Winter

Winter van life is possible and it is mostly a moisture problem wearing a temperature costume.

Condensation

Breathing and cooking put litres of water into the air every day. Without ventilation it condenses on the coldest surfaces and soaks bedding and insulation. A roof vent cracked open while the heater runs is not optional.

Heating safely

Fuel-burning heaters must be vented to the outside, and a carbon monoxide detector near the bed is mandatory in any vehicle you sleep in. Never sleep with an unvented combustion heater running.

Batteries

Battery capacity drops in the cold, and many lithium batteries cannot safely charge below freezing without a built-in heater. Check your battery's charging limits before relying on it in winter.

Tyres and roads

Several provinces require winter tyres for part of the year, in some cases on specific highways only. The rules differ by province — check them for every province on your route.

• ConversionFloor, insulation, electrical, then furniture — why the sequence matters and what to decide before cutting any holes.
• RoutesThe Icefields Parkway, the Cabot Trail, the Sea-to-Sky and the long middle of the Trans-Canada.
• AboutIndependent notes on camper vans in Canada.