Winter Camping in a View or Navion
We will be traveling in December and January to and from San Diego and know we will hit some cold days. How is your experience with these MH's. Is the heater adequate? How fast do you go through pr...
Forum Discussion
We camped in temps just above or at freezing at night. Since you are planning on "full hookups," the HOT tip is to get an electric "cube" heater. The propane heater is very adequate and, for us, too hot and stuffy. It's fuel efficient but noisy. Put the cube up front and it will keep things just right.
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/PortHeat.shtml
If you need to quickly warm up in the AM, kick on the LP furnace for a few minutes.
The heat pump will also heat. Good to about 40F. Know that the heat pump & LP furnace are tied together. If the HP can't meet the the thermostat set point the LP will cut in to supplement...or take over heating until the HP can carry the load. Move the thermostat setting only a couple degrees at a time. It is also noisy. You can "hack" the HP/LP connection by leaving the LP gas "OFF"... If you have 110V shore power for the fridge and water heater.
Except for the water heater, the water closet and the system drains, the water lines are inside the coach so they should be OK as long as the coach interior is above a hard freeze. Water heater will be OK as long as you keep it hot. The waste and water tank should be OK if they are not full to the top (allows for any ice forming to expand and not break the tank.) If you are running in the 20s .. I'd get the waste tanks as empty as possible.
If you are going to leave it unattended for several day in sub freezing weather...I'd suggest learning how to drain and blow the lines... Or, open all the faucets and WH drain and pull the system drains in the water closet. Put RV anti-freeze in the drains.
The LP consumers in order of highest use: generator, furnace, water heater, fridge, range. Minimal use of the genny and furnace extends your fuel supply.
Also, you should know the these are LP vapor devices. LP does not vaporize well below 30ish F. And, if you are going to be in freezing temps you should have your LP man shoot some alcohol into the tank to remove any water from the fuel.
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/PortHeat.shtml
If you need to quickly warm up in the AM, kick on the LP furnace for a few minutes.
The heat pump will also heat. Good to about 40F. Know that the heat pump & LP furnace are tied together. If the HP can't meet the the thermostat set point the LP will cut in to supplement...or take over heating until the HP can carry the load. Move the thermostat setting only a couple degrees at a time. It is also noisy. You can "hack" the HP/LP connection by leaving the LP gas "OFF"... If you have 110V shore power for the fridge and water heater.
Except for the water heater, the water closet and the system drains, the water lines are inside the coach so they should be OK as long as the coach interior is above a hard freeze. Water heater will be OK as long as you keep it hot. The waste and water tank should be OK if they are not full to the top (allows for any ice forming to expand and not break the tank.) If you are running in the 20s .. I'd get the waste tanks as empty as possible.
If you are going to leave it unattended for several day in sub freezing weather...I'd suggest learning how to drain and blow the lines... Or, open all the faucets and WH drain and pull the system drains in the water closet. Put RV anti-freeze in the drains.
The LP consumers in order of highest use: generator, furnace, water heater, fridge, range. Minimal use of the genny and furnace extends your fuel supply.
Also, you should know the these are LP vapor devices. LP does not vaporize well below 30ish F. And, if you are going to be in freezing temps you should have your LP man shoot some alcohol into the tank to remove any water from the fuel.
