are hybrid trailers cold in winter?

We have had a hybrid for our first season this year. Just did a weekend in northern Michigan which is cold at night this time of year. We have the PUGs, and the reflectix for the tent end windows. In order to conserve money on heat I bought a $35 electric ceramic space heater. Now mind you that we didnt have the kids for this trip so we only opened up one of the three tent ends.

The outdoor temps got down to 38 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The trailer with the PUG and reflectix in the one tent end we had open was plenty warm. The ceramic heater shut off often even at night. My only complaint is that the trailer accumulated a lot of moisture by the morning. All the windows were covered and when we packed up, under the mattress was a little wet from moisture too. I think next time I will get a small dehumidifier to help with this. Also, I slept on the outer most part of the tent end and it was colder. I noticed if I put my foot in the corner of the canvas on the outer most part of the tent end it was "freezing". (But I was sleeping bare foot).

We were talking after this trip about whether or not a TT vs. a HTT is better for the colder camping. I love the space of the HTT, I love that you still feel like your camping with the tent ends, I love the lighter weight of the HTT as well. I would assume that it would be a sustained warmer temperature at night in a TT. It takes extra time for sure to setup a HTT with the tent ends and putting PUGs on them, and reflectix in the windows. So the pro's and cons are all there for a TT vs. a HTT including the heating in the cold.

This group recommended PUGS and reflectix and what a huge difference! Keeps you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. We also have an electric blanket and it's a great/cheaper option than sleepings bags since I sleep with two little ones in the front end.

calwb wrote:
I am new to htt can someone tell me what you mean by PUGS and Reflectix. I plan on doing some cold weather camping and hunting and would like to stay as warm as possible.

PUGs stands for PopupGizmos. just Google them for all the info about their products.
you can make your own PUGs out of similar materials. usually they are the generic 5x7 blankets. they often come with grommets.
Google "all-weather or sportsman blankets".

Reflectix is a building construction reflective/insulating material that comes in rolls. can find at HD or Lowes. goes inside the tent end windows, between the canvas and the mesh.
PUGs makes a inside-the-tent wrap-around liner, similar to Reflectix.

We camp ten months a year and do at times in the snow. Cokdest I recall might have been last year at 11 degrees and wind. Ran the electric heater non stop and dehumidifier as well. No one was cold. Yes bunk covers. No matress extras. Our bunk ends are pretty draft proof with bungees holding sides tight so no drafts. That's our experience after `10 years of hybrid

Pop up Gizmos

I am new to htt can someone tell me what you mean by PUGS and Reflectix. I plan on doing some cold weather camping and hunting and would like to stay as warm as possible.

lancekeys wrote:
I don't do well in the cold, I don't mind it while I am out and about, but sleeping is another thing. When I had a pop up (old and broke down) I would get cold from the bottom side while sleeping. Has anyone else had this problem with hybrids? Is there much that you can do about it? I went from the pop up to a fifth wheel, now I want to go to something a little smaller.

To specifically answer your question and hour sleeping comfort requirements, have heated mattresses.
All of the others suggestions are very worthy and will definitely help.

We camp comfortably down to low 30's. We leave the heat on set at 60, use PUGS and we sleep in sleeping bags vs bedding. Also, I invested in a set of heavy duty wool blankets that we throw on top of the sleeping bags. We stay nice and warm through the nite.

Get a proper mattress) we have a pillowtop 9.5" thick. NO cold comes through the mattress at all, and the mattress eliminates the condensation issues that are typical to hybrids. I also have a programmable thermostat for an alarm clock. IE: them temperature is set to go to 70F at 7:30 in the morning.
As other's said, get some PUG's or get some reflectix and make your own.
Our furnace has always kept up well past the need to drain the low points to avoid freezing the plumbing.

RobbF67 wrote:
We got a cordless space heater for our MyPod. We're planning on camping all through winter so that was the best option in the MyPod.

I'll bite, what is a cordless space heater? non-vented gas?
bumpy