Cold weather improvements

[Samorkand]

I am not entirely sure where to post this. I apologize if this isnt the best place.

Two years ago my dad made me an amazing deal on a camper. It is a 26' 2008 Summit. My dad and step mother took very good care of it and only used it a few times before they decided a 5th wheel with slide outs was a better way to go for them. I only paid $4000 for it. I have used it a few times in the summer but tend to use it more in the fall for hunting season. Normally Octobers in Wyoming aren't too crazy cold. This year was an exception. The furnace worked great but I had to run the generator all day pretty much to keep it warm and charge the batteries for the nights. I also noticed my walls sweat quite a bit. I really like the camper but unless I can figure something else out I may make it summer months only use and by a older slide in or pull behind with a non electric heater.

Here's a couple things I thought about doing.
1. Insulate the 6" or so under the camper. Not sure how much this will really help but cant hurt.
2. Install Solar panels. I know pretty much nothing about hooking this up or how to tell what I need or would work best. Would be good to be able to run the furnace off solar and charge batteries at the same time. Not sure if I can do that with out breaking the bank.
3. Wind turbine. Same as the solar. I know pretty much nothing about it.
4. No clue what to do about the walls sweating. I am afraid Ill wind up ruining the walls.

Heres a few pictures.

There last picture of the back side of the camper was when I pulled it on the mountain. The one showing light snow was 8 days later. The one where we shovelled snow around the bottom was 9 days. Was the worst early storm I have seen in WY in years. Definitely not normal but can happen.

 

[Dawgboy]

Woodstove!!


Brought to you by Cyberdyne Systems

 

[Jr_Explorer]

To learn everything you need to know about solar and charging go to Handy Bob:
http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/
http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/

For heating look to a combination of propane forced air:
http://www.adventuretrailers.com/heaters.html

and catalytic radiant:
http://www.uscatalytic.com/Products/Item?prodID=10320#.UnZ-j5TwKMw
http://ventedcatheater.com/2.html (Vented: http://ventedcatheater.com/6.html) Vented but draws 0.5 amps to achieve this venting.

Using a Webasto or Espar coolant heater you could rig a hot water radiant system and be toasty-roasty but have to carry a small diesel tank to fuel it.

 

[Bernard_Roofus]

To learn everything you need to know about solar and charging go to Handy Bob:
http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/
http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/
QUOTE]

Excellent Information!

 

[Samorkand]

I appreciate the comments and suggestions. I think I will look into a combo of Solar and catalytic radiant. Not for certain where I can mount the catalytic just yet but I'll figure something out. I can run the Catalytic during the day while I am out hunting and the Solar is charging the batteries for night running of the furnace.

Also wondering if I should change where my batteries are. Right now they are both outside on the tongue in the cold. I wondered if moving them in the storage area inside and some how warm them. I know I would need to vent some how as well.

Any of you had experience running a turbine? If you are familiar with WY the wind blows here all the time. Day or night. Just a thought. I read over the solar info. Ultimately I think solar once set up right would solve most of my problems.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

 

[Ozarker]

Wind turbines don't spin well in the woods, they also won't do well 8' off the ground where you have any significant terrain features, you need to get them up in the air. Then, it depends where you are as to average wind speeds, you'll need about 7 mph to get anything significant. They work well on boats off shore, kinda flat out there, but not so well inland without a tower. Not worth the money. Neither is solar, if you're relying on electric heat, you'll freeze.

Aluminum foil on the windows helps. Your issue isn't really to super insulate as it is to stop drafts and air flow, but you need ventilation. Make sure you have good weather stripping. Heavy carpet inside helps with a pad. Heavy curtains. If you have a large tarp, wrap it up with space provided on the roof.

Best way to heat it is a wood stove, less condensation, otherwise turn up the heat and pay for the gas, it will be cheaper than alternatives with gadgets and tearing into wallws, windows, doors, ceiling and floor to super insulate it. It is what it is! Nice trailer, great buy.

 

[Rainier70]

I put a Nu-Way 2000 propane stove into my cargo trailer. http://www.nuwaystove.com/model2000.php It works very well and uses no electricity unless you want to use a little 12v fan near it to move the air around. I never camp where there are hook ups so I needed something that didn't completely drain my battery even though I have solar to recharge.

I used a deck plate for a place to run my stove pipe through the wall. That way I can remove the outside pipe and completely close the hole to any dust etc. http://www.amazon.com/DECK-PLATE-Bl...TF8&qid=1385999989&sr=8-1&keywords=deck+plate If you have room for a small propane or even a small woodstove, I recommend it for winter camping. I also recommend a 3inch damper in the pipe.

I have camped for 4-5 days at a time when the temp at night was in the teens. I only use my stove on a very low setting at night, and it kept me very comfortable. My cargo trailer is insulated except for the floor (that will be soon). This is my unfinished/rough installation so far: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55219&start=45


The catalytic heaters add moisture to your inside air, besides varying levels of CO and CO2. Catalytic heaters must also be kept away from any dust contamination as dust will ruin the catalytic surface.

You need to increase your ventilation to get rid of the moisture of breathing, cooking, etc.

 

[jwiereng]

I put a Nu-Way 2000 propane stove into my cargo trailer. http://www.nuwaystove.com/model2000.php It works very well and uses no electricity unless you want to use a little 12v fan near it to move the air around. I never camp where there are hook ups so I needed something that didn't completely drain my battery even though I have solar to recharge.

I used a deck plate for a place to run my stove pipe through the wall. That way I can remove the outside pipe and completely close the hole to any dust etc. If you have room for a small propane or even a small woodstove, I recommend it for winter camping. I also recommend a 3inch damper in the pipe.

I have camped for 4-5 days at a time when the temp at night was in the teens. I only use my stove on a very low setting at night, and it kept me very comfortable. My cargo trailer is insulated except for the floor (that will be soon). This is my unfinished/rough installation so far: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55219&start=45


The catalytic heaters add moisture to your inside air, besides varying levels of CO and CO2. Catalytic heaters must also be kept away from any dust contamination as dust will ruin the catalytic surface.

You need to increase your ventilation to get rid of the moisture of breathing, cooking, etc.

NU-WAY stoves seem to be simple and solve the problem of condensation. Did you consider Dickinson NewPort Propane fireplaces? The have a double wall flue, intake and exhaust in one pipe and claim no interior oxygen depletion .

 

[jwiereng]

Bump - about a year later and this thread seems to have gone cold

 

[shortbus4x4]

A good woman and a two people sleeping bag. It helps if the woman likes you and wants to cuddle, after 25 years my wife tells me to keep my cold hands to myself.

 

[Adventurezoutside]

X2 on a wood stove, but a diesel heater is a close second

 

[ITTOG]

X2 on a wood stove, but a diesel heater is a close second

If I ever add heat to my slide-in I have thought about these two solutions. My preference is the wood stove but I question how long will it take to heat up the camper. Also afraid it will heat it up too high or have to get up in the middle of the night to add wood. Due to these items, I figure the diesel heater would be best?

 

[oldnslow]

If I ever add heat to my slide-in I have thought about these two solutions. My preference is the wood stove but I question how long will it take to heat up the camper. Also afraid it will heat it up too high or have to get up in the middle of the night to add wood. Due to these items, I figure the diesel heater would be best?

I think you are right.