propane heater in trailer while traveling

[NYCFive1]

Advice on heating the travel trailer while traveling ? This is the first time we are traveling with a trailer from NY to FL in cold weather. It will be cold when we stop to eat and we can't take the dog into a restaurant. We are planning to leave Cleo in the trailer while in the restaurant. We want to preheat the trailer for 2-3 hours while traveling. The only posts I have found are for MH propane heaters while traveling.

[JBarca]

I do not want to stir up a debate, just passing along to NYCFive1 to check the owners manual of your furnace.

According to Atwood Mobile makers of the Hydroflame RV furnace they do not endorse running the furnace while the vehicle is in motion. And yes I know about all the safeties built into the unit.

See page 2 of the owners manual under "When your Vechile is in motion". This furnace is the brand in my camper. Not sure what Suburban states if you have that brand.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/operating/hflameowners.pdf

[NYCFive1]

Thanks again for all the replies.Cleo is an inside dog and sheds year round. She has been camping with us for 11years. We left the heat on when we had a MH and in a 40 foot trailer on a permanent site in the mountains of NJ. The truck gets cold in about 15 minutes when it is 35-40 degrees outside. We will be traveling next month and probably won't be far enough South the first day for temperatures much warmer than that. I will post with my experience with the heater running after I try it
Thanks again

[DutchmenSport]

In defense of the dog: A dog that is a "house dog" and not an "outside dog" will not have the thick fur coat like an outside dog will in the cold winter months. Outdoor dogs get acclimated to the temperature changes and their coat grows or sheds accordingly. To put an indoor dog, outside, in cold weather ... yea ... the dog is going to be cold, could get sick, catch a cold, or even worse.

I applaud the OP for wanting to protect his dog!

[BobsYourUncle]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Bob,

I'm glad to hear you are out of the deep freeze and merely in the fridge now. Welcome home.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
2 days ago I traveled from Calgary Alberta to near Vancouver BC.

Roads were dicey in many areas, especially over mountain passes.

I didn't want my water etc. to freeze up so I ran with the furnace on the whole time.

It kept my TT toasty warm inside, so on my many stops, it was quite comfy.

Had to drive carefully and slow in many places. I was 14 hours on the road with the furnace on the whole time.

No problem.

Thanks Don,
Yes it was quite the ride this time. 5 weeks in the TT in freezing weather and lots of snow.

The trip home was long and sometimes white knuckled. I posted 14 hours - typo, it was actually 16.

So 16 hours with the furnace going as I ran down the road. I already had 3 days use on that bottle and it lasted me all the way home, plus I ran it all that night.

Today when I winterized it and put it into storage, the fridge was still running on the same bottle.

So running down the highway can't be that much harder on the propane used.

[pianotuna]

Hi Bob,

I'm glad to hear you are out of the deep freeze and merely in the fridge now. Welcome home.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
2 days ago I traveled from Calgary Alberta to near Vancouver BC.

Roads were dicey in many areas, especially over mountain passes.

I didn't want my water etc. to freeze up so I ran with the furnace on the whole time.

It kept my TT toasty warm inside, so on my many stops, it was quite comfy.

Had to drive carefully and slow in many places. I was 14 hours on the road with the furnace on the whole time.

No problem.

[texasclarks]

We did this recently on our move from KS to WV and it was plenty warm for our Beau Dog after a walk. I would not run it while running going down the road... You will go through a lot of propane as it will run constantly...this I know from experience.

[opnspaces]

Yes the if the flame goes out the gas shuts off.

I would also just turn on the heater when I stopped take the dog for a walk and it will be warm enough when you get back. To leave the heater running the whole time is probably a big waste of Propane.

[facory]

Question is: If the flame goes out does the gas automatically shut off? If not it could be disastrous for the trailer and the dog.

[CavemanCharlie]

I have 2 dogs. One is a lab/ spaniel cross that lives in the house with me and he then doesn't grow much hair. Put him outside on a cold day and he is barking to come back in quickly. The other dog is a German Shepard/ St Barnard cross that lives outside. She grows a thick coat of hair and loves to play in the snow. She has 2 dog houses, a wooden one that is cool she sleeps in during the summer, and in the winter someone sold me a house that had been built out of a old not working Deep Freezer. She loves that in the winter and sleeps comfortably in it on nights well below 0f.

[Nvr2loud]

I'm amused by this topic...

To the OP it is perfectly safe to travel with the propane furnace running.

Dogs live outside around here all the time, they just need shelter from the wind and elements, dog houses are not heated. The truck is plenty of protection from the elements for any dog, but this is your pup and you're free to do as you choose. I tend to treat my doggy pretty good too!

[Francesca_Knowl]

If the heat is ducted to the bathroom, you might turn the furnace on when you stop and put her in that small room, which ought to heat up fast.

Side note:
My dog has a furry travel blanket, used only on the road. She's accustomed to being covered up with it and is quite content to snuggle under it when left in the car in cold weather.

[Old-Biscuit]

Turn it on.......enjoy the warmth.

IF wind blows out flame it will relight...or go into lock out.
Either way.....safe

[dadmomh]

Has Cleo been left in the TT alone before?? If not, she may be less than pleased with her "kennel". If she's not used to it, I'd invest in a doggie jacket and leave her in the truck.

[Lantley]

I have heard of many successfully running furnace I have also heard of a few that had issues with the flame being blown out by the wind while traveling down the road