Heating at night

[BRDof3]

For you cold-weather campers, a new question (to me at least):

The first night this weekend was pretty cool, we went to bed and had the furnace on. No problems with comfort, the furnace would toast anybody out of the trailer if it wanted to. One of the people we were camping with said she always used a space heater, since the electric is free, but the propane costs money. She also had problems in her old hybrid, with moisture inside from the propane.

When I walked outside with my first cup of coffee I noticed a little bit of condensation on the window by the table. Not much, but a little. I also know that we had problems in the tent as newbies, when we were too closed up at night and had 5 people sleeping and breathing all night, it made the inside of the tent damp.

How do you run heat at night w/o getting some moisture inside? My neighbor always runs the central fan when he uses the furnace, just for the sound to mask the outside noise. Would this help eliminate the moisture, too? Does anyone use a space heater instead of the gas furnace? I just worry about safety.

Just looking for some tips.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I always crack the vent in the bathroom and seldom have a problem with condensation. I know a lot of people use electric heaters. I would probably spring for a ceramic type. I think they are probably safer than the old style. I have always used the furnace and with that cranking and the hot water heater going, in addition to cooking with propane, I might use a 20 lb tank in on a 10 day trip.

 

[bama_ed]

I use electric mattress warmers at night (like electric blankets but you lay on top of them) because our furnace blower is enough noise to keep my awake at night. We use the furnace during the awake hours any time we need heat. You could let the furnace run while you sleep but it uses propane quickly (although it's nice the Fort has a refill service) - about a pound for an hour of run time (don't know if this is true but that's what I've heard).

We vent the canvas (unzip it a little) on both ends enough to get a little air circulation to cut down on condensation.

I don't mind cold weather camping but I don't go camping when the temps get below freezing. guess that makes me a fair weather camper!

Bama ED

 

[cyberdeb]

We dont use the furnace in our hybrid because whoever designed it, didnt test it too well. The furnace is just below the thermostat so it turns on and off all night long. Dh put a paper plate under the thermostat to deflect the air so it doesnt blow right up and it helped a lot. However we used a whole tank of propane for one night. We use a small electric heather now when it gets cold.

 

[ntsammy5]

No heat in the tent - I'd have to carry it anyhow. I love getting up in the cold to meet natures call - brings a whole new meaning to the word, well never mind

 

[BRDof3]

No heat in the tent - I'd have to carry it anyhow. I love getting up in the cold to meet natures call - brings a whole new meaning to the word, well never mind

Thanks, that was SUCH a help!

 

[2goofycampers]

We have a small elec. heater we use and also open the vents to let the moisture out. Some also use dehumidifiers to keep the moisture to a minimum.

 

[des1954]

Rob-

If you're at a site with electricity, why use your propane? A ceramic heater will do the job just fine & you shouldn't have any dampness. Also, Camping World sells an electric element so you can make your water heater dual energy - electric or propane. We installed the electric element in the water heater of our 2001 Dutch Star & it worked just fine. Unless you're dry camping, why not use the electricity you're paying for? JMHO!

 

[LarryJ]

Rob-

If you're at a site with electricity, why use your propane? A ceramic heater will do the job just fine & you shouldn't have any dampness. Also, Camping World sells an electric element so you can make your water heater dual energy - electric or propane. We installed the electric element in the water heater of our 2001 Dutch Star & it worked just fine. Unless you're dry camping, why not use the electricity you're paying for? JMHO!

That's exactly what we did last Dec/Jan at FW. Electric ceramic space heater like shown below, WH on electric, and we crack the rear and foward vents a hair since they have the MaxAir covers on them and if needed turn the A/C fan on low to circulate the heat.

It's a Pelonis and has an option for a 90deg oscillation which really spreads out the heat over the non oscillating types.

Larry

 

[loveDmouse]

We use one of those litle electric heaters with a thermostat on it. We also use a electric blanket. Our new motor home has a heat pump so that is good unless it is really cold then you would want to use the propane.
I try to use electric modes of heat since that isn't costing extra when camping.

 

[djblu883]

I also use electric heat to supplement my propane!!! That way in the cold weather months I'm only replacing the tanks about once a month instead of once a week...I pretty much full time camp...just make sure you put the heater in a safe place you aren't going to trip over it at night!!!

 

[KristinU]

Just another "ditto" on the ceramic heater and cracked vents combo. Took us a few nights of wiping down with those microfiber towels to realize that venting was key.

