heat ideas

[Jebby14]

booked a weekend and the forcast is a but chilly. we ususaly camp with electricity. Not this time. Now I'm not too worried (talking 50's not freezing) but I have 2 little ones (one under a year). Any ideas on how to warm the camper without electricity or using the furnace (I don't trust the 30 year old furnace with my kids)

[rhagfo]

ReneeG wrote:
Portable propane heaters with automatic shutoff are completely safe if used correctly. What that means is to place it in a stable location away from blankets, etc, and vent the trailer. We've been using a Mr. Heater Big Buddy for years, decades, with no problems. When we camped with our grandchildren, blanket sleepers and lots of blankets was the norm, and I would turn on the onboard heater at 50 to keep the chill off. It may have kicked on twice in the night. Just an additional note, prior to RV'ing, we tented and used a Coleman tent heater that was fueled by Coleman white gas/fuel. We left a flap open in the tent and in spite of outside temps dipping into the lower 30's, the inside of the tent remained at a warm 70.

There are a lot of "IFs" in that statement. My Dad was a firefighter, and saw way too many times the results of the incorrect use, or just slightly wrong placement of a portable heater.

[totaldla]

jfkmk wrote:
NEVER use a portable propane heater inside a trailer! Portable propane heaters are NOT designed for use in such a confined space, and the threat of co poisoning or even death is very real.

Why not use the trailers heater? It is vented outside and the fan runs on 12 volts.

You are just about completely wrong, and I know you have zero supporting data.

[ReneeG]

Portable propane heaters with automatic shutoff are completely safe if used correctly. What that means is to place it in a stable location away from blankets, etc, and vent the trailer. We've been using a Mr. Heater Big Buddy for years, decades, with no problems. When we camped with our grandchildren, blanket sleepers and lots of blankets was the norm, and I would turn on the onboard heater at 50 to keep the chill off. It may have kicked on twice in the night. Just an additional note, prior to RV'ing, we tented and used a Coleman tent heater that was fueled by Coleman white gas/fuel. We left a flap open in the tent and in spite of outside temps dipping into the lower 30's, the inside of the tent remained at a warm 70.

[2_Retired]

My 3 year old granddaughter still sleeps in a blanket-style sack. It's closed at the bottom, her arms fit through it and it zips from the top down in the front. Should be fine for the temps you're talking about. She can walk in it when she wakes up in the morning! She won't sleep without it! I't's like a small version of a snuggie!

[DownTheAvenue]

Jebby14 wrote:
Any ideas on how to warm the camper without electricity or using the furnace

The old saying, "Three dog night" comes to mind right now.

[Jebby14]

For the record I use my camper as a rolling tent. no water pump (we do use the gray and black plumbing but I have external tank and pump (1 for bathroom 1 for kitchen) and we occasionally use the stove but for the most part we cook outside and use campground facilities. I've never fired the furnace in the 3 years ive owned it and I would wager a guess its been a lot longer than that.

[Jebby14]

I cant decide if that's the best comment or the worst but it sure made me laugh

[DutchmenSport]

Well, I have a GREAT idea how to "warm" things up.... but there's a big risk involved there ... you many end up with a 3rd "little one!" :B

[cmcdar]

rhagfo wrote:

j.p.f. wrote:
good sleeping bags. a lifetime solution.
portable propane heaters. probably the cheapest, easy way but then again two children?
12volt electric blanket. I've never actually seen one myself but have read about them?
I think I would go with propane. it will heat the camper not just the body.
http://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html
they also have a model approved for Canada.

jfkmk wrote:
NEVER use a portable propane heater inside a trailer! Portable propane heaters are NOT designed for use in such a confined space, and the threat of co poisoning or even death is very real.

Why not use the trailers heater? It is vented outside and the fan runs on 12 volts.

X2

I would trust a 30 year old furnace before using a portable propane unit!

Test the furnace, make sure it functions correctly. Far safer them portable gas heater.

+3

Test the furnace and invest in a CO MONITOR (Carbon Monoxide) for your camper!

[rhagfo]

j.p.f. wrote:
good sleeping bags. a lifetime solution.
portable propane heaters. probably the cheapest, easy way but then again two children?
12volt electric blanket. I've never actually seen one myself but have read about them?
I think I would go with propane. it will heat the camper not just the body.
http://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html
they also have a model approved for Canada.

jfkmk wrote:
NEVER use a portable propane heater inside a trailer! Portable propane heaters are NOT designed for use in such a confined space, and the threat of co poisoning or even death is very real.

Why not use the trailers heater? It is vented outside and the fan runs on 12 volts.

X2

I would trust a 30 year old furnace before using a portable propane unit!

Test the furnace, make sure it functions correctly. Far safer them portable gas heater.

[Jebby14]

no worries about overnight. im making a contingency plan for when the boy goes down and the rest of us are still up for several hours. He is less than a year old (too young for a sleeping bag or heavy blankets) otherwise it would be a non issue. Hoping for a 12v solution I can run of the battery using my inverter.

[kerrlakeRoo]

4 warm bodies in a 19' camper, overnight with a good sleeping bag and you will all be fine, and just fire up a stovetop percolator in the morning to take any edge off it.

[Tvov]

Think of it as camping in the fall. Heavy clothes, blankets, thick sleeping bags. Make hot chocolate! using the stove will warm up the camper. You'll be fine, have fun!

[sch911]

Lows in the 50's is perfect sleeping weather. I wouldn't use anything at all....

[jfkmk]

NEVER use a portable propane heater inside a trailer! Portable propane heaters are NOT designed for use in such a confined space, and the threat of co poisoning or even death is very real.

Why not use the trailers heater? It is vented outside and the fan runs on 12 volts.