User Tag List

Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 36
  1. #1
    Rolling Along
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Worland, Wyoming
    Posts
    568
    Mentioned
    13 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Auxiliary Heater option

    So, winter is officially over, BUT I was less than happy camping in the cold last winter, so I have been thinking of adding an aux. heater and I got to thinking about some of the chinese diesel fired heaters as a good way to supplement the propane heater. They have a strange way of rating them, 5kw is equal to 17000 btu's, I am thinking of the 8kw version. They will run on 2.5 gallons of diesel for over 24 hours. It would be easy to mount one in the basement storage area and duct the heat into the interior or even just into the basement and underbelly in very cold weather. Any thoughts?
    2023 GMC 3500HD CCLB DRW Duramax L5P, Banks Derringer/Idash/CAI 60 gallon fuel transfer tank
    2018 Solitude 310GK with Kodiak disc brakes 4000 lb Dexter springs, frame stiffeners
    RETIRED Maint Supervisor, Certified Welder, ASE Master Tech, Owner tire shop

  2. #2
    Long Hauler D2Reid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Somewhere, USA
    Posts
    2,616
    Blog Entries
    3
    Mentioned
    30 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    My only thought is CO2 poisoning. I know I am wrong, but I am skittish about it.
    Dallas
    2017 Momentum 376TH, 2019 Ford F450, Dual Rear Wheel, 4x4, diesel.
    2015 Harley-Davidson Street, XG750

  3. #3
    Rolling Along
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Worland, Wyoming
    Posts
    568
    Mentioned
    13 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The diesel heaters vent the exhaust to the outside, so there should not be any CO2 intrusion, but a Co2 monitor would still be a good idea. These are very popular to heat the cabs of semi trucks so they don't have to idle the engines.
    2023 GMC 3500HD CCLB DRW Duramax L5P, Banks Derringer/Idash/CAI 60 gallon fuel transfer tank
    2018 Solitude 310GK with Kodiak disc brakes 4000 lb Dexter springs, frame stiffeners
    RETIRED Maint Supervisor, Certified Welder, ASE Master Tech, Owner tire shop

  4. #4
    Site Sponsor Mark_303RLS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    37
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    We camp from January to April in southern Ontario Canada. We have one 1500w oil filled electrically heated space heater and two 1500w ceramic space heaters. When we arrive for the weekend we'll fire everything up. It usually takes about two hours for the trailer to be comfortable. After the trailer is up to temp. the propane furnace rarely runs. Typical temperatures are from -10c/14f to -20c/-4f.
    Cambridge, Ontario, Canada Eh!
    2018 303RLS
    2008 Silverado 2500 HD Duramax

  5. #5
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    115
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    We tied into the propane line at the oven and installed an olympian wave heater. the line comes through the bottom of the pantry. as a bonus, when not using the heater, it stores perfectly under the couch.
    2016 Reflection 303RLS
    Bedford County, VA

  6. #6
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    where ever my trailer is parked
    Posts
    259
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I have been looking at the BLUE FLAME type heaters, myself, or the propane brick heaters. Everyone that I talk to say the are the best, for heating an RV. you already have the propane on board.
    2012 Chevy 3500 DRW DURAMAX
    2016 Momentum 397th
    TOY 2013 800 RZR LE

  7. #7
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    8,880
    Mentioned
    85 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Nuffsaid View Post
    The diesel heaters vent the exhaust to the outside, so there should not be any CO2 intrusion, but a Co2 monitor would still be a good idea. These are very popular to heat the cabs of semi trucks so they don't have to idle the engines.
    These are also popular in boats where a supply of diesel fuel is readily available. Providing diesel fuel for an RV heater would be another complication. There are marine systems that heat water which is then circulated to radiators at different locations. If you regularly camp in winter conditions, this might be worth considering.

