Winter Operation - Hobby Van Exclusive Manual

11-7 Maintenance and Care

11.5 Winter Operation

Preparations
Your motor home has been designed to allow you to use it to
a certain extent in winter. If you really wish to camp in winter,
we recommend that you optimize your motor home to meet
your personal requirements. Your dealer will be pleased to
advise you.
The following applies for your preparations:
• Check the vehicle for damage to the paintwork or from
rust and, if necessary, repair it.
• Ensure that water cannot run into the ventilation and de-
aerating and heating systems.
• Use a wax-based protective agent to protect the metal
parts of the undercarriage against rust.
• Preserve varnished external surfaces with suitable agents.
• Fill the petrol tank with winter diesel; check the antifreezer
in the windshield cleaning unit and the coolant.
IDuring operation in winter, condensation is caused when
using the camper in low temperatures. Sufficient ventilation is
extremely important to ensure that the quality of the air inside
the camper is good and to avoid damages to the vehicle
caused by condensation.
The following applies for ventilation:
• Set the heating to maximum power when heating up the
vehicle and open all of the upper cupboards, curtains and
shades/screens. This enables you to achieve optimum
ventilation and de-aerating.
• Every morning, air all of the cushions and stowage spaces
and dry any damp spots.
• Air thoroughly with fully opened doors and windows sever-
al times a day.
• If the outside temperature is under 8° C, winter covers
should be mounted over the ventilation grilles of the refri-
gerator.
If, despite all of these measures, condensation forms,
simply wipe it away.
Before entering the vehicle, remove the snow from your
clothes and shoes to prevent an increase in humidity.
The following applies for heating:
• Both the air intake as well as the exhaust gas openings of
the heating system must be kept free of snow and ice.
• It takes longer to heat up the motor home in winter,
especially to heat hot water.