days, although I did leave in the car and it was cheap cat litter maybe a better quality cat litter would be better.

You could try rice. Absorbs water verry well and is cheap.

[geoff]

^^^ Similarly with salt it absorbs water easily , some caravanners use it and give it good reviews.

[ajcommercial]

I do use absorbing granules when I'm not using my car for a while, I have got some Pound shop moisture traps and empty them when they are spent and replace the granules.. Works OK, not perfect but reduces the build up of that mucky white dusty stuff and damp seats.. I have tried putting a 240v dehumidifier in the car running off an extension lead from the house and didn't seem to do a thing, collected water and kept a nice warm vehicle but the seats were still damp and the white powdery stuff still developed.. Wasted a mass of electricity but at least I learnt not to do it again... 

  Insulation.. I can see why people fit it but I can't see it does any good.. Has anyone tried expandafoam in the inaccessible places ?

  I have a glass roof in my Multi so insulation is pretty much a waste of time.. Mattress + sleeping bag + keeping clothes on is the way I will have to go.. I prefer the wild / low profile style of camping so awning / generator / sky dish is not for me..

  How do you keep your van level when camping ? Do you just drive around until you find a level ground ?

[Gravity]

Insulation.. I can see why people fit it but I can't see it does any good.. Has anyone tried expandafoam in the inaccessible places ?
Mattress + sleeping bag + keeping clothes on is the way I will have to go.. I prefer the wild / low profile style of camping so awning / generator / sky dish is not for me..
How do you keep your van level when camping ? Do you just drive around until you find a level ground ?

Completely agree with you about van insulation. 
It helps, but in my view is a labour and cost intensive way of trying to keep warm. Layers round the body, like you suggest, is the more cosy and efficient way to go. Expandafoam I don't like. It's messy, and might expand into areas that trap moisture or strain delicate wiring, connectors, etc. A friend has used Rockwool and says it's good, but I've had no experience of it, so can't comment.

Unfortunately, although the main beef is condensed water droplets on the windscreen, there is one aspect that is often overlooked. More moisture in the car Is absorbed by hygroscopic areas - such as the seats, carpet, roof lining, bedding, than the water you see on solid surfaces such as the glass, so it's no surprise really that getting rid of moisture is a big pain! The car's heating system has a very large job to do when morning comes! This helps to explain why it sometimes takes a long while to clear the windows. An old-fashioned chamois leather and plenty of (brrrr!) ventilation helps - and the activity keeps you warm.

Getting a van level is another pain. There are various drive-on wedges on the market, and I've found a plastic ridged one that works for me (two of them), but it's still a bit of aggro.

I'm talking myself out of going camping!

Gravity

[ghost123uk]

Slightly off topic, but worth a mention I reckon =

When camping in mine in the warmer weather, I like to leave one of the sliding doors not completely closed. This is simply because I like fresh air.

I havn't slept in mine since around September, but it has occurred to me that, if one was to shut all the doors and windows to keep the cold out in the winter, how much oxygen would be used up before morning?

And note, CO2 is much heavier than air, so leaving a window open a crack won't help in this respect.

Proper camper vans have at least one aperture in the floor, to allow for any slight leakage from the cooker / fridge etc. Our cars don't have this.

Take care folks and try not to die of a lack of Oxygen !!

[leftfootleashed]

I've been thinking for a while about using my Berlingo for camping and I have an idea that I haven't yet implemented. Rather than try to insulate all the interior surfaces (windows, behind the door panels, roof, floor, etc.), I intend to make an insulated space using fabric to hang inside the van, much like a tent inner hangs inside the outer.

I'm hoping that this will keep the heat in better as there won't be any cold bridges, and it will be a smaller volume to heat with body heat. I'm not sure it'd be suitable for deep winter, but should improve the situation for the other 3 seasons.

It will also double as privacy curtains, and if I can design it right will be quick to rig - quicker than say putting a curtain panel on each window.

Anyone got any thoughts?

[Gravity]

Hi Leftfoot,

That idea sounds interesting. The downside would be how the 'inner tent' is shaped and hung. That could be real tricky. If you have the inside roof bars, then it could possibly hang from them somehow.

One of the pluses would be that it might keep excess condensation from the windows. Personally, although I have a small heater for my Berlingo, I am more in favour of keeping my person warm by using clothing in layers - and two sleeping bags at times (one inside the other) - plus that old standby, a hot water bottle.

Be very interested in your development of this idea.

Gravity

[ghost123uk]

I have a small heater for my Berlingo,

What sort of heater do you have?

[leftfootleashed]

Hi Leftfoot,

That idea sounds interesting. The downside would be how the 'inner tent' is shaped and hung. That could be real tricky. If you have the inside roof bars, then it could possibly hang from them somehow.

One of the pluses would be that it might keep excess condensation from the windows. Personally, although I have a small heater for my Berlingo, I am more in favour of keeping my person warm by using clothing in  layers - and two sleeping bags at times (one inside the other) - plus that old standby, a hot water bottle.

Be very interested in your development of this idea.

Gravity

My general thinking is to shape the "inner tent" like a box with tapered sides and hang it from the four corners (and possibly an extra point in the centre to stop it from drooping), or perhaps have a rectangle of line permanently attached in the roof space over which to drape it. I don't have the internal roof rails but I'm not averse to butchering the interior with self-tappers or whatever.

I would envisage cracking the windows to help with ventilation - hopefully the insulation would more than offset the loss of heat this would cause. I wonder if insulation might be a problem on the inside of the insulation - it will depend on how breathable the fabric is. Some vents would help this.

I'll report back when I get round to trying it. It's on the list, but below a modular sleeping platform and a tailgate awning that are currently in progress. Got to try and finish one thing before I start another!

[Gravity]

Hi John,

I have a compact 200watt greenhouse heater. It is thermostatically controlled, and runs off the ehu when that's available. Off grid, it will run off my booster pack for a couple of hours or more, but once I get cosy I don't really need it.

Here's a link to a similar unit, if it works:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INCA-Frost-Pr...XQ7j1SKfft

It is not Berlingo central heating! ... but as I position it under my bed, which has an air gap along its length, it spreads gentle warmth exactly where it's most needed, and seems to help keep the windows clearer overnight in bad weather.

I'm in the middle of building a new camper unit which will be finished by the end of the year, having pinched ideas from studying other units and added a few of my own. I'll put pics up (if someone will guide me how to do it - this site seems to be difficult in that regard!) once it's complete.

Gravity