Top Winter Wheeling Camping Tips

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Words by Lisa Morris; Images by Jason Spafford @fourwheelednomad

Whether it’s the peacefulness off fresh snow falling, beautiful white scenery or just the fact that you can have a popular destination all to yourself, there’s something majestic about wheeling and camping in the wintery outdoors.

Unlike the summer months, the winter is a little less forgiving given the harsher weather and unpredictable conditions. While it affords many enjoyable activities, winter camping with your rig is as enjoyable as you make it. More importantly, it all comes down to being properly prepared. This means having all the ideal winter gear and the knowledge of getting to and from a destination safely, while enjoying all the activity in between.

Here are a series of top tips to consider when planning and enjoying your winter wheeling escape.

A little Prep Goes a Long Way: Sounds obvious, but before disappearing into the hinterlands, tell someone where you’re going, determine what amenities are nearby (firewood, water and local regulations) and gauge the distance to civilization on a detailed map. Uber-remote camping may warrant investing in a satellite communicator to send and receive texts with GPS coordinates worldwide (i.e. Zoleo or inReach).

Give Your Tent (or RTT) Some TLC: Routinely protect your shelter with a waterproofing spray and air it out well after heavy rainfall to avoid moisture damage. Pack spare lanyards/guy lies, snow stakes and a well-stocked repair kit.

Truck Prep: Although heavy-duty tires are a given for any off-road enthusiast, they should work properly in conjunction with the suspension to enhance your capabilities through the technical terrain – making it safer. We use partially deflated BF Goodrich K02s on ICON Vehicle Dynamics alloys and a Stage 4 suspension, which did a nice job off-road during a trip in snowy Iceland, permitting us to put our truck ‘White Rhino’ through his paces without issue.

First aid: Keep it well supplied and current (e.g. LifeSystems). We add spare gloves, hand and foot warmers, 50-SPF sunscreen, polarized sunglasses and body heat pads.

Three Items I Have to Bring: A Therm-a-Rest insulated sleeping mat, ski salopettes (that are warmer than rain gear) and an external battery pack (we utilize a PowerTraveller portable unit on foot and in the rig, a Dometic PLB40, and a Transporter Energy battery. Both are lithium and perform well in the cold.

Stay Snug as a Bug

Making Camp in the Snow: Choose a spot that’s shielded from the wind, damaged trees and any avalanche risk. Preferably a pitch that exposes your sanctuary to the light at sunrise; it’ll bring welcome warmth. Note nearby landmarks just in case and pin your GPS location.

For Wicked Winds and Heavy Snowfall, Stay Gloved: Ensure you can pitch your rooftop tent (RTT) with gloves on; your digits will appreciate it in icy temperatures. We sleep in an iKamper SkyCamp four-berth rooftop tent, giving both of us room.

Stay True to Size. While it’s worth having ample room to stow your gear away from the elements, don’t opt for a six-person monster when there’s only two of you. It’ll never feel warm in your RTT.

Staying Warm Outside

Calorific dense dining: Winter camping gives you an excuse to consume high-energy food. Keep it simple with quick and nutritious one-pot meals. (I love dunking crusty bread in soups or stews, adding frozen vegetables, lentils, pulses and rehydrated soya chunks for extra sustenance).

Stay hydrated: Getting fed and staying hydrated helps circulate your blood and thus, stay warm. Drink plenty of fluids, which don’t have to be cold. Cordial, herbal teas and hot chocolate all count. Keep liquids in a double-walled bottle (e.g. Hydro Flask) to prevent freezing; the hoses on reservoirs can freeze in chilly temps, cutting off ready access to your water supply. We pump all our water into a Front Runner Outfitters 45 L (12 gal) tank, purified by the LifeSaver 20,000 UF jerry can.

How to Melt Snow: 1.) Scoop up clean, WHITE snow. 2.) Get the stove lit. 3.) Pour some water in the pot, and then add snow. Avoid scorching the snow, which leaves an after taste. 4.) Add more as desired. 5.) Stow in an insulated bottle the night before, so it’ll be all set in the morning for consumption.

Quick Cook System: It’s advisable to pack a backup stove (should your primary one fail), spare fuel, waterproof matches and an igniter in a zip-lock bag. When we’re not preparing meals from the RSi SmartCanopy kitchen and Kampa stove, we grab the RidgeMonkey Stove for cooking on the tailgate and the MSR Windburner for boiling water. They are stable and work like a charm in all conditions. Remember, regular canister gas does not heat effectively when it’s -6.6C (20 F) so keep it at 21 C (70F) when not in use. Primus Winter Gas works brilliantly down to -22C (-7.6F).

