Hey just found your channel. I’m in Alberta as well and I’ve stayed in my bus in the cold winter with my diesel heater but I’ve also camped at work in my jeep in minus 47 with no heater lol. I’ve been able to make it work. It’s really cold here though hahahahah. Enjoyed the video.
Well 👍, u gave the winter a try, n ya did it! And good tips for anyone wondering what it would be like. The older I get, the less my stamina I have for wanting to deal with freezing my arse off lol. So u summed it up for me "it sucks!" Lol. Now I did 2 winters in BC in my 5th wheel (sold it) n man the constant sogginess, the constant cloudiness, constant condensation issues, yeah I hated it. I don't know how much diff it would be in my truck camper only being i hated it so much back then can't see me ever doing it again, period. (Oh it was the second year that everything became a problem in the muggy weather. First winter not so much an issue). 🍻
I definitely don’t know how the old truck camper will hold up to that much rain but I also might be in a newer one by then too. I do love the cloudy rainy days when ever I’m down there lol just a nice vibe to me I guess 😂 🍻
If you put a diesel heater or better yet a gas heater you could definitely keep that small space warm! Maybe also get some nice thick window covers too!
Look up Truck house life. He squeezed a wood stove in a truck camper SMALLER then yours. It's saved his bacon several times. Those Chinese diesel heaters are unreliable, they soot up and the glow plugs fail. You should rebuild them once a year. , one needs 2 back up plans for heat if your camping in Alaska like he does.
Hmm never thought about heating a propane tank with an oil pan heater. I may consider that. I usually just connect my camper to a 40lb in winter. That’s one thing that helps is bigger tanks. Another thing I’ve been told but haven’t tried is bigger hoses, a place in Minnesota will put larger hoses from tanks to regulator and replace regulator with one that has larger ports. I haven’t tested that one yet though.
New sub here! Appreciate you going into the details! Winter in Canada is different everywhere you go. I'm close to Toronto and our winter fluctuates where it's snowing, raining, freezing, windy - it's never the same everyday. And while -20 is normal, it's the "feels like" that kills it. LOL I only look at "feels like" because we have a lot of bone-chilling wind. So if it says -25 that means it feels like -35. I've always been interested in doing vanlife but never had the guts to do it. Your video is very informative - thank you!
I sure hope folks truly appreciate the value of this information. I couldn’t imagine working through -40C; that’s far too cold!! I’ve had the family camping in -10C, but even then we had the camper heat going with multiple electric heaters too.
Hello Kevin i have watched a lot of van life videos forresty forrest being one and all give sound advice of how to survive the winter yes always have a plan B many thanks i don,t think ever had anything below minus 10 in the UK good luck
I used to live in Truckee California where we got at times up to 21ft of snow and the temp was 50 - below 0, what you are talking about is tame stuff from my point of view.
My back up head solution is actually heated blankets powered by my jackery and those small green propane tank mounted to a buddy heater. Havent had to use them yet but its always good to have back ups if your that deep in the forest with the heater broken its not gonna be fun getting out at night.
I see propane tank blankets are an option, but quite pricey. Have you considered a portable wind generator as another energy option? And for the summer months, a portable water generator, if of course you're near an adequately running stream. I have a 100 watt solar unit on the roof of my small camper , custom made an additional remote solar unit where I can direct it towards what sunlight there may be...switching between the two when necessary. If I were to do full time off-grid camper-living I may consider an RV indoor wood stove as another option. Despite the cold temperatures, the positives can also be worth the lifestyle. If you want to get away from the crowds; stay inside cozy warm during a winter blizzard. Peaceful journeys!!
There is a company called east to west that makes pull behind and 5th wheel campers that have a 5 inch thick insulated roof and floors and 3 inch sidewalls, it has heated tanks, heated water lines, both a/c’s have heat pumps, an electric fireplace, regular propane heat. So if you have enough batteries you will have heat. I am trying to convince them to produce a truck camper.
Hey Mate, We are a family from New Zealand, we are just researching the possibilities of a year travelling in Canada. Whats the best option for securing an RV? Hire? buy and then sell? Are their private personal rental options? I'm sure like NZ there are loads pitched to take all the tourists money, but seeing if you could offer an advice?
