Preparing My Van for a Winter Storm 🥶 | Living in a Van 

I rode out a Texas snow storm in a self service car wash. Police checked on me and agreed it was a safe place for a traveler

One tip I can recommend regarding your water is to empty all water pipes & tanks. and yes, put water in plastic PET bottles and plastic bags, these are sufficiently flexible and do not crack when they thaw after freezing, because pipes, tanks and jars always burst during the thaw, because the ice then starts to expand. I myself have never even had water tanks, pipes and the like. installed during the construction of my camper van, just for this reason, I just use the water that I buy in the stores, which are packaged in plastic bottles by the factory, (You also have them in those big 5 liter bottles, these bottles I fill it with tap water, which is good for cleaning and washing the dishes (My greetings from Belgium)

Alison leave the pump off. Leave the valve open. You can buy antifreeze to put in the sink drain, the shower drain too. Just a small amount in the drains.

Be safe. Thank you for highlighting the reality of authentic van life.

Prepare well. In Illinois we had over 20 inches of snow, and temperatures down to minus 17,with windchill minus 34. Go to your Son's house...this weather is Brutal. We will be praying for your safety.

I found sleeping with a reflective (mylar) emergency blanket beneath my sleeping pad reflected my own body heat up to me, and kept the cool ground-suck of my body heat at bay, while tent camping.

...also open all doors that have pipes in them so your indoor heat will keep your pipes warm. Also little chicken heating lamps work wonderfully for underneath your van. Cheap in most feed stores. Hope this helps a little.

Hello gorgeous..Idea for the solar panels get one or two of those big thick moving blankets moving companies use then grab a couple tarps put over that and bungee it all down along with some strong tie down points. ...

Find a self serve car wash an drain there.

This is exactly why when I hit the road, I’m going to San Diego & that’s where I’m staying! No cold or snow for me anymore…

If you have power you could use an electric blanket for extra heat either in bed or use it as a throw blanket when you're sitting on the bed or even while you are driving.

My neighbor located accompany that custom fits tarps for roofs of the house. I wonder if they would do the same for your Solar panels with a clear cover, exposing the panels at least the sunshine while covering them.

Maybe at least get an electric blanket if you can and/ or a weighted blanket. Don't sleep between sheets, but get two fleece blankets or a winter sleeping bag. Good luck! 🇿🇦

Place Double Sided Sticky Tape around the Side of the Solare Panels and Stick down Insulation Silver Foil!? The type that you put in your windows, to cover them and then Cover with A Double thickness Tarp?

Safe travels in this brutal weather ❤

Also, if you could use cardboard to wrap around bottom of van down to ground to keep under van warmer, that is helpful. The wind blows like fury. I attach with packing tape; did not hurt paint. I collected fridge boxes from Home Depot and cut up. Had to ask dept head to save for me. I kept under bed and it kept floor warmer too.

You'll learn here in Big D, prepare the minute you hear there is going to be this cold Break. The food disappears very fast. I bought heavy blankets and bedspreads from Goodwill and thrift stores to use to wrap outside and windows and hood and inside too. Blankets cost $16 and saved me a bundle from damage to van. After 3 days I took off outside blankets so I could drive. Another freeze is coming so I'll prepare again. Keep a week's food supply at least. In better times, buy a carton of Ramen. I can't recall if there are 12 or 24 pkgs, but that's so versatile and can save till Armaggeddon. Good luck.

I’m in Yuma with all the other Snowbirds for this very reason. Come on over!

Allison I just started watching your RU-vid videos cause I'm interested in doing van life by myself

Has anyone mentioned parking under a bridge or another type of structure with sufficient ground clearance for your van to fit under during heavy snowfall or hailstorms to protect your solar panels? Be safe of course for there are some less fortunate people in those places trying to stay out of the weather. Or head out to a warmer destination for a while. I know, it’s obvious yet you’re in the well above average intelligent class of people and you surround yourself with people who have some other brilliant ideas. God bless you always Allison.

Maybe sew a tarp into like a fitted bedsheet. Then use bungie cords to keep panel covers secured.

