No matter what type of adventure mobile you live in, these tips will help you get through freezing temps and winter storms.
One of the biggest challenges for mobile dwellers is surviving freezing temperatures, especially overnight. With thin walls and little (if any!) insulation, most rigs, whether a camper trailer, cargo van, or Subaru, are not designed cold-weather habitation in mind. A little preparation goes a long way to help avoid frozen toes and shivering through the night. After living in a camper trailer with my partner and our two dogs through Colorado polar-vortex conditions, I know that with the right materials, it’s possible to stay warm and dry—even in the middle of winter. My biggest takeaway? While every square foot of your space is valuable, the way you use it is even more consequential. Here are my top tips on how to make the most of a small space and stay warm.
Over Insulate
The best thing you can do to stay warm in the wintertime is to insulate your vehicle. And because you aren’t living in a big space, it’s actually a fairly easy process. Before going too crazy with the insulation spray foam, examine your walls, floor, doors, and windows. Put your hand up to an area. How much cold air can you feel passing through? For interior holes, use small pieces of Tuck Tape Sheathing Tape to seal small areas. On the roof, apply Self-Leveling Lap Sealant to help prevent leaks and mold. No matter the structure, making sure there’s a barrier between you and the outdoors will prove beneficial.
How you insulate and how much you insulate might depend on your comfort level. Keep in mind that insulation will not only trap heat in the winter, but it will also help keep you cool in the summer. Start with a layer of radiant barrier and add a layer of styrofoam insulation. If you don’t want to be staring at styrofoam walls, place a wood paneling over them to make it feel more like home.
[How to Insulate Your Windows] Measure the height and width of the window you are planning on insulating. Take off ¼ of an inch on each side, and measure and cut a piece of styrofoam insulation to the new dimensions. Then, take a piece of radiant barrier and wrap the piece of insulation like a present. Make sure to evenly distribute the radiant barrier on all corners and sides. Press your radiant-covered insulated block into each window like a puzzle piece, leaving you a shield from cold temperatures. Repeat with every window. If you have large windows, consider measuring out two or four pieces that you can piece together to fit your window frame.