Rental becomes pricey if you’re looking for something for an extended length of time. The rental is certainly cheaper than hotels on a per night comparison and the rv comes “x” number of kilometres per day included. However, if you exceed that mileage, the additional cost per kilometre adds up really quick and may make renting a vehicle and staying in hotels a cheaper option. You may want to check out CanadaDream RV rental and google some other places like that. This place is about a 90 minutes from where I live. $1,600 Cdn a week and includes 100 kilometres a day. Over that is 30 cents a kilometre. Canada is huge so a two weeks could get you from the middle of Canada to the west coast and back and it’s about 7,000 kilometres total. You would be on the hook for 5,600 kilometres at 30 cents per. And gas mileage is about 10 miles per gallon. I know because I rented and Ra from this place before. www.sunvalleyrv.com/rent-a-make--rentals
northern lites are factory insulated, some better than others in this video showed my 1998 9-6 classic and the insulation was good but lacked in certain places mostly cause they weren't classified as 4 season until 2006. my current 2001 10-2000 is a northern series and it has insulation everywhere the 9-6 lacked, also have dual pane windows where my 9-6 did not.
@KevinWaldsAdventures Good to know... I'm in the process of gutting a retired field ambulance truck camper, with plans on moving in full-time here in Calgary once I'm done. I was going to get it sprayed with closed cell foam. But to save money, I'm going with closed 2 & 3" closed cell foam boards.
You are correct about Van Isl. It does rain along but we get very strong gale force winds it the winter months. 😅 It would rock and hope not roll your campers.😊
tack för en bra video. jag bor i sverge och hadde med mig husbilen i norra sverge 43 minus var det i 14 dagar, folk fattar inte vad kyla gör. mvh Angus
Propane goes from a gas to a liquid at a certain temp. I have been listening to your videos this morning since been looking at some slide in campers for back woods and traveling. If space permits for a diesel heater depends where you can mount it if you run your duct through the space your batteries are it'll heat that space with just just radiant heat coming off the vent tube(s) helping keeping your batteries from freezing. The issues you had in previous with your engine heater, could be low voltage or also when it gets really cold start up may take a few tries to get it fired up. It's a issue I have ran into with 2 of my diesel heaters, 1 is used in my portable ice shack and the other I heat the porch of the house year round non insulated and windows on 3 sides and drafts and those -30c days takes a few tries to fire up but it's running full out. I'm in winnipeg so we get the same type of cold you guys get except ours is probably drier but not positive on that. More videos to get through today !
If you are in a pull behind travel trailer or 5th wheel try to put trailer skirt around the bottom of the trailer put heater under the trailer to keep the pipes from freezing I mainly heated with wood but I had propane for night time when the fire would die you could use electric space heater if you have enough electricity always have backup heat and electric
depends where you are on Vancouver Island and when. I have lived in 3 provinces and experienced the cold working outdoors. Here on the Island we have many year round glaciers and snow flies whenever mother nature feels it is time. all 4 seasons usually include rain.
With all due respect, a badass four-season Canadian-made fiberglass truck camper such as a Northern Lite is not even close to in comparison of that of a van or an RV. But thanks for sharing practical advice on how to, in general, survive in cold winter conditions
Kevin can I ask you couple of questions. I know nothing about surviving below 9 degrees. I slept 33 days in a row 2022 lows were 9 overnight. Things for me now are bad and be living in my minivan May1st paid rent for April. Heres my 3 question if youve time : Im in a van more or less a dodge caravan. I removed the front seat moving to BC and living in the van. When it reacches -4 -2 -6 in and around October / November I was going to do one of 3 things to survive. - option 1 buddy heater with my passenger seat removed I can build metal cage for the heater to sit and never spill setting me and the van on fire. Like a 4 wall metal protector and buy minoxide alarm option 2 - Hit camping store and with my wooden built bed just buy -40 mummy sleeping bag wear balaclava over my face so sleep only nostrils eyes exsposed. option 3 - this option is nuts the mini stove where I cut a hole in roof of van and have the heat pipe pop out roof and burn wood. From these options I feel BC only reaches -10 at worst and option 2 just splurging on blankets -40 quilts sleeping bags with me also wearing long johns may be enough no flames no buddy heaters running. I do not have a clue or help for installing diesel so thats out as is propane. Be honest am I off my head with my 3 options or will I experience a slow death. This is worst night over entire winter there -10. I appreciate any input you can send my way.. Thanks Kev.
