How to Prepare Your Sprinter Van for Winter in Colorado: Essential Steps for Cold-Weather Travel
Whether you use your Sprinter for ski season, winter weekend trips, or snowy road travel, getting your van winter-ready is one of the best ways to stay safe, warm, and confident on the road. At White River Overland, we specialize in four-season Sprinter builds and winterization services. Below is our complete winter prep guide to keep you and your van winter adventure-ready.
1. Start With Basic Winter Maintenance
Why It Matters:
Colorado’s freezing temps are hard on batteries, components, fluids, diesel, and tires. A quick winterization check helps prevent getting stranded in the cold.
What to Do:
Check Your Batteries: Replace weak batteries now to avoid getting stranded. Jumping batteries puts excessive strain on the alternator.
Use Winter-Blend Diesel Additive: When temperatures drop, adding a Fuel Additive prevents fuel gelling. Equally important for both the engine and diesel heaters.
Check Your Tires:
Minimum: 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake all-terrain tires. Load Range E. Most recognizable all-terrain tires will meet this requirement.
Nothing will perform like a dedicated studless winter tire for performance and comfort, however.
2. Diesel Heater Prep & Maintenance
Why It Matters:
Your diesel heater is your best friend in a Colorado winter. A little attention now prevents the most common heater failures once temps drop.
Run a Maintenance Cycle Once a Month
Diesel heaters are meant to be used. Running a high-heat burn once a month helps:
Burn off soot
Prevent carbon buildup
Keep fuel lines clean and primed
Reduce cold-weather startup issues
If you haven’t been running maintenance cycles, start now before winter fully sets in.
Keep Your Fuel Level Above 1/4 Tank
Diesel heaters draw fuel from a pipe inside the tank. That pipe doesn’t reach the very bottom of the tank. Below a quarter tank, heaters may:
Lose fuel prime and fail to start resulting in error codes
Shut off mid-cycle
Force restarts may flood the heater
Keep your tank above 25% for reliable operation.
Check the Intake & Exhaust
Your heater needs clean, unobstructed airflow. Inspect your fresh air intake and exhaust port. Make sure they're clear of snow, dirt, or road grime. Restricted airflow is one of the top causes of heater failure.
If You Get an Error Code, Don’t Restart It
This is a common mistake van owners make. Don’t keep restarting your heater after an error. This can:
Flood the combustion chamber
Burn out the glow plug
Lead to expensive repairs
Shut it down, note the error, and contact us for service.
If you have any questions about your diesel heater, schedule an appointment for us to take a look and help with any maintenance needs.
3. Protect Your Plumbing System
Why It Matters:
Frozen plumbing can be a costly issue. Take these simple steps to prevent any breaks, leaks, or damage.
What to Do:
Drain the entire system: Tanks, pump, and all water lines.
Use compressed air to safely blow out lines and fittings.
Leave all taps open. This allows leftover droplets to expand safely during freezing temps.
Whether you camp in winter or store your van, protecting your plumbing is essential.
4. Manage Condensation
Why It Matters:
Warm interior air + cold outer shell = rapid moisture buildup.
This can cause:
Foggy or frozen windows
Damp bedding
Mold or mildew
Inefficient heating
What to Do:
Use insulated window covers
Run your vent fan on low (even in cold weather)
Crack a window when cooking or drying gear
Keep wet gear separate and vented
A dry van stays warmer and feels far more comfortable in winter.
5. Check Your Electrical System
Why It Matters:
Winter camping places higher demands on your electrical system.
What to Do:
Install a DC-DC charger for reliable charging while driving
Ensure lithium batteries have low-temp charging protection
Keep batteries in a heated space when possible
Don’t depend on winter solar (snow & low sun reduce output)
Making sure your electrical system is winter-ready prevents mid-trip shutdowns.
6. Build a Winter Emergency Kit
Why It Matters:
Anyone traveling in snowy mountain conditions should be prepared for unexpected delays or emergencies.
Essentials to Carry:
Snowbroom / roof brush
Ice scraper
Warm gloves
Compact shovel
Sleeping bag or warm blanket
Headlamp / flashlight + extra batteries
Traction boards
Jumper box
First aid kit
Extra snacks, water, and layers
Garmin InReach or other satellite communicator
This kit isn’t just for vanlife. Everyone traveling in winter should carry these items. For a full list of our recommended overland gear, check out our blog here.
7. Winter Gear Upgrades for Your Sprinter
Want to gear up for your favorite winter activities? Now is a good time to change out your summer gear racks and carriers with their winter-gear counterparts. Here are some of our favorites.
Owl Vans Ski Locker
A full ski box that mounts to your van’s rear door is a game-changer.
Keeps skis/snowboards protected
Stores wet gear outside the living space
Adds secure, lockable gear storage
We love the Owl Vans Ski Locker as a great option to haul the whole family’s skis & snowboards.
Ski & Snowboard Racks
Sometimes designated exterior storage is the best option for your wet ski gear. We can help you choose the right setup from our sister shop, Cracks & Racks:
Options we love:
Roof-mounted ski racks
Hitch-mounted ski carriers
Hitch & Bumper Upgrades for Winter Toys
Pulling a snowmobile trailer? Need more recovery points?
We install:
Rear bumpers
Trailer wiring
Recovery gear mounts
Perfect for snowmobile trips or hauling extra gear in winter.
Get Your Sprinter Winter-Adventure Ready With White River Overland
Whether you’re prepping for ski season, cold-weather camping, or just want peace of mind all winter long, White River Overland can help you get fully dialed.
We Offer:
Full & partial winterization
Plumbing system service
Winter gear and adventure upgrades
If you want your Sprinter ready for Colorado winter conditions, reach out to White River Overland today to schedule a winter prep service or build consultation.
