2000 Coleman PUP heater/furnace?

[Ealy]

Hey, here's a ridiculous question. Does my 2000 Coleman Timberlake Destiny series camper have heat? It has a roof mounted Air Conditioner, with hot/cold controls. Does the A/C somehow double as a heater?

I can't find a thermostat for electric control of a furnace either. Is an electric furnace not standard equipment on one of these? We just bought this last year and have used it only twice.

[bondebond]

The A/C does not have heat strips in it to provide any warmth. This would be an add-on and have controls for such.

If you do not have a furnace anywhere, then you have a couple of options.

You can add one, and there should be cabinetry that will fit the basic Atwood 7900 Everest series furnace. It's pretty standard for all PUPs for decades. Coleman would have made the cabinets to house one even if it did not come equipped as such.

The next option is, if you camp with 120v AC power, then one or two electric heaters work really well. This is how we cold weather camp. I use two heaters - one plugged into the PUP's outlet and then one directly to the power pole outside via heavy duty extension cord. Technically, now that I've added a second 120v circuit and outlet specifically for a second heater, I don't do that anymore but you get the picture.
With these two heaters in a 14' box (26' + when opened) PUP, I don't have a problem. I do have the onboard furnace set to 50 in case the cold should overcome the rate of heating from the electric heaters but that's never happened with both heaters going. I've kept in the 70s when outside temps were in the 40s.

Other heating options include using a portable LP heater like a Mr. Buddy series heater, catalytic heaters and the such. They run the risk of depleting the oxygen level, produce water vapor, carbon dioxide and even carbon monoxide in poor performing combustion.

Other ways to combat the cold include insulation measures. I've added PopUp Gizmos (PUGs) solar bunk end covers. These things work GREAT for reflecting radiant heat on the outside in the summer, and help retain it on the inside during the cooler times. You can also get the Solar Bunk Liners that go on the inside and further augment this action.
There's using Refletix cut to fit the profile of the windows and place between the clear vinyl and the outside screen. And closed cell foam under the mattresses to isolate some of the cold coming in. I've gone around and installed permanent gap-filling insulation and temporary insulation to plug holes, etc.

And there's more to do to help extend cold weather camping. I just haven't had enough coffee to remember it all.

[opnspaces]

I believe the knob you are describing is just to control how often the compressor cycles. So the further you turn it toward red, the closer the output air is to ambient temperature.

I guess you could try it on a cool night and crank the knob to full red. Then see if you get actual heat output.

[Ealy]

OK, I definitely don't have the exhaust for gas heat. Does the A/C unit provide electric heat? As far as I can remember, it doesn't actually say heat on the dial, but does have control knob with red (warm air) and blue (cool air). I didn't know if that was for basically turning off the a/c to and circulating non-refrigerated air.

[mobeewan]

On my 2000 Sedona the A/C and Heater were optional. The dealer installed the heater in the cabinet where there was a small cabinet door. The door was removed for the installation. The controller was mounted in the rear dinette bench seat facing toward the trailer tongue. They cut out a hole and installed a plastic frame that allowed the control to be flush with the bench front so it did not stick out so it would not get hit with your leg or anything stored on the floor between the dinette seats during travel. As mentioned above there should be an outside burner inlet/exhaust plate. Mine is like the one pictured at the top in opnspaces post

[opnspaces]

You could try looking at the outside of the trailer for a heater exhaust. It will have one or two circular metal holes





If the exhaust exists then look on the inside of the trailer where th exhaust sits.

[lfloom]

Heater was optional in 2000. If it had a heater it would be a rectangular grill somewhere on one of the cabinets. Really, you could not miss it, so I am guessing you do not have one. The thermostat, otoh, would have been carefully hidden in some useless location (like at the bottom of the dinette.)

Some ACs have heat strips, but you would need electricity.