Last Updated: 2 December 2024
Originally Published: 12 November 2020
Winter is definitely upon us, with dark drives to work, rubbish weather, and everyone scrabbling around for their ice scrapers and gloves!
Whether you're planning to store your VW for the colder months or keep driving straight through to next spring, there are a few important steps you should take to ensure it's ready for the season ahead.
We've put together this quick guide to help you keep your Volkswagen in great shape and running smoothly through the winter so you can hit the road in the new year with your vehicle still in great shape.
Tips on Storing Your VW for the Winter
Some classic Volkswagens are a bit like the Blue Peter tortoise: they’re a bit slow, remind us of our childhoods, and enjoy being tucked away somewhere cosy over the winter!
While many of the JK Team drive our VWs through the winter, some of us secure them away from mid-autumn, to keep them safe from the snow, ice, salt, rain and generally rubbish conditions of the winter months here in the UK.
You can click here to read more about storing your VW away for the winter.
Keeping Your VW Under Wraps
Whether you’re keeping your vehicle on the road or you’re stashing it somewhere warm and dry for a few months, a good quality vehicle cover is a great investment.
Using a vehicle cover will protect your vehicle from rain, snow and ice, as well as harsh UV light, bird droppings, and other things which can damage your VW.
This is equally true if you're still using your vehicle regularly through the winter, and a cover also means you also won't have to clear your windows of ice and snow.
If you decide to store your Volkswagen away for the winter, the cover can also help reduce the risk of rust and corrosion.
Axle Stands
Often overlooked, axle stands are essential for stopping your tyres from developing flat spots while the vehicle is stowed away.
Leaving your campervan or Beetle on its wheels for several months without moving will mean you’ll likely have to buy new tyres in the spring, which will be a pain. Axle stands let you avoid this by allowing your vehicle to rest slightly above the ground, so the tyres aren't in contact with the floor and therefore can't be damaged.
Using axle stands while storing your VW also lets you leave the handbrake off as you don't need to worry about it rolling anywhere, so you won’t wear out your brake cables.
Keep it Clean
It might seem obvious to some, but it’s really important to give your vehicle a thorough clean before you store it away for the winter.
Giving it a proper clean inside and out will help ensure that no salt or other corrosive materials are stuck to the underside of your vehicle, as these can eat away at it over time.
This is also really important if you're keeping your VW on the road during the winter, as road salt and grit can cause damage to your metalwork and create rust.
Crack a Window
Leaving your vehicle in storage over the winter can, under certain conditions, lead to moisture buildup resulting in mould (or even mushrooms!) developing inside. We’ve seen it happen, and we wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. Another way to get around this is by using moisture traps, which are highly effective.
Be sure to roll the windows down a little before you say your final goodbye to your beloved VW until the spring. If you're worried about things getting into your vehicle while you're storing it, you can get cab window air vents which will allow air through but nothing else.
Power Down
Last but not least, we always recommend that you disconnect your battery before you close that garage door for the last time.
There’s nothing worse than getting all excited to get your Beetle or Campervan back out in the spring to find that the battery has run down completely and you can’t start it – although we do have a solution for that!
Tips on Driving Your VW Through the Winter
While storing your VW for the winter has its advantages, the humble Beetle performs surprisingly well in snowy conditions, and classic campervans don't fare too badly either!
Many of us keep our Volkswagens on the road year-round, so here are a few tips to help keep both you and your VW safe and running smoothly throughout the winter season.
Check Your Bulbs!
We’ve put light bulbs first on the list because it’s so often overlooked.
JK HQ is right out in the sticks, which is great for us because we can host the JK Open Day, and make loads of noise in our on-site workshop, but during the winter it is amazingly dark out here and the roads can get scary. Having the proper bulbs is absolutely essential. Check that they’re all working properly, make sure you’ve got spares, and, if you can, consider upgrading them to halogen.
Winter is dark, and foggy, and rainy, and snowy, so being able to see and be seen will keep you, your loved ones and your VW safe.
Tyres
Are your tyres in good condition? Do they have the right tread pattern to handle snow and ice?
How's the tread depth looking? Don't forget to check the pressure, too, as proper inflation can make a huge difference during winter driving.
Making sure your tyres are in good shape is especially important during the winter, when the road conditions are worse with water, mud, ice, snow, and other hazards being far more common throughout the winter.
Fog Lights
Fog lights are a game changer. If you don't have them, it might be worth installing a pair. If you do have them, take a moment to check that everything's in working order; inspecting the bulbs, fuses and switches. They're invaluable for those foggy winter evenings when visibility is reduced, and spotting road edges or unexpected sharp turns becomes increasingly challenging.
Yellow lenses are a real help in winter (and they look cool all year round). Yellow light operates at a longer wavelength which is more comfortable for our retinas. It helps penetrate through mist and fog by reducing glare and adding definition, allowing you to see further in poor conditions while also being less tiring on the eye.
Anti-Freeze
If you’ve got a water-cooled Volkswagen, then make sure you’ve got the correct anti-freeze in your VW. Each vehicle requires a slightly different formula, and using the wrong one can cause damage to your engine.
If you’re in doubt as to which to use, check your owners manual or give the JK Team a call on 01256 86 22 88.
External Thermo Mats
They might look a bit weird, but a good set of external thermo mats can save a load of time each morning!
Applied directly to the cab windows and windscreen, these covers prevent ice from forming and snow from settling. That means no more scraping the windscreen every morning - arguably the most dreaded task of winter, right?
Last but not least...
Pop a torch, a blanket, some gloves and a hat in the glove box or under the rear seats, just so you’ve got them if you do break down. It’s saved us more than once!
You can also get breakdown cover from Just Kampers Insurance, to help you out if something does go wrong while you're driving your vehicle over the winter.