The beauty of a camper is that you can use it year-round. With the right precautions and warnings, you can even enjoy wonderful holidays in the mountains and on the ski slopes.

The first tip for using your camper in the mountains in winter is to check that the heating is working before leaving. It's unthinkable to leave if the heater isn't working; the heating should always be left at the minimum temperature to prevent the water pipes from freezing. Inside the camper, the water pipes are positioned next to the air ducts, thus preventing them from freezing.

If you plan to go free, also check that the batteries are performing well , as electricity consumption in the winter season is significantly higher than in the mild and summer seasons, both to run the heating and due to the greater time spent inside the cell.

Traveling safely is crucial: starting November 15th, winter tires or snow chains will be mandatory. If you don't have winter or m+s tires, don't forget to pack snow chains!

Fresh water tanks inside the cells are unlikely to freeze if the heating is always kept at a minimum temperature. However, fresh water tanks installed later and grey water tanks located outside the cell can freeze . There are special liquids that must be poured down the sink drains to prevent grey water tanks from freezing. As for additional fresh water tanks, we do not recommend using them in winter. The liquid can also be used in toilet cisterns .

Ice could also cause problems with the gate valve/drain valve . To avoid this problem, in extremely cold temperatures, you can leave the valve partially open and use a collection bucket or, even better, a portable gray water tank.

Arctic/Winter Diesel: From November to February, all gas stations sell so-called winter diesel, which prevents the paraffin in the diesel from solidifying at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius. In areas with colder temperatures, such as the Alps, pumps sell "Alpine or Arctic Diesel," which can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius (some grades even reach -30 degrees Celsius). This becomes a problem if you plan to travel to places where temperatures drop below -10 degrees Celsius. In this case, we recommend filling up your tank with diesel once you arrive at your destination and driving a few kilometers to allow the Alpine or Arctic Diesel to enter the circulation .

Among the tips for using your camper in the mountains in winter, it is definitely worth noting that you should equip yourself with propane cylinders , as propane freezes at much lower temperatures than butane.

Much of the cold comes from the cabin, which is completely unheated. There are commercially available cabin covers and cabin/living area dividers, and you can also use a heavy blanket or an open sleeping bag between the seats and the living area to try to block the cold from the front. It might also be helpful to place something on the floor, such as mats or carpet, to help provide some protection from the cold.

As a supplementary heater to the camper stove, our advice is to use an oil-filled radiator , which is less dangerous than resistance heaters which can easily set fire to clothing or fabrics.

In the event of a sudden snowfall, it's always a good idea to carry a sturdy shovel to clear any snow that forms around your camper and could prevent you from leaving your pitch. We recommend an aluminum shovel, which is also excellent for icy snow (foldable ones are also available).

Among the tips for using the camper in the mountains in winter there are obviously also those of bringing warm clothing , duvets, flannel sheets and if you are extremely sensitive to the cold, a hot water bottle. A portable "spider" drying rack could also be very useful to hang scarves, hats and gloves to dry.