Ceramic heater to heat hydraulics in battery compartment?

[Don_A_L]

Hi

Need to pickup my fifth wheel in KC on Thursday. Temps over night Wednesday to be in single digits. I was told by Lippert that it's not a good idea to try and use the front jacks at temps below 32. Ditto for the slides. I was thinking about heating the front compartment where the hydraulic pump and tank is, with a ceramic heater. The 6 volt batteries are in there also, in a box with a vent hose. Any concern with battery fumes
and the heater? Not sleeping in trailer.
How low is too low to open and close slides. Will still have some cold nights driving to Boulder City, Nv.
2014 DRV Tradition.

Don

[TXiceman]

Don A L wrote:
Hi

I was told by Lippert that it's not a good idea to try and use the front jacks at temps below 32. Ditto for the slides.

Don

Sounds like Lippert needs t redesign their hydraulics. They should work if they designed the system properly at 32 degF. Now 0 degF might be a problem.

Ken

[bpounds]

Lippert is just lawyered up and being overly cautious. And considering their hydraulics leak if you give them a dirty look, it isn't surprising. The seals will be stiff, and may leak a little, but like everyone said it should be fine.

[Miramichi_cruis]

Living in Canada...we just use things unless its frozen solid. Any hydraulic or substitute fluid will meet NA DOT spec and may be sluggish but will still pump. As for you batteries, just draw from them to warm them up and the voltage will stabilize. We do that with cars here...just turn ignition on for 2 mis then start, you will increase amperage. If you plan on heating and are charging the batteries, as already stated don't put the heater in a closed compartment. I would recommend ducting the heat in or venting the compartment well. You only have to bring the battery to just above freezing to get more than 50% back.

[john_bet]

Are you not going to move your truck in that kind of weather? It's the same type of fluid. Food for thought.

[Allworth]

Do you see Highway Construction and Snow Clearing working in cold weather?? Same hydraulics, just bigger.

[kennethwooster]

Don't worry about it. Modern day hyds should work in our cold weather.. Sounds like some of Lipperts crazy talk. Just go for it. You should be fine.

[Don_A_L]

Thanks for the insight. I think I will just move the landing jacks down and up a bit, then go ahead and hook up. I have the slides in now and don't need to open up until I get to Foss, Ok. for the night.

Southwest here we come!

[Ivylog]

What's next... you should not use your slides/jack more than one time a day??? I would not worry about using at any temp above 0.

[WyoTraveler]

I don't know what fluid is in your Lippert tank. my Lippert tank has power steering fluid. (definitly not heavy hydraulic fluid. I believe manual says Mercon) My tank is mounted beneath my door step under my coach totally exposed to the outside elements. My slide and jacks operate OK in cold temps. Check your model # and fluid they use in yours. I assume you have a new unit. Maybe some of the older units use heavier hydraulic fluid.

[mich800]

So there are no 4 season rv's with Lippert products? Seems like an odd restriction.

[rockintom]

I think you need to revisit the fact about using the jacks and slides in cold weather. Lippert systems use Dexron III ATF. One of the reasons is that the viscosity doesn't change readily until you get in VERY temps. Temps so low you wouldn't want to be in a RV for any reason. Dexron starts getting thick and gooey at about -60*F. Operating the system in -20*F and slightly lower shouldn't be a problem. Ice and snow build up may be another story. rockin'

[christopherglen]

The rams are going to be at or below freezing, no matter what you do to warm the oil in the tank, as soon as you start the pump the sub-freezing oil already in the rams will be forced back into the tank, missing and undoing all the heating you just did.

Other then water contamination of the oil (and the ice that it makes) - the only other thing to worry about is cavitation of the pump. I doubt that is much of an issue at the low flow rates of out pumps until it gets far below freezing.

I for one set up and tear down in the winter, and overnight temps are well below 32.

[TucsonJim]

I'd be hesitant to put the heater by the batteries. I'm sure you'll be plugged in to use the heater, which means the converter will be charging the batteries. A byproduct of charging the batteries is hydrogen gas which is very flammable. If the H2 gets to a concentration of 4% or more in air, you can have ignition.

If you must put a heater in the battery compartment, make sure your batteries are in containers that are properly ventilated to the outside of the FW.

[Trackrig]

J&L Rivera wrote:

The hydro being cold shouldn't be an issue either. I've never seen an excavator or dozer in a heated garage to start and run thru a winter.
Though, getting the tank and pump warmed up sure aint gonna hurt it none.

I agree with Rivera - the hydraulics may work a little slow, but they should definitely work. The heat won't hurt, but the heat will only heat the pump and reservoir, but the heat won't get out the hyd. lines and the cylinders until you've run it some. I'd take up the landing gear first because there won't be a lot of strain in lifting them and that will get the warm oil part way you to slide cylinders. Also the later in the day might be better if the days are warming up nicely.

Bill