Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Brrr it's cold outside! Winter Camping
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-08-2012, 03:37 PM   #1
Alwims
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
How do you heat your rig off grid?

Do you use the furnace exclusively or portable propane heaters or ? We are in South Texas, but it does get below freezing some nights.
 
Alwims is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:00 PM   #2
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
If we can't plug in, furnace is currently our only option.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:12 PM   #3
H. John Kohl
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,294
M.O.C. #311
Send a message via AIM to H. John Kohl Send a message via MSN to H. John Kohl Send a message via Yahoo to H. John Kohl
furnace but remember the furnace 12vdc fan draws a lot of current and can drain a battery so ensure you have enough battery storage.
H. John Kohl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:58 PM   #4
scattershot
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,041
M.O.C. #5329
We run the furnace on batter y power, but we have solar panels and they charge right back up again. I never trusted those propane heaters.
scattershot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 05:10 PM   #5
Alwims
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
I kind of figured the furnace was going to be the primary source of heat. We are still in the process of getting our solar system up and running. Hopefully will be fully operational in less than 2 weeks.
Alwims is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 06:41 AM   #6
Gorgeguy
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: The Dalles
Posts: 166
M.O.C. #11255
I am looking for a place to install a catalytic heater. I just got back from 8 days in the woods deer hunting and a friend had a catalytic in his trailer, it really worked good. There is not a lot of room in the Monty to mount one, about the only place is by the stairs going up into the bedroom. I am thinking of a double hinge system so it can be pointed out to the main coach area or into the bedroom area.
Gorgeguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 07:59 AM   #7
Art-n-Marge
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
Send a message via MSN to Art-n-Marge Send a message via Yahoo to Art-n-Marge
Off the grid we use the propane furnace as the only source of heat since the trailer ducting provides some pretty good distribution of the heat. Beware this uses lots of propane, so we've not done this for very long (2-3 days max). We use generators to recharge the batteries.

DW would love additional heat and we have dual Honda generators (4000w) to plug in the rig and to use for a portable 110/120v heater/fan that moves throughout the trailer to concentrate additional heat. It's not that good, and we need something better, but if it's that cold we have the option of returning home.
Art-n-Marge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 01:12 PM   #8
thekennys
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Santa Fe
Posts: 270
M.O.C. #11454
mr heater 3 brick infrared propane, only good below 10,000 ft
mikey
thekennys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 01:49 PM   #9
mlh
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,528
M.O.C. #2283
I'm a boon-docker most of the time. I have a Mr Buddy propane heater. I spliced into my oven propane line and installed a 10 foot line with a quick disconnect you an get from MR Buddy. The heater has the quick disconnect already on it and has 3 settings 4000, 8000 and 16000 BTUs. When you are done using it roll the line up under the cabinet and put the heater up.
Lynwood
__________________
www.harrellsprec.com
Lynwood Harrell
323 RL HC 2008 F250
mlh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 03:25 PM   #10
Alwims
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
Compared to the furnace, how much propane does the Mr Heater use? I'm not looking for exact usage, just a guess as to more or less. I've got one of the smaller older Mr Heaters, but have been looking at the newer bigger ones.
Alwims is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2012, 05:06 AM   #11
mlh
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,528
M.O.C. #2283
I think Ozz said the furnace is about 40% efficient. The propane heaters are over 90%.
Lynwood
__________________
www.harrellsprec.com
Lynwood Harrell
323 RL HC 2008 F250
mlh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2012, 07:34 AM   #12
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
The big advantage of the propane heater would be it doesn't use up the batteries.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2012, 01:41 PM   #13
simonsrf
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pagosa Springs
Posts: 3,711
M.O.C. #3120
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by DQDick

The big advantage of the propane heater would be it doesn't use up the batteries.
We have 6 batteries, and the furnace on all night really puts a huge drain on them...don't do it.

If you're going to spend lots of time off the grid, buy a good down comforter to use while you're sleeping. We never turn the heat on at night unless the temps are going to be freezing.

