Winter Camping - how warm on the inside of your Popup TC

Bedlam.. It will depend on the BTU output of your furnace and of course your propane supply and battery capacity. In my case I run my small inverter genny anyway so battery longevity isn't a big issue.

My pup up has a standard sized furnace and while I don't remember the BTU output, it's plenty. I could run the inside temp up to I'd say 80 with no issues no matter what the outside temp is but we like it in the 60's max anyway, where we keep our house at as well.

Being northerners, guess the cold isn't a big issue. We dress accordingly and sleep accordingly.

Of course a pop up will loose heat faster than a hardside but considering the minimal wall thickness of a hardside and the lack of insulation (on most but not all), the transfer of heat from the occupied space to the outside isn't a factor we worry about.

So long as your heat source is sufficient and you have sufficient propane to run it, all is good.

My experience was only with a pop up trailer and everything else was hard side, but these things don’t change:

1. The less insulation you have, the more fuel and battery you will burn to keep a desired temperature.
2. The greater the inside air temperature difference is verses the inner walls, the more condensation will form.
3. Air exchange and movement is vital to keep condensation down.
4. Once your heater gets to the point where it is constantly running and not cycling you have reached your limit. You can add insulation to reduce heat loss but now know the minimum temperature in which you can comfortably camp.

I camped in hard shell campers down to single digit nights, but only down to low 30’s with my pop up because I couldn’t keep it comfortable when any colder. I expect a pop up truck camper will be able to hold heat better than my trailer but don’t expect performance like your previous Northstar hardside.

Condensation inside any TC (or for that matter any RV) is an INDIRECT result of not much insulation but more so a direct result of a tight living space (homes breathe through air infiltration RV's don't) coupled with the human occupants aspirating moisture from their bodies and cooking which gives off a large amount of moisture not just from the boiling water but from the propane burners themselves and has no where to go but condense on the cold walls, windows and ceiling and places you cannot see...under the wallboard, on the frame structure and in the insulation that's under the wallboard, all contributing the the eventual demise (rotting) of the unit.

The cold water glass example on a hot day. Water condenses on the outside of the glass.. An RV is cold on the outside and inside walls, occupants and cooking gives off moisture. Moisture condenses on the cold surfaces. Simple really and the answer is simple too.

You need to vent to the outside at all times when in the unit. Know thats counter productive, you are heating the space to keep warm but you have to vent off the inside humidity od bad thins will happen. Might take a while but it will eventually degrade the unit.

Far as winter camping goes, My furnace keeps out pop up very comfortable no matter what the ambient outside temp is. We typically keep the inside temps at 65 during the day and 60 at night, we sleep under a down blanket but at all times the ceiling vents are open a bit and at least one lower window is cracked open as well even though the tent is closed up and the windows on the tent have reflectix over them.

Haven't been out this winter but I was last winter on my Northern Michigan property in sub freezing temps with no issue other than using quite a bit of propane for heat. Glad I run twin bottles. Over the course of 3 days I went through one and a half bottles.

Only difference between a pop up and a hardside is the upper 1/4th is canvas. Other than that, no difference. Roof is the same as, as are the sides and the bottom... and of course the same issues (condensation) appear, just like any other RV and you deal with them in exactly the same way, by venting the interior humidity out.

To me, the big advantage is of course a lower vertical Cg, much less wind resistance at speed, easier storage in the off season and an overall lower unit weight. Unless you have a commercial type garage, you ain't getting your TC inside. I put mine in my garage next to the truck in the winter. Inside, protected from the elements and not outside, all pluses in my view.

As long as have enough propane and electricity, the furnace will keep you warm. Not all popup TCs are the same, so there is no telling how warm exactly. Our Outfitter was specified at 65 inside with -25 Outside, I think. We only used it in slightly below freezing weather, and that was no problem at all. With the limiting factor being electricity. One battery, one night, as the old saying goes... And solar may not be very effective in winter, with short, dull days and a possible snow cover.

Condensation is always something you need to take into account. Again, not all popups are the same, but keeping a decent ventilation going is never a bad idea.

Just keep in mind that popup TCs tend to be smallish, so it can be somewhat uncomfortable if you need to spend a lot of time inside due to weather.

It is absolutely possible to winter camp in a popup TC, and many people do so successfully. But only you can know if it will work for your use case.

We sleep at 55 to 60 degrees, and you have to keep the roof vent open a little. If you have electric hook ups use a electric space heater, that will cut down on condensation.