Stay Warm
It’s a great idea to invest in an optional furnace to keep you warm inside your trailer. The Expedition and Pando models offer the Propex furnace, a propane-fueled compact air heater designed to provide an efficient and economical source of heat, independent of the engine. It’s designed to keep you toasty warm even in the coldest temperatures. As a backup, keep an extra blanket or two inside your trailer for emergencies.
Your pack should already include everything you need for overlanding. For winter trips, include an extra set of winter clothing such as an extra hat, gloves, blanket, and jacket in case the weather changes quickly while you’re on a hike. Hand warmers are also great at keeping hands and feet toasty warm as you travel across the cold ground. Be sure to pack additional high-protein snacks such as trail mix or beef jerky.
Food
Stock up your trailer’s fridge, freezer, and pantry to include a few extra days’ worth of food. You never know when an unexpected snow or ice storm could hit leaving you unable to travel for a couple of days.
Water
Never use any additives inside your freshwater tank! Insulating the tank or putting a 12-volt heater on them can help keep lines from freezing and causing damage. Keep a couple of containers of freshwater inside your trailer for emergencies.
Communication
Always bring a backup to your main communication system. While you’re in the backcountry, whether alone or with a group, it’s always good to have a way to communicate if help is needed. CB radio systems are a popular way to keep in touch with access to various radio frequencies. Satellite phones, which rely on satellites rather than cell phone towers, are also an option and can be used anywhere in the world. Whatever the option, be sure you have a secondary way of communicating if needed.
While it may seem a little extreme to prepare for the worst, but you’ll be happy you’ve taken these extra steps if you happen to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of winter.