 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Arctic / Nordic Winter Preparations |
 
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| Andrew95 Member Since: 27 Jul 2022 Location: Midlands Posts: 72   
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Somewhere along the lines my partner and I decided that going to Nordkapp in January 2026 would be a good idea. So that gives me a little over a year to prepare the truck. I need some advice and thought trying to make a 'all things cold weather' thread would be a good idea.
I have been to Norway before, so the weather is not a huge surprise. But this will be the first time both driving and taking my own truck. For reference, its a 300tdi 110 Defender. These are my thoughts so far.... Engine: - Changing engine oil out for thinner synthetic (I have been advised 5W30) - Changing EP90 out for thinner synthetic (I have been advised 70W-90) - Changing the gearbox oil out for something thinner (I am not sure what) - Changing anti-freeze to 50:50'ish mix - Changing the clutch and brake fluid for fresh - Changing starter battery to AGM - Installing some sort of diesel coolant pre-heater (Thermo-Top V or one from a D3/D4 seems an affordable way to go). Block heaters have been thought about, but I am not sure on what the availability of electric hook up will be. - I have a radiator muffler somewhere, I am going to modify it so that rather than blanking the entire radiator and intercooler it only partially blocks the radiator. - I want to swap out to more winter biased tyres, not sure on what yet as its a big outlay. Camper - We have a diesel heater fitted, but since the camper conversion the outlet has been blocked. Need to reroute the heater. Also thinking of heating the unit which the leisure battery is stored in. - At the moment we have a lead acid leisure battery, it works for us only charging phones and running the fridge. But this is unlikely to work on this trip both due to the additional power demands of diesel heaters and also the cold. My biggest dilemma at the moment is should I go for lithium or AGM. Being aware that Lithium, unless heated, will not charge below approximately +3 (however, this is a one off trip, so once back in the UK Lithium would be a better choice), AGM will deal better with the cold, but has the same lower capacity as acid. There are heated lithium batteries out there but they are a lot of of money. I am also wondering about size, our current battery is 100Ah (so 50 usable), so even going for a small 100Ah lithium we would double our capacity. - Insulate everything, its fairly well insulated as it is, but I will take the interior trim off and put insulation behind this. Also thinking about making an insulated liner for the pop top. I think we will probably sleep 'downstairs' but lift the roof to get changed and live out of. I have a lot of ideas / thoughts running through my head at the moment. My experience of being in Norway before was one day was -20 and the next was +5, there is no way to tell what the weather will be doing until we are there and by then its a little too late! So I am trying to 'prepare for the worst'. Anyone who has done similar trips, or advice on lithium set ups would be greatly appreciated. |
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28th Oct 2024 11:04am |
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| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 475  
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Fogstar make lithium batteries with built in heat pads that operate at around 5 degrees. I’d fit a diesel night heater if you’ve not got one. A snow cowl over the heater intake would be a good idea, also some spare wipers/arms. 1983 110 automatic OM606
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28th Oct 2024 4:07pm |
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| BrunoJ Member Since: 14 Sep 2019 Location: Stavanger Posts: 75  
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For the battery issues - I can recommend to purchase proper jump starter. They keep relatively small size (like bigger laptop charger), providing proper power to start engine few times when battery is weak/frozen. USB chargeable, can serve also as regular powerbank for other devices. Save me few times already during winter trips, especially when you station for few days and drive only locally (so basically car stays cold all the time).
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28th Oct 2024 4:50pm |
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| Steve_overland Member Since: 14 Oct 2018 Location: Gaydon Posts: 290 
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If you are travelling just the two of you put some for of curtain behind the seats, that way when driving your only heating the cab not the whole vehicle which will help the heater cope..... @steve_overland on Insta.
