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WhitePhoenix9's avatar
WhitePhoenix9
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014

New Full Time Camper in need of insulation advise.

Hello
I just bought my first camper last week and I have been living in it since then. I'm living behind my family's home (in Massachusetts) so I got electric and water. I have a 5th wheel 30 foot 2003 coachmen charp. I want to save as much on propane as possible till next winter when I will rent a large propane tank, but until then I'm using an electric heater. I can't seem to get the place warm I'm currently in the process of putting skirting I got 3/4 inch "SuperTUFF-R Foam Insulation for that. I also put reflectix on the windows and keep the bunckroom door closed with a blanket on it. I'm also pretty much broke becuase of everything I needed to do to buy the camper exc. I was just looking for advice on how to much my home a little bit more liveable. The weather is warming up so even if its only a temp fix for the next few weeks it would be welcomed. I also need to be ready for next year, if anyone has any advice on that. Thanks for your advice!
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    Mar 18, 2014
    One thing you can do to help with comfort is put any rugs, blankets etc you can down on the floor especially where you are sitting. Cold comes up thru the floor and even in an insulated unit, the floors transfer cold to you. Adding another layer of anything between the outside and you will help. Make sure you put something in any vents or skylight areas to keep from losing heat thru them. We found that sofa pillows were exactly the size we needed to push them up into the vent openings and easily removed if the sun is shining to let the warmth in. Add curtains over day/night shades too. I used a tension rod (cheap) pushed up under the valances with the curtains hanging from that. The heavier the fabric the better for you.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2014
    WhitePhoenix9 wrote:

    ...as far as electric heaters go, what type of electric heater works best within a camper?


    All currently available portable electric heaters are limited to 1,500 watts consumption.

    All 1,500 watt heaters put out approximately 5,100 BTU of heat. It doesn't matter what heater you use, and regardless of the hype you see in tv commercials, none will put out more than 5,100 BTU.

    There are permanent installation electric heaters that put out more heat but are expensive and require special installation and upgraded wiring.

    Depending on the wiring supply to your trailer you may be able to run two portable heaters on separate circuits.
  • powderman426's avatar
    powderman426
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2014
    It's probably not what you want to hear, but it's probably cheaper to haul it to a warmer climate. The cost to keep even a well insulated dwelling heated is getting out of hand making a not so well insulated place super expensive.
  • camperpaul's avatar
    camperpaul
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2014
    Windows:

      Cover the inside of the windows with "bubble-wrap".
      Use two layers with the bubble sides touching.

    Skirting:

      Almost any material will work to block the wind.
      - Sheets of corrugated paper (cardboard)
      - Foam insulation sheets.
      - Straw (NOT HAY) bales.

      When using bales place them with the stalks vertical so they won't trap water.

    Heaters:

      I use two:
      The main one is an oil filled radiator with a small fan behind it.

      The secondary one is a "utility" heater.

      Both heaters are plugged in to Lux WIN100 thermostats.
      Main thermostat is set to 75°F.
      Secondary thermostat is set to 71°F.

      Propane furnace is set to come on if the inside temperature drops below 68°.
  • WhitePhoenix9's avatar
    WhitePhoenix9
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2014
    An additional question I have is; after skirting, would gluing/stapling more foam board or some other type of insulation to the under belly of the camper help? I read that 25% of heat if lost via the floors. I might want to eventually use spray insulation to redo the factory insulation before next winter. Also as far as electric heaters go, what type of electric heater works best within a camper?
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Mar 18, 2014
    Your pretty much out of luck there. Even my well Insulated trailer propane has cost me up to 80 dollars a week. On top of a 150 dollar electric bill. RV's are just not well Insulated and nothing outside of a complete wrap in huge sheets of foam board are going to help much. Covering Windows with shrink wrap from a home improvement store might help some, and is cheap. Insulating over all openings might help a little. But bottom line lots of blankets until it warms up is about all you can do.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2014
    Bales of straw make a good insulator for a temporary fix. You wouldn't want to use them permanently because they would probably contribute to rodent infestation.

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