Heating our RV

[rlchall]

Newbies. First time in cool weather. 2007 Sunseeker. Is it propane only? How long will a 30 gallon propane tank last? How do I know when its close to empty?
Thanks fellow rvers.

[jimdd810]

It is propane for heat but needs electricity to run the fan and ignitor. As for propane use we get about three days out of our 2 20lbs bottles. Varies on coldness and amount it's on. As for knowing how much is in the tank you will only know for sure by getting a monitor.


Life is a highway!!!!!

[rlchall]

Thanks, Jim!!

[Brother Les]

Get a small oscillating electric heater. This will really cut the chill off and save a lot of propane. Ours has a temp range and timers on it to shut off and on at certain times at night. We keep the propane furnace turned down low at night for after we have gone to bed.

[RamblerGuy]

You need 12 volts to run the gas furnace. The furnace will run down a battery over one cold night. Two good batteries may get you through two nights. You'll need to be plugged in or run your generator a few hours each day to recharge the batteries.

[katkt]

If your camping where you have electric, use the small ceramic space heaters, and save the propane. We heat our trailer easily with two of the 1000 or 1200 watt units. We've been into the mid 30's so far, and have only run them on medium or less.
You can get a gauge for your tank, to let you know when it is getting low.

[Terier]

Ditto on the electric heater suggestions. It can make a big difference and you can save propane for something else.

[RamblerGuy]

It's possible that you have a heat pump/ air conditioner. See if the thermostat has a heat pump setting and if it does try it.

Heat pump / air conditioner units are 15,000 btu/hr. A/C units only are 13,500. I think the capacity is on a label above the return air filter.

[mud yapster]

X2 on using the electric space heaters, we have a couple of them. If boondocking there's not much choice for heat except the propane central heater, then when you run the genny to charge your battery back up run the electric heaters and give the propane heater a rest. If you have a battery bank and solar to keep them charged during the day and have an large 3000 or 4000 watt inverter, you can run electric heat during the day and propane heater at night. We like sleeping with the heat set on 62 to 65 just add another blanket.

[KQ2N]

The majority of campgrounds close in NY State by Columbus Day. My last camping trip was the first 2 weeks in October, nights (and days!) can be quite chilly. I put a TEE fitting inline before the regulator and use an external 20# tank. Since I also had a car, it's easier to take the 20# tank to get it refilled than taking the motorhome off it's site to fill it's internal tank. One night the temperature got down into the mid 30s outside, the 20# tank must have run out early on, because by morning, the temperature in the motorhome was 55 degrees. I was surprised how comfortable it was under the covers even at that temperature. For the remainder of the trip, I set the thermostat down to 55 at night to save on the propane. We were comfortable. During the day, I ran the generator every now and then and as long as the temperature is above 40, if you have a heat pump, you can use it for heat.

[DangerCliff]

X2 on using the electric space heaters, saves you money and they are quieter when running then LP furnace is.

[donanddona]

If your holding water below freezing you'll want to pay attention to the water pump. To much ceramic heating might freeze the pump cavity. You might want to put a flood light in the cavity to keep the water loose.