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Topic: Random Questions on Heating (Read 1232 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #25

Jason,

We live in Texas.  We have never winterized in the 8 years we've owned our coach.  I depend entirely on using a combination of small thermostatically controlled electric heaters PLUS the two stock propane heaters.  This has worked well in TEXAS winters, which as you say are not normally too severe.  But, we did have that little "cold snap" last winter that tossed the Lone Star State back to the Ice Age, so stuff does happen.  Anyway, our coach survived even last winter's deep freeze in perfect shape.

Here is my electric heater setup: 
1.  One small heater on the dash to warm the windshield.  Helps prevent condensation on the inside glass.  No thermostat - I turn ON and OFF manually as required.
2.  One small heater on the floor in front of the driver seat blowing toward the firewall.  Keeps the Allison ECU warm.  No thermostat - ditto above comment.
3.  One medium heater in the kitchen area. Thermostat control - turned ON all the time it's cold.
4.  One medium heater in the bathroom.  Thermostat control - turned ON all the time it's cold.
5.  One medium heater in the wet bay on the curb side (water pump compartment on our coach).  Thermostat control - turned ON all the time it's cold.
6.  One medium heater in the wet bay on the driver side (where the water faucet and dump connections are located).  Thermostat control - turned ON all the time it's cold.

Our coach is plugged into 50A parked at our house.  I'm sorry to say it sits outside totally exposed to the weather (coach abuse).  I keep all the electric heaters set on low fan speed and adjusted so they come on at about 55 degrees F.  I am sure they must occasionally be all running simultaneosly, but have never had any problem with the combined amp draw popping any circuit breakers.

My propane heaters are set to backup the electric heaters.  I keep them turned on all winter, with the (mechanical) thermostats set to the lowest setting possible, which is roughly 50 degrees.  90% of the time most winters the electric heaters keep the coach above 50 degrees.  In severe cold, or if we lose grid electric power, then the propane heaters will (hopefully) kick on when coach interior temps drop below 50 degrees.  I test run the heaters once a month in the winter to be sure they are functioning properly.  As I said, this routine has always worked for us.

We do not travel in extreme cold months or Arctic conditions, so I have little experience in that regard.  However, if we did I would just use the same system on the road.  If plugged in, I would run the electric heaters.  If dry camping, we'd use the propane heaters.  In a emergency situation, I would kick on the generator, fire up the big engine, and use every heat source available (including dash automotive heater).

On our coach, only the rear propane heater is ducted to the wet bay area, so obviously it must be running to keep the water pipes and holding tanks warm.  There might be times when the interior of the coach would be too warm to kick the rear propane heater on, but at the same time the wet bay might get too cold with the propane heater off.  I don't know if this is a common problem.

Link below to the "small" and "medium" size heaters I use.  Many different brands and sizes available in this product category - look around online and take your pick.

Lasko 200W MyHeat Personal Desk/Tabletop Space Heater with Simple Controls,...

Amazon.com: Lasko 754201 Small Portable 1500W Electric Ceramic Space Heater...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
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: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #26
Chuck, wouldn't it be nice if our coaches could be setup like our houses?
The thermostat in our house has a fan only option that lets us circulate the air in the house and basement without turning on the furnace or the AC.
For example, right now it is Nov. 3 and the temp outside is 26 degrees and, because we like to sleep in a cold room, our bedroom temp is 45 degrees with the bedroom door closed and the patio door opened a bit (depending on wind direction). All this, along with the bedroom registers closed.
We run, while we are here and up, a small electric fireplace in the L.R. and the ceiling fan rotating to draw the air up and over to the walls and then back down. Our house is small--about 1,400 square feet but 6" wall studs and well insulated, built in 1994.
We haven't turned our furnace on yet and we have had below freezing temps the last two-three weeks. The ceiling fan works very well to mix the air. We can sit in the L.R. and not need quilts or even blankets to help keep us warm.
Rocket doesn't even go near the electric fireplace.
Point I am making is wouldn't it be nice and give some peace of mind if the warm air in the coach could be circulated thruout the critical areas without resorting to a "dozen" different heaters? Close able vents or ducting? Doesn't more electric heaters increase the possibility of a catastrophic failure?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #27
Point I am making is wouldn't it be nice and give some peace of mind if the warm air in the coach could be circulated thruout the critical areas without resorting to a "dozen" different heaters? Close able vents or ducting?
Agree - would be nice.  Seems do-able with some Okie (or Aggie) engineering...cut some holes in floor and install small 12V fans.

As I said, we never "test" the cold weather survivability of our coach.  Also, I'm much too wimpy to live where you do.

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: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #28
Aggie? AGGIE??
I am not offended. Why? Because I went to the Sam Houston Institute of Technology.
Good old SH**!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #29
Our '99 has 3 zones, fan only option for zone one and two. This is for air or heat. Has 12 volt fans at the floor under the couch and sink.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #30
On a similar vein, how do you use the coach when going through colder climates? Are the heater(s) enough to not freeze anything? Example, let's say it gets below freezing at Q, or you're doing a trip to Alaska, how do you prevent the coach from freezing? Obviously you cannot winterize it because you're using it.  I know there are ducts to the lower bay, but is keeping the cabin area normal temperature enough to prevent freezing?
So for me I would plan on how much you can control. If your coach is in operation you should have a idea on its temperature. In storage probably not. You run into problems while operating you will be fully aware and able to drain or clear lines before you actually have a problem. I keep a fitting in the reel bay to plug the water hose into the coach air to pressure drain the lines. In cold conditions you need to prepare for the worst case senerio or willing to pay the price of repairs. Having the capability to winterize when needed is mandatory for me. My coach having a aqua hot also changes requirements. 10k in damage is not acceptable to me, although others will profit from my mistakes.
Scott

Re: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #31
You guys who have AquaHot are playing in a different league.  Those of us with (only) propane heaters have fewer options for dealing with severely cold temps.

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: Random Questions on Heating

Reply #32
When it's going to go below freezing I close both bathroom doors, turn the Aqua-hot
on electric and the bathroom thermostat on about forty and the wet bay on just
above freezing. For the front of the coach I leave an electric heater on. I have bubble
wrap insulation on the windshield and in behind the wet bay doors I have 2 inches of
styrofoam insulation. I also sprayed the back of the wet bay wall with urethane foam.
When I'm dry camping and not in the coach and at night I leave the bedroom and
main room a 50 degrees and close the bathroom doors and have the bathroom at 70. 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport