North Dakota camper living too cold for some

[Mont_G_J]

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-camper-living-too-cold-for-some/article_9...

[pianotuna]

Hi Phil,

No, the first 0.8 is how much propane they will put into a tank--i.e. if it is a 20 gallon tank--they can only put in 16 gallons. The 2nd 0.8 is the efficiency of the furnace. So of the 16 gallons available only 12.8 end up as heat inside the rv.

I filled up today--and it was so cold that the propane was liquid. I'd not seen that before. It looks clear like water.

pnichols wrote:
Don,

Thanks for your propane data!

It looks like you have about the same size propane tank on board as we do - 18 gallons gross - so I was curious as to about how long ours might last in an extreme cold situation with around the clock usage. (However, our Class C is a bit smaller than yours.)

What's the purpose of your "1031952 x .8 = 825561 inside the RV" calculation?

Didn't you already account for the 80% efficiency of the furnace in the line above that?: "21499 x .8 x 60 = 1031952 btu's for the tank size"

[Jarlaxle]

My B700 was fine (according to the current owners fulltiming in it) at -16. I insulated it well, all the plumbing is heated, as is the LP tank. I built the Genesis just as well...honestly, I'd stay in it in ND in a second.

[pnichols]

Don,

Thanks for your propane data!

It looks like you have about the same size propane tank on board as we do - 18 gallons gross - so I was curious as to about how long ours might last in an extreme cold situation with around the clock usage. (However, our Class C is a bit smaller than yours.)

What's the purpose of your "1031952 x .8 = 825561 inside the RV" calculation?

Didn't you already account for the 80% efficiency of the furnace in the line above that?: "21499 x .8 x 60 = 1031952 btu's for the tank size"

[Homer1]

The only down side I see is fire control. It would be disasterous for one unit to catch fire inside a building holding several other RV's. As long as there is smokers and people using propane there is going to be an accident. I am reasonably sure they have thought this out.

[2012Coleman]

tkcas01 wrote:
One solution to winterizing RVs: ND Indoor RV Park.

This takes seasonal affective disorder to a whole new level :E

[pianotuna]

Hi,

It is a fixed tank of 60 pounds (but of course only filled to 80% of that value).

If I were heating with propane right now, I'd need to refill every 3 days. That would be a royal pain.

21499 btu's per pound but the furnace is at best 80% efficient.

21499 x .8 x 60 = 1031952 btu's for the tank sizre

1031952 x .8 = 825561 inside the RV.

Cost where I live would be about $19 per day.

pnichols wrote:
Don,

We may be heading to Quartzite in January so I'm curious. What common size propane tanks (in pounds/tank and translated into BTU's/tank) do you have in your rig?

[daily_double]

I think it's a great idea.

[westend]

ksbowman wrote:
It's heated and cooled the way I read it. Your unit could be heated what little it would need with an electric heater. All utilities paid. Month to month rent, so if you're working in the oilfields and making high five figure to low six figure wages it's sounds pretty good. No worry about freeze up or shoveling out. I bet it's pretty popular.

Yup, I heard they're making a go of the indoor park. Monthly rents in other outdoor parks are $500 to $1k with a lot of guys just circled up on job sites. A good majority of the oilfield workers have housing with their wages, a lot of them lodging in the man camps. For every oilfield worker, there are probably 10 or more tradesman building out the infrastructure to support the oil field.
The indoor park was built by a couple of guys from northern MN, kind of a "Field of Dreams" concept.

[pnichols]

Don,

We may be heading to Quartzite in January so I'm curious. What common size propane tanks (in pounds/tank and translated into BTU's/tank) do you have in your rig?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I'm using about 269559 btu's per day in a highly modified Class C with no slides.

[ksbowman]

It's heated and cooled the way I read it. Your unit could be heated what little it would need with an electric heater. All utilities paid. Month to month rent, so if you're working in the oilfields and making high five figure to low six figure wages it's sounds pretty good. No worry about freeze up or shoveling out. I bet it's pretty popular.

[Homer1]

I thought it said he had it lit inside with Mercury Vapor High Intensity lights. In the winter time anywhere though, even in Florida, its dark from 4:00 pm to 8:00 a.m.

[tkcas01]

Snowman9000 wrote:
Good idea, but boy, it'd be like living in a dark box inside a cave. Better than fighting the elements though.

Or, Vivos Survival Shelter & Resort WOULD be living in a cave...

[kab449]

Wonder if the indoor RV park require all coaches to be total electric? Propane and indoors doesn't cut it.