Sven Hedin in the Winter

[TonyL]

So I have now spent nearly two weeks in the Sven Hedin. I have had to contend with blizzards, 6” of snow and temperatures down to -9 Deg C, with several days below 0 Deg C.

Then van is brand new and coped well.

Thankfully the winter pack which has proved itself. I have not struggled with the cold, the van has continued to operate as intended. The heated floor is a revelation.

The cold was however noticeable in two areas:

1. I had the thermal screen fitted across the rear doors. No draughts or cold in bed. However, the bottom edges of the doors behind the screen had some ice on them. The edges of the doors are a cold bridge and the screen prevents warm air getting to the doors.

2. The side pop out did get some condensation on the base inside. Easily fixed, hinge the end of the bed up when not in use so that warm air circulates from the radiator under the bed.

I spoke to several other campers and they were suffering with frozen vans and no water.

A big thumbs up to the Westfalia winter pack.

 

[smeaty]

Just ordering a 2025 Sven Hedin Premium.........Diesel/Electric heating now! Perfect

 

[TonyL]

Have you got the winter pack?

 

[smeaty]

Have you got the winter pack?

Yes, I have thank you

 

[TonyL]

 

[smeaty]

Tony any feedback on the drive quality of Fiat Ducato v's MAN TGE? I read a bumpy ride in Fiat......any experience

 

[TonyL]

I have had both Fiats and now two TGEs. The TGE is definitely a smoother ride and less harsh. Although there is more body roll on the TGE. The roll is not excessive and worth the trade off for the improved ride. I find the TGE ride is even better when laden. The Fiat didn’t seem to change when laden, it crashed over bumps.

I haven’t had a Fiat for several years, but am told they have improved.

The driving experience is also better in the TGE, the tech and design is typical VW. I haven’t seen the redesigned MAN but I expect it will be even more care like.

My choice to avoid the Fiat/Citroen/Peugeot vans was based on the poor ride comfort and driving experience.

 

[smeaty]

I have had both Fiats and now two TGEs. The TGE is definitely a smoother ride and less harsh. Although there is more body roll on the TGE. The roll is not excessive and worth the trade off for the improved ride. I find the TGE ride is even better when laden. The Fiat didn’t seem to change when laden, it crashed over bumps.

I haven’t had a Fiat for several years, but am told they have improved.

The driving experience is also better in the TGE, the tech and design is typical VW. I haven’t seen the redesigned MAN but I expect it will be even more care like.

My choice to avoid the Fiat/Citroen/Peugeot vans was based on the poor ride comfort and driving experience.

Many thanks, that confirms my choice.........

 

[rod_vw]

I have had both Fiats and now two TGEs. The TGE is definitely a smoother ride and less harsh. Although there is more body roll on the TGE. The roll is not excessive and worth the trade off for the improved ride. I find the TGE ride is even better when laden. The Fiat didn’t seem to change when laden, it crashed over bumps.

I haven’t had a Fiat for several years, but am told they have improved.

The driving experience is also better in the TGE, the tech and design is typical VW. I haven’t seen the redesigned MAN but I expect it will be even more care like.

My choice to avoid the Fiat/Citroen/Peugeot vans was based on the poor ride comfort and driving experience.

The Crafter and TGE are still basically identical although I am told that only the TGE has the 202ps engine option available, that of course could be a UK market thing.

Both models now have changes to the dash panel with a large screen and many controls integrated into that they also have an electric hand brake.

 

[smeaty]

Tony did you get any condensation in the Sven during winter? If you did how did you deal with it?

 

[TonyL]

Yes, there were three areas where condensation formed, but then this only happened when the weather was exceptionally cold for extended periods. I picked the van up at the beginning of December 2022 and spent the first few weeks in snow and temperatures that didn’t go above freezing and was below freezing-10 degrees c at night.

The van was fitted with the additional thermal screens (rear doors and external windscreen).

Condensation:

Inside surface of pop out - you can extra insulation to this, I didn’t bother. It isn’t a major problem.

Windscreen pillars - some condensation ran out from the void above the cab, again not major and disappeared quickly, again it is possible to add insulation above the headling.

Above side door - some condensation ran out from trim above the sliding door. Again this can be removed and insulated.

There was ice on the bottom edge of the rear doors, this is a cold bridge and the additional thermal screens stops heat reaching the doors.