Go Bush without Freezing your Tush: Layering is a three-part system. A practical ensemble comprises a merino wool base layer (wicks perspiration away from the skin); a hydrophobic down insulating layer (traps the air, superior warmth-to-weight ratio); and a Gore-Tex shell layer (keeps wind and moisture out). A waterproof parka, ski- or snow-wear would substitute the last two. When it gets bitter cold, I double up on base and mid layers.

Thermal Underpants to a Parka: Waterproof insulated hats, gloves, neck gaiters (e.g. Extremities) and boots (e.g. Keen) bode well in a winter camper’s arsenal. As do long, heavyweight, wool socks and insulated winter rubber boots (e.g. Baffin). Up to half of your body heat is lost through the head so keep that toque on overnight or your sleeping bag hood cinched.

Staying Warm Inside

Stay dry: Anything that’s quick-dry and breathable but choose merino wool over cotton, and down over synthetic. Religiously, change from your “wets” (the clothing in which you’re exerting) to your “drys” (a set of dry clothing to keep your core warm during rest periods). Overnight, pop hand warmers in your boots if they feel damp inside and wear the next day’s socks while sleeping.

Sleep Mat-Thematics: Line the RTT’s floor area with self-adhesive insulation foam. Even though you’re not on the ground, cold weather will steal every last vestige of body heat. Or, use two insulated sleeping pads with a high R-value per person.

Stay Cozy: Choose a sleeping bag appropriate for your size and the temperatures you’ll be snoozing in (shake well, so it’s full of air). Add a fleece liner if needed. Refrain from burying your face in your sleeping bag; you’ll trap moisture inside, which will turn to condensation.

Take a Comfort Break: When Mother Nature’s doing her worst, carry 1.) travel-size hot water bottles (I wear one around camp and throw another in my sleeping bag. 2.) A Nalgene bottle for peeing in. Ladies: Consider accompanying the process with a SHEWEE. Resisting the “urge” exerts energy that could be used on your extremities. When nature calls, you should always answer.

Winter Camping Hacks

Housekeeping: Mesh clothes organizers (e.g. Sea to Summit) and colour-coded dry bags (e.g. SealLine) keep you sane when you need to grab an item quickly; the latter weather-seals your gear.

Universal Items: Duct tape anything that looks like it could leak, pack a multi-tool (a Leatherman Signal is our go-to), a snow shovel and plenty of lighting (HardKorr Lighting gives us ludicrous LED joy).

Dental Floss: It’s amazing what you can achieve with a needle and floss—a strong material to substitute sewing thread: pop a button back on, sew up holes in your socks and gloves, slice cheese, close holes in the tent, repair a backpack, use as a fishing line, hang items from a tree, or make a clothesline.

Emergency Supplies: Always pack some dehydrated food. I’m a Good To-Go convert as their meals are tasty, ready in 15 minutes and made with recognizable, healthy ingredients. I also love a raw nutty energy bar and homemade trail mix.

Nothing burns like the cold: Frostbite and hypothermia are legitimate concerns while winter camping. Tucking fingers under your armpits or on a friend’s stomach are gleeful ways to warm up! Try the Swiss Army technique: Lock both arms straight and position your hands perpendicular to your arms. Assertively move both shoulders up and down, which send blood down to your fingers.

We Cannot Live Without: Our Motorhome WiFi 4G system. It gives us enhanced WiFi from the truck practically wherever we go, even in Iceland’s interior when there’s often a fleeting signal. Among umpteen other reasons, we can constantly check the weather and conditions/ accessibility of roads.

One item I wish we’d had from the start: Your face may pleat with pity that we spent the shoulder season in the Nordics including eight weeks in Iceland’s winter without a diesel heater. It would have saved on pricey fuel, engine wear and exhaust emissions.

Pay it Forward: Carry something to give away—you never know when you’ll need someone’s help (i.e.beers, cookies, stickers…doesn’t matter—it breaks the ice and any language barriers).

Pack a Big Smile: A friendly hello without having said a word. Being as approachable as humanly possible is number one especially when travelling through foreign lands.

While the degree of proper preparation depends on how long and far your travels take you, it’s always best to bring along “more” than less in the event of harsher-than-expected weather. After all, the more prepared you are, the more enjoyment you will have in the wintery outdoors.

About the Authours

British born and location independent, Lisa Morris and Jason Spafford are avid wilderness-seekers. Remote exploration is the couple's driving force, enabling their passion and skillset as content creators. Jason is an accomplished professional photographer and dabbles in filmmaking. His internationally published portfolio is layered in two decades of adventure travel, landscape and commercial works. Lisa tells tales from the trails, freelancing for publications worldwide. Currently, a Cape-to-Cape expedition sees the duo in White Rhino, a Toyota Hilux; roaming the Nordic countries and African continent. Jason and Lisa can be found on Instagram @fourwheelednomad.