Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

This is crazy cold for me. Diesel heater quit in the night. The cold woke me up. Error code suggests a blocked fuel line. I think my diesel has gelled up with the exposed line under trailer. Pulled out my Mr. Buddy. It is keeping the trailer at 55f on low. Always have a backup!

In any case, I am going south in the AM to avoid even colder weather and snow coming Weds night into Thursday. I just need to stay ahead of the ice line and get below St. Louis before Thursday... at least that is the plan. May get stuck somewhere waiting it out, but I need to move south.



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I'm still glad I gave my diesel heater away.... one less thing to work on for years to come.

I like mine. Really does what it is suppose to. This is just too cold for the installation. If I was to do this all the time, the tank and tubing would need to be protected inside. This is not a fault of the heater, but again... the installation. Funny things start to happen when you get into sub zero temperatures.. I believe the diesel has gelled or at least become more viscous where the pump cannot overcome it. Apparently that's a thing when Temps dip below 0 and the right additives are not in the diesel. The tank and all the tubing are in the elements.

I am sure I will get many good years from it as installed if I stay out of weather that drops below 20 degrees and into the negatives. I may still install the tank in the appliance stack.. closer to the heater and lines will stay warm regardless.

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Mr. Buddy backup doing its thing on low and connected to the 20lb propane bottle out front. Glad I have it. I am just afraid to go to sleep with this burning. Been running all day and Co2 sensor does not even register any Co2... however, still not convinced.



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flboy, Howdy;

I'd used one of those Blue-flame heaters in Utah when it was cold enough to effect the propane flow.
As long as there is a exchange of air, venting/hillbilly thermostat, I was able to sleep and stay warm
at the same time. still here 11 years later. As long as there is a way for fresh air to enter
and a way for the fumes to exit everything should be okay.

hank

84 degrees here today... A/C on and off all day. Come back cool weather.

Matchy matchy! Pretty pickup also! I like the dump hose keeper sacrificially in front of the holding tank should any snakes jump up to bite it going down the road.

BuildingOurDayDream wrote:Matchy matchy! Pretty pickup also! I like the dump hose keeper sacrificially in front of the holding tank should any snakes jump up to bite it going down the road.

Thanks!

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Made it safely home today. Diesel heater worked flawlessly in 22f weather on way home. I believe the diesel gets more viscous after 15 degrees and gels below 0. That is the range I had issues in. Maybe just need to buy an additive if I ever do this cold weather stuff again.

Learned and expensive lesson on way home. I did not run the heater while towing and the camper was in 3F to 10F weather most of the day Wednesday as I traversed Nebraska, Missouri, and Southern Illinois. Did warm up into 20s before I stopped for the night just southeast of St. Louis in Illinois. I got caught up in that winter storm which turned into freezing rain. I pulled off for the night to avoid the slip and slide.

After I stopped, I noticed it was 24F inside. I had a hard freeze inside and my kitchen faucet literally cracked off at swivel joint and my OD water heater appears to be damaged as evidenced by dripping as it thawed. Not sure what else is damaged until I can pressurize the system. I'll troubleshoot early next week.

Rest assured that I will be adding drains and a Schrader valve to blow out the pipes for extreme cold circumstances. As long as I had heat during the -5F extremes I saw at night and kept air circulating under the raised floor, no problems, but cannot leave heat on while towing, also need to be able to drain if heat quits on me. ROOKIE Florida boy mistakes..won't get me twice.

Anyhow, all in all, a great adventure for 6 weeks and about 5,000 miles. Got a few weeks to fix plumbing before I go camping again in Ocala National Forest nearby. I think I like warmer weather better. Extreme cold is hard on everything!

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flboy, Howdy;

Now you understand why Fl. fills up when the temp. drops up nord.eh? chucklin'

Here's a good thing to use for givin' the CTC a blow job;
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Road-Home-Plum ... 1002751768
or;
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-36153-Bras ... B0006IX68O

Make sure your drains are at the lowest point in the line.

You may not find any 'Anti-gel" in Fl. so next time ya wander into the cold zone, it should be easy to find.

hank

Thanks Hank. I think I dodged a bullet. I pressurized the system today after turning off water to kitchen sink faucet. I had an immediate gusher in bathroom which turned out to be the bidet sprayer hose I use in the bathroom for filling Portable Toilet water tank and dog dish. I turned that off and no other leaks. OD water heater also works fine with no leaks. The water droplets coming from it may have just been condensation as it thawed.

With that, both items come to $60.00.. which I think it getting off easy. I thought I'd have extensive leaks with a damaged Water Heater and possibly the pump. LUCKY ME!

I still will add the drains in case I ever camp in extreme cold weather again.

What Floridian in their right mind would make a trip like that at this time of year?!?!
Anyhow... Welcome home. I admire your sense of adventure.

Lol... a bit crazy I'd say... it was just the best time for me to get away and I have also found the crowds are non existent at most places which makes it nice.

I am doing the cross country Trans America Trail (TAT) from North Carolina to Oregon coast on my KTM-690R in late June through July and really just wanted to get out to the West this year in my CTC. Will be motocamping (tent) off the motorcycle on the TAT trip.

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Order up a bottle of diesel 911 or get some howes diesel additive found at any truck stop and a cup or two aught to fix your gel issue. Not sure what effect the additive will play on the pump. I run additive all year in my trucks. Helps lub the fuel systems also

Glad your home. Can’t wait for photos dump


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flboy wrote: I have also found the crowds are non existent at most places which makes it nice.

Like Florida in the summer. As we've said.