Can't wait to watch the next video to see how your van fared. Not cold enough to freeze in central Florida. 😊❤️🙏

Think about not putting a sheet or tarp on your solar panels. If you have ever tried covering your windshield when expecting snow -if you use a sheet it sticks to the windshield or it’s too heavy to pull off . You want something waterproof like a laminate and then you want to make sure it’s dry before you put it on. I say just leave it exposed.

They sell solar panel covers that will fit over them without having to strap them down.

thermostat is stuck.replace it.

Alison. I admire you. You're doing all of this own your own. I surely couldn't be that brave. I'm glad that you made it to church. ✝️🛐 Please stay safe and warm. God Bless You. 🫂🙏

If you have any friends or family within driving distance of where you are maybe see if they'll let you stay with them for a few days until you can get your van fixed.

God looks after His !!! Be safe God Bless !!! John 14:6-7 KJV Bible !!!

Have you thought of trying to use the plastic use to cover windows for winter for your solar panels? It will keep rain/snow out and it keep it dry while having exposure to the sun. Now trying a strong glue to get it to stay 😊

Don’t turn on heat or air until it’s fixed. Mine has a problem in my e150 that was in the dash. It costs over $1500 to open the dash to replace a couple simple parts. Don’t burn up your dash.

Hi Allison 🤗 it got really cold even down here where I am in Texas. I know it’s supposed to be way colder where you are. Stay safe and warm, many blessings 🤗🩵🙏🏻

Good thing you got propane because everyone was out of propane. We FINALLY found a propane place that had a little but left and we were able to get my 2 propane bottles filled. We got good Texas weather now here in Shiro TX it's 63° thank you Jesus but now we getting ready for a week's worth of rain next week. For today we are ok thank you Lord. This too shall pass and joy comes in the morning. God bless you Allison.

WOW!!!! The shelves are almost empty!!!

Oh wow allison snow please be careful driving take care of yourself you are in my prayers

Yayyyyyy she's back!

Try buying a battery cover and heat tape. Not sure if heat tape is available for cars but we have it for our mobile home. Also please stay safe in this weather! If you are going to be in freezing rain stay with family if you can.

I just want to see Texas. Enjoy your trip

That beeping is from your inverter. If you do not use devices on 110v, it is best to always switch it off, because even if nothing is connected to it, it permanently consumes your battery, and the heavier it is, the faster it drains your battery. , and since you have covered the solar panels, they cannot maintain the battery and it becomes exhausted, so your diesel heater will no longer work if it has too low a voltage

There is little 12v heating mats you coul put under the batteries.

This was one of the best videos I’ve ever seen

You could consider getting a telescoping ladder, then a tarp for the solar panels. This way you'll always have a ladder on hand in the future.

Safe travels! 🌷

This is such a wonderful and informative video on draining the tank!!!

Stay warm. 🙏❤

good video. that's cold .

I hope u get all of your cold weather preparations taken care of.

If you use tarps to cover your solar they have tarps with little holes on the corners so if you buy some heavy duty magnets with hooks you could place the magnets on the van to connect to the tarp holes . I would get the strongest magnets. Hope that’s helpful.

What about a canvas tarp - add elastic around the edges so it covers the top and folds under. I would sew some casing around the edge for the elastic... but I like to sew

I am so glad to see you are safe and healthy this new year. Stay warm!

Prayers up! ✌️❤️🙏

get a couple electric blankets. put one on you water bottle on low. Remember heat rises.

I would get the smallest tarp an fold it to cover the panels ang get some heavy duty magnets plenty of them !

Turn off the inverter when it's cold saved the battery too

I have never seen such an empty store!

Awesome,🥂

Good to Az lol less work, was so dang cold Colorado ❤

stay warm, i sleep wit the exact same Snoopy lol, the softest

Holy cow those Walmart shelves are crazy! I don’t think it’s just the bad weather!

Enjoying your channel greetings from Ireland ✨☘️

Hope you check your prestone often !!!

