Running furnace while running down the road?

jkweller · 01-06-2016, 04:24 PM

I'm getting ready to leave for Florida, and I'm wondering if anyone else runs their furnace while running down the Interstate? I'll be towing my 5th wheel and I wouldn't do it all day but about an hour before I stop turn it on so that the trailer warms up a bit before I stop for the night.

I'm trying to understand what the difference would be between running my refrigerator on propane and my furnace on propane? Both have DSI.

Any thoughts. Am I just asking for trouble doing this?

doc73 · 01-06-2016, 04:26 PM

I keep mine set a tolerable temp so I do not freeze when I stop for a break. Been doing that for 10 years. No problems.

rracer5 · 01-06-2016, 04:40 PM

The only reason I can think of would be to keep the underbelly (tanks) warm (if you were carrying fresh water or you're not winterized) while traveling in freezing temps. Other that that, the TT would warm up very quickly once at your destination.

doc73 · 01-06-2016, 04:46 PM

Guess I just do not want to get into a warm bed! LOL

I even thought about trying to rig up the geni to keep the AC going on the road so I do not need to get into a warm bed either... Hmmm

Zecrom · 01-06-2016, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

Guess I just do not want to get into a warm bed! LOL

I even thought about trying to rig up the geni to keep the AC going on the road so I do not need to get into a warm bed either... Hmmm

I have a buddy who has a fifth wheel with built in Genny and he starts his ac about an hour or so out from destination

**ependydad** · 01-06-2016, 08:49 PM

I've accidentally ran it a few times. It's kind of nice going into a decently warm camper when you stop. Just make sure you don't have too many registers blocked or it can stop the furnace from working or something.

clutchd · 01-06-2016, 08:54 PM

I do all the time. Nice when it's 20 to 30 out and you open the door to a warm camper.

doc73 · 01-06-2016, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zecrom

I have a buddy who has a fifth wheel with built in Genny and he starts his ac about an hour or so out from destination

Yeah the first one should have said getting into a COLD bed.. But I hear that!

RussPastuch · 01-07-2016, 12:54 PM

Buy a heated matress, warms up the bed nicely. Our last TT had one, this one doesn't :-(

Brother Les · 01-07-2016, 01:30 PM

imo. you are wasting a lot of propane going down the road. None of these units are very air tight and you will loose such a great percent of your heat going down the road. With a slide.... air is sucked in and forced out around the edges. Me.... I would never run my furnace going down the road. The fridge is a completely different animal than the furnace..... fridge... one pilot light in a very enclosed area. Furnace... full burners going and blowing heat/air/Particles.... all over the place. To ME, I will not burn the propane or burn the unit down. There are threads and threads about ok/not ok to 'run the fridge' while filling up with fuel... because of a possible fire hazard. I would really be concerned if a full furnace burner came on while I was fueling. Me... I get to the camp site and then get the heat on.....

Boso · 01-07-2016, 02:13 PM

Have used furnace while traveling with motorhome. Should be just fine

dicky1243 · 01-07-2016, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

Yeah the first one should have said getting into a COLD bed.. But I hear that!

I don't run it and there is a couple of reasons, I can't reach the thermostat on my 5ver so if you pull into a station it's against the law to have it running at the pump, what would happen when going down and the wind blows the flame out and the gas is still spewing out. BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

ryand · 01-07-2016, 05:48 PM

Never thought about it until now, but personally I don't think I would do it. If it's simply about keeping the unit warm, my rv heats up pretty quick and even at a rest stop it would take the chill out within 5-10 minutes. One other reason for me personally would be that 2 of my 4 vents in the rv are covered with the slide closed. That may have some adverse affect on the sail switch in the furnace itself. Plus why waste propane? Just my thoughts. Motor home would be a different story.

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An unknown person · 01-07-2016, 10:52 PM

We are planning a spring break trip. We will me leaving Michigan in March. I know the furnace manual says "do NOT use while driving". Since it us a motor home and it's gonna be the whole family traveling, my plan is to use the generator and an electric space heater. If we need some warmth when we arrive at our destination we'll probably use the electric heat and save the propane. I did fill up the propane and fuel tanks (added stabil fuel) before putting her to bed for the winter.

Tim, 2000 Gulfstream Conquest, 32'
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TimVWulp · 01-08-2016, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussPastuch

Buy a heated matress, warms up the bed nicely. Our last TT had one, this one doesn't :-(

Hi go to kohl's or any big box store or to amazon and buy a heated mattress cover. You may need to order at the big box store this time of year. This was one of the first items DW and I bought for the new tt last spring.

Hope This Helps Tim

mjones12 · 01-08-2016, 03:14 PM

Is the heated cover any more effective than an electric blanket?

5picker · 01-08-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjones12

Is the heated cover any more effective than an electric blanket?

Yes.
Once you sleep on a heated mattress cover you will throw your electric blanket away.

strat56 · 01-08-2016, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjones12

Is the heated cover any more effective than an electric blanket?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Yes.
Once you sleep on a heated mattress cover you will throw your electric blanket away.

With a heated mattress cover, the heat is coming from beneath you and the covers and the space between the the mattress and the covers gets heated up, very comfortable compared to an electric blanket.

mjones12 · 01-08-2016, 06:14 PM

Thanks

clutchd · 01-08-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boso

Have used furnace while traveling with motorhome. Should be just fine

Quote:

Originally Posted by dicky1243

what would happen when going down and the wind blows the flame out and the gas is still spewing out. BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same thing as your house furnace, the piezoelectric Sensor or flame sensor would detect no flame and shut the gas valve off. It would wait a preprogrammed amount of time and then try to reignite 3 times. Just like when you turn the propane on and have to bleed the line out

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