Suggestions for/experiences of cold weather camping in a CT

[crumvoc]

Summer is waning. Any stories/experiences/suggestions regarding camping in colder weather?

[Gonefishin]

My trailer came with factory-installed insulation that is in thin sheet form, but I'm not sure how different it is than a non-insulated model since its all I've ever had. It has to help though, so if you're building, spare no expense. Its definitely warmer inside than outside when I wake up in the morning. Usually a 10-15 degree difference.

I'm not sure how cold you're talking, but I've camped in mine with overnight temps around 20. I don't have a permanent or vented heater. That would be the best and safest way though. Instead, I use a portable Coleman propane heater and a 12-volt electric blanket that goes over the mattress (I sleep on top of the rising heat!) I do not leave the propane heater running when I'm sleeping or could fall asleep! It says you can, but I'm not doing it. I also always crack both windows, and open a roof vent slightly. I also have a carbon monoxide detector/alarm inside velcro'd to the wall right by my head! Its never gone off, despite running that heater for hours on end, so I think I'm pretty safe, with precautions.

The drill is to warm up the trailer in the evening before I crawl into bed, and shut off the heater before bed, leaving it within reach of the bed. I plug in the 12-volt electric blanket when I go to sleep. That blanket, and a couple of large comforters on top, keeps the bed pretty darn nice! In the morning, I can reach down and light the propane heater again to warm things up a little before I get out of bed. By then, I'm awake, and if I did doze back off, it wouldn't be for very long, so I say in bed until it warms up a little, usually about 15 minutes. Then I can get up, get the hot C going, and I'm good to go.

One other issue that can come up is "natures call" in the middle of the night. For that, I have both a portable "groover" I can use, or the venerable "pee bottle." Going outside at 2 in the morning in below freezing ruins a good night's sleep. If you usually need to get up, drink less before bed.

[Monkey Mind]

Thank you for the tips. Ironically, I was planning to ask the same question. I took the T@B up to the National Forest for 3 days to test out the battery. With moderate use of lights and ceiling fan, barely put any drain on the battery. That was encouraging. It was 50 at night, but in a few weeks that same site will be 30 at night.

The heater only works if hooked up to electrical, so I am looking for other options. I have solar panels to charge the battery. I am wondering about those 12-volt space heaters, marketed as "backseat heaters". I realize the intended use is for while the car is running, but how much would they draw on the T@B battery? If I ran a heater for 30 minutes before bed, would I be able to keep up with the battery drain if I was recharging with solar?

Also, I am wondering about that 12-volt electric blanket? How much drain does that cause?

[b.bodemer]

I've used the Mr Buddy heater for years when I truck camped(8'bed with a regualr cap) in the early spring and late fall when river kayaking.

I always vented by having the windows open, even more than what was recommended. If windows are open too much then the pilot can be blown out. Used the 1lb and 20 lb tanks. In the truck I have it mounted so no danger of falling over. Never a problem.

http://www.mrheater.com/product.aspx?catid=41&id=24

On the website:
•Automatic low oxygen shutoff system
•Accidental tip-over safety shutoff
WARNING:
If the recreational or commercial enclosure does not have a window or roof vent, DO NOT USE THIS HEATER INSIDE.


I've used it also in my cargo trailer conversion.

Everyone has to decide how they want to use this product as it's safety has been discussed before on the forum.

Whatever you decide: Be safe!

Barb

[Gonefishin]

This is the one I have: http://electrowarmth.com/12vbunkwarmermattresspad.php As for amp draw, here's what it says: "Low amp draw, 6.2 amps maximum when the Comfort Control is cycled on, actual amp draw is estimated at 50% of maximum." It has a variable thermostat from 1 to 7. I run mine on about 3 when its cold. So I'm guessing it pulls 2-3 amps. I've been parked for 5 days at a time running it every night, no recharging, and still had juice in the battery. That was before I got my solar panel charger. Now, with that, I think I can re-charge daily to nearly 100 percent. I"ll be testing that theory the first week of October in Idaho, where I'll be parked for a week, using the blanket nightly, and have the solar panel hooked up.

