New trailer heating options

As stated if you use a mr. Buddy heater, make sure you have a co alarm, and crack a window for make up air.

brainfarth wrote:
How did you charge your batteries?

Bobbo wrote:

I boondocked in Yellowstone for 2 weeks in September 2011. The temps at night were in the high 20's. I had two group 27 batteries. With the thermostat set at 65, I could go almost half the night. With the thermostat set on 50, I could do 2 nights.

At the time I had a Class C with an ONAN 4kw generator built in. Currently, I have a TT and carry a Honda 2kw generator.

How did you charge your batteries?

Bobbo wrote:

I boondocked in Yellowstone for 2 weeks in September 2011. The temps at night were in the high 20's. I had two group 27 batteries. With the thermostat set at 65, I could go almost half the night. With the thermostat set on 50, I could do 2 nights.

You all realize the OP found the furnace in his camper, right?

No one cares if you redneck it with a buddy heater.
And using a buddy heater is a good way to turn a camper into a sauna! Lol

Vintage465 wrote:

Bobbo wrote:
I learned, the hard way, to set the furnace on 50 degrees at night, use a lot of quilts, and turn it up in the AM then get back in bed for 1/2 hour.

I boondocked in Yellowstone for 2 weeks in September 2011. The temps at night were in the high 20's. I had two group 27 batteries. With the thermostat set at 65, I could go almost half the night. With the thermostat set on 50, I could do 2 nights.

I am a real believer in the Buddy Heaters. Or a catalytic. they can take a lot of load off the 12v system. Even if you don't feel comfy running during sleepy time, they're real good in the A.M. when you get up and to warm up the coach prior to meemies(sleep).

Thanks, but I'm happy with my system. It works and I don't have to carry anything else.

The only downside for a Mr. Buddy type heater is that they put out a lot of moisture from the burning propane. Take precautions that you let the trailer "dry out" during the day.

Bobbo wrote:
I learned, the hard way, to set the furnace on 50 degrees at night, use a lot of quilts, and turn it up in the AM then get back in bed for 1/2 hour.

I boondocked in Yellowstone for 2 weeks in September 2011. The temps at night were in the high 20's. I had two group 27 batteries. With the thermostat set at 65, I could go almost half the night. With the thermostat set on 50, I could do 2 nights.

I am a real believer in the Buddy Heaters. Or a catalytic. they can take a lot of load off the 12v system. Even if you don't feel comfy running during sleepy time, they're real good in the A.M. when you get up and to warm up the coach prior to meemies(sleep).

The first thing to do is buy some good down sleeping bags.
Then learn to take advantage of winter sun in your windows.
Then a Little Buddy Heater, but not when you are asleep.
Making coffee in the morning on the stove warms up the place.
The upper 20s is not cold.

I learned, the hard way, to set the furnace on 50 degrees at night, use a lot of quilts, and turn it up in the AM then get back in bed for 1/2 hour.

I boondocked in Yellowstone for 2 weeks in September 2011. The temps at night were in the high 20's. I had two group 27 batteries. With the thermostat set at 65, I could go almost half the night. With the thermostat set on 50, I could do 2 nights.

There is a ton of options to keep warm in the winter. There is also a lot of fact and fiction confusion along with opinions that make up most of the discussions like this.
1. Fact. Factory installed furnaces do use a lot of energy off your 12v system.
2. Fact. If you have one 12v group 24/27 battery with no way to replenish it, you'll be cold pretty quick running your furnace.
3. Fact. A generator properly sized can keep that from happening.
4. Fact. I hate generators.
5. Opinion strongly supported by fact....I use my furnace to keep warm in mid teens to mid twenty's with nothing but solar to recharge my 4-6v golf cart batteries. So it can be done with solar.
6. Opinion. Either a Mr. Heater Buddy, Big Buddy or a Catalytic heater is a safe way to keep your coach warm during the day or at night. There are concerns with ventilation and carbon monoxide poisoning that some education and proper use needs to be followed. Keep a vent open to prevent oxygen depletion if using a Buddy or something like that. If a catalytic or Buddy type heater is to be used there is not a concern with carbon monoxide if it is working correctly. But you still always need a vent open for oxygen. Proper combustion from a correct working gas heater of this type will emit carbon dioxide and water. Many people are spooked by this(as is my bride), so it is best to go with you're comfortable with.
7. Opinion. Generally speaking you don't have to have the temp all the way up to seventy when you turn in for the night. Heat the coach up nice and toasty, turn the 'stat down to 55-60 degrees to keep tanks and lines from freezing and pile some blankets on the bed. You'll preserve your battery power that way.
8. Opinion. I use a Buddy heater during cold days and in the evening while we're in the coach to keep in warm til bed time, then off goes the Buddy and we set the 'stat to 50-60 degrees til first A.M. when we rise. Then I turn on the Buddy again.
8. I keep a generator if everything goes south with my plan, but it hasn't yet and I hope in 20 years my generator is still brand new.