Keeping warm in a vintage caravan end of October?

[KatyMac]

So I am staying away for 1 night for work
I have a leisure battery
The caravan is not well insulated

I will be cold

Apart from lots of clothes a hat and an electric blanket what can I do?

Ooh you're well ard! You and your Shetlandic blood clearly aren't that superior if all you have to brag about is liking the cold and your genitals! You should research internalised misogyny and the meaning of the word 'sexism', you've clearly misunderstood it, maybe because of your chilly cunt?

Christ. A woman can’t even mention her vaj without some dolt blaming it in men 🙄anyhoo. Enjoy freezing your sparse off in the equivalent of oor summer. I’ll still be here in me flip flops in January

Watch out for damp. If the caravan is unheated the moisture may have built up by now. If you can, run some heating/dehumidifier before you are off grid. This is especially important for the bedding and mattress. A cheap option is to have a foam camping mattress under you, or next step up is a thermarest. It will make a world of difference.

What power do you have, and how long are you away for? If there's no gas a basic cartridge camping stove will do for water for a hot water bottle, but don't use it inside if you can avoid it, again for the moisture problem. Dry is warmer than wet so do everything you can to keep the damp out.

OP hasnt even mentioned where it is she's going in the caravan, so none of us know the temperature. So not sure what's with all the dismissive comments of it's 12c! It's the equivalent of our summer comments are aimed at. We don't know the temperature 🤷‍♀️
If you feel the cold you feel the cold and no amount of man upping mindset will change that.

It's one night
It's inland Norfolk
I can use a gas stove outside for food/hot water
I might run the oil filled radiator at home on an extension lead for a few hours before I go to minimise any residual damp

My mattress is 6 inches of upholstery foam (I am the princess and the pea)

I know its not the Arctic but I want to be as comfy as I can as I have a full day of work, outside both before and after where I have to be cheerful, patient and upbeat

Pre menopause I would never have considered it as I practically wore a cardi on the beach - but post? My thermostat has moved to registering more normal (if still a little low)!

I have several autoimmune type conditions all of which the cold can exacerbate so again I want to be as comfy as I can

You’ll be fine, there’s hundreds of threads about how to stay warm due to the cost of living crisis. Wear a hat.

You can even buy heated gillets if you struggle with the cold that much.

With how mild the weather is this October though I’m sure you will be fine just wearing the right clothes.

It's one night. Sleeping bag and blankets will keep you warm enough in bed. It's getting out of bed in the morning when the temperature has dropped that's always the worst bit. But if you can boil water for a brew that takes the sting out of it.

I do overnights in the motorhome in sub-zero temperatures and I'm very grateful for the gas heating (yes, there's condensation but that goes with ventilation and a squeegee). If you were going to be doing this regularly I would definitely look at getting heating installed/fixed.

We had a vintage caravan that had a little coal fire. It heated the water too.

Wow, so many pleasant and helpful peope on this thread. What eloquent language too 😐

OP if you can borrow a sleeping bag that’ll help, otherwise lots of duvet, a hot water bottle, and sleeping in thermals with a soft hat should be fine. Be careful not to add too much and end up sweaty though! I hear you about menopause body changes at night, me too. 🙈

Thanks everyone, I'm borrowing a sleeping bag now

And with my makeshift indoor tent I should be OK; esp as the long term forecast is for it to be 10 degrees

ffs,

We spent the night in a caravan in the wild with no way of heating. There were 2 of us so we had each other to cling to, it was minus 4 outside and minus 4 inside. Lit a load of candles but it made little difference.

Slept like a log but then we consumed a bottle of vodka between us.

Got up at first light and started work imediatley.

Weather forecast is minimum 12 degrees but its wet!! So wet!!

& I have to stay 2 nights or have an unbelievably early start on Saturday

I’m not sure if a leisure battery would run a radiator.

Two hot water bottles- front and back. I’d pile up duvets and blankets. Take all that you have - put under and over. A hat will really help if you’re cold. I’d not bother buying a sleeping bag for two nights use. I think duvets are warmer.

Aarrgghh! I can't go!

So poorly, just a horrid cold not flu or covid or anything but....yuk!

So disappointed