Ski camper-Mythbuster

Because according to the comments on social networks about winter camping with campers, the same myths are constantly swirling around: 

"huge deposit", "different gas bottles abroad", "dangerous fun of driving in the snow", "the rental is worse than when the camper is yours”, "autoplin solves all problems"… 

we bring this text as an attempt to explain it all with a cool head – no romance, but also no intimidation. 

From the perspective of someone who winter campers live every day: fleet of 4-season campers, Northautokapp equipment, powerful heating, heated grey water, additional insulation and - what most renters do not have at all – a system that shows the exact level of gas in the bottles, so we and the guest always know how much gas is in the camper. 

 Myth # 1: "huge deposit - so who's crazy here?” 

The deposit is not the cost of travel, but insurance. 

If you return the camper undamaged, your deposit will be returns in full. It doesn't really cost you a trip – it comes back to you completely after the vehicle comes back in the same condition. 

At the same time, the same people without problems spend 75-80 € per day on: 

• ski map 

• parking under the ski resort 

• lunch on the trail and coffee 

Skiing is an expensive sport, so it's funny to play around with a deposit.: 

• don't waste your time if you're responsible 

• protect both guest and renter 

• typically amounts to as much as a few days of skiing 

The deposit is only a problem for those who plan to ignore the instructions on driving and using the camper at the beginning and then wonder at the bills. 

Myth # 2 “ " teasing with different gas bottles abroad” 

The most common winter myth. First things first. 

1. The standard of thread is the same in much of Europe. 
   In Austria, Germany, Croatia and a number of other countries the same type of thread on bottles is used. 
   This means that our regulators normally roll on their bottles there are no exotic adapters for every country. 
2. Our campers carry two bottles – and if necessary an extra one in the trunk. 
   We're running two bottles in a gas box. 
   If someone is planning to stay out of camp for a long time, the third and fourth bottles I can go to the trunk (with respect to the mass and safe binding). 
3. The biggest advantage Kamperi.hr we know how much gas there is. 
   In our campers, it's not “guessing by ear.” 
   We have system for measuring the level of gas in bottles, so that at any given time one knows how much gas is in the bottle. 
   This is a huge difference from classic rents where guests rely on feeling, weighing the bottle by hand and “there's probably more”. 
4. There are also adapter sets for "exotic" countries. 
   In Europe, most bottles use the same thread, and for the rest there are commercial adapter sets covering practically the whole of the EU. 

In other words, gas is logistics to plan, but it's not a drama or a mission impossible. It's a much bigger problem when someone doesn't even know how much they spend and what their RV is on the inside. 

Myth # 3 “ " the main problem in winter is gas-batteries are not even mentioned”

This may also be the most important thing which people don't understand. 

Gas (or diesel) heating: 

• air in the camper 

• shower water and sink 

But everything that drives it works at 12 V: 

• gas/diesel heating fans 

• heating electronics 

• water pumps 

• lighting 

• USB chargers, sockets, TV, router… 

Therefore battery bottleneck winter camping outside the camp: 

• the day is short → less full ride / solar 

• the night is long → heating and lighting work many more hours 

• people are more inside → more electricity for everything else 

If you stand in the same place for 3-4 days without electricity and without driving, the key concern not "will the gas run out?" will the battery hold?. 

That's why we have the fleet. Lifepo baterije high capacity batteries (310 Ah) with heatingwe don't play Russian Roulette in the winter. If anyone knows a renter who offers such batteries in the standard equipment of a winter camper for rent-we will be happy to meet him. 🙂  

Simple rule: 

If someone talks about winter camping, and does not mention batteries and charging at all – they did not seriously camp outside the camp in the winter. 

Myth # 4: "driving a camper in the snow is a dangerous joke” 

Driving in the snow always requires caution - be it a camper, personal car or van. But that it's not an automatic exposure.. 

Our campers in winter: 

• they have real winter tires 

• they've got equipment lance, where necessary 

• they have modern security electronics (ABS, ESP etc.) 

• they are regularly serviced and checked before each trip. 

