camco olympian 6, is it enough?

NinerBikes wrote:
I have a 3 season rated 21 foot Palomino Gazelle travel trailer. I am thinking of taking a trip soon up to Missoula MT. Being from So Cal, my stock heater has been "enough" for most of the trips I've been on, for heating purposes.

I have a 150 amp hour trojan T1275 battery. I have a good battery charger to top things off to 95-98% I have a 120W solar panel, programmable to 15.0V bulk charging. I have two 20 pound propane tanks.

I'd like to stay off the heater in the camper that is powered by an electric fan, and plumb in a catalytic heater, like the Olympian radiant, instead, and crack a window and the vent above, to keep things at about 50 at night.

Again, being this far north in May, in MT... from some experienced folks, is this a good idea, a bad idea, will it make enough heat, will it keep my battery healthy instead? Will I be burning through the propane at an alarming rate? What should I expect in days usage with frige and this heater while boondocking with 40 pounds of propane?

How much fuel usage does it save over the stock heater, over a weeks usage with it 30F in the mornings in Missoula? I know propane is not overly loaded with calories per gallon, like diesel fuel.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mex,

The Olympian runs 24/7. The platinum cat cycles on and off and keeps the heat even while doing so. Therefore in say 8 C outside the Olympian would not be as comfortable. The O would most probably use more fuel as well.

The O requires at least one window open. I would crack a roof vent as well. So lots of the heat from the O ends up heating the great outdoors.

Then there is the whole issue of combustion products. Nasty stuff is not my idea of breathing well. Add to that the water vapor that is going to enter the air. Nothing like cold wet air to make you feel uncomfortable *right now*.

My daughter is a CO survivor, so personally I'd NEVER consider the Olympian or any other non vented combustion heater.