Brr praying you stay safe and warm enough. I appreciate seeing all the realities as I figure out a build for my smaller minivan. Would a foldable car door step work for you? It hooks over the U shaped door latch when the door is open. Or perhaps a telescoping or foldable ladder if you need something more.

Use a tarp over solar panels get small clamps to hold it in place.

I have never seen food scarcity like that and I hope to never see it. Many years ago during Hurricane Sandy in our area, we had minor shortages although briefly, due to power outages. It was quickly rectified as we have so much available to us in my state. I feel very sad that the area you are in doesn't have enough food for people 😪💔

🙏💪👍♥️ stay safe, you got this..

sounds like you need to replace thermostat..hopefully its not your heater core cuz thats alot more expensive..serpentine belt shouod be changed every 80-100k miles unless you have a bent pully that the belt drives..hopefully were ever you take it too doesnt rip you off 🙏🤞

with lol have a good day

Poland Springs to the rescue

Leave the valve open at night

Do you have a dedicated van tour video? I was scrolling through your list of vids but didn’t see one, just curious!

Oh my gosh empty shelves 😮

I hope I am not bothering you. I have considered living the van life in Vegas. Is is it difficult to find places to park overnight. What are some safe places. Thank you for your time.

Just drive somewhere warm.

Couldn’t you reserve the water in your holding tank and then just rid it from the pipes? I don’t have a van I live in a house. I just keep watching these vicariously because I want to live in a van eventually.

Can you get clear plastic to cover the solar panels?

Why do all that tarp crap? It would work, but it's not really efficient. I would do this in a completely different way because I know that you're always going to have gas in your van. The idle times for diesels and cars are typically $10 per night, so 12 hours. What I would do is just get a 16-foot, 4-gauge oxygen-free copper lug and put that on the back of your alternator. then grab another 4 gauge wire that's black anywhere between 3 and 6 feet and run it from your alternator all the way back to your battery. Bank Take the 3- to 6-foot ground wire and connect it to your battery. Bank on the ground that way, anytime that you're driving your vehicle, your batteries are charging anytime that you're idling your vehicle. Your batteries are charging anytime that you're in an emergency that you need, and your batteries have topped off their charging. No, depending on how big your battery bank is, you may need a high-output alternator. They have a factory-high output alternator, which is typically 50 amps more than the factory, or you can do a 220 or 320 amp high output alternator. but you should be able to get away with this if you're not running lithium batteries. some lithium charge at 14.5 volts and some charge at 16 volts, but anyway, you should be able to do this on your factory alternator, and if you want to get this done and you don't want to do it yourself, just go to any audio shop; they are all 12 volt certified.

I live in very cold snowy area but don’t understand why you got rid of usable water . I would’ve just insulated the pipes and kept a faucet open to just droplets . Is your grey inside or underneath? I see the point of drainage the grey if outside .

What in the world! Why are all the shelves empty in the store?!

Great video

I judge people who don't take their carts back. Unless they are handicapped, or have small children.

Your van peed in the Walmart parking lot, I think that's some kind of indecency violation.

Looks like 2020 was there Tp??😮

or you are low on antifreeze.

Hello, my name is Pam. I was just wondering where you are in Texas? I’m in Fort Worth.

What State are you in please?

why is there no food at that store? Our Publix here in Florida gets low but not after covid has it be a problem. Stay safe out there.

Can you drain your pipes and be without water?

MS. SNACKS IVE GOT A NEIGHBOR WHO KEEP THOSE MOVING QUILTS IN HIS VAN THEY COST ABOUT $35 A PIECE AND ANYTIME ITS SNOWING HE RUNS OUT AND THROW ALL FOUR QUILTS ON TOP OF HIS VAN AND ALL QUILTS HAS ROPES HANGING FROM THE QUILTS HANGING DOWN IT WORKS FOR HIM

6:38 What happened at your Walmart ? My Walmart has food.

why do u wanta drain ur water

What is really, really cold for you? You are used to consistently warm to hot climates. I have a friend in the same climate and for her 30-40 is really cold another friend in the same climate says 70 is sweater weather and 40 to 50 is parka weather.

I thought you quit the van life🤷🏻‍♀️