Every year we take campers skiing-Austria, Alps, mountain passes – with guests who are in the camper for the first time, with detailed instructions: 

• where the chains are bound 

• how to set them up 

• how to drive up/down a hill with a camper 

"A dangerous joke" is a ride with crooked tires, no chains and no brains, and not the concept of a camper itself. 

Myth # 5 “" when the camper is yours, everything is great; when it is rented, it is no good” 

This is pure emotion, not fact. 

It's important for winter: 

• is the camper really 4-season (winter Package, additional insulation, Northautokapp equipment) 

• is there strong heating (type Truma 6E-6 kW, gas + electricity) 

• are they pipes and grey water tank insulated and heated 

• how they are in it batteries and Chargers 

• is there winter tires and chains 

• who keeps it and how often 

The fact that the camper is "yours" does not automatically mean that: 

• is well isolated 

• it has heated tanks. 

• it has a serious battery and Chargers 

• it has winter tires and correct brakes  

With a professional renter who lives on to make a living live and smile return from a trip, the motive is very simple: 

If the guest freezes in the winter, runs out of electricity or water – he will not return. 

That is why serious renter invests in winter packages, insulation, grey water heating, quality batteries, gas monitoring system.and tests all this in real winter conditions, not just on paper. 

Myth # 6: "Autoplin tank solves all gas problems in winter” 

At first it sounds great: “I put a car tank and pour anywhere, almost stories”. 

Physics says otherwise. 

Autoplin is a mixture of propane and butane. 

• Propane works well even at very low temperatures. 

• Butane stops normally evaporating just below zero.  

What happens in real life? 

• In the first place, you spend propane, because it continues to transition nicely into a gaseous state. 

• Butane stays in the tank like a liquid that no longer passes into a gas. 

• The result: you have a “half full” tank, but the heating and stove run out of gas. 

That's why in a serious winter camp story: 

• uses pure propane or "winter" gas mixtures with very high propane content 

• gas bottles are affordable to replace 

• the level of gas is clearly monitored (in our country-system of reading the level of gas in bottles) 

The car's container is not evil in itself, but it's not a perfect solution for winter. Who thinks that he "installed the car engine and solved everything", will be awkwardly surprised at -10 °C. 

Myth # 7: "diesel heating is noisy and bothers everyone” 

Diesel heating (type Webasto) in winter is a huge plus – heated from the vehicle tank and consumes a minimum. 

The truth is: 

• a fan can be heard 

• audible exhaust outside, especially in silence. 

But likewise: 

• modern devices have eco / low mode 

• by choosing the right parking space (not under someone's window), the noise is quite tolerable 

• in winter camps there are a bunch of heaters, trucks, ploughs anyway…  

In practice, we're combining gas heating (ex. Truma 6E) and diesel heating type Webastodepending on the scenario. Noise has never been a reason to give up winter camping-especially when you consider how nice it is to sit in a warm camper while it snows outside. 

So what's really important about winter in a camper?  

When you remove all the myths, there are a few very specific points left: 

      4-season camper 

• winter package
• Northautokapp or similar winter equipment
• insulated and heated pipes + grey water
• Strong and reliable heating 

• e.g. Truma 6E-6 kW, gas + electricity combination
• additional diesel heating (Webasto)
•  
• Batteries and charging 

• large capacity (with Lifepo Li 310 Ah with heating)
• high-quality chargers (230 V, alternator, preferably solar)
• realistic planning how much you can stand off-grid
•  
• Gas and consumption control 

• two bottles in the trunk, possibility of additional in the trunk
• pure propane / winter mixtures
• system for monitoring the level of gas in the bottles, not to play on " guessing”
•  
• Tires, chains and snow preparation 

• winter tires
• chains of suitable dimensions
• shovel, broom, ice spray…
•  
• The team's experience 

• someone who actually went skiing with that camper
• who knows how it behaves at -10 °C and not just at +25 °C
• who can give you concrete advice: where to stop, where is the service station, where are the mandatory chains…

That's what we in Kamperi.hr we work every day-and that is why we may react a little more sensitively when someone in the armchair “explains” the winter problem without ever sleeping the night in the camper while it snows outside.