Greetings,I haul steam engines around in a 3 axle 30'x8' cargo trailer. I think the walls have foam insulation, but they are thin. The walls are carpeted. The floor is 3/4" plywood right on the steel frame.Question: when we unload the steam engines we often camp in the trailer. We are doing our first cold weather trip... it could get down to freezing at the low. Do you think a 18,000 BTU Suburban heater would be able to heat that space? ***Link Removed***Thanks,

18000 BTUs will keep you warm but with marginal insulation it will run a bunch. Cold weather trip in July?

Nope...too wide open of a space. No 'mass' to help absorb/retain heat (furniture, cabinets etc.)No insulation under floor18K btu would do OK for heating an area directly in front of discharge

Sure it will heat that space, but only to about 20 deg above ambient. If you are looking for 65 deg or more you need twice that.

You could try insulating it. Just make sure to cover any exposed foam with something flame resistant for safety. Another thing to try would be to hang a curtain in your sleeping area to avoid heating the whole space.

18,000 BTU Suburban heater for a 30'x 8' cargo trailer?

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2019
18000 BTUs will keep you warm but with marginal insulation it will run a bunch. Cold weather trip in July?
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2019
Nope...too wide open of a space.
No 'mass' to help absorb/retain heat (furniture, cabinets etc.)
No insulation under floor

18K btu would do OK for heating an area directly in front of discharge
IB853347201
Nomad
Jul 11, 2019
A 35000 btu model might do it
Roger10378
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2019
Sure it will heat that space, but only to about 20 deg above ambient. If you are looking for 65 deg or more you need twice that.
DFord
Explorer
Jul 11, 2019
You could try insulating it. Just make sure to cover any exposed foam with something flame resistant for safety. Another thing to try would be to hang a curtain in your sleeping area to avoid heating the whole space.
AllegroD
Nomad
Jul 11, 2019
You could also remove the plywood, add some Dynamat style insulation to the floor and restore the plywood.
doublereefed
Explorer
Jul 11, 2019
Thank you all for all the input and experience. I will look at larger units, and the idea of using a heavy curtain/partition will go a long way I think.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2019
Twenty degrees above ambient is fine. We are camping!
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2019
35K unit barely works in our TT down near freezing. IMHO 18K isn't going to make you happy. May keep you from freezing, but not be comfortable.

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18,000 BTU Suburban heater for a 30'x 8' cargo trailer?

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