Winter Warning: What Cold Weather Does To Your Caravan
Queensland might not get snow drifts or black ice (thankfully), but winter still has a sneaky way of interfering with your caravan setup. From the weight of bulky gear to the performance of your batteries and tyres, cold weather can throw a few curveballs if you’re not prepared.
Here’s what to keep an eye on before your next winter trip.
1. Tyres Feel the Chill Too
As temperatures drop, so does your tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres can lead to sway, uneven wear, poor fuel economy and reduced braking especially dangerous when towing.
Here’s the basic tyre pressure formula:
Recommended Pressure = (Load per Tyre ÷ Max Load Capacity of Tyre) × Max Tyre Pressure
In plain English? Check how much weight each tyre is carrying (use axle weights from a weigh-in) and adjust your PSI based on the tyre’s rating. Always go off cold pressures and use the figures printed on the tyre sidewall or provided by the manufacturer.
Use this calculation as a guide but always refer to your tow vehicle and caravan’s recommended tyre pressures, especially when towing. Manufacturer placards take the guesswork out.
What About TPMS?
A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) takes the guesswork out. These small sensors track both pressure and temperature in real time, alerting you if a tyre is getting too low or overheating. They’re especially handy when you’re towing, because you often won’t feel a problem until it’s too late.
Quick Tip: You’ll lose about 1 PSI for every 5°C drop in temperature. If it was fine in summer, it might be low now even when the tyre looks inflated.
Need gear?
Visit caravanningqueensland.com.au to find trusted suppliers and CTIAQ member businesses who can help you get the right tyres, pressures and TPMS setup for your rig.
2. Cold Weather Caravanning = Heavier Loads
Let’s face it – Queenslanders don’t do winter all that well. If the mercury dips below 20°C, the puffer jackets come out, the Uggs go on, and the slow cooker’s working overtime. And when we pack for a winter trip, we tend to load up like we’re crossing the Arctic Circle.
Diesel heaters, extra doonas, layered clothing, hot water bottles, full tanks, heavy cookware it all adds up.
It’s easy to creep into non-compliance without meaning to especially if your setup was already borderline in summer. Even a 5–10% increase in weight can mess with your handling, braking, sway control, and insurance cover.
Everything weighs something – and it all adds up.
What Adds Up in Winter:
- Fuller water tanks (for off-grid camping or because parks are less frequent)
- Extra firewood or diesel for heating
- Winter clothing & bedding (thicker, bulkier and heavier)
- Cold weather food gear (like cast iron cookware, extra gas bottles, etc.)
- Portable heaters or battery blankets
Small Changes Make a Big Difference:
Don’t want to give up your winter luxuries? That’s fine just balance things out. Maybe carry less water, empty the grey tank before travel, or shift some items to the tow vehicle (if you’ve got capacity). The key is knowing where your weight is sitting now, not guessing based on last trip’s weigh-in.
Tip:
Your compliance ratings (GVM, ATM, GTM and GCM) don’t change with the seasons but your actual weight does.
Quick refresher:
- GVM: Maximum loaded weight of your vehicle
- ATM: Maximum loaded weight of your caravan
- GTM: Caravan’s weight when hitched (no tow ball load)
- GCM: Combined weight of tow vehicle + caravan
Get a mid-year reality check.
Visit a public weighbridge before your next trip to make sure you’re still within limits.
3. Batteries and Solar Can Struggle
Your van might be cosy and warm inside, but your battery and solar setup is doing it tough in winter.
Cooler temperatures slow down charge rates for batteries, shorten daylight hours, and increase your power draw especially if you’re running a heater, extra lights, or charging more devices inside will reduce system performance.
Even the most efficient setup can run low if you’re not keeping an eye on your usage and charging input.
Why Winter Is Hard on Power:
- Solar panels produce less when the sun’s lower in the sky or the day is cloudy. This can be as much as half the system output lost due to the shorter days.
- Batteries charge slower when they’re cold especially lead-acid or AGM types. Lithium batteries also often have built-in low-temp charge protection, meaning they won’t accept charge at all if the internal temp is below 0°C unless equipped with a heating pad or housed in an insulated battery box.
- Power demand goes up with lighting, heaters, and longer time spent inside the van
- Shorter days = less solar window to top things up
Tips to Keep the Power Flowing:
- Keep solar panels clean and angled, if adjustable
- If you’re parked under shade, rethink your position or top up with your alternator or generator
- Monitor your State of Charge regularly (don’t rely on guessing)
- If you’re running lithium batteries, check the low-temp cut-off some won’t charge below zero unless you have a heater or insulated box
- Turn off standby devices overnight and use LED lighting wherever possible
- Turn off inverters when not required.
Everything you turn on takes something out. And winter doesn’t always give it back.
Why cold affects battery charging:
Inside every battery is a chemical reaction happening between its components to produce and store energy. When it’s cold, those chemical reactions slow down — just like how honey thickens in the fridge. The electrons (which carry the charge) don’t move as easily, so the battery becomes “resistant” to accepting a charge. This is called electrochemical resistance.
So even if your charger is working fine, the battery just isn’t as willing to absorb the power quickly. That’s why charging takes longer, and in some cases (like with lithium batteries), it might not charge at all if it’s too cold.
Need help upgrading or diagnosing a power issue?
Visit caravanningqueensland.com.au to find a trusted CTIAQ member near you who can help with solar, battery management systems, or 12V upgrades.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute professional or technical advice. The Caravan Trade & Industries Association of Queensland (CTIAQ) does not accept any liability for loss, damage, or injury incurred by reliance on the information presented.
Readers are strongly advised to always consult and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all equipment and components associated with their tow vehicle and RV Specifications, recommended operating procedures, and safety requirements may vary between products.
If in doubt about the suitability, installation, or operation of any item, please seek professional advice, preferably from the business from which the product was purchased or a qualified industry expert.