During the cold weather the heating was on all the time and a roof vent cracked open for ventilation.

Considering the extreme temps the van did well, other vans where I was staying were frozen up.

In conclusion the van copes well with temps down to -10 degrees C. Condensation was minimal and can be overcome easily if you want to add some extra insulation.

Finally, the heated floor is amazing when the weather is cold.

 

[smeaty]

Yes, there were three areas where condensation formed, but then this only happened when the weather was exceptionally cold for extended periods. I picked the van up at the beginning of December 2022 and spent the first few weeks in snow and temperatures that didn’t go above freezing and was below freezing-10 degrees c at night.

The van was fitted with the additional thermal screens (rear doors and external windscreen).

Condensation:

Inside surface of pop out - you can extra insulation to this, I didn’t bother. It isn’t a major problem.

Windscreen pillars - some condensation ran out from the void above the cab, again not major and disappeared quickly, again it is possible to add insulation above the headling.

Above side door - some condensation ran out from trim above the sliding door. Again this can be removed and insulated.

There was ice on the bottom edge of the rear doors, this is a cold bridge and the additional thermal screens stops heat reaching the doors.

During the cold weather the heating was on all the time and a roof vent cracked open for ventilation.

Considering the extreme temps the van did well, other vans where I was staying were frozen up.

In conclusion the van copes well with temps down to -10 degrees C. Condensation was minimal and can be overcome easily if you want to add some extra insulation.

Finally, the heated floor is amazing when the weather is cold.

Thanks for the detailed response

 

[rod_vw]

Yes, there were three areas where condensation formed, but then this only happened when the weather was exceptionally cold for extended periods. I picked the van up at the beginning of December 2022 and spent the first few weeks in snow and temperatures that didn’t go above freezing and was below freezing-10 degrees c at night.

The van was fitted with the additional thermal screens (rear doors and external windscreen).

Condensation:

Windscreen pillars - some condensation ran out from the void above the cab, again not major and disappeared quickly, again it is possible to add insulation above the headling.

If you have condensation coming down the A pillars then it will be the cab roof area that needs extra insulation. This is a very common problem with Crafters & TGEs.

There is a post of mine relating to the removal tool necessary to remove the sun visors on the CrafterTGE Forum and that also has a link to a very good item on Facebook detailing the removal of the cab headlining. I don't know how the headlining may be altered from the base vehicle when built as a Sven Hedin but those articles will give you a clue where to start.

 

[Tfuego]

Hi Tony, I am currently specking a new TGE and am considering the winter pack. Can you explain some of the benefits & negatives? Does the auxiliary water heater warm up the engine block for cold starts? I want prep my van as much as possible for cold climates.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

[TonyL]

Hi Tom

I have had two Svens and would definitely go for the winter pack.

On my latest Sven it added:
Extra insulation in rear doors
Extra insulation in side door
An additional external screen for the front
An internal thermal screen for the rear doors
Heated waste tank
Underfloor heating
Heated shower tray
Extra convector under passenger seat.

The diesel heater is under the bench seat in the dinette, but is not connected to the engine cooling system.

The system controls are pretty versatile. The basic heater function operates on two zones, the wet room and main van, which you can set at different temperatures. So if you want you can just heat the wet room to dry clothes. The underfloor heating will only run if the system is heating the van or wet room as it is a wet system. The heating can be run on a timer as well.

Positives - it is an efficient system that easily keeps the van warm, even when the temperature never goes above freezing.

Negatives - Will only run on diesel, not electric element. The diesel heater is noisy on start up and sometimes at night you can hear the electric valves opening and closing. Finally,
there is no option to start heating remotely.

Would I spec it again? Definitely.

 

[rod_vw]

Hi Tony, I am currently specking a new TGE and am considering the winter pack. Can you explain some of the benefits & negatives? Does the auxiliary water heater warm up the engine block for cold starts? I want prep my van as much as possible for cold climates.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

The TGE (Crafter) has a factory option (probably Code 637UB - PR No 7VL) of having a 5kW auxiliary water heater that heats the engine via its coolant circuit thus also making the cab heater available and can be operated by remote key fob remote control.

 

[TonyL]

When I looked at the VW Grand California the auxiliary water heater was a factory fit option.