Dutch couple returning from Raid Lapland (February 2001) calling in to see us, when we lived in Denmark. They slept in their Acadiane during a snowstorm -10 no worries. The Acadiane were not insulated but they only needed t-shirt and good sleeping bags. A petrol heater was placed outside in the side compartment supplying plenty of heat during the night. The Acadiane was covered in snow except the roof, dry as a bone.


My wifes Raid car was completely stuffed with insulation all over and managed to get -11 while driving.



I think it is better to insulate you and not to bother with the car. A good sleeping bag like what mountaineers are using is number one. Very important is to use a beanie, something like 70% of the heat loss goes through your head. During Raid Australia we had down to -5 and I froze until I put my beanie on, problem solved.

agree with much of that slept in a car at -27 the coldest recorded temperature in the UK, whilst waiting for the snow plough to open the A9
we were off to spend a couple of nights on the cairngorm plateau.

i was snug and warm in a 1kg pure down sleepingbag untill i nedded to get up for a pee, beer + cold weather camping=fail

you dont loose 70% of heat thru your head its just that most people dont wear hats ! most cases of hypothermia that occured in the scottish mountains were thru inadequate leg wear, they had all dutifully worn hats but wet, un insulated trousers were their undoing


Sean

A cheap one with my clothes stuffed inside works for me. Then I've got warm clothes to put on in the morning

I mean 70% of the heat while sleeping inside a sleeping bag without a beanie goes through your head. The rest is lost through the sleeping bag and your face. A proper sleeping bag is just slowing down the heat loss, keeping your body warm. No beanie and crappy sleeping bag, you'll freeze no matter what.
The underlay plays a huge role too if sleeping on the ground. Inside a car it doesn't matter, you are off the ground.

This is interesting. Part of me thinks I should go mad and insulate every part of the car to keep the heat in at night, but on the other hand I've heard a few people say that if you're in a good sleeping bag you can be bollock naked in the coldest weather and be fine. 9/10 times I'll be sleeping in the car wearing my 'beer jacket' which is great until you awaken sober in the cold morning air. I don't have a great deal of money to throw at my car so I think I'm going to Insulate the bed and see how it goes from there. I certainly don't intend to do any hardcore camping like you chaps!

I agree with the hat but I've slept under a shelter made from nothing but bracken & branches on many an exercise. No sleeping bag, just a bivvy bag with all my clothing stuffed inside and a bed of ferns underneath. You don't need gucci gear, just a bit of knowledge and some lateral thinking.

Yup a proper down bag works off your body heat, it fluffs up the down and the heat is trapped next to your skin

the ammount of times we had people away snowholing, staying in bothys(mountain refuge) and just bivvi bags and told them to take off their cold damp clothes and sleep in t shirt and pants cause they would be warmer, the ones who listened had a comfortable night theose that got in fully clothed had a miserable night as the clothes absorbed the warmth and the sleepingbag just couldnt do its job

Rus go for the softy option and get a foam matress out of a z bed, fold out sofa bed etc you loose so much heat out your back where the insulation of the bag is squashed flat by your body weight.

insulating the van stops noise and condensation which is pretty bad when you sleep in it causes everything to get damp.

Sean

And insulating the van gets it so hot during the summer. Just ask Gert-Jan Van Asperen. Petrolheater is just the thing. If you travel winter time and just want to sleep in your car, it is no problem. You have enough space and air to do it. Winter time the air has to change and be warmed. So, use heater.

Who are those neanderthal sleeping on the ground in the Australian outback with no tent!!! bloddy lucky a Dropbear didn't get them, bet they froze their tits off though

Harley

The only drop bear I came across, came from the roof of my van. A silly person called Harley jumped my van without me knowing. Dropped his head on my windscreen while navigating a track, scared the shit out of me... bastard