We use a Mr. Buddy 2-Brick model. Just be very careful about the amount of propane moisture that gets put into the rig. Also, make sure you buy a filter (~$10) that fits on the heater.
simonsrf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2012, 04:55 PM   #14
DonandJudy_12
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 729
M.O.C. #3206
We had a Kozy World propane heater on a tethered propane hose so we could move the heater around to concentrate heat in different areas- I believe Ols also has this arrangement- It's radiant heat- no fan- It will warm your tootsies very efficiently and economically- We have had ours for 8 or 9 years- We have it serviced annually to maintain efficientcy- JMHO- Don
DonandJudy_12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2012, 03:07 PM   #15
chd20go
Established Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Livingston
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #10826
In South Carolina we use the electric fireplace most of the time with small ceramic heater in b/room at night thermostat set at 68 for propane furnace. 35 last night with 30mph wind and furnace came on only three times for about 5 minutes per time. We are workampers so electric and propane is part of our pay, but even if not we would operate the same way!
chd20go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2012, 02:28 AM   #16
Alwims
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by chd20go

In South Carolina we use the electric fireplace most of the time with small ceramic heater in b/room at night thermostat set at 68 for propane furnace. 35 last night with 30mph wind and furnace came on only three times for about 5 minutes per time. We are workampers so electric and propane is part of our pay, but even if not we would operate the same way!
Hi Larry, welcome to the forum. Off grid or boondocking means having no electricity to plug into. Your way works great if you are on grid with some place to plug your cord into. When off grid/boondocking we have to be a lot more creative with electrical usage. My off grid setup is 460 watts of Solar panels charging 4 6 volt Golf Cart Batteries with a 2300 watt inverter to run the 110 volt AC loads. I've got plans and am gathering material to build a solar heater for use during the day.

I've got a like new blue flame heater, similar to the brick type but flame to heat the air, at home in Missouri that I am going to bring back when we visit in 2 weeks. I'm going to run a special vent from the outside to it similar to like they do with mobile homes for fireplaces. It runs on a 100 lb propane tank. We used it as our only heat one winter during an ice storm for about 2 weeks and it used about 2 tanks of propane in that time heating a 2000 Sq' home. Granted we did close off rooms we weren't using, but I was impressed with it efficiency. I figure venting moisture will be cracking a ceiling vent. we've got one vent in the kitchen that doesn't have any kind of fan in it.
Alwims is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2012, 08:57 AM   #17
7.3Ford
Montana Master
 
7.3Ford's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
Alan,

I an clocked the current draw on the furnace, it is around 10 Amps. We haven't been boondocking in really cold areas. We use the heater to take the chill off in the morning.

__________________
2015 Montana 3611RL - 2020 RAM 3500 SRW 4X4
John Walker, Indian Land, SC
Blog https://RoVIngWalkers.blogspot.com/
7.3Ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2013, 02:31 PM   #18
BigSkys
Established Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Saint Cloud
Posts: 30
M.O.C. #10086
Hello to all, its has been awhile since iv posted on the forum, I know this is an old thread, but I have been wondering if it is at all possible to put a 2nd heat exchanger into the stock RV heater to try to get more then the 40% efficiency out the it. I hate heating the rest of the camp ground with the other 60%. Just a thought.
BigSkys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2013, 05:57 PM   #19
JLH
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: West Jordan
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #13280
The best thing I ever installed in a trailer was a Wave 6 catalytic heater. Where a trailers furnace won't last a full night the Wave will last for several days and nights on even a 20lb bottle of propane.

We tried the Mister Heater but it would not stay lit at our 7500' camp (Maybe I had a bad one). We have used the Wave up to 9000' which isn't uncommon in Utah.

Again, the best single mod for a trailer.
JLH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2013, 07:51 PM   #20
Neil.M
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location:
Posts: 310
M.O.C. #12816
We have 2 Olympian Wave heaters. One mounted below the furnace controls in the stair way and another connected to a quick release coming out next to the vacuum in the living room. These are the smaller Wave 3 but keeps us toasty warm and they sip propane. Totally safe for indoor use but it is recommended to crack a window when using them. I do, but with all the leaks around the slides, I'm not sure how necessary it is. Best price I have found for them is on Amazon. Worth looking at.
Neil.M is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Inverter/Battery life, off-grid feedback Ozz Solar, Charging Systems, Batteries and Electrical 5 09-28-2012 12:37 PM
Electric Heat - Cheap Heat Captain Joe Additions & Improvements 10 04-25-2011 03:20 PM
Ac heat pump vs heat strip swanny Additions & Improvements 9 08-20-2009 01:57 PM
Electrical Grid +Boosters uhftx Additions & Improvements 1 07-06-2006 07:42 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.