Winter camping is my absolute favorite thing about the vanagon.  I love
the outdoors in winter and camp around 30 days each winter in my van.  I
use a plat cat heater which i like but could use more btu's for those
really cold nights.  You can do it without a heater but you'll end up
camping out much more if you have a heater.  Unfortunately a safe heater
is not cheap.  Here is a list of options for vanagon heaters I have
compiled.  Feel free to ask me additional questions.  If i could do it
again I would install a Suburban heater.  Ive only seen one installed in a
vanagon.  You could probably get one off a wrecked rv really cheap

heater:         cost:           advantage:              disadvantage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
platcat         $450            safe, efficent          only 5200 btu
                                low propane/elec        insullation needed
                                draw

gasoline        $500used        convienent, uses        price, hard to
                $1200plus new   gastank for fuel        find parts, elec
                                                        draw requires second
                                                        bat

carverp4        $500 NOS        just the right          not made anymore,
                                size for vanagon        hard to find.

Suburban/       $500-$700new    parts/service avail     elect draw reqires
modern RV                       plenty of btu's         second battery.
Forced air                                              some model take up
propane                                                 lots of space.

> Anybody have any general tips for camping in the van during the winter?  I
> plan on doing a few high elevation camps this winter in the Sierras for ski
> season (probably three days max) and was wondering if people had
> stories/lessons they might want to share about Vans and snow?
>
> Thanks.
>
> -eric
>
>
> --
> Eric Spletzer
> Webmaster
> SeniorNet
> 121 2nd Street, 7th Floor
> San Francisco, CA, 94105
>
> "I'm convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% the way I react
> to it." -- Charles Swindoll
>