Best Truck Campers for Winter Camping

billyray50 I sent you a private message.

adamis wrote:
I've not been in super cold weather yet with my own Bigfoot, probably in the 30s is the coldest yet. For those with Bigfoots in extreme cold, are you doing anything in particular to protect your batteries? On my 10.6E model the battery compartment is exterior with no insulation and no hot-air circulation from the interior. Basically, it's sitting outside.

In my own setup I added two 6v AGM batteries saddlebag style in the front bed of the truck and connected in series to to the camper with heavy wiring. I don't anticipate attempting cold weather unless it is forced on me but I think I may want to come up with some thermal insulation wrap or something for the batteries as a backup.

I like to boondock in shoulder season, so the batteries are very important to me in order to run the heater. I have sealed and insulated the exterior battery door with one inch polystyrene foam, and then cut approx. 3 inch holes in the sealed plastic battery enclosure (its not insulated) and put a small computer fan in one of the holes. I should mention I run agm batteries. I found a huge improvement in the ability of the batteries to deliver its amps and to quickly recharge now that they are heated. I also have a 4 gauge wire running from the truck to camper, so there is a 40 amp charge rate after a cold night and a lot of heater use.

One issue I have yet to address is I have found in very cold conditions 0 degrees F and lower the large 34000 btu furnace in the Bigfoot will run the propane pressure line pressure down so that the btu's getting to the furnace are reduced and the furnace runs longer than need be which depletes the battery amps faster. I believe I may remove the propane auto switching valve and just tee the two tanks together and keep both tanks open on cold nights. I hope that two tanks will evaporate enough propane to keep line pressure up.

I've not been in super cold weather yet with my own Bigfoot, probably in the 30s is the coldest yet. For those with Bigfoots in extreme cold, are you doing anything in particular to protect your batteries? On my 10.6E model the battery compartment is exterior with no insulation and no hot-air circulation from the interior. Basically, it's sitting outside.

In my own setup I added two 6v AGM batteries saddlebag style in the front bed of the truck and connected in series to to the camper with heavy wiring. I don't anticipate attempting cold weather unless it is forced on me but I think I may want to come up with some thermal insulation wrap or something for the batteries as a backup.

I don't see anything sagging except the snow!

I have an Arctic Fox 990 & I have camped in 9 degree F weather in comfort. I did a mod to the furnace thermostat, I replaced it with a digital one where I could change a jumper in the thermostat so that when I turned the fan switch to on it wouldn't run the furnace fan but it would run the fan that circulated the air to the basement. I use this option when I have electric hookups and I am heating with an electric space heater. I also pull the slide in when the temps get really cold. I am always a snug as a bug when in the bed as opposed to my old Lance 920 where I froze my tail off in the bed.
The AF in not perfect but it seems to do the job for our cold weather camping.

Big Rig (John)

macdale4 wrote:
I had an Arctic Fox with a slide. I didn't like the AF but it was well insulated. Wyoming in January and I was very comfortable.

Just curious, What don't you like regarding AF?

I had an Arctic Fox with a slide. I didn't like the AF but it was well insulated. Wyoming in January and I was very comfortable.

One slide out and was toasty warm in low 20's.

Winter camping, NO SLIDE-OUT