Taking the van skiing

I doubt anything will freeze up while you are inside the MH and using heating. You could use a small water carrier inside for drinking, and use site facilities for showering, so that you have little in grey tank. Put a bucket under tap and leave tap open so that it runs straight through, then just empty bucket as and when required.

As for snow chains, this is a good website, make sure you read up about sizing, fitting, using prior to purchase. Not all vehicles can take them. 

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/snow-chains/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs73q45jm3gIVir3tCh0JPww9EAAYAiAAEgLeXPD_BwE

Enjoy yourselves!

You might find www.motorhomeski.com helpful.

You don't say where you are going but in some countries winter tyres are essential, and in the event of an accident you may be held responsible if you are on normal tyres.  They also make an incredible difference when driving on snow.  Best to check this, winter tyres can be rented.

running the waste into a bucket is the way and a popular ice avoider...

however, in really persistent cold weather, the fresh side is a different matter....

it's very likely your Elddis will have an underslung, exposed fresh water tank....don't assume any 'heating pads' will help avoid a frozen tank.

if the tank doesn't freeze, the biggest issue will be the supply pipe from the outside tank into the van....remember, this will always be primed and full of water and almost certainly unprotected from the elements.

again, you could rely on water in inside containers but it's a reall faff, it's cold and needs to poured out rather than being able to use those useful things.....taps.

so, no sink in the kitchen, or bathroom, or shower...

almost every continental van will have its fresh tank inboard for this very reason....it gets damn cold in Central Europe...yet folk still want use of their vans....

so, here's a suggestion.....I think it would be possible in pretty much any van to 'bring the tank inboard' and winterise it....

i don't know the capacity of your water tank (guess around 70ltr) but it only needs a 40 cm cube to give a 64ltr tank, small enough to fit under most side sofas or under a fixed bed....

reroute the fill pipe and the main supply pipe and you're away....

now, the value and practicality of doing something like this depends on your desire to ski with the van and how often...

if its going to be a regular event, I'd certainly be looking at ensuring that my van was capable of operating in those expected conditions.

OTOH, if it's a one of ypu might be fine just making the compromises yourself.

good luck.

Thank you all for your reply’s.  This has been very helpful.  We are going to the alps in France and hopefully doing this in future years. The water tank is under slung but with facilities it may be that we don’t need running water.  It will be quite an adventure !!! 

yes, give it a go by all means, but not having running water for (say) teeth cleaning or washing hands in the toilet (or flushing) would be a right pain.

i know it would drive us mad...

having to go 'to the block' for these simple things when you have a MH seems to defeat the object a bit....

as I said in my other post, continental vans are built as they are for a reason....

good luck and enjoy

 

Our pipes froze last year in York and that would be nothing like the overnight temps in the Alps. We coped by having fresh water in containers on board. We had already attached a micro heater to our tanks but this didn't stop the pipes freezing. If you can get at anything and lag it well this will help. Lots of people go so I'm sure you will manage ok especially if there are good facilities on site (I expect you'll have to get fresh water from inside a building.) Look out for snow chain offers in places like Lidl and practice putting them on before you go. Take equipment to get yourself off the snow if needed, similar to winter trips here.

You probably  have thought of this basic check, but just in case.

If you anticipate being in  extremely  low night  temperatures .

Worth just checking or have checked the % dilution rate of the anti freeze in the vehicle radiator some service garages (possibly more in the south of England) go for a minimum accepted dilution rate based on av temperatures in our country.  

I would recommend you look at the site winterised.eu winterised.eu it’s an English site  by a couple who took an elddis MH skiing  for 6 months.  It has lots of practical advice including lots of Aires you can use, many for free.  

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