Periodic Use of my 2600RB

[GooseSlapper]

I'm in a work situation where I currently use my Grand Design 2600RB on a periodic basis. I have it in a park in Western Washington state and I stay in it for several days every two or three weeks. Otherwise I return to my home in Vegas (it's a work thing).

I do store food and other supplies in the trailer so I don't want it to get too hot (which it can do about three months of the year there). For that, it seems like the fix is to leave my air-conditioning at the highest set point (86 degrees) and let it go at that.

My larger concern will be winter. I don't want to winterize the trailer every time I leave the dang thing, and don't want to fuss with "un" winterizing it every time I come back. Leaving the furnace on low gives makes me a bit uncomfortable as it may run out of gas unattended and it just seems like a little bit of a dicey idea regardless. So far, I was thinking of leaving an electric oil based heater on as that seemed the safest unattended. Also, using a heating hose for water.

It doesn't get that cold in Western Washington, but there can be cold spells with it in the teens. Any thoughts on this (winter or summer)?

 

[NB Canada]

A space heater isn’t going to keep your water from freezing

At our seasonal site if the park hears your a/c on while you are not there they will be calling you to turn it off.

 

[GooseSlapper]

A space heater isn’t going to keep your water from freezing

At our seasonal site if the park hears your a/c on while you are not there they will be calling you to turn it off.

The space heater is a concern. I get an electric bill from the park I'm at so periodic air-conditioning use - even when not there - shouldn't be an issue.

 

[lineman1234]

I like electric heaters, personally no problem leaving them unattended.


For leaving a month or more in the winter, its not that hard to just run rv antifreeze through the system or have it set up to have a small compressor able to adjust the psi and blow out the system each time.

An added real full battery disconnect would also be helpful and shut the electric off at the pedestal.

More work but nothing to worry about but rodents.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

A space heater isn’t going to keep your water from freezing

At our seasonal site if the park hears your a/c on while you are not there they will be calling you to turn it off.

It shouldn't matter what he has running he's paying the electric.

 

[SSROSS]

If you wish to use your furnace so you can keep the underbelly area warm, most of the propane dealers will drop off a 150 or 200 gallon tank and set it up to hook your trailer too. I did this while I was living in my trailer during the time I was building my house. You could set the furnace at 60 degrees or so and I think it would be enough to keep things warm for the most part. Also you can set up a program with the propane company to do auto fill on the tank, that is what I did. That way you don’t have to worry about the tank going empty.

 

[NB Canada]

It shouldn't matter what he has running he's paying the electric.

Yes. We know that now “after” I made my post

 

[Randy Beasley]

I'm in a work situation where I currently use my Grand Design 2600RB on a periodic basis. I have it in a park in Western Washington state and I stay in it for several days every two or three weeks. Otherwise I return to my home in Vegas (it's a work thing).

I do store food and other supplies in the trailer so I don't want it to get too hot (which it can do about three months of the year there). For that, it seems like the fix is to leave my air-conditioning at the highest set point (86 degrees) and let it go at that.

My larger concern will be winter. I don't want to winterize the trailer every time I leave the dang thing, and don't want to fuss with "un" winterizing it every time I come back. Leaving the furnace on low gives makes me a bit uncomfortable as it may run out of gas unattended and it just seems like a little bit of a dicey idea regardless. So far, I was thinking of leaving an electric oil based heater on as that seemed the safest unattended. Also, using a heating hose for water.

It doesn't get that cold in Western Washington, but there can be cold spells with it in the teens. Any thoughts on this (winter or summer)?

Your furnace will circulate the heat through out your RV keeping out of the way areas warmer than a space heater. Possibly have the local propane supplier set a large tank near your RV and connect to it. In my fifth wheel I have used a space heater inside and 60 watt light bulbs in the storage areas. Plus I set my furnace on th lowest setting. I used a thermoblock to switch on the light bulbs if the area ever got below 40. I survived 2 weeks in single digits at night and 30s during the day. It was sunny, which helps. I did not leave any hoses outside. I filled my tanks as needed and drained as needed. Keeping slides in will help. Reducing air flow around the outside will help also.

 

[Jwalthall]

I'm in a work situation where I currently use my Grand Design 2600RB on a periodic basis. I have it in a park in Western Washington state and I stay in it for several days every two or three weeks. Otherwise I return to my home in Vegas (it's a work thing).

