I have an 1989 18 ft Terry Resort I've been using for awhile now and enjoy tinkering with updates and such. About 6 years ago, I had pulled out the furnace to attempt to fix a nasty squeak from the fan shaft. After pulling the furnace, I found it was manufactured in such a way that there was no good way to service the motor. I assume the grease or whatever they used to lubricate the shaft had dried up after 30 years of off and on use. I was able to drip some oil along the shaft which worked for a couple of years, but the squeal is back. I also found the furnace is a huge drain on my battery.When I camp with shore power, I've been using an electric heater. When I need heat when dry camping, I've use a Little Buddy Heater while being careful to monitor with a CO detector and cracking the vents. I'm currently considering replacing my furnace with a new one. Are the newer furnaces easier on the battery? Would I be able to fit a diesel heater in the spot where the gas furnace used to be while still keeping the external opening watertight? My Little Buddy Heater has been performing just fine although I hate using those little disposable propane tanks. Being that the cost of a new furnace or quality diesel heater is so high, would it be worth the upgrade?

I think the answer is - it depends. It won't add any value to your 30 year old trailer but if you want a working furnace enough I would say, that's your answer.

AFAIK the new furnaces aren't any more efficient than the old ones. They've gone to 12V fridges, and tankless water heaters, and lousy steps, but have made no effort to provide a decent heating system.

Thanks everyone for your opinions and advice. I have been doing a little research on YouTube and seeing some very positive recommendations for those cheap Chinese built diesel heaters. From what I can see, the US built diesel heaters are a bit too expensive to make it worth my money given the amount of days I use the trailer, but the cost of the Chinese knockoffs is reasonable as long as they don't quickly fail.I'm not seeing anyone who has pulled out their furnace and used the space where the furnace was to place their diesel heater. Would this be a possibility, or would there be issues with the position of the fuel tank and the exhaust outlet? (I don't have multiple heater vents, the heat for my furnace comes out at the furnace.) Maybe it'd make sense to keep the diesel heater portable and devise a system where the heater is placed outside of the RV while the heat is vented in through the old furnace space? Are there any guidelines for the placement of exhaust from the diesel heater? I'd assume you'd want to direct the diesel exhaust far away from any windows.

Make and model of your current furnace?Motors are readily available for most furnaces.

No, new ones still suck power from your battery.

Is replacing the furnace worth it? | Good Sam Community

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jun 05, 2023
enblethen wrote:
You should be able to replace motor and other parts without removing the furnace.
That's true for some models, but not all. The Atwood/Hydro Flame 8500 and 8900 series are easily accessed without removal, but other models and most Suburban furnaces, not so much.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 04, 2023
I do not think the new furnaces are all that much different in terms of battery drain.... But if you only park where you have decent electric a Ceramic type Space hearer is compact and operates at a lower temp than the hot wire type. >DO however make sure the tip over switch functions properly. If you often park w/o reliable electricity. (and from the battery draw question I suspect you do) disregard that part of this post.
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 04, 2023
You should be able to replace motor and other parts without removing the furnace.
mtnbbud
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2023
Thanks all. I'll likely pull the furnace out sometime when I get the urge to do some tinkering. It certainly wouldn't be a big deal to pull the motor out if and when that happens. Even if I didn't fix the furnace, I could repurpose that space for storage or something.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Jun 04, 2023
I have a 1991 camper with a hydro flame in it and I just replaced the motor for the furnace last year. pretty It's a pretty easy job but there are two different style motors listed, and they have different shaft lengths, so you have to watch out for that.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2023
mtnbbud wrote:
I'll have to look up the make and model when I have time. It's a 1989.
I don't store my trailer at my house. I do remember checking Amazon for an exact replacement of the whole unit and it was over $700 to replace it with the exact unit. I'd assume replacing the fan would be a lot less. It might be a Suburban...

Suburban replacement motors are more expensive than Atwood/Hydro Flame motors, but are still a lot cheaper than a new furnace.

Suburban Furnace Fan Motors
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 03, 2023
Good chance your furnace is a Hydro Flame now Atwood
Motors are fairly economical. Easy to replace.
For example
Scottiemom
Nomad
Jun 03, 2023
You might try Northwest RV Supply in Eugene, Oregon. I don't know if he has furnaces, but he has motors, parts, galore.

Dale
TenOC
Nomad
Jun 03, 2023
mtnbbud wrote:

When I camp with shore power, I've been using an electric heater. When I need heat when dry camping, I've use a Little Buddy Heater while being careful to monitor with a CO detector and cracking the vents.

My Little Buddy Heater has been performing just fine although I hate using those little disposable propane tanks. Being that the cost of a new furnace or quality diesel heater is so high, would it be worth the upgrade?

Connect the Little Buddy Heater to a 20 or 30 lb tank. I ran the line from my Kitchen (under a drawer) to the hole I drilled at the outside shower location. I have a two burner Big Buddy heater.
cptqueeg
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2023
Try the diesel heater, I think it would be worth the effort depending on the number of days dry camping w heat required. There are self contained setups and could be moved to your next trailer.