 

[2goofycampers]

Here is something we put in our camper when it's not in use, you would be surprised at the water this stuff absorbs out of the air.
I've seen it at Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home depot and Camping World.

 

[mike k.]

For you cold-weather campers, a new question (to me at least):

The first night this weekend was pretty cool, we went to bed and had the furnace on. No problems with comfort, the furnace would toast anybody out of the trailer if it wanted to. One of the people we were camping with said she always used a space heater, since the electric is free, but the propane costs money. She also had problems in her old hybrid, with moisture inside from the propane.

When I walked outside with my first cup of coffee I noticed a little bit of condensation on the window by the table. Not much, but a little. I also know that we had problems in the tent as newbies, when we were too closed up at night and had 5 people sleeping and breathing all night, it made the inside of the tent damp.

How do you run heat at night w/o getting some moisture inside? My neighbor always runs the central fan when he uses the furnace, just for the sound to mask the outside noise. Would this help eliminate the moisture, too? Does anyone use a space heater instead of the gas furnace? I just worry about safety.

Just looking for some tips.

Put my vote down for the ceramic heater. We have the same one shown in LARRYJ's reply. We're just paranoid about carbon monoxide fumes even though trailer has alarms in it.
We usually only run it until bedtime, and then turn it off. besides, I could sweat sleeping in an IGLOO. (TMI)

 

[clkelley]

I don't have a furnace in mine, but I do have a Heat Pump, so I run that unless it's below 40, then I have a small electric heater. My windows have a setting to lock them in a vented mode, so I keep one of them on vent mode all the time. I also have an electric mattress pad, but haven't used it in the camper yet.

Venting is the key. Even when I was tenting, I was told along time ago NEVER to button up a tent all the way, especially in the winter. Moisture is your enemy when you are trying to stay warm. Just the moisture you create breathing is enough to make you cold if it doesn't have anywhere to escape.

 

[homebrew2]

Ditto all the posts on using electric.......but I use the Oil filled radiator style.

Less chance of burns/fires, but this year I'll probably have a ceramic as well
for the radiant heat to take a chill off.

 

[LarryJ]

I don't have a furnace in mine, but I do have a Heat Pump, so I run that unless it's below 40, then I have a small electric heater. My windows have a setting to lock them in a vented mode, so I keep one of them on vent mode all the time. I also have an electric mattress pad, but haven't used it in the camper yet.

Venting is the key. Even when I was tenting, I was told along time ago NEVER to button up a tent all the way, especially in the winter. Moisture is your enemy when you are trying to stay warm. Just the moisture you create breathing is enough to make you cold if it doesn't have anywhere to escape.

I hear you on the venting and I installed two of the MaxAirs so I could leave my vents like 1/2 open year round w/o worrying about water. I we get a real heavy snow like 10" or more I might go out and close them some so as the snow melts there is less chance for water to get in thru the vent, but looking at them I don't think that could happen.

Plus now keeping a vent open a lot at each end of the trailer prevents that closed up smell and I leave my window over the sink that is about 1/3 back cracked so cooler air can get in there. I have some Weathetech shades on my Van and boy do they help keeping the heat down in the summer from the sun heating up that giant 6X16' flat roof I have in a dark green.

Larry

 

[3gr8kids]

Perfect timing for this thread! We just got home from camping in the White Mountains, NH and Friday night (the coldest of the weekend) was 30 degrees. We use a small oscillating ceramic heater, keep each bunk (we have three) canvas unzipped just slightly, and the TT was toasty as can be. Our propane heat didn't even kick on. I agree with most - if your paying for electric, why use your propane. I also am a believer in our PopUpGizmo's - they keep the heat in and we had no problems at all with condensation.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Here is something we put in our camper when it's not in use, you would be surprised at the water this stuff absorbs out of the air.
I've seen it at Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home depot and Camping World.

It would help to have this link.

http://www.damprid.dsiwebbuilder.com/index.asp?cat=40019

 

[disney4dan]

Perfect timing for this thread! We just got home from camping in the White Mountains, NH and Friday night (the coldest of the weekend) was 30 degrees. We use a small oscillating ceramic heater, keep each bunk (we have three) canvas unzipped just slightly, and the TT was toasty as can be. Our propane heat didn't even kick on. I agree with most - if your paying for electric, why use your propane. I also am a believer in our PopUpGizmo's - they keep the heat in and we had no problems at all with condensation.

Hey Karla, we were in the Whites this weekend as well and hope to post some pics later today. Could not have asked for better weather during the day! Took the family up to the top of Mt. Washington on the auto road, and can't believe how much fun that was.