I do store food and other supplies in the trailer so I don't want it to get too hot (which it can do about three months of the year there). For that, it seems like the fix is to leave my air-conditioning at the highest set point (86 degrees) and let it go at that.

My larger concern will be winter. I don't want to winterize the trailer every time I leave the dang thing, and don't want to fuss with "un" winterizing it every time I come back. Leaving the furnace on low gives makes me a bit uncomfortable as it may run out of gas unattended and it just seems like a little bit of a dicey idea regardless. So far, I was thinking of leaving an electric oil based heater on as that seemed the safest unattended. Also, using a heating hose for water.

It doesn't get that cold in Western Washington, but there can be cold spells with it in the teens. Any thoughts on this (winter or summer)?

I suggest that you use a combination of the electric heater and the furnace. Try using the electric heater set at about 50F and the furnace the same or lower. Since the electric is close to the floor, the temperature will be lower that the wall thermostat. That way the electric will run and will keep the furnace from running excessively. You must have the furnace running to heat your undercarriage to prevent your water piping from freezing. You would also need to keep up with your propane level and perhaps get a bigger propane tank. I have endured 16F for 3-4 days doing this. You can also get a heated water hose and put a temperature switch plug so that it will start heating the water when the ambient temp reaches 32F. Of course you will only use this when you are staying there...

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

If you have a regular 'tank' style heater leave it on. It is somewhat of a radiant heat source for the plumbing around it. But you need to keep the furnace running imo. It circulates some heat into the underbelly...otherwise...consecutive below freezing days will eventually freeze your plumbing under your floor.

 

[GooseSlapper]

If you wish to use your furnace so you can keep the underbelly area warm, most of the propane dealers will drop off a 150 or 200 gallon tank and set it up to hook your trailer too. I did this while I was living in my trailer during the time I was building my house. You could set the furnace at 60 degrees or so and I think it would be enough to keep things warm for the most part. Also you can set up a program with the propane company to do auto fill on the tank, that is what I did. That way you don’t have to worry about the tank going empty.

I'll look into this. I'm mildly concerned about leaving a gas furnace on unattended for a week or two, but frankly, I would do the same at my house if I left it unattended also.

 

[GooseSlapper]

I suggest that you use a combination of the electric heater and the furnace. Try using the electric heater set at about 50F and the furnace the same or lower. Since the electric is close to the floor, the temperature will be lower that the wall thermostat. That way the electric will run and will keep the furnace from running excessively. You must have the furnace running to heat your undercarriage to prevent your water piping from freezing. You would also need to keep up with your propane level and perhaps get a bigger propane tank. I have endured 16F for 3-4 days doing this. You can also get a heated water hose and put a temperature switch plug so that it will start heating the water when the ambient temp reaches 32F. Of course you will only use this when you are staying there...

The idea of a temperature switched plug had not occurred to me so I'll look into that. Thank you. The point of this was to keep the trailer "on standby" without fully winterizing it so some of this would need to function and be safe while I'm away.

 

[GooseSlapper]

If you have a regular 'tank' style heater leave it on. It is somewhat of a radiant heat source for the plumbing around it. But you need to keep the furnace running imo. It circulates some heat into the underbelly...otherwise...consecutive below freezing days will eventually freeze your plumbing under your floor.

I have a tankless hot water heater, so this - sadly - won't be an option.

 

[GooseSlapper]

Your furnace will circulate the heat through out your RV keeping out of the way areas warmer than a space heater. Possibly have the local propane supplier set a large tank near your RV and connect to it. In my fifth wheel I have used a space heater inside and 60 watt light bulbs in the storage areas. Plus I set my furnace on th lowest setting. I used a thermoblock to switch on the light bulbs if the area ever got below 40. I survived 2 weeks in single digits at night and 30s during the day. It was sunny, which helps. I did not leave any hoses outside. I filled my tanks as needed and drained as needed. Keeping slides in will help. Reducing air flow around the outside will help also.

Randy, some good advice here. Thank you.

 

[Soundsailor]

Consider a bilge heater to keep the belly warm when you're away. Combined with an electric heater inside, you should be golden down to moderately low temps.

 

[Bungy]

I would do the same at my house if I left it unattended also.

I don't know if its the same for an RV but most (all?) house insurers require that it be inspected regularly if unoccupied for any length of time.