My only worry with the buddy heater is the amount of moisture so you will need to crack some windows and make sure you have an alarm, a good sleeping bag would most likely be a good way to accompany the buddy heater but I don’t know if a wood stove would be worth it when you have to stoke it all night and you might get way too hot in a minivan with that
i would likely go with a -40C sleeping bag so your option 2. In -10 that won't be fun but probably the most doable. You can also buy those heated blankets. Maybe one of those blankets under the sleeping bag may help with keeping the heat in the bag. I see so many videos with people roughing it in winter but Canadian winters are a whole other ball game. It is life or death. Even in your home when we've had -48 and the furnace quits in the house. It drops fast!
I heat my home with propane in northern Alberta, if it gels at minus 44 degrees celsius (or Fahrenheit, its all the same at 40 below) you can throw a pail 🪣 of water 🌊 on the tank, its a short term solution, but can help. Otherwise, tarp over the tank, bank it up with snow ❄️, and put a 100 watt incandescent light bulb 💡 under it(such as a trouble light) keeps a 500 gallon propane tank operational. So...this could be difficult for a camper, but ya a source of heat to midly heat the propane tank is a must. Propane is dirty fuel ⛽ ive froze off at -42 have a secondary source of heat.
IN winters I go thru 10-12gal a wk in deisel for 1 5,000btu heater so about $160month in heating just to be in the van, i turn it off when im not in it. I want to try suplementing and adding a vented 9k propane heater and also hooking up my wood stove and test a couple dif methods to see what i like best but honestly i could see using all 3 methods in different times of the year or if like say i was cooking alot in winter id prolly use alot of wood in the woodstove just because i love woodstoves so much🪓🤗🤔🤣🤷♂️🤦♂️
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We need this Kevin thanks because any day I feel the shit going to hit the fan, and as a senior,now camping not out of the picture!
Hey just found your channel. I’m in Alberta as well and I’ve stayed in my bus in the cold winter with my diesel heater but I’ve also camped at work in my jeep in minus 47 with no heater lol. I’ve been able to make it work. It’s really cold here though hahahahah. Enjoyed the video.
🥶in a frickin Jeep ? The warmest thing might be the pee bottle. 😂…til it freezes.
Did your desile heater keep you warm enough I'm gonna winter camp in my travel trailer
@@adamkenny7848diesel heaters work like a charm you'll be too hot
@glennbeadshaw727 thanks man
should upload a video with you surviving in your bus in the winter sir - I would like to watch it!
The new lithium batteries you can get heated now. Great for Canadians 😊
Cooool. Keep your mug frosty, and your keg above freezing. 👍👍
I could not agree with you more, warmer is better and why I am in Florida 🏝️ 😅.
Excellent video and very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
Well 👍, u gave the winter a try, n ya did it! And good tips for anyone wondering what it would be like.
The older I get, the less my stamina I have for wanting to deal with freezing my arse off lol. So u summed it up for me "it sucks!" Lol. Now I did 2 winters in BC in my 5th wheel (sold it) n man the constant sogginess, the constant cloudiness, constant condensation issues, yeah I hated it.
I don't know how much diff it would be in my truck camper only being i hated it so much back then can't see me ever doing it again, period. (Oh it was the second year that everything became a problem in the muggy weather. First winter not so much an issue). 🍻
I definitely don’t know how the old truck camper will hold up to that much rain but I also might be in a newer one by then too. I do love the cloudy rainy days when ever I’m down there lol just a nice vibe to me I guess 😂 🍻
I learned a lot. Thank you for a fascinating discussion.
Sooo...the best way to survive a Canadian winter is to not spend it in Canada.
That's bout right.
Sissy
@@ShayneCaesarlol
Diesel air heater fixes everything
Coiuh. 🙏🏾😛
Another very informative video. Thanks
I appreciate your honesty thanks
Easy stuff
Wow. There are so many new rvlife videos, and most of you only have a year of experience. I've been doing rvlife vanlife for 20 years.
