Tips for Keeping Warm when Camping

[dav]

One planet sleeping bag . Cost $ but happy wife means more camping.

[Blinky Bill]

If you have a soft floor camper close the tailgate, it is amazing how much cold air gets under the base of the mattress.

We have a hard floor & found that closing the kitchen area stop drafts. Obvious when you think about it but amazing how many people camp with their's left wide open in cold times.

Also stops rodents, possums & cane toads from getting in there.

Cheers - Wayne

[FZJ]

#extra large lined picnic rug on the camper floor keeps the cold out  and is warm ontop.Another one goes under the mattress.

#Havent done it yet but am getting a small flap of pvc made up so it covers up the Kitchen gap under the bed ,saves packing the kitchen up.

#old saucepan with a few coals in it under your seat outside warms the "hole"of your body before bed.

[LJs GU]

#Havent done it yet but am getting a small flap of pvc made up so it covers up the Kitchen gap under the bed ,saves packing the kitchen up.

Pedeosar,

I know every little bit helps, but I wouldn't bother myself, the heat transfer through the canvas alone is where it all goes.  Think about all the surface area of the 'thin' canvas for the heat to go, compared to the heat loss through the 'thick' wooden ply bed base.

x2 for the picnic rug though (plus shade cloth under tent as well).

LJ

[Rural]

Coffee (me), Tea (wife) & Milo (kids) before bed.   Sometimes something a bit stronger for the parents. 

We have a soft floor and run shade cloth (enviromesh stuff) under the floor and if really cold we also slide the kitchen in and close the tailgate to stop the cold a bit.  Good doona on the bed and 2 kids in black wolf -10degree sleeping bags & everyone has thermals.  Cannot beat thermals and layers as opposed to big bulky items. 

Should have a look at current Kathmandu Easter sale as 3 pieces of thermals (tops, bottoms etc) are $75 = $25 a piece.  A good thermal top for the kids to wear underneath makes a big difference.

I dont run any heaters or anything in the tent - we just keep rugged up and wait for the sun to rise! 

We are planning 4weeks around Alice Springs in July so this topic is quite relevant as I keep being told to be prepeard for cool nights.  Might throw a couple of hot water bottles in!

[brooky]

the wife and i where over at tassie one year, lake st clare bloody freezing cold, i put a couple of rocks in the fire then pulled them out wrapped them up in a tea towel and put them in our bed magic!

[Rural]

I wondered if anyone has any feedback regarding using small electric blow heaters (just as tent wam up / not leave running) when there is the ability to plug into power.  Was thinking of getting a small cheap one for an extended trip in July.

[johnyd]

Electric blankets would probably be of more use, heating a smaller area that would be well insulated.  Not much use until you get into bed though.

[Rumpig]

Hi,
   the Mrs likes one of these:

X2 on the Webasto, we have one in our KK 

[Mrs CRW]

Now that we are fairly well set up, I have hot water bottles a Webasto heater, flanny sheets, thermals, etc.  But when we first started, if you get caught short someone told me about using normal drink bottles with just off the boil water (so you don't melt the plastic) in lieu of the old fashioned hot water bottles.  They work a treat.   

[PeterO]

We also have Webasto heater in our KK. It uses the heat exchanger from the hot water system which is normally turned on in the gull wing. But our dealer has wired it to allow the operation from within the camper. So no need to get out of bed until it's warm

I also recommend these products http://au.icebreaker.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-IB-AU-Site/default/Home-Show

Have been using their thermals for years now and they are very, very good.

Peter

[LJs GU]

But when we first started, if you get caught short someone told me about using normal drink bottles with just off the boil water (so you don't melt the plastic) in lieu of the old fashioned hot water bottles.  They work a treat.   

...or the aluminium ones wrapped/put in a thick sock to take away the 'burny touchy' moments.

LJ

[gonefishing]

There's some great ideas here.  We are heading to Birdsville/Cameron Corner in the June holidays, and being coastal sooks will find the chilly nights a bit breathtaking!

I am def investing in the silk sleeping bag liners - they sound the go even in hot weather (use instead of the sleeping bag which is way too hot)

At nights we heat up Easy-lite Heat Beads and put a couple in aluminium trays under our chairs - nice warm bum 
I see others do a similar thing.

Might need to take the Irish Whiskey too!