Winter ALCAN Trip

Without constantly running the furnace and running down the batteries, I cannot keep my camper comfortable even in relatively warm 20 degree weather. If I was going to take your trip, I would drive a winterized camper and stay in motels for a few days until I was far enough south to consider using the camper. Winter in Michigan would likely not qualify.

Why are you trying to camp in the winter?

I'd carry one or more spare propane cylinders along with you inside the camper. I did that for years when I lived in Fairbanks. I put them in plastic milk crates.

I would look into a direct hook up 12v electric heater for when you are traveling a n d the truck is running . It will probably take some dedicated wiring from the truck , not that hard to do . Look up The 12v Store . I did an experiment one winter in the back yard . Average temp over 24 hours 17f . Starting with cold camper to 70f and holding . Propane use for 24 hour was 15lbs .

Now that I am not sure of. I don’t think there is a mechanism to heat them. How would you go about heating them? Thank you.

Be certain that the propane bottle has a heater.

Propane furnace while in motion is not an issue. I would worry more about refilling the propane as I read a lot of places close in winter.

Grit dog, it is a four season camper, and holds heat well. I would definitely be dry camping with those temps. I was just wondering if getting bounced around on that road would have any adverse affect on the heater operation while driving. But as Hemi Joel says, it will take much less heat/time to warm it up for night. Thanks for the replies.

Idk how much propane it takes to heats camper that’s closed up. Ours has a slideout and guzzles propane but it ain’t 100% weather tight.
Consider that driving down the road will be like being in a huge windstorm. But I’d think worst case it’s a bottle a day. Keeping all the water soft will be a function of how much heat and how well insulated and proper circulation.
Pretty easy to test at home since it’ll be winter soon in the Matsu valley. I’d see what you can expect like that first.
Not the end of the world to dry camp yourway down if necessary.

When I travel in the winter, I always leave the furnace running. Otherwise, it takes too long to warm up the camper for bed time. Plus I leave the camper non-winterized so I can use the water system. I have a 4 season camper, so the tanks are inside the heated space. Propane use has not been rapid enuff to be a problem.