    Any heater that has combustion in a closed living space, is putting potentially dangerous combustion products into that space and using up the oxygen. They are all depending on sufficient outside air leakage into the living space to replenish the oxygen and dilute the combustion products, particularly the carbon monoxide. They all have warnings about not using these heaters while sleeping. Different jurisdictions have different make-up air requirements and some allow these heaters in living spaces and some don't. This is a good read for further information on this https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extensio...ances-aen-204/

    The best plan is definitely to vent the combustion exhaust outside the RV.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  8. #8
    Big Traveler
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,099
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Nuffsaid View Post
    The diesel heaters vent the exhaust to the outside, so there should not be any CO2 intrusion, but a Co2 monitor would still be a good idea. These are very popular to heat the cabs of semi trucks so they don't have to idle the engines.
    CO is carbon monoxide. CO2 is Carbon Dioxide. While too much of both is bad, I believe CO is the chemical that would be most concerning.
    MidwestCamper

    Jim & Dawn
    Near Milford, Michigan
    2017 Imagine 2600RB
    2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4x4

  9. #9
    Big Traveler
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,099
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Cate&Rob View Post
    These are also popular in boats where a supply of diesel fuel is readily available. Providing diesel fuel for an RV heater would be another complication. There are marine systems that heat water which is then circulated to radiators at different locations. If you regularly camp in winter conditions, this might be worth considering.

    Any heater that has combustion in a closed living space, is putting potentially dangerous combustion products into that space and using up the oxygen. They are all depending on sufficient outside air leakage into the living space to replenish the oxygen and dilute the combustion products, particularly the carbon monoxide. They all have warnings about not using these heaters while sleeping. Different jurisdictions have different make-up air requirements and some allow these heaters in living spaces and some don't. This is a good read for further information on this https://www.abe.iastate.edu/extensio...ances-aen-204/

    The best plan is definitely to vent the combustion exhaust outside the RV.

    Rob
    Rob,
    I've often thought about making a hot water kerosene fueled tent heater but it never happened. Long ago, my Dad and I used to 4 wheel into remote areas while turkey hunting where we tent camped. Some years were really cold. Things change since this is now done with a motorhome.
    Heating unit could be outside while hot water could be pumped into the sleeping area and through a radiator. Still think there could be value in a system like this if it was cost effective.
    Jim
    MidwestCamper

    Jim & Dawn
    Near Milford, Michigan
    2017 Imagine 2600RB
    2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab 4x4

  10. #10
    Rolling Along
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Worland, Wyoming
    Posts
    568
    Mentioned
    13 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by MidwestCamper View Post
    CO is carbon monoxide. CO2 is Carbon Dioxide. While too much of both is bad, I believe CO is the chemical that would be most concerning.
    I stand corrected, I meant CO, CO2 is just a term I am more familiar with when used in welding gases.

    To further clarify the unit I am talking about, here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Happybuy-Moto...omotive&sr=1-3

    This unit has a vent that goes to the outside and also brings in air for combustion from the outside. If made properly, it should be as safe as the rv heater. The reason I would like a diesel fuel heater is mostly for convenience. I have a 60 gallon diesel tank in the bed of my truck with a pump. Last Christmas we parked our Solitude in our Daughters front yard in Belgrade, MT, it snowed and stayed cold. I brought two 100 lb propane bottles with me and each one only lasted about a week. Our electricity was limited to a 20 amp circuit, so if the fireplace was running we couldn't use much else. Electric heat doesn't keep the plumbing warm in the belly. There will still be a 12 volt draw almost equal to the main furnace. We had a hard time maintaining 70 degrees inside of our 310GK even after I added foil faced bubble wrap to the windows. The large amount of glass in this model lets in a lot of cold and adds a lot of heat in the sun. Insulated window coatings is also on my list. Spray foaming my frame rails did help with keeping the belly area warmer, but a lot of cold intrusion still comes from the slide out floors. All I can say is GD's R-15 insulation rating in the slideout floors from foil insulation is more like R-1. I found it very interesting to go around the inside of my 310gk with an infrared thermometer finding all of the cold spots. Another cold spot comes from the solid steps, cold crepes into the trailer from the outside metal and the inside metal was typically in the low 30's when it was in the teens outside. Pretty soon this thread will change to keeping cool in the summer, LOL.
    Last edited by Nuffsaid; 04-13-2019 at 08:42 AM.
    2023 GMC 3500HD CCLB DRW Duramax L5P, Banks Derringer/Idash/CAI 60 gallon fuel transfer tank
    2018 Solitude 310GK with Kodiak disc brakes 4000 lb Dexter springs, frame stiffeners
    RETIRED Maint Supervisor, Certified Welder, ASE Master Tech, Owner tire shop

Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

DISCLAIMER:This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Grand Design RV, LLC or any of its affiliates. This is an independent site.