[Muddybike86']

I spent last winter tearing apart and insulating my new 6x14, And all I can say is Spend as much time on insulation as you can! It's very interesting to start with a beer can of a box and insulate a section at a time durring temps that averaged in the mid 20F*. As all of you know aluminum and steel are about as good a heat condutor as you can get. It's amazing just what one finished wall does for livability. Now as of this fall I've sleeped warm and happy with just a coleman gas lantern and a few handfulls of charcoal briketts and a little wood stove......proper venting and a fire/co2 detector are a must.
ya just can't beat free heat!
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Gonefishin]

OK! Now you're talkin'! I love the wood stove idea. Have heated my house with one for 30 years. Have lived in a wall tent with one for three summers. How'd you do it? Do you remove the roof vent for towing? I assume you have a metal base on the floor of the trailer inside, where the stove stands. Probably something shielding the wood inside too? Which stove? I'd love to see some pictures.

I guess my first concerns would be cutting the hole in the roof (Yikes!), installing and sealing the vent so that rain water could not leak through, high speed towing's effect on the vent, etc. The small stove I used in a wall tent just had an opening with some kind of a rubber/plastic gasket that the stove pipe slipped right through. It leaked a little from time to time.

I might need a bigger trailer than my 6x12, especially since I've pretty much used up my square footage, but that might be a good excuse to try a 7X14 that I've been pondering.

[Deryk the Pirate]

Lots of options for heat, but all my suggestions are vented. In my lil vardo I have a http://www.nuwaystove.com/model3000.php for wood Ive heard lots of good things about http://www.shipmatestove.com/Results.cfm?category=6 http://www.fatscostoves.com/ http://www.marinestove.com/ for propane I had 1 of these in my first boat http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/propane.php I had the 12,000 model. Check ebay often times they are up there used much cheaper.

Imho the woodstoves because of their small size cant hold enough to burn all night long, but Ive heard ppl talking about energy logs, the man made stuff that does have longer burn times. The fatsco stoves can burn coal so you might get 6 hours or so from it.

also, add a co2 detector as a safety measure and a fire extinguisher to be safe!

deryk

[8ball_99]

We have camped in ours with the temps down in to the upper teens.. Gas RV furnace was the best money I ever spent. Only needs 12v and Lp to run. Thermostat on the wall and it will keep the trailer as toasty warm as you want.. Infact the last time we camped in cold weather I woke up sweating because I had bumped the thermostat up a little to much. My freshwater tanks and lines are insulated, but my black and grey water tanks are not.. I just pour a little RV antifreeze down the drains. So far that has worked well with keeping them from freezing. They are poly tanks so I think even if they did freeze a little it wouldn't cause them to bust.. Really thats the only two things that are different.. Keep the heat on and don't let your water freeze..

[tnriverluver]

Anywhere I camp I either have electric hookups or am running my generator. A small 1500 watt ceramic type heater will keep my trailer very warm just running on low most of the time. Down in the twenties I just crank it up on high and trailer stays as warm as I have the temp set to and cycles on and off about the same as my home central unit.

[Muddybike86']

I will do a post on the stove this week. I should have more to post on in the near future, been busy looking for work and working on the side so times been thin as of this year.

[crumvoc]

I just got one of the Mr. Heater little buddy heaters (http://www.amazon.com/MR-HeatER-MH4B-LI ... ters+buddy). It works great for my 6x10 so far. the other night it was about 32 degrees F, and I just let it run to see what it would do. I turned it off after it got to about 90 degrees in there. So, it will probably be sufficient for the trailer. I do now realize that it only uses 1# cans, which is kind of a pain. I'll have to invest in one of those 1# can filler adaptors... They seem to last about 5 hours of continuous running. Another down side is that there is no way to regulate the output. It is strictly on/off. No fumes that I can detect. Seems stable on it's base.

[roadinspector]

There is an adapter hose where you can use a large bottle. http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-High-Pres ... apter+hose

Earnest

[8ball_99]

I just got one of the Mr. Heater little buddy heaters (http://www.amazon.com/MR-HeatER-MH4B-LI ... ters+buddy). It works great for my 6x10 so far. the other night it was about 32 degrees F, and I just let it run to see what it would do. I turned it off after it got to about 90 degrees in there. So, it will probably be sufficient for the trailer. I do now realize that it only uses 1# cans, which is kind of a pain. I'll have to invest in one of those 1# can filler adaptors... They seem to last about 5 hours of continuous running. Another down side is that there is no way to regulate the output. It is strictly on/off. No fumes that I can detect. Seems stable on it's base.

You might want to return it and get the larger one..http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F232000 ... ters+buddy I've got two of the larger ones.. It has a knob to adjust the output.. If I remember right they also have the thermostat.. The one in the link I posted looks just like mine but a little smaller. Mine are the ones with the two elements. They work very well.

[David_L6]

http://www.amazon.com/Heater-Corp-F2748 ... +big+buddy