Wild idea -- skirts & a propane flame box underneath?
The underbelly of my trailer is fairly well insulated -- but I am sure that on a night below 15 degrees, something is going to freeze. (I have camped in 15 degree weather with no problem, but I don't want to tempt fate.) Electric heating tape is not an option -- I usually boondock.
So here is my wild idea -- portable skirts all around (maybe styrofoam sheeting?) to keep the cold wind out. Then, using the barbecue propane outlet under the trailer, set up some sort of a low flame inside a thick metal box under the fresh water tank (and especially the pipe that feeds the pump) -- the box will radiate heat. My goal is to keep this area just above freezing.
I know from my fridge that my dual propane tanks can feed a small flame for a very long time -- many days. I just need to be able to camp for three or four days -- I doubt we would ever stay out longer than than in very cold weather, anyway.
This must not be a good idea, because I have never heard of anyone trying it!
If the idea of enclosing the whole underbelly is impractical (too much cubic footage to heat, too much of a hassle to deal with the skirting), then maybe, as a fallback, I could just enclose the fresh water tank area and heat only that area?
I really don't care too much if my black and gray tanks freeze -- there is not enough liquid in them to bust the tanks, and the input to those tanks is warm. And the pipes inside the trailer should be ok, since we have to keep the trailer above freezing for our own comfort.
There is no way this scheme could work in subzero temps, but then again we rarely get below zero in the Sierra.
Your thoughts would be appreciated!
So here is my wild idea -- portable skirts all around (maybe styrofoam sheeting?) to keep the cold wind out. Then, using the barbecue propane outlet under the trailer, set up some sort of a low flame inside a thick metal box under the fresh water tank (and especially the pipe that feeds the pump) -- the box will radiate heat. My goal is to keep this area just above freezing.
I know from my fridge that my dual propane tanks can feed a small flame for a very long time -- many days. I just need to be able to camp for three or four days -- I doubt we would ever stay out longer than than in very cold weather, anyway.
This must not be a good idea, because I have never heard of anyone trying it!
If the idea of enclosing the whole underbelly is impractical (too much cubic footage to heat, too much of a hassle to deal with the skirting), then maybe, as a fallback, I could just enclose the fresh water tank area and heat only that area?
I really don't care too much if my black and gray tanks freeze -- there is not enough liquid in them to bust the tanks, and the input to those tanks is warm. And the pipes inside the trailer should be ok, since we have to keep the trailer above freezing for our own comfort.
There is no way this scheme could work in subzero temps, but then again we rarely get below zero in the Sierra.
Your thoughts would be appreciated!
