My 1986 Bounder 31 footer is permanently parked on our property and I want to pit a small wood stove in it for heat as there is no power on our land and we like to go camp in the winter. Has anyone put a wood stove in a RV?

yup.But not me.I have, however, seen it done.

I've seen a guy with a woodstove in the backseat of his old 4 door Chevy Impala.Actually, he removed the backseat and installed the stove.It worked. But, I thought it was scary.Yes, you can put it in an RV. Just make sure it's installed safely.

I have a 1989 31ft. Bounder. I have a propane heater in the motorhome. Does yours' work? I would be very apprehensive to put a wood burning stove in my motorhome. The opportunity for a fire is way to possible. When a motorhome catches fire, it becomes a pile of ashes in just a matter of minutes. My advice spend a little an fix your heater if it is broken or use it instead of putting a wood burning stove inside your motorhome. I am a retired firefighter/paramedic.

It's tricky, most wood-stoves are too large for the size (sq-ft) of an RV. You would need the smallest stove you can find.You would also need to install it such that it's 100% safe, which ads some levels of problems, like bringing in combustion air to the stove (most RVs are too tight to try using the rigs "air" for combustion).Me, I's use propane and get a good (quiet) generator to insure there is enough power to run the rigs furnace.

You might want to do a search on schoolies or little homes...probably more wood stoves in them than in factory-built RVs. I don't think I would care to have a wood stove in my motorhome, given how poorly most fair in the event of a fire (and how quickly the fire spreads). That said, with enough work and care, I suspect a safe installation could be possible.The main problems I foresee would be having adequate clearance and heat shielding around the stove and getting an appropriate safe chimney of some sort. That you aren't going to be taking it down the road is, of course, a distinct advantage for the chimney installation.Possibly a marine/yacht stove would be the most practical; boats have similar sorts of space constraints as do RVs, and are often made of similarly combustible materials (at least boats in which a wood stove would typically be installed).

Wood stoves | Good Sam Community

crasster
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2014
It should not be hard given most RV walls are simple to go through with a saw for the pipe. Just be sure you follow rule #1 first - safety.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
Assuming you have the interior space to provide required clearances, there's no reason it won't work

BUT

You must take care to provide a means of supplying exterior air to the stove for combustion purposes. The biggest threat to personal safety in this scenario is that the fire may consume all room oxygen, leaving occupants, for want of a better word, DEAD.

RV's, like their more stationary relatives mobile homes, don't "breathe" like conventionally built structures, and room air can be consumed very quickly by an oxygen-hungry fire. This is the reason that ALL wood stoves intended/approved for installation in mobile homes must have an outside air source installed and plumbed during installation.
buta4
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
Research Kimberly stoves and their you tube vids. Shows installs on boats and RVs with one in use in a camper. Neat, and pricey, unit.
old_guy
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
a friend of mine was a tree faller in the woods and he had a TT with a wood stove in it. he would cut enough wood every day to keep the stove going for 24 hrs. I have no idea how he put the pipe through the roof, but he didn't burn the place down, so I would say it can be done.
John_Joey
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
It's not what I would do or recommend, but here is a list of video's to look at.

Clicky
BigBlockTank
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
http://www.motorhome.com/rv-how-to/rv-tech-tips/7-motorhome-fire-safety-tips/
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/rv/RV-Fire-Safety.htm
blazenpm
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
I apoligize to the original post on the possibility of installing a wood burning stove in your motorhome. It is possible and if it is done with a safe installation. I watched many videos that one of the members had posted a link. You should watch it. There is one video that clearly shows how to install a wood burning stove in your motorhome. I never would have condoned this method of heating in such a small confined space, but is certainly is possible and workable. So, good luck and be safe.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2014
Personally, I can't see why a small stove wouldn't work quite nicely. Sure it needs some holes but those with a fresh air inlet as well as the stove pipe should work just as well as in a house with the same sort of installation requirements.

I might consider a pellet stove just for the ease of use and control of the heat but still, there are many small units available.
cpoo
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014
The temptation will be to do it on the cheap and avoid high cost of insulated chimney. Make sure you have spark arrester. The roof could be vulnerable. You will need to fireproof the floor area and not cheat on setbacks from walls. Cheaper stoves are often metal and provide fast heat even with a roll of newspaper but can overheat easily. Anything involving fire can be dangerous but if you do it carefully and have some functioning battery operated fire alarms you should be ok. Danger is always while sleeping. Dry wood will make a huge difference to your heating and safety. Check your chimney regularly. Purchase fire prevention products that will extinguish a fire in fireplace and of course a good fire extinguisher. Best to have stove that burns closed. Better heat and safer. Good luck.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 17, 2014
There are small "pellet stoves", that can be installed'm in an RV
Check YouTube videos
How ever
I would be more inclined to get the extend a stay propane adapter
And use portable 7 gallon aka 40# bottles, for weekend camping
You're going to need the propane anyway
For the water heater and fridge
Might as well use it for heat also

Unless of course you plan on turning a perfectly good RV into an old style cabin, no shower, no fridge, no bathroom,...install an out house