Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[Tryingtostaywarm]

How do you folks deal with heating in the winter? Are you mostly parking at RV camps to use electricity? Those with extra batteries, do you get enough juice to heat your van/rv?

The cheapest way and user friendly is propane as in Mr. Buddy or Olympian Wave 3/6. But, you can get serious condensation build up and of course Carbon Monoxide issues. Both can be prevented/mitigated with proper ventilation and CO/Smoke/Combo detectors.
The next up would be forced air propane furnace. Which uses electricity and propane to essentially do just what it sounds like. Less condensation, can be used on a thermostat, and is generally safer than straight propane due to air movement. Downside..electricity.
Electric heaters are awesome..except they require tons of electricity.
Many can use the later two with a generator like said above with the Honda 2000. Downside to that is you are running a generator. Here in Colorado, I would say 75% of the places I winter camp for backcountry skiing would be frowned upon heavily if I had a generator running all night.
One of the best ways is wood stove as mentioned above. Fuel is cheap, dry heat etc. Downside is no control over heat as they get super hot pretty quick, and of course the exhaust gases are hot/smokey.

[BCMtnHound]

Similar setup at DanoT, and add a mattress heater to the mix. I’ve both a 2000W and a 3000W genny, depending on the trip. I keep the genny in the back of the truck under the cap, so the noise is almost negligible. Camping below 0C and when back at the trailer, around 6 or 7 I start the genny, get the trailer properly cooking with the electric space heater and mattress pad, charge the batteries, and then around 10pm or so the genny gets shut off and the thermostat turned down to about 7C. Works great. Run the propane furnace during the day at minimum 5C to keep the water jugs and the like unfrozen.

[Skip]

I went from new years thru the end of april in the back of a 08 gmc 2500 hd with nothing but a camper shell on the back. Did a big loop starting in colorado working my way up into Canadian Rockies then across to whistler and down from there as far the eastern sierras. Was rough but the skiing was good! I spend around a month last year in the same rig just a re designed bed setup. I'll try to post some pics. Myself and an 80lb pup. Coldest nights where around 30 below but I had a propane heater and never had an issue.

[jackattack]

dry heat

that is a myth

The infiltration rate of cold, dry air from outside the space is the drying factor. Wood stoves are pleasant because they radiate heat directly on the body. The convection of the chimney contributes to the drying effect. This can be achieved by cracking a roof vent with a forced air furnace with heat exchanger so the combustion gases (CO2, H2O, CO, NOx...) are vented to the outside. Wave style heaters do not move enough air to achieve similar results and of course also have the negative vapor & CO issues inside the living space.

I don't know anyone who uses a generator that runs it all night. Get a good battery. Run the generator to top of the batteries after skiing and turn it off before bed. It's not rocket science.

[Norseman]

Single 12VDC deep cycle marine cell has been enough to run my camper's propane furnace for two or three day winter trips... for years. But western WA is warm. Generator has been on the xmas list

[MakersTeleMark]

I use a propane furnace which only runs electric for the blower. I converted to a cheap walmart digital thermostat that pulses and I can control. I really just use it for very cold warm ups when I get back, and when I want an hour or two of chilling in my undies at night.

Good sleeping bags and a morning blast of heat gets me up and out. I always crack my roof vent, even when it is dumping.

[Rideski]

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/...697101327.html

[Name Redacted]

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/...697101327.html

That'd be a great food truck, but as an RV, you'd hate to drive it anywhere far.

[Rideski]

I read up on the engine, sounds like a guzzler, but didn't know what else they would put in Class C motorhomes?
But anyway, passing it along for the collective, seems like a good build option being so cheap. Already with a furnace.

[Name Redacted]

I read up on the engine, sounds like a guzzler, but didn't know what else they would put in Class C motorhomes?
But anyway, passing it along for the collective, seems like a good build option being so cheap. Already with a furnace.

She sure looks aerodynamic though

[blackalps]

Thanks for the info about the heat. I have a big 4x4 van, I've lived out of it for a few months in the summer and even into the fall. Usually switch over to driving my 4runner and coming home from the mountains every night once it gets cold. would like to be able to stay up there a few days and not have to drive so much, without paying for hotels or airbnb.

[ACH]

Thanks for the info about the heat. I have a big 4x4 van, I've lived out of it for a few months in the summer and even into the fall. Usually switch over to driving my 4runner and coming home from the mountains every night once it gets cold. would like to be able to stay up there a few days and not have to drive so much, without paying for hotels or airbnb.

Gas or diesel?

[Name Redacted]

If you have diesel, you need an Espar heater.

[ACH]

If you have diesel, you need an Espar heater.

This...
Webasto also makes a decent product...
Being able to draw from the fuel tank is a plus and the fan does not draw a lot of current.

[Surfer 7]

Two years ago during a storm at SL Tahoe I was getting some groceries and noticed a guy fiddling with a Thule or like box on an ML 320 near Safeway. Suddenly he jumped up, climbed in and pulled down the top. When I came out of the store 15 or 20 minutes later I noticed local authorities looking in the guys windows with flashlights. Little did they know the guy was in the box on top of his SUV. Next morning while getting an early start heading to Carson Pass my friends and I checked out the vehicle, sure enough the top popped up and the dude jumped down and headed off probably looking for a cup of Joe. Funniest damn thing I saw all winter.

[DanoT]

If you have diesel, you need an Espar heater.

And a bunch of cash, close to $1k with all the hardware, and not as many BTUs as most propane furnaces but probably burns less fuel and would be fine for a van or other small space.

[MakersTeleMark]

And a bunch of cash, close to $1k with all the hardware, and not as many BTUs as most propane furnaces but probably burns less fuel and would be fine for a van or other small space.

Yeah, no kidding. Talk about #vanlife.

[Micol]

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/...697101327.html

i bet thats a fake ad

[blackalps]

Gas or diesel?

Ford 460 gas.

[Cocximus]

I been looking at webasto coolant heaters. There's older units off German cars, that don't require CAN control, for 300-400. Would make a great heater for #vagonlife. Biggest issue is fitting it in my engine bay. I'm also concerned about actually sleeping with one of those ON overnight.

Sent from my DROID Turbo using Tapatalk

[byates1]

I went from new years thru the end of april in the back of a 08 gmc 2500 hd with nothing but a camper shell on the back. Did a big loop starting in colorado working my way up into Canadian Rockies then across to whistler and down from there as far the eastern sierras. Was rough but the skiing was good! I spend around a month last year in the same rig just a re designed bed setup. I'll try to post some pics. Myself and an 80lb pup. Coldest nights where around 30 below but I had a propane heater and never had an issue.

solid first post.

[Brownski]

This is the one. Somebody please go get it.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/c...714036857.html

[LightRanger]

^^^ Thing is cool as shit.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Rideski]

A 6.6 liter engine reportedly with 265 horsepower in 1976? nnnnah.

[MakersTeleMark]

20k in 2018, naaah.