Do you warm up camper before heading out for winter camping?

Well, we slept in the camper last night at our destination. It may have gotten down to only 35*F so sleeping in there was a breeze. I used the electric heater pointed towards the bed to warm things up while visiting in the house with our hosts. The numorous blankets got kicked off at night. The side bed windows were open an inch or two but my wife shut hers sometime in the night. I look forward to doing this again during Thanksgiving weekend when it is even colder!!!
Now to find some snowshoes so we can have a winter hobbie with the camper.

Travelling and overnighting in AB, MT, ID, UT in temps of 0C to +5C hi and -8C lows our propane use is about 2 gals/day (10lbs). Furnace is set at 50F travelling and 70F when camping, lunch breaks etc.

Photomike - I agree you must have an issue somewhere. Take a ride in your camper and check out where the draft might be happening.

With winter sleeping bags and foam mattresses in the cabover, we have never felt the need for additional heat or insulation in that area. The rest of the interior we like to keep above 50F or so during the night so nature calls aren't too frigid. During the day our main concern is cold drafts that come from where the AC fits through the wall and who knows where else.

When I moved up to the central coast of California (about a hundred miles) I knew I would not be dealing with the severity of winter as the folks back east. I transfered up to this area in the late fall of 1988, I slept at the base in the back of my truck in the camper shell. Even though I had interior paneled walls and ceiling, carpeted insulated 3/4" plywood bed board and a queen matress with a lot of blankets I never could get warm (temps would be in the low 30's and high 20's). I would look at the homes for sale with a RE agent for a couple hours after work and on the week ends with the wife. I heard that you are supposed to crack a window for ventilation to hold the moisture in check when you are sleeping. How are you supposed keep warm with cool air coming in?

Photomike,

Sounds like the various air leaks or unsealed voids are being enhancing the sucking action of the fast passing ambient air flowing past the stove vent opening which then creates a venturi sucking action. The same way the old carburetors used to use the sucking venturi action. It will create a low pressure situation in the TC which forcefully sucks outside air in thru even the smallest of openings or not tightly sealed areas. Sounds like you really do have some sealing etc to do!

Hi,

Using vent pillows helps. I went one step farther and added a "sunshade" type material (from the dollar store) held in place with velcro which I use to further seal the unused windows.

travelnutz wrote:
Photomike,

Inside temps dropping off so fast in your TC tells me you have very poor insulation or a lot of air leaks or both. Ours in our 11'4" lance TC only dropped from 70F to 54F on the inside/outside digital thermometer after traveling for 6-3/4 hours from West Michigan in the L.P. to Tahquamenon Falls SP in the U.P. of Michigan near Lake Superior (about 360 miles) when the outside temp was 36F when we started out and was 19F when we got to the falls CG up there and we didn't leave the furnace on as we know they have electric at the campsites and the CG is open all year. However, the electric blanket was on and set at it's normal 5 setting so the bed would be warm. It's always covered with a blanket and usually a bedspread too because heat always rises band we want the mattress warm! That however, does not heat the inside of the TC a bit. This was last year during the Thanksgiving time of year. We were meeting another couple up there with their RV so we drove straight thru but normally don't and spend a night along the way since we're long retired and usually in no hurry at all. You have some real checking to do as to why your TC cools down so quickly!

I have been looking. It is an older Northern Lite and with all the checking that I have done it seems to be insulated very well but I have concerns in the following areas:

- Vent over stove is always open
- side access door to wheel well area does not seal the best
- Fridge vents on side of TC
- Roof vents (especially the new one) not sealed up very well

When I am camped it is VERY warm but I think the wind must be getting in some place.

Usually before we stop for the night .we start the generator to warm up the sleeping blanket then when we go to bed it's nice an cozy!

Photomike,

Inside temps dropping off so fast in your TC tells me you have very poor insulation or a lot of air leaks or both. Ours in our 11'4" lance TC only dropped from 70F to 54F on the inside/outside digital thermometer after traveling for 6-3/4 hours from West Michigan in the L.P. to Tahquamenon Falls SP in the U.P. of Michigan near Lake Superior (about 360 miles) when the outside temp was 36F when we started out and was 19F when we got to the falls CG up there and we didn't leave the furnace on as we know they have electric at the campsites and the CG is open all year. However, the electric blanket was on and set at it's normal 5 setting so the bed would be warm. It's always covered with a blanket and usually a bedspread too because heat always rises band we want the mattress warm! That however, does not heat the inside of the TC a bit. This was last year during the Thanksgiving time of year. We were meeting another couple up there with their RV so we drove straight thru but normally don't and spend a night along the way since we're long retired and usually in no hurry at all. You have some real checking to do as to why your TC cools down so quickly!

One other thing I've found helpful is to open all of the cabinet doors after I first turn the heater on. Cold seems to like to hide in the all the nooks and crannies