Heated tanks while driving?

BoulderKJ

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RV LIFE Pro
Joined
Jul 29, 2024
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7
Location
Erie, CO
We recently purchased a Reflection 303. My sales guy didn't have an answer for this question. If we are using the trailer in the winter, is there a way to keep the tanks heated while driving long distances? I was told that there are 12v pads on the tanks in addition to furnace ducts. Will those power from the connection to truck while on the road?

Thanks,
 
We recently purchased a Reflection 303. My sales guy didn't have an answer for this question. If we are using the trailer in the winter, is there a way to keep the tanks heated while driving long distances? I was told that there are 12v pads on the tanks in addition to furnace ducts. Will those power from the connection to truck while on the road?

Thanks,

It's not likely the truck would be able to provide enough power (12VDC) through the 7 pin connector to run both the heated pads and the furnace on propane. If however, you have a large enough Amp Hour battery onboard in the trailer, it may be possible, depending on the length of the trip (timewise) and the outside air temperature the trailer is exposed to and for how long, as well as how well the trailer is insulated or not. All of those factors will determine how much "run time" the furnace will have, and heating pads will likely be on during the entire time of travel. This might be the perfect place for a couple of LiFePO batteries or a single large one.
 
yep what X said. It would mostly power from your trailers battery, what you could do it add a DC to DC charger, they will boost the power to 30 or 40 amps, but that requires work on the tow vehicle to work safely.
 
Bear in mind that I have a fairly robust off-grid electrical system, so my practice may not fit your trailer. If the temperature outside is likely going to get into the 30's I have the heating pads turned on. They are thermostatically controlled, so they don't actually draw any current unless the temperature at the thermostat is below the cut-in point. Yes, I have had them on while driving. Since my batteries are 24V, I had to cut the charge line from the truck, so whenever we're not plugged in to shore power we're running on the batteries, which are charged by the sun.
 

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