Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Heating the lower bays (Read 707 times) previous topic - next topic

Heating the lower bays

I have a couple of questions about heating the bays in cold weather. I am trying to get a head start on keeping from freezing before heading to AZ in January without winterizing the coach. I can put space heaters in the bays if it gets to cold.
1) Does the heat pumps heat the lower bays, which one or both?
2) Same question on the propane heaters.
Ron Clark
Sherwood,Arkansas
1999 U 295 40 foot Build # 5550
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Motorcade # 18173
FMCA # F485593

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #1 –
If your (newer) coach is set up like ours, the bedroom (rear) propane heater is ducted into the wet bay to provide heat to that area.  There is a heater duct at each end of the wet bay.  Our front propane heater does not provide heat ducts to any storage bay.

If by "heat pump" you mean the roof air conditioners, then no, they do not heat the storage bays.

We just had a recent discussion on this topic:

winter coach?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
If your (newer) coach is set up like ours, the bedroom (rear) propane heater is ducted into the wet bay to provide heat to that area.  There is a heater duct at each end of the wet bay.  Our front propane heater does not provide heat ducts to any storage bay.

If by "heat pump" you mean the roof air conditioners, then no, they do not heat the storage bays.

We just had a recent discussion on this topic: 

winter coach?
Thanks Chuck I should have done a search but didn't. sorry yes I was talking about the roof A/C
Ron Clark
Sherwood,Arkansas
1999 U 295 40 foot Build # 5550
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Motorcade # 18173
FMCA # F485593

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #3 –
Ron, you have two or more months of potentially freezing weather coming before you leave. Winterizing will cost $20 and n hour of your time to do, Dewinterizing takes a couple hours to flush and fill.  Worth the freedom from anxiety.

If not drain all the water lines, empty the fresh, gray and black tanks, hook up an air line to the water hose and blow everything out with 20-30 psi pressure.  Open and close every faucet, hot and cold, toilet, drinking water, drain lines, everything until only air comes out.  Put a small electric heater on either side of the wet bay and one in the main bay.  Put in a remote readable thermostat in each bay so you can verify that the heat is working.  Put a light someplace you can see it that if off indicates that the coach power is off.

If you don't winterize keep a close watch on things and have a backup plan.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #4 –
Use several remote wireless thermometers to be sure. Use personal heaters

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #5 –
Ron,
We just spent a week in temps ranging from 20 to -9 degrees.  As others have said, we put a remote temp sensor in the water pump bay.  I put a small "heat cube" electric heater in the dump bay.  I had it set on medium.  The lowest the bays ever got was 49 degrees on the -9 degree night.  When the inside furnace kicked on, you could watch the temps in the stoarge bay raise 10 degrees.

I have a feeling we would have been fine without the electric heater in the bay, but did it for same measure.

The FT was great in the cold weather. We were very comforatble inside and had zero issues from the cold.

We also had the Block Heater on.  When it came time to go home, the temps were in the 20's and it fired right up.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #6 –
If you keep your water heater turned on all the time (in cold conditions) it will add a bit of heat to the water pump bay.

(Talking about propane or electric water heater of course...not AquaHot.)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #7 –
Some more discussion:

Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

But Roger also has excellent advice.  Winterize if at all possible.  GREATLY reduces the risk of freeze damage which can be very hard/expensive to fix.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #8 –
Thanks to everyone that has responded to my post. Lots of good advice and suggestions. I have the coach parked next to the house with 50 amp service so I will use several of the suggestions that have been listed. I know I don't want any problems with freezing pipes.
Thanks again for all the help,
I hope to see/meet a lot of you at Q this winter.
Ron 
Ron Clark
Sherwood,Arkansas
1999 U 295 40 foot Build # 5550
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Motorcade # 18173
FMCA # F485593
 

Re: Heating the lower bays

Reply #9 –
If blowing out the pipes use an oil less air compressor, I find the ice maker to be the one thing that is problematic when it comes to draining the system.
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!