how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Wolffarmer » Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:53 pm

slowcowboy wrote:just thinking on another improvement for the next teardrop. tired of montoring a deep cyle battery for electric heat and I find myself on about every camping trip in wyoming camping with temps near 34 degreas at night.

there was one thing I missed when getting my teardrop from my old motor home and about the only thing I missed on that rig and that was the forced air furnace.

I would love to have steady heat all night long again.

kinda elaborate but I am ready for some up grades.

just courus how others keep warm in a teardrop all night when the temps get in the 30s.

like will said at walk the winds last thursday night temps dropped to 34 deagres.

slow


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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby S. Heisley » Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:03 pm

My dog and I went camping this week; and, as soon as we got up the next morning, I took the opportunity to check the temperatures. All I can say is I am grateful for my "fur-legged heater"! .....:

Temperature outside:
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Temperature inside:
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby KennethW » Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:23 pm

This is just a quick thought. How would it work to run a piece of exhaust tube across the back of the cabin and through the walls with a propane torch(or candles?) in one end. The combustion air and the exhaust would both be outside. A person could put a control valve on the inside to set the temp. I would think that the pipe would only need to be warm to heat the teardrop. Just thinking out loud.
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby bdosborn » Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:35 pm

I carry a power pedestal for when it gets cold. Just pound it in the ground and plug your trailer in. Works great and keeps me toasty warm.

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Treeview » Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:46 pm

bdosborn wrote:I carry a power pedestal for when it gets cold.
Bruce


Plugging an extension cord into a current bush works too :? :lol:

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Wolffarmer » Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:48 pm

How deep do you have to pound that sucker?

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby working on it » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:04 pm

Treeview wrote:
bdosborn wrote:I carry a power pedestal for when it gets cold.
Bruce


Plugging an extension cord into a current bush works too :? :lol:

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Why not get the ultimate heat/light/life source? Park next to a "burning bush"; provides heat and light, and also written instructions. I saw a movie on this once. Just mind your P's an Q's (golden calves are strictly verboten in camp); or there's Hell to pay.
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby bdosborn » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:14 pm

Wolffarmer wrote:How deep do you have to pound that sucker?

Randy

Pretty deep but I just plug an impact hammer in and it doesn't take long.

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Mary C » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:28 pm

Burn those cow pies Slow. I know that works , in 1997 I took a survival course for getting caught in the snow in North Dakota and that was shown as one heat source Of course there was lots of talk and laughter about how we could freeze to death digging in the snow :snow looking for the patties.

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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Wolffarmer » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:31 pm

And in the winter they would probably be soggy. Have to dry them first. which you would need a fire for. which you need the cow chips for. which...................................................Twilight Zone
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby MtnDon » Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:12 pm

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned the Propex heaters. They use propane, are a direct vent type so no danger of CO inside as can ahppen with un-vented fuel burning heaters. Propex are much more efficient than a typical American RV furnace; over 90% efficient vs maybe 76% for the best US RV furnace. Less than 1.5 amps for the blower.

I seriously do not like nor recommend any open flames. Nor do I believe in any of the non-vented heaters even if they have a low oxygen auto shut off. CO is a real danger. I have friends who almost died from CO poisoning. I also dislike generators even though I own a Honda and a Yamaha inverter generator. The thought of running a genny to keep warm turns me off.

So back to the Propex. Not cheap, but then a lot of very good products are not cheap. But I believe you get a superior heater and a safe one.
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby Esteban » Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:56 am

Westy Ventures sells Propex heaters Propex Heatsource furnaces
The perfect cabin heating solution for campervans, small RV's, pop-up campers, and small boats
We are the US importer and warranty center for these heaters - buy from the source!
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby GerryS » Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:50 am

I'm intrigued by the biomass/rocket heaters. The only trouble I see is fueling, and for RVing, size and weight.

A problem common to rockets stoves that I see is, since the fuel is sticks and such, but the burn rate of even largish sticks is pretty fast...you need a sustainer log too keep it burning for ant time. And to heat a large cob seat it will take time....so you'll spend a lot of time feeding small stuff into the mouth of the unit.

For camping, I found a 1200 watt ceramic will cook you out of a TD. It keeps us quite warm down to mod 20s even when we leave one door open to our side tent. Closing the door, a 400 watt heater is still more than adequate assuming you have 110ac.

