2. Lost in the Cabin? 3 Most-Asked Questions (And Things You’ll Get Stuck on After Pickup)
- “I know I listened to the full explanation perfectly before taking off, but now that I actually need to use it… wait, how do I do this again? What did they say?!” If this sounds like you, trust me—you are not alone! Drawing from my own experiences back when I used to rent out camper vans to the customer as a staff, I’m going to anticipate the common head-scratchers and solve them for you in advance.
### Q1: “The FF Heater Won’t Start!” – Check the External Exhaust Pipe!
- “The heater suddenly stopped working!” — Actually, this happens quite often!
- Watch out for snow blocking the exhaust pipe : During winter, heavy snowfall can block the exterior exhaust pipe or cause snow to get packed inside. When this happens, a safety mechanism triggers and forces the heater to shut down. Even if everything looked perfectly fine when you parked, snow can accumulate overnight and bury the exhaust pipe while you sleep.
Tip: When it’s snowing, it is highly recommended to step outside and check around the exhaust pipe one last time before going to bed! - Keep an eye on your fuel level : Most camper van heaters run directly on diesel fuel from the vehicle’s main tank. If your fuel level drops too low, the heater will automatically shut off to prevent you from getting stranded.
Tip: As a rule of thumb, always make sure your fuel gauge stays above a quarter (1/4) tank.
### Q2: “Where was the switch for…?” – The Mystery of the Interior Switches
- Back when I was working as a staff in camper van rentals, once customers hit the road, a question that popped up surprisingly often was “Where are all the switches?”
Even though we went through them together and tested them out during check-in, plenty of people still found themselves completely puzzled once they hit the road.
I think part of the reason is simply that camper vans have so many switches scattered all over the place!
Of course, layouts vary depending on the manufacturer and the model, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule. However, here are a few handy tips to give you a general idea of where to look:
Tip 1: The Main Sub-Battery Switch (This is the switch you’ll basically want to keep ON for your entire trip). It is usually located right near the entrance of the living/cabin area. Some vehicles also have a secondary master switch near the driver’s seat.
Tip 2: Interior Light Switches There are generally two mainstream styles for this. They are either clustered together near the entrance and the kitchen area, or the switches are built directly into each individual light fixture itself.
Tip 3: The Water Pump Switch (The switch needed to use the sink or shower). This is almost always located somewhere around the kitchen/galley area.
💡 Pro-Tip: You will definitely get a full walk through when you pick up your rental camper van. I highly recommend actively watching, touching, and trying out every single switch yourself during the explanation!
### Q3: “Will the Battery Last Overnight?” – The Truth About Driving and Power
- Managing the Sub-Battery & Charging
Questions about sub-battery life and charging came up without fail, so I know this is likely everyone’s biggest concern. I’ll share how it generally works (though please keep in mind that details might vary slightly depending on the vehicle model). - First things first: the vehicle interior features a display showing the remaining battery life as a percentage, so making a habit of checking it regularly is a must. That said, unless you plan on parked in one spot for days without ever starting the engine, there is absolutely no need to stress over it!
- The basic rule of thumb is this: every time you start the engine and drive, the sub-battery charges automatically. As long as you keep it above 50%, you are totally fine.
- When you do need to be careful is if the battery drops below 30%. If that happens, the quickest fix is to plug into an external power source at a nearby RV park or campsite hookup site. Trying to get the battery back to 100% purely through driving-charging would require a solid 5 to 6 hours of continuous driving!
- Of course, how fast the battery drains depends entirely on the vehicle model, the age of the battery, and how you use electricity. However, unless you are using heavy appliances all at once, just charging your phone or laptop while running the heater overnight won’t drain it as much as you might think. As long as you plan to drive for a few hours the next morning, it will juice right back up in no time.
Hokkaido Winter RV Guide (3-Part Series)← Previous: Part 1 [Beginner] How to Choose & Drive | Next: Part 3 [Insider] Safety & Trouble-Shooting →