How about and wood burning fire place
I appreciate this vid. Not too many people talk about the genuine failures below -15c. It's not listed in the sales brochure on those propane units.
❤❤❤❤
will this work for Kia Souls too?
If you put a diesel heater or better yet a gas heater you could definitely keep that small space warm! Maybe also get some nice thick window covers too!
i just use my remote startt to heat it up nbut its in seattle
@@KevinWaldsAdventures
Did it in a toyota matrix. You def can
Umm with a heat source or two obviously ? How dumb lol
Look up Truck house life. He squeezed a wood stove in a truck camper SMALLER then yours. It's saved his bacon several times. Those Chinese diesel heaters are unreliable, they soot up and the glow plugs fail. You should rebuild them once a year. , one needs 2 back up plans for heat if your camping in Alaska like he does.
Agree'd, I would def have a mini woodstove set up for a secondary emergency!
Great video..good advice. Hi from Ireland.
Redundancy of all systems to ensure heat 24/7. I find catalytic heat helps keep temp above zero C to support other heat systems.
Hmm never thought about heating a propane tank with an oil pan heater. I may consider that. I usually just connect my camper to a 40lb in winter. That’s one thing that helps is bigger tanks. Another thing I’ve been told but haven’t tried is bigger hoses, a place in Minnesota will put larger hoses from tanks to regulator and replace regulator with one that has larger ports. I haven’t tested that one yet though.
New sub here! Appreciate you going into the details!
Winter in Canada is different everywhere you go. I'm close to Toronto and our winter fluctuates where it's snowing, raining, freezing, windy - it's never the same everyday. And while -20 is normal, it's the "feels like" that kills it. LOL I only look at "feels like" because we have a lot of bone-chilling wind. So if it says -25 that means it feels like -35.
I've always been interested in doing vanlife but never had the guts to do it. Your video is very informative - thank you!
I sure hope folks truly appreciate the value of this information. I couldn’t imagine working through -40C; that’s far too cold!! I’ve had the family camping in -10C, but even then we had the camper heat going with multiple electric heaters too.
I agree for some crazy reason I thought ah arctic camping trip would be fun but after this video I'm so thankful he stopped all my crazy thinking
@@edwardboyer7102Lol 😂😅
Thank you brother. Very, I mean very valuable advice for anyone out there in the winter season. 👍🏻
Hello Kevin i have watched a lot of van life videos forresty forrest being one and all give sound advice of how to survive the winter yes always have a plan B many thanks i don,t think ever had anything below minus 10 in the UK good luck
The BEST way to survive a REAL Canadian Winter in a van or RV is to have that van or RV parked in Florida.
Survive😂😂
Guys, check Russian videos about “Survive” they’re stay in the woods just with a knife
propane boils between 0f and 0c.
propane tanks exist in CA & TX, you won't over pressure it at 200 watts.
I used to live in Truckee California where we got at times up to 21ft of snow and the temp was 50 - below 0, what you are talking about is tame stuff from my point of view.
I plug my EV in and check into a hotel at -40 it then went down to -58C. That was cold. -78C wind chill.
My back up head solution is actually heated blankets powered by my jackery and those small green propane tank mounted to a buddy heater. Havent had to use them yet but its always good to have back ups if your that deep in the forest with the heater broken its not gonna be fun getting out at night.
Totally agree don't go walking in the backcountry, Bigfoot will find you and eat you😮
always, always carry some Jack Links beef jerky to toss and save your butt.👍
All diesel sold in Canada during the winter months is "Arctic Diesel" it has the antigel additives in it. No real need to add Prist.
This is helpful. Im in ontario but potentially living in a camper trailer. I will have a wood stove, but that doesnt hellp water lines etc
Hey you coming back? I really enjoy your videos!
I see propane tank blankets are an option, but quite pricey.
Have you considered a portable wind generator as another energy option? And for the summer months, a portable water generator, if of course you're near an adequately running stream.
I have a 100 watt solar unit on the roof of my small camper , custom made an additional remote solar unit where I can direct it towards what sunlight there may be...switching between the two when necessary.
If I were to do full time off-grid camper-living I may consider an RV indoor wood stove as another option.
