In the winter of 2019, David Vachon invited us to take a look at the first vehicles built by VanLife, insisting they were insulated and could be used very well in winter. Four years later, thanks to a pandemic that has exploded caravanning in Quebec, the small company in the LaSalle district has the wind in its sails and can confirm more than ever that it is possible to winter in its “van”. Pro Tips.
Posted on January 27th
“Five and a half years ago, when we started, year-round use wasn’t in people’s imagination,” says Catherine Vachon, co-owner and David’s sister. But it really is a travel formula that has grown in popularity in recent years. »
However, caravanning in winter requires a different mindset than in summer, especially when we choose to spend many consecutive days traveling. “Your life in your van needs to be enhanced with activities that other places add to your living environment,” she stresses. It can be a coffee shop, a ski resort, hiking trails, you have to be able to juggle a rhythm of life that allows you to get out of the van. »
For those who decide to do longer winter camp, the biggest challenge is making sure the water doesn’t freeze. To do this, Catherine Vachon suggests starting the water heater while driving to save batteries when stationary. “Also, in winter you always have to clear the roof to keep the solar panels free of snow and ice, and always park the vehicle at an angle that favors charging the panels. »
However, the vast majority of winter caravanners use their vehicle for short weekend trips and simply drain the water from the pipes and tanks – the water supply can then be provided by plugging an 18-liter bottle into the kitchen sink. “These people will be skiing, going hiking in the forest and to avoid any risk of frostbite they will only use drinking water from the sink,” explains Ms. Vachon. In addition, when we rent our vans during the winter, we shut down the water system. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VANLIFE MTL
Caravanning in winter requires a different mindset than in summer.
Otherwise, the insulation of the vehicle down to -20 °C is very sufficient: “It’s a small cabin, so it doesn’t take long to warm up,” assures the young woman, who camps herself for a small family. The ground may be colder, but we recommend rolling out a mat there and wearing good socks and you’re done! As for the toilet, there is no problem since we install a cassette model that we empty when it is full. For smells, I pour a little essential oil in it, it is very effective. Those who insist on camping in temperatures below -25°C will then need to insulate the windows and dress warmer.
Also, VanLife has recently offered to dine at a few dealers who are friends of caravanners, which are currently listed under the ‘VanLife Friendly’ tab on the company’s website – we plan to make this a full-fledged website soon. “It’s an exchange between dealers and vanlifers,” says Catherine Vachon. In the context of a pandemic, vanlifers have not always been welcome in stores, so we wanted to comfort retailers by letting them understand that vanlifers’ profile has changed a lot and that they are very respectful travellers. Of course, we also want to optimize the experience of our customers; At the moment we have about thirty employees in Quebec, some even offer showers in return for buying some of their products. This can be very useful in winter!