This is Part 2 of my Cold Weather Series. In Part 1, my plan was simple: move somewhere warmer. But sometimes the days warm up and only the nights drop below freezing. When that happens, I don’t stress. I’ve slept through the low 20s in my Travato, and we were fine.
Here’s what I do.
1. Cover every window
Shades, blinds, blackouts, all of them. Cold air comes in through the windows fast, so covering them keeps the warmth inside.
2. Run my Truma heater at night
At night I run my Truma heater. It keeps the van above freezing so my water pipes don’t freeze. That’s the whole goal: protect the water system on those cold nights.
Why I keep it at 50°F
I keep my Truma at 50°F. That might sound chilly, but Tsali and I love sleeping a little cold. My senior golden has a thick coat, and I like a cool van with warm blankets.
When this works, and when it doesn’t
This approach is for nights that drop below freezing while the days warm back up. If it stays below freezing day and night, that’s a different situation, and that’s coming in Part 3: Winterizing My Travato.
Gear I use
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Do you sleep warm or cold in your van? Let me know in the comments.
More cold weather tips: What do I need to know about cold weather or winter camping?