Ideas? Need a hard-side with four season insulation and propane heat.

Hi everyone I am looking for a camper that I can survive in, during winter. I don't think I can drop 15k on a Artic Fox. I'm looking at making my ski cum dream become a reality. Similiar to this article. in some of the photos in the article below I see older campers parked in the lot next to him. I just don't want to freeze to death :) anyone I know you guys will be helpful. Thank you!
 

krj

Observer
Nice!
Both to your 'name' and the wording of your question!
While I don't have a direct suggestion in regards to make/model, I can pass along some info.
I've camped at Rogers Pass, BC in a generic S&S camper in sub 0 degree temps, with no problems. That being said, I dried (& kept) both my ski cloths & boots (phew!) in a friends hotel room & warmed up/cleaned off in the hotel's outside hot tub! (In case you've never been there, there's a hotel at the Pass you can stay at, put your ski boots on in your room, click into your skiis in the parking lot, & go skiing)
My factory heater did fine keeping me warm, but I had a 0 degree bag and was plugged into electric (to help my furnace blower motor) through my friends hotel window.
In my limited cold weather camping with a stock camper, it seems to me the weak points (beside the obvious lack of insulation, I'll get to that later), is the necessity of battery power to run the blower fan on the stock heater, and the necessity of ventilation, especially when trying to dry clothes and boots.
While my current camper is not set up for this, I've talked to numerous folks, both ski camping & (in of all places, Baja!) that have their 'stock' campers setup for winter camping. They all had an auxiliary power source (mostly small generators) to run the blower on their stock furnace; or a very expensive, but efficient, diesel heater. They dried their gear (mostly with boot driers, ambient heat, and positive ventilation) in their bathrooms. Invariably, they all did ALOT of insulating with foil-backed foam, both on obvious places like windows, but also on exterior walls and small places like exterior access doors, etc.
Hope this helps, pray for snow!
I like big dumps!
Kevin
 

Christian P.

Expedition Leader
Staff member
We spent most of last winter in our BigFoot camper in Lake Tahoe - the heat was not a problem...with the basement and the insulation, it even keeps the water tank warm.

In my opinion there is no better option out there for the price for what you want to do.
 
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uriedog

metal melter
I am building a camper for the same reason. Its actually almost done now, just a few more things left to do. It's a 1983 Valley 7.5 built in B.C. Canada.

It has a gravity heater that requires no power to work, and heats it very well. I have not been able to test it yet at really cold temps (-28'c) But at -10 it keeps it above 20'c on low almost 40'c at the roof. A small fan to help circulate should help mix up the air. Can't see there being any issue with warmth. I replaced allot of the old insulation and added 3/4' styrofoam sm under the cab over bed and under the benches.

I have a battery installed to run lights and a laptop.

Just over $500 invested so far

build thread for truck and camper

DSC_0865.JPG
 
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Wyowanderer

Explorer
When I had my Mitchell "Ice Fishing Hut", I added some furring strips to the floor and sides and put foam insulation in the spaces between, and it worked pretty well to keep the lower section (where my feet lived) warmer. I camped in it at -20F and never had any trouble keeping warm.
No pics, sorry, so according to the rules, it didn't happen.:sombrero:
 

mpike

New member
A 3rd BF camper devotee. Check out rvnet.com for many winterization tips. The Olympus Wave 3's 1500-3000 BTU's don't need a fan and will replace or supplement your forced air heater. Just give them some ventilation.
My 94 BF 3000 has r-12 insulation, but weighs 3000 lbs. We have made it work on our F250 but are admittedly overloaded to the max.
Mike
 
Mike,

Thanks for your help. I have decided I am going to go with a Bigfoot. Possibly an Alaskan if its out there but probably a Bigfoot. Now the hunt is on.
 

mudluscious

New member
NL

I have a Northern Lite and its rocks in the sub zero zones....pretty similar to BF's, but a little more attention to detail.
 

motrhed

Observer
We have an '06 Corsair and have been comfortable at -20C. It is a hard wall that has dual pane windows, heated basement/tanks, dual 6volt batteries, and is well insulated. The biggest issue with heat is that it runs on propane which produces condensation as a by-product... NOT good for cold weather comfort (diesel fired heaters don't have this issue). The only commercially available truck camperish unit available (that I know of) that is built to handle true 4 season camping in relative comfort is an Earthroamer, which is beyond most budgets.
 

18seeds

Explorer
I've camped in some of the coldest weather in a pop up lite-craft as well a hard sided Northstar. My advice:

- Dual Heat (Forced Propane and Wave 3 or 6 catalytic heater)
- Dual 6V batteries (Try to locating them somewhere where they have some insulation)
- Home depot or Lowes Insulation
- Honda EU2000 Generator
- 1500W Ceramic Space Heater

With all the above you will be hanging out in a t-shirt
 

Jeep

Supporting Sponsor: Overland Explorer Expedition V
Bigfoot, Northern Lite, Kodiak, or any other full fibreglass camper are about the best (had 2 out of 3) Arctic Fox is just a cold, leaky, windy pile of commercial camper with a name that implies otherwise (had one). I've seen the good ones around here, a little older but they are still in great condition for $5-6K
 

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