Going in January-- need a heater?

[Fish Almighty]

We're getting ready for our first camping trip to Fort Wilderness in our popup. Woo hoo! Anyone else going the first week in January?

Anyway, here's my question--the camper has a great AC, but it has something called a heat strip on the AC which works marginally well for cool temperatures. It won't keep the camper warm if the temps drop to around freezing. Will that be adequate for January in Orlando, or do we need to get a plug-in space heater to help?

 

[homebrew2]

Would'nt hurt......it got into the low 40's when we were there.

 

[hatchmo]

Take thespace heater. It can get to freezing and sometimes below. Remember the pictures you've seen on TV of the orange groves with ice hanging from the oranges.

 

[Gatordad]

it depends. Some days are in the 80's in January, while some are freezing. Although, you might be warm if you are from the north. That's how you can pick out the northerners at Spring Training games.... they are the ones wearing shorts in 50 degree weather

 

[AuburnJen92]

When we had our popup, we always survived with the "heater" in the popup. I would definitely scope the weather reports before going out and purchasing one...

 

[terri01p]

I would bring a heater to take the chill out of the pop-up, we have a tt and in April we had to turn on the heat one night just to take the chill out, then we were fine.

 

[tacoma]

We go to FW in our pop up for about a month every Jan/Feb. I can be cold. Last year there were a couple of nights in the mid thirties. We have an installed propane furnace. It does a great job, but it uses a lot of propane. We found that a small ceramic heater (under $20.00 at Target) used as the primary heater, kept us warm and saved our propane.

 

[Colson39]

Yea, in January there is always a chance that you could get freezing/sub-freezing temperatures. Because Disney is so far inland, it can get REALLY cold at night sometimes, so I definitely would recommend a heater.

 

[clkelley]

My camper has a CoolCat Air Conditioner/Heat Pump. The heat pump only works to about 40. I have an electric mattress pad and electric blanket left over from my tent camping days, so I plan on using that. I usually just turned them on high before going to my shower, then turned them down to about 2 and was plenty warm in my tent all night for my December trips. I would imagine with the insulated trailer, I won't need to leave it on much at all.

I'm glad my camper didn't come with the furnace. Here in the Southeast, there is no need for one. Also, when you have hookups, why use your gas, when you can use their electricity!!

 

[beagles7278]

Anyone else going the first week in January?
QUOTE]

We will be there January 2nd - 12th. We are hoping to add days on the front.

 

[bama_ed]

I've learned from experience that the best combo for me is to use our pop-up propane furnace in the evening while people are still up/awake, and then turn on the electric mattress heaters while we sleep. Oh so toasty!

The furnace is okay while it's not that cold in early evening or late morning but if it blew all night we'd use up both tanks in no time flat. I learned to turn on the mattress heaters 30 minutes before bed time to get 'em warmed up before I jump in.

You'll feel great while sleeping but unzip your flaps a little to keep some air circulating during the night to eliminate moisture buildup inside the canvas while you sleep.

I also set up our little bathroom inside the pop-up for nighttime visits by family members and if we had a space heater in there somebody would trip over it.

I highly recommend the mattress heater or electric blanket (or if you are the famous clkelley, BOTH).

Bama ED

 

[Fish Almighty]

Thanks for all the great info. I'll throw the electric heater in there and carry it along with us. We'll have tons of blankets so I'm sure we'll be nice and toasty.