Forum Discussion

CactusJoe's avatar
CactusJoe
Explorer
Nov 26, 2013

Cold weather camping

I have a 2009 Forest River Sunseeker 3100 that I'd like to take up to Northern AZ this winter, where it will get down to around 10 degrees on a cold night. I read the owners manual and it simply says "continuous operation of the furnace will prevent freezing of any parts with the RV".

Assuming that's true, and I'll only be going up for 2-3 nights, and I won't dump the tanks until I get back to 65 degree Phoenix, should I have any problems? I have a small Honda generator that I'll run overnight to keep the furnace going. Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,

-JB
Boondocking
Dry Camping
Public Lands
  • meatwagon's avatar
    meatwagon
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2013
    Be sure your genny is full of fuel before going to bed, to avoid that freezing 4:00 am fill up. If your camper has only 1 battery your furnace can kill it over night without a genny keeping it charged.
  • Mello_Mike's avatar
    Mello_Mike
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    You've gotten great advice from everyone. I'd also keep your cabinet doors open where your water lines run at night to allow for free flow of warm air.

    Where are you going? San Francisco Peaks?
  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    I heard also that ast higher elevations that propane will burn more quickly thus going through propane faster. Keep that in mind.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Nov 27, 2013
    Hi,

    Make sure to keep the generator a long ways from the RV. Generators may often produce lots of carbon monoxide.

    Add a space heater to help reduce the load on the propane furnace. Keep this heater far away from the propane furnace thermostat.

    If you can, trigger bulk charging on the converter. At cold temperatures lead acid batteries need more voltage to charge properly. It might be a good idea to use a battery blanket when the generator is running.

    CactusJoe wrote:
    I have a small Honda generator that I'll run overnight to keep the furnace going. Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    -JB
  • nevadanick's avatar
    nevadanick
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    He needs to run the furnace to keep heat in the underbelly. If everything is in enclosed and heated space then you will be fine. I have 2- 6V batteries and make it all night quite easily in temps in the teens and charge the batteries in the am and again in the pm.
  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    If you will be running a genny at night, then take a space heater and save the propane.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 26, 2013
    As long as you keep battery charged (furnace is a DC hog) and comfortable temps inside rig day & night......

    Provided the underbelly is enclosed and has some sort of heat source (duct from furnace, heat pads on tanks)

    And you have ample propane.....Furnace is also a propane hog :B

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