For boondocking, you're probably going to need to heat rocks for any extended off grid time. Propane etc is a finite resource...and they are all eventually going to run out....30-50 hours on a tank is probably all you'll get. Plus, the size of these boat heaters is huge for a TD. ShOrt cycling is going to be a problem, just as it is for air conditioners. This has been discussed in other forums for camp-inns with their factory heaters....
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby S. Heisley » Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:49 am

There have been a lot of good ideas and quite a few laughs in this thread and that's good.
However, I think the concern for Slowcowboy, in this thread, is for ice fishing; and, for Hunter (best guess: who hunts), found in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=57584 is that they need to find ways to keep warm in the snow in areas where there isn't electricity available.

The way I see it, these people have access to:

- Generators for electric power; but, they'd have to carry a lot more gas to power them than they'd probably want to.
- Battery operated 12 volt power, which may be limited
- Wet cow chips :roll: (Sorry...couldn't resist)
- Dry, brought-in wood, which will only heat the outside and shouldn't be left unattended while someone sleeps.
- Propane, which may also be in somewhat limited amounts.

I think the point is to stay warm through the night and heat the cabin quickly to get dressed in the morning. To that, I'd say:

1) Insulate all sides, top, and bottom of your trailer.
2) Hang quilted fabric over doors and windows, to further insulate and to help prevent drafts. The quilts will also help by absorbing moisture condensation, to keep it away from the 'in’ sides of the trailer.
3) Have a really good, probably for sub-zero weather, sleeping bag; and, if it's old and/or packed down, purchase a new one. Once the filling in a sleeping bag starts to pack down, it loses its ability to retain heat because the air pockets within become smaller.
4) Wear winter-rated long john underwear and maybe a sweatshirt as well, and smart wool (i.e. merino) socks. Wool retains heat even when it is wet.
5) Wear a stocking cap on your head. This is because much of the body's heat loss is through the top of ones head, especially if the body is in a sleeping bag.
6) Dirt and bugs be 'danged', if you have a hunting dog, sleep with him. Dogs are great four-legged fur heaters. You can put a sheet or something over your nice new sleeping bag to keep it from getting dirty and the dog can sleep on that.
7) If you can get one, get a good 12-volt heated mattress pad. Plug it in and heat your bed before crawling in at night. Turn it on as little as possible and turn it off as soon as the bed is warm, to conserve your battery. As a safety measure, do not sleep in the bed with the mattress pad plugged in, especially if it is 120 volt!
'8) If you have a galley hatch, close it when not in use. It will not only help keep critters away but also add an "attic" of sorts to help keep heat from the cabin from escaping. Insulating that closed hatch's underside will also help.
9) If you can, add a pass-through to the galley from the cabin so that you can open the pass-through in the morning to make your coffee/tea/hot chocolate, etc. You'll be amazed at how much warmer your cabin will get just from heating water to make your morning beverage.
10) If you can safely do it, use a propane heater, either a built-in unit or a tent-approved model. Keep these away from sheets, quilts, curtains, clothes, etc as you don't want to start a fire. You may want to dedicate a corner of your trailer and build a special cabinet or shelf for it, to further protect against fire. Use the heater only when you are awake, maybe for a little while before you go to bed and again, when you awake in the morning. Also, remember that using this heater may require some proper ventilation, such as cracking a window slightly open. A carbon monoxide detector is also a good idea.

.....Does anybody else have any ideas to add for camping in really cold weather when out in the middle of nowhere?
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Re: how do folks keep warm in a teardrop at nights.

Postby bdosborn » Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:18 am

I know SC posted a link but the Espar heaters are often overlooked. I found mine used on eBay.

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Pluses:
They're direct vented, diesel is easier to find in the boonies than propane, compact, diesel has 50% higher energy density over propane, the fan speed is continuously variable (usually runs on low in our trailer) and it uses less least amount of energy over any other heater I've seen (0.67 amps on low). Also, I have a diesel truck so I can siphon diesel in a pinch.

Cons:
expensive and you might not want to deal with diesel.

The other option that is often overlooked as well is the Plat Cat. It's a direct vent catalytic heater, so you don't have to worry so much about CO and moisture build up.

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