Running engine when stopped
Class B without a generator. If I leave the vehicle engine running until we go to bed will this do any harm? My thinking is that this will maintain battery power for overnight. I realize it will consu...
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Are you talking about regularly dry camping for several days in freezing temperatures? Cold external temps also affect your battery capacity, and you'll see it drop faster than during moderate temps.
You might consider springing for a site with electric hookup if it's really cold, and plug in a small space heater with a thermostat so it turns itself off and back on as needed. The small space of a B warms up fast.
Our furnace is also propane powered, and we camp without hookups now and then... on cold nights, we use the furnace on a low setting so it only comes on occasionally and crawl into 40 degree sleeping bags. On hot nights, we turn on a little circulating 12 volt fan. We use the propane refrigerator setting (12 volt switch has to be turned on.) As mentioned, besides lights, you have a small drain from CO detector, water pump, etc.
We have only one house battery and can get by a night or two, no problem. Then we run the propane generator for a while during the day as needed, but more typically drive on to the next destination which recharges the house battery.
With two new batteries, you should be fine.
You might consider springing for a site with electric hookup if it's really cold, and plug in a small space heater with a thermostat so it turns itself off and back on as needed. The small space of a B warms up fast.
Our furnace is also propane powered, and we camp without hookups now and then... on cold nights, we use the furnace on a low setting so it only comes on occasionally and crawl into 40 degree sleeping bags. On hot nights, we turn on a little circulating 12 volt fan. We use the propane refrigerator setting (12 volt switch has to be turned on.) As mentioned, besides lights, you have a small drain from CO detector, water pump, etc.
We have only one house battery and can get by a night or two, no problem. Then we run the propane generator for a while during the day as needed, but more typically drive on to the next destination which recharges the house battery.
With two new batteries, you should be fine.