Despite the cold temperatures, the positives can also be worth the lifestyle. If you want to get away from the crowds; stay inside cozy warm during a winter blizzard.
Peaceful journeys!!
How to survive the Canadian Winter? Just Go south!
Simple, lots and lots of propane. Or diesel fuel.
I used to cut firewood in in minus 50 n ive lived in an rv. She's cold
Spend money on Hotel and Survive
There is a company called east to west that makes pull behind and 5th wheel campers that have a 5 inch thick insulated roof and floors and 3 inch sidewalls, it has heated tanks, heated water lines, both a/c’s have heat pumps, an electric fireplace, regular propane heat. So if you have enough batteries you will have heat. I am trying to convince them to produce a truck camper.
That would be a awesome but extremely heavy truck camper lol
Go for small wood stove nice dry heat
Hey Mate, We are a family from New Zealand, we are just researching the possibilities of a year travelling in Canada. Whats the best option for securing an RV? Hire? buy and then sell? Are their private personal rental options? I'm sure like NZ there are loads pitched to take all the tourists money, but seeing if you could offer an advice?
if doing a year I would suggest buying ad selling, there are rentals but they would cost a lot for an entire year lol
Rental becomes pricey if you’re looking for something for an extended length of time.
The rental is certainly cheaper than hotels on a per night comparison and the rv comes “x” number of kilometres per day included. However, if you exceed that mileage, the additional cost per kilometre adds up really quick and may make renting a vehicle and staying in hotels a cheaper option.
You may want to check out CanadaDream RV rental and google some other places like that.
This place is about a 90 minutes from where I live. $1,600 Cdn a week and includes 100 kilometres a day. Over that is 30 cents a kilometre. Canada is huge so a two weeks could get you from the middle of Canada to the west coast and back and it’s about 7,000 kilometres total. You would be on the hook for 5,600 kilometres at 30 cents per.
And gas mileage is about 10 miles per gallon. I know because I rented and Ra from this place before.
www.sunvalleyrv.com/rent-a-make--rentals
Very good youtube video! sir.
Very Boring 😅
Appreciate this, lots of good info. One question though... is your camper just factory insulated or did you upgrade it?
northern lites are factory insulated, some better than others in this video showed my 1998 9-6 classic and the insulation was good but lacked in certain places mostly cause they weren't classified as 4 season until 2006. my current 2001 10-2000 is a northern series and it has insulation everywhere the 9-6 lacked, also have dual pane windows where my 9-6 did not.
@KevinWaldsAdventures
Good to know... I'm in the process of gutting a retired field ambulance truck camper, with plans on moving in full-time here in Calgary once I'm done.
I was going to get it sprayed with closed cell foam. But to save money, I'm going with closed 2 & 3" closed cell foam boards.
Wood stove
You are correct about Van Isl. It does rain along but we get very strong gale force winds it the winter months. 😅 It would rock and hope not roll your campers.😊
tack för en bra video. jag bor i sverge och hadde med mig husbilen i norra sverge 43 minus var det i 14 dagar, folk fattar inte vad kyla gör. mvh Angus
Propane goes from a gas to a liquid at a certain temp. I have been listening to your videos this morning since been looking at some slide in campers for back woods and traveling. If space permits for a diesel heater depends where you can mount it if you run your duct through the space your batteries are it'll heat that space with just just radiant heat coming off the vent tube(s) helping keeping your batteries from freezing.
The issues you had in previous with your engine heater, could be low voltage or also when it gets really cold start up may take a few tries to get it fired up. It's a issue I have ran into with 2 of my diesel heaters, 1 is used in my portable ice shack and the other I heat the porch of the house year round non insulated and windows on 3 sides and drafts and those -30c days takes a few tries to fire up but it's running full out. I'm in winnipeg so we get the same type of cold you guys get except ours is probably drier but not positive on that. More videos to get through today !
If you are in a pull behind travel trailer or 5th wheel try to put trailer skirt around the bottom of the trailer put heater under the trailer to keep the pipes from freezing I mainly heated with wood but I had propane for night time when the fire would die you could use electric space heater if you have enough electricity always have backup heat and electric
Yep I agree with the vancouver thing I live near the kawarthas. They have no idea how cold it is...
