Cold weather heating possible with slide outs in?

[Jerry337]

My wife and I are preparing to leave CO for warmer weather in our 2017 337RLS shortly, and it is supposed to snow with temps dropping to sub freezing before we depart. Would it be possible to leave the thermostat on say 45 degrees overnight with the slide outs in without damage or creating a potential fire hazard to the RV? We have already loaded canned goods and other liquids that might break if frozen. I'd rather not leave the slide outs out as we're not staying in the trailer and I will then have to remove snow from the roof before departing.
Thanks everyone for your help!!

 

[txloser]

Depends on where the vents are. In my trailer, none are obscured by the slides or anything else when all closed up. I’d do it if I thought it may help. In my last trailer, one slide went over two floor vents went closed. In that trailer, fire wasn’t a consideration, but the furnace overheating was. My dog would lay on the vents as it ran, and never burst into flames. Which is nice.

I’d imagine if you pack it with heat late in the evening, and then have it set to 45 or even 55, I bet it won’t run that much all closed up.

 

[Jerry337]

Great info, thanks so much!

 

[MtnGuy]

If I remember correctly in our 337 RLS, the vents in the living area are under the back and front of the island, unobstructed by the slides. The bedroom slide is beside the bed, so that slide should be good also. The return air is under the hutch, but there should be plenty of room between that and the kitchen.

I ran the furnace on cold travel days during lunch and my afternoon nap with the slides in.

 

[Second Chance]

We did that several times in our 337. All the vents in the living area are along the centerline and not under slides. In the front bedroom, it's on the wall with plenty of clearance.

Rob

 

[Jerry337]

Your observations are correct and none of the vents should be covered with the slides in. This is GREAT news as I hate the idea of getting up on a snow covered roof to sweep snow off.
Thanks everyone!

 

[ajg617]

Been curious about this also - manual has a warning saying do not run the furnace with the slide-outs retracted. Not sure why since the vents and returns are not obstructed.

 

[Riverbug]

We have a different model but no vents are hindered with the slide out retracted. We always run the furnace starting two days before we leave in winter (MN), on our overnight stops where we cannot put the slide out, and when we return in winter. Never had an issue. I would think if the air coming from the vents were hot enough to burn something, those cheapie plastic vent covers would surely melt or deform.

 

[Lloyd_TX]

We did that several times in our 337. All the vents in the living area are along the centerline and not under slides. In the front bedroom, it's on the wall with plenty of clearance.

Rob

Did you travel (move) with your furnace running?

Thanks,

Barb

 

[MtnGuy]

Did you travel (move) with your furnace running?

Thanks,

Barb

We did a few times when traveling below freezing.

 

[Lloyd_TX]

We have a different model but no vents are hindered with the slide out retracted. We always run the furnace starting two days before we leave in winter (MN), on our overnight stops where we cannot put the slide out, and when we return in winter. Never had an issue. I would think if the air coming from the vents were hot enough to burn something, those cheapie plastic vent covers would surely melt or deform.

Do you run the furnace while you are on the road, traveling?

Thanks,

Barb

 

[Jason-Texas]

We have a 2019 337 and we close the slides and run the heater when away and expecting a freeze, set thermostat on 50.

 

[Riverbug]

Do you run the furnace while you are on the road, traveling?

Thanks,

Barb

We do not. Our furnace is mounted on the side of the RV and I don't think the wind would do well for the flame. I don't know that for sure. But we always run with the propane tanks shut off.

 

[Second Chance]

Did you travel (move) with your furnace running?

Thanks,

Barb

Not on purpose. Cold air moving around the rig at highway speeds would suck the LP tanks dry in no time. We tried not to travel on super cold days and, since we only drove 4 - 5 hours a day on travel days, the inside of the rig never got dangerously cold before we got set up again.

Rob

 

[Lloyd_TX]

Not on purpose. Cold air moving around the rig at highway speeds would suck the LP tanks dry in no time. We tried not to travel on super cold days and, since we only drove 4 - 5 hours a day on travel days, the inside of the rig never got dangerously cold before we got set up again.

Rob

Thanks, very good to know!!!