Well, we have been in NW Virginia since Wednesday and this is the coldest we have ever stayed in the MH. "Columbus" is doing actually great keeping the inside warm along with keeping everything from freezing and working great. We've not used anything other than the furnace, although I did bring electric heaters and even a thermo switch plug to place a heater in the basement, but haven't needed to. It's not supposed to get above freezing in the area until next Wednesday, the day we start to head back home to Central Texas and I'm sure he will do fine. We are very impressed with how "Columbus" has handled the extreme cold. Hope all stay warm this New Year's Eve and have a wonderful and great new year.

Glad to hear a positive report on the "cold" ... Many other folks seem in quite a panic about it.

Good to hear a positive report. Seems like when it's really cold outside, you can heat the RV but the floor is super cold while the ceiling is toasty. Sounds like your doing OK though!

We really are doing great and I wasn't sure what to expect. It's 16 degrees this morning and the furnace has been set at 64 and cuts off when it warms up. :). Furnace doesn't stay off long, seeing ~9-10min cycles off, & 4 min on. We had it on 68, but that was to warm for us. should have known since 62 is what we sleep in back home. Haha I had engineered hardwood floors installed ~ 1 1/2 years ago and they stay pretty warm as well. Ducting is in the floor. I did bring 2 sleeping bags and used them to fill the gap under the large slide in the living room and appear to have no draft from under the slide. We have a few rugs, but again, the floor is not really cold. Coldest place seems to be back of RV passenger side floor where our small slide is, buts it's not freezing, just colder then most and I notice it since that's my side and where I place my bare feet in the morning getting up. :). Still not bad though. Overall, I'm very happy with how the RV is handling the cold. We've already been through a low of 15, high of 28 last Thursday and I'm not concerned about the next 3-4 days of highs in the 20's & lows ~10. Got plenty of propane to make it until we head out Wednesday as I topped off last Friday heading into the long weekend. Stay warm and Happy New Year!!

Interesting report. You sound well prepared.

We've been to -5 in our coach. We use the electric heaters for most of our daily heat and also use a low voltage electric blanket at night. For us an interior temp in the 60's is comfortable. We love the fact that most of the National Parks are almost deserted during the Winter and this gives us a chance to view the wild life and natural beauty at our pace without worrying about any crowds.

Making it thru the cold for the first time - doing well :)

gsf35099
Explorer
Jan 01, 2018
blknomad wrote:
also the op mentioned a "Columbus" I give up??

Haha. Sorry, that is the name the DW gave the RV. "Columbus the Bus". :)
Brand is in my sig. Damon Astoria.
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Jan 01, 2018
I lived in NM and spent most of my time In Co loading hay, feed and unloading trucks after I got there. -30 was normal but now I'm cold at +15. Right now it's 12 outside in Va. I asked a guy one morning what the temp in Antonito Co was and he said Its up, Clear up around 10 below, been -30 every morning.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 01, 2018
blknomad wrote:
also the op mentioned a "Columbus" I give up??

A brand name for the RV.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 01, 2018
Hi Pirate,

The fans "pressurize" the furnace duct work and keep a small amount of warmed "cabin" air flowing through them. It is enough to prevent freezing of the fresh water lines in my RV. YMMV.

Pirate wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
For truly cold weather when using electric heaters, consider replacing the return air grill for the furnace with twin window fans:
I've seen you post this a couple times. I just don't understand what is the purpose of the fans. Can you explain further? Tks.
blknomad
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
also the op mentioned a "Columbus" I give up??
Pirate1
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
pianotuna wrote:
For truly cold weather when using electric heaters, consider replacing the return air grill for the furnace with twin window fans:
I've seen you post this a couple times. I just don't understand what is the purpose of the fans. Can you explain further? Tks.
gsf35099
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
GordonThree wrote:
Only a small amount of offense intended... I really get a chuckle out of below freezing being considered extreme cold.

My personal scale puts extreme below the -20F mark. Above that through zero is very cold, 0 to 20 moderately cold...

Fare enough feedback. :). Guess it is all in the perspective of where one lives and what they are used to and we are from central Texas where we don't see freezing temps a lot.
That said, constant temps below freezing is still a pretty hard freeze and can quickly cause problems if one is not prepared properly. ;).
gsf35099
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
Bill.Satellite wrote:
gsf35099 wrote:
We really are doing great and I wasn't sure what to expect.

It's 16 degrees this morning and the furnace has been set at 64 and cuts off when it warms up. :). Furnace doesn't stay off long, seeing ~9-10min cycles off, & 4 min on. We had it on 68, but that was to warm for us. should have known since 62 is what we sleep in back home. Haha

I had engineered hardwood floors installed ~ 1 1/2 years ago and they stay pretty warm as well. Ducting is in the floor. I did bring 2 sleeping bags and used them to fill the gap under the large slide in the living room and appear to have no draft from under the slide. We have a few rugs, but again, the floor is not really cold. Coldest place seems to be back of RV passenger side floor where our small slide is, buts it's not freezing, just colder then most and I notice it since that's my side and where I place my bare feet in the morning getting up. :). Still not bad though.

Overall, I'm very happy with how the RV is handling the cold. We've already been through a low of 15, high of 28 last Thursday and I'm not concerned about the next 3-4 days of highs in the 20's & lows ~10. Got plenty of propane to make it until we head out Wednesday as I topped off last Friday heading into the long weekend.

Stay warm and Happy New Year!!

Just be sure to keep an eye on your propane level. You are toasty due to a very inefficient furnace when it comes to fuel usage. The propane will not last for weeks so just keep an eye on it and be prepared to go get more if necessary.

10-4 on that. I click the gauge every hour or so. LOL. We burned 14.8 gallons Monday thru Friday and have a 30.4 gallon (at 80% of 38 gallon tank). Not even below 2/3's yet here Sunday night and we will head out Wednesday. I'm really confident we have plenty to get us through until then, but if for some reason we need fuel Tuesday, Amerigas opens Tuesday morning and is 5.1 miles away. :)
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2017
gsf35099 wrote:
We really are doing great and I wasn't sure what to expect.

It's 16 degrees this morning and the furnace has been set at 64 and cuts off when it warms up. :). Furnace doesn't stay off long, seeing ~9-10min cycles off, & 4 min on. We had it on 68, but that was to warm for us. should have known since 62 is what we sleep in back home. Haha

I had engineered hardwood floors installed ~ 1 1/2 years ago and they stay pretty warm as well. Ducting is in the floor. I did bring 2 sleeping bags and used them to fill the gap under the large slide in the living room and appear to have no draft from under the slide. We have a few rugs, but again, the floor is not really cold. Coldest place seems to be back of RV passenger side floor where our small slide is, buts it's not freezing, just colder then most and I notice it since that's my side and where I place my bare feet in the morning getting up. :). Still not bad though.

Overall, I'm very happy with how the RV is handling the cold. We've already been through a low of 15, high of 28 last Thursday and I'm not concerned about the next 3-4 days of highs in the 20's & lows ~10. Got plenty of propane to make it until we head out Wednesday as I topped off last Friday heading into the long weekend.

Stay warm and Happy New Year!!

Just be sure to keep an eye on your propane level. You are toasty due to a very inefficient furnace when it comes to fuel usage. The propane will not last for weeks so just keep an eye on it and be prepared to go get more if necessary.
GordonThree
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
Only a small amount of offense intended... I really get a chuckle out of below freezing being considered extreme cold.

My personal scale puts extreme below the -20F mark. Above that through zero is very cold, 0 to 20 moderately cold...

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Making it thru the cold for the first time - doing well :)

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