Good video sir.
depends where you are on Vancouver Island and when. I have lived in 3 provinces and experienced the cold working outdoors. Here on the Island we have many year round glaciers and snow flies whenever mother nature feels it is time. all 4 seasons usually include rain.
With all due respect, a badass four-season Canadian-made fiberglass truck camper such as a Northern Lite is not even close to in comparison of that of a van or an RV. But thanks for sharing practical advice on how to, in general, survive in cold winter conditions
Awesome video very well done great job 🛠️🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦
Thanks for the info, good video, from ur neighbour in norther bc
furnace in the camper does it throw flames on the outside exhaust 🎉🎉
Don’t underestimate the Sasquatch 😵💫🦶🏿
Lots of us have wood heat on campers, no problems
great video😀
This info is GOLD ------------SV
Hi Kevin, great information mate X X X
Are you from Whitecourt
Kevin can I ask you couple of questions. I know nothing about surviving below 9 degrees. I slept 33 days in a row 2022 lows were 9 overnight. Things for me now are bad and be living in my minivan May1st paid rent for April. Heres my 3 question if youve time :
Im in a van more or less a dodge caravan. I removed the front seat moving to BC and living in the van. When it reacches -4 -2 -6 in and around October / November I was going to do one of 3 things to survive.
- option 1 buddy heater with my passenger seat removed I can build metal cage for the heater to sit and never spill setting me and the van on fire. Like a 4 wall metal protector and buy minoxide alarm
option 2 - Hit camping store and with my wooden built bed just buy -40 mummy sleeping bag wear balaclava over my face so sleep only nostrils eyes exsposed.
option 3 - this option is nuts the mini stove where I cut a hole in roof of van and have the heat pipe pop out roof and burn wood.
From these options I feel BC only reaches -10 at worst and option 2 just splurging on blankets -40 quilts sleeping bags with me also wearing long johns may be enough no flames no buddy heaters running. I do not have a clue or help for installing diesel so thats out as is propane.
Be honest am I off my head with my 3 options or will I experience a slow death. This is worst night over entire winter there -10. I appreciate any input you can send my way.. Thanks Kev.
My only worry with the buddy heater is the amount of moisture so you will need to crack some windows and make sure you have an alarm, a good sleeping bag would most likely be a good way to accompany the buddy heater but I don’t know if a wood stove would be worth it when you have to stoke it all night and you might get way too hot in a minivan with that
i would likely go with a -40C sleeping bag so your option 2. In -10 that won't be fun but probably the most doable. You can also buy those heated blankets. Maybe one of those blankets under the sleeping bag may help with keeping the heat in the bag. I see so many videos with people roughing it in winter but Canadian winters are a whole other ball game. It is life or death. Even in your home when we've had -48 and the furnace quits in the house. It drops fast!
I heat my home with propane in northern Alberta, if it gels at minus 44 degrees celsius (or Fahrenheit, its all the same at 40 below) you can throw a pail 🪣 of water 🌊 on the tank, its a short term solution, but can help. Otherwise, tarp over the tank, bank it up with snow ❄️, and put a 100 watt incandescent light bulb 💡 under it(such as a trouble light) keeps a 500 gallon propane tank operational. So...this could be difficult for a camper, but ya a source of heat to midly heat the propane tank is a must. Propane is dirty fuel ⛽ ive froze off at -42 have a secondary source of heat.
IN winters I go thru 10-12gal a wk in deisel for 1
5,000btu heater so about $160month in heating just to be in the van, i turn it off when im not in it. I want to try suplementing and adding a vented 9k propane heater and also hooking up my wood stove and test a couple dif methods to see what i like best but honestly i could see using all 3 methods in different times of the year or if like say i was cooking alot in winter id prolly use alot of wood in the woodstove just because i love woodstoves so much🪓🤗🤔🤣🤷♂️🤦♂️
do you know vanlife plus guy he is in alberta also he 's funny man lol
He’s hilarious! I watch his videos but never met him
I don't know...just lookin at this boy, i don't think hes gone survive!
How to lose views and sunscribers??? Start out with a really long, super annoying, totally irrelevant INTRO!