Winter Capable Class C

[memtb]

With all of the freeze issues that many experienced this winter.....some of you may be interested in this. A 2007 Bigfoot 26 Sl On RVT. A Canadian made unit, designed for cold weather use. The Bigfoot’s also have one of the largest fresh water tanks in class c’s. We love ours, though we’ve not used it a great deal (just got it this summer). We’ve tried three (3) times to test ours in cold weather...but, on every trip it warms up. We’ve only been in single digits F for one night. No freeze-ups. We’re going ice fishing soon....maybe some cold weather then!

[memtb]

DrewE wrote:
How much wattage you'd need would depend a lot on how well you insulate around the batteries. With sufficient insulation, it would not take much power--possibly even none, if the DC electric usage were sufficient--to keep them warm.

Perhaps enclosing the batteries in a cheap cooler would be a decent start. AGM batteries would be an advantage for doing this as they have much less required in the way of ventilation etc.

Thanks Drew, Certainly something to consider and easy to accomplish. I had actually thought about the heat generation during use, but.....got fixated on the “heat pads. Probably should have done the insulation first, then.....

[DrewE]

How much wattage you'd need would depend a lot on how well you insulate around the batteries. With sufficient insulation, it would not take much power--possibly even none, if the DC electric usage were sufficient--to keep them warm.

Perhaps enclosing the batteries in a cheap cooler would be a decent start. AGM batteries would be an advantage for doing this as they have much less required in the way of ventilation etc.

[memtb]

Morn’ing Don,
Thanks for the graph. Those are pretty close to the members I had remembered. I was concerned that it may require more watts than I potentially gain. Though bringing from approximately-20 F to 32 F would effectively double available battery capacity, but not 100%. To try and calculate the wattage to elevate the temperatures that much, is far “above my pay grade”! 😄 I had resorted to the SWAG (scientific wild a$$ guess) formula. So, having already making the purchase, I’m down to experimenting.
Thanks again for all of the information and support!

Also....we have plans to set-up ours similarly. I don’t think that I can get the number of watts that you have ( insufficient room). But, I’ll keep measuring and researching available quality panels. Would love to do it with one panel....definitely “not” possible! I will be making the panel(s) tilt adjustable (like our 5er). I’m getting lazy.... adjusting “only” one reduces the work required!

[pianotuna]

Hi Todd,

Heating the battery bank helps. But the watts consumed doing so reduces the energy that can be used more than the gains.

If you could get the jars up to 25 C (77 f), they would offer full power. Probably the only way to do so would be to run a generator.

[memtb]

Hi Don,
With the knowledge that batteries (lead acid) lose a considerable % of power when quite cold, and our batteries, though getting a little old, seemed to be loosing power faster than I thought they should....thought that perhaps having them warm(er) may help. As they were pretty inexpensive....thought that they may help on those long, cold, boondocking nights. Though with the wattage consumption... it may be counter-productive! Your thoughts!

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Why did you feel you needed battery warmers?

memtb wrote:
Hi Don, We already purchased six(6), I really hope that my experience is not the same as yours....I’d hate to “shorten” the life of six (6) batteries! ??

[memtb]

ksg5000 wrote:

memtb wrote:

ksg5000 wrote:
I get cold just reading a thread like this. Must have been all those years growing up in S Calif.

It’s actually a lot easier than you might think....unless the wind is blowing! 😞 There is a lot to see/do/experience in the winter....whether rv’ing or not. Just have to dress for conditions and have the right mindset!

I love the winters in Wyoming/Montana , 15 degree weather in Rock Springs seemed warmed than 35 in Portland Oregon. Unfortunately my rig isn't capable of handling sustained weather below 32 - something I would fix if someone gave me winning lottery ticket.

“IF” you’re willing to buy used....my wife found a bunch listed on RVT and RVTrader yesterday. I have “no” idea of their condition....but the prices seemed pretty good, on most of them. Some looked ( of course pictures can lie) pretty good in the photos. As Teton’s had wood framed walls.... your primary concern would be a roof leak getting into side-wall. We bought our ‘04, four years ago (our 4th Teton), and love it! It is “pretty much” our “bucket list” of everything we wanted in a 5er.

[ksg5000]

memtb wrote:

ksg5000 wrote:
I get cold just reading a thread like this. Must have been all those years growing up in S Calif.

It’s actually a lot easier than you might think....unless the wind is blowing! 😞 There is a lot to see/do/experience in the winter....whether rv’ing or not. Just have to dress for conditions and have the right mindset!

I love the winters in Wyoming/Montana , 15 degree weather in Rock Springs seemed warmed than 35 in Portland Oregon. Unfortunately my rig isn't capable of handling sustained weather below 32 - something I would fix if someone gave me winning lottery ticket.

[memtb]

ksg5000 wrote:
I get cold just reading a thread like this. Must have been all those years growing up in S Calif.

It’s actually a lot easier than you might think....unless the wind is blowing! 😞 There is a lot to see/do/experience in the winter....whether rv’ing or not. Just have to dress for conditions and have the right mindset!

[memtb]

Hi Don, We are staying away from the LI based batteries for one primary reason....cold service! Cost....also played into the decision! ?? We already purchased six(6), I really hope that my experience is not the same as yours....I’d hate to “shorten” the life of six (6) batteries! ??

[pianotuna]

Hi Todd,

My experiences with battery blankets have not been good. Each and every time, battery life was reduced. How ever, that information is from the 1990's. Things may have changed.

Of course if the bank is LI based heaters are needed. I just found out the GM Bolt has heaters for its battery pack.

memtb wrote:
Thanks Don, We just bought a bunch of battery warmers ,for the batteries in our fiver. When looking at them, I thought they might be great on a propane bottle... but I like the idea of the magnetic block heater. I see one in our future! ?? ??. Thanks again

[ksg5000]

I get cold just reading a thread like this. Must have been all those years growing up in S Calif.

[memtb]

Thanks Don, We just bought a bunch of battery warmers ,for the batteries in our fiver. When looking at them, I thought they might be great on a propane bottle... but I like the idea of the magnetic block heater. I see one in our future! ?? ??. Thanks again

[pianotuna]

Hi Todd,

Look into a magnetic block heater. I have one that I can use on my generator--or if need be on the propane tank. I think it is about 300 watts.

There are inexpensive 120 volt heating pads at Walmart which do not have an auto shut off feature. They draw about 50 watts. Mine doubles as a warmer for the bed.