110 expedition vehicle with pop roof |
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29th Oct 2024 8:56am |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1084  
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Tires. Get dedicated winter tires nokian hakkepalita. Headlight if LED they will snow over. You should have wipers but at least halogen has have a chance. Screen wash, tons of it and extreme cold capable once frozen you are screwed and need to stop frequently
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29th Oct 2024 10:30am |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 405 
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Toying with a Nordkapp trip ourselves actually, but looking 2025.
We bumped into The Orange Defender at the overland show and hes doing a trip at the end of Jan - if you have arsebook there is some more info on there, which might also help your prep: https://www.facebook.com/groups/386187887806917 Gusto Overland (Robin + Kim) are also looking at heading there a little later, maybe end of Feb-March 2024 (if memory serves). We also have a 300tdi, so this is a v interesting thread. For info, when we built our camper back, we did it with cold weather in mind (maybe not arctic, but yeh). We insulated the back with closed cell foiled back insulation 7mm thick, 3 layers on the roof, I think either 2 or 3 on the sides too (didn't do the floor...). Not suggesting it's comparable, but we went up to Dartmoor one night taking pictures, it was very cold, so whilst we were outside we left the diesel heater running inside, inside was roasting hot, outside frost was forming on the roof. Feb we camped in Scotland again, heater running on and off and it snowed. It settled on the roof and stayed. As Steve said, a curtain really did help (both ways, kept the cab warm, then at night kept the back warm. A lot of heat is lost out the cab - windscreen, windows etc. I'm wondering if our roof top tent with a thermal liner and a pipe for the diesel heater would be ok for a Nordkapp trip. The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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29th Oct 2024 11:27am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8051  
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i havent been for a while but have spent 3 winters in Norway up north with work so will base my advice on that:
a decent set of readily available tyres in a standard size would be my first choice plus studded if thats a requirement of where you are intending to go. heated front screen would be my next priority a diesel such as webasto coolant heater and a webasto interior heater would also get my vote. for the latter you can get good deals on 2nd hand boat units usually. think of insulation in the doors, and between the roof lining and the roof. good security inside so you can leave doors unlocked as locks freeze. a decent set of winter boots and arctic socks. if your cooking out and about you wont go far wrong with a petrol stove, forget gas. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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29th Oct 2024 3:09pm |
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| pistonfields Member Since: 29 Mar 2022 Location: Zurich Posts: 72 
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if planning to get a LiFePo4 leisure battery than only a heated one, and one with a working low temp sensor (a lot of cheap ones say they have a undertemp charging protection but it's either faulty or not hooked up / present at all).
I built one myself with heated pads, so it will only charge after reaching a certain temperature. Up that threshold in the BMS when the car is parked in very cold conditions unless you have a setup where the temp sensor is in between two cells instead of glued somewhere on the outside of the cell pack. Core temp will take much longer to increase wiht heating pads outside. If inverter present and leisure battery big enough then get a simple heating blanket. Works wonders and delivers subtle heat directly to your body when in bed. |
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29th Oct 2024 6:31pm |
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| ruben Member Since: 04 Feb 2021 Location: ASTURIAS Posts: 204 
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😳too many problems and too much risk, isn't it better, and more beautiful, to travel in summer with the midnight sun?🫣 Defender 110 SE I6 D250 23MY
ExDiscovery 3 TDV6 SE |
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29th Oct 2024 11:36pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8051
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More beautiful, no, I don't think so, equal in beauty to rhe winter, yes. Cheers
James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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29th Oct 2024 11:54pm |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 405
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I can't help but want to experience something that extreme. The snow, the harsh climate, the low/no sun. I wouldn't necessarily want to live it for X months a year, but to see what life is like for some people whilst having an adventure is definitely enticing. The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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30th Oct 2024 8:13am |
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| boode Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: Devon Posts: 430  
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Definitely worth experiencing in winter - the harsh conditions only add to the adventure and experience
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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30th Oct 2024 5:53pm |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 405
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Looks stunning, what month did you go? The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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30th Oct 2024 5:59pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2244 
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Awesome photos !
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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30th Oct 2024 6:16pm |
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