Heating Question

[Generalcuz]

Well, my new leaf springs should be in this Friday. My next expense is a heating unit for my snowchaser. What do you cold weather campers use for a heating source? I am using my teardrop to camp out in this winter up in the rockies to chase the powder weekends. I was looking at this but there has to be something better out there.

http://tinyurl.com/23wx89

[mikeschn]

My favorite is a forced air furnace. And it's worth every penny!

http://www.ducktec.com/hydroflame-furnaces.html

Mike...

[48Rob]

I'm with Mike!

I just installed a Suburban forced air RV furnace; I'll never be cold again!

Unvented heaters are not good for your health, and can kill you.

Some tears may not have space for a small furnace...if you have a 110 hookup, electric space heaters work very well!
In my first tear, we used a plug in heater.
It had prongs on the back, no cord, and simply plugged into the outlet, which was in the wall over the foot of the bed.
<img src="http://home.insightbb.com/~hesselmann2/wsb/media/82001/site1165_t.jpg">

In the wall electric heaters are a good option too, just mount high enough the blanket won't get too close.

12 volt heaters work, but require so much battery reserve that they are impractical.
I made a portable 12 volt heater setup.
It uses a 12 volt car heater and a 12 Amp hour battery.

<img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/small%20pictures/heater1.jpg?t=1188215085">

Kicks out (minor) heat for 25 minutes before the battery gives out.
Works, but would never keep up with below freezing temps.
Good for an emergency backup maybe, but it doesn't put out much more heat than a candle.

If you are dry camping, a tent heater may be an option, though will require cutting a duct hole for the warm air to enter.
<img src="http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Images/b%20image/9173b.jpg">

The problem with these tent heaters, is that though you can control the heat output to some degree with the gas valve (high-low-etc) they are not thermostatically controlled like a furnace.
Too hot...would be the outcome for most...
In my opinion, they work great for warming a tent before bed, or warming it after waking, but aren't practical for constant steady heat over a long period.
Of course if it gets cold enough, and you keep a window partly open...

Rob

[Q]

The Mr. Heater MH9B 9,000 BTU Portable Buddy Propane Heater would probably work as long as a window was left partially open. Moisture condensing inside the trailer will be a problem because it is a byproduct of burning propane. The big advantage would be that the heater uses no electricity.

I use the same type heater as Mike and love it. We've camped in temps down to 0 F with comfort. The disadvantages are purchase price, electricity use, and the sound of the fan as it kicks on and off.

Q

[mandy]

I have had a Mister Heater it gave me nothing but problems. I wanted to use it for winter tent camping. The ceramic heating element on it would get cloged with dust or propane gunk and would stop working, untill I would blast it with air. I was lucky to get 2 hours of heat off of the little green propane canisters. I can honestly say that buying that heater was a waste of my time and money.

Mandy

[Q]

That's interesting. I have one of the larger ceramic heaters that attaches to a 20 lb propane bottle. It has worked well for about 8 years so far. It is used to take the chill off the garage on cold days when I'm working out there.

Q

I have had a Mister Heater it gave me nothing but problems. I wanted to use it for winter tent camping. The ceramic heating element on it would get cloged with dust or propane gunk and would stop working, untill I would blast it with air. I was lucky to get 2 hours of heat off of the little green propane canisters. I can honestly say that buying that heater was a waste of my time and money.

Mandy