Heated tanks necessary?

[RickyD929]

Have a 2018 Sandpiper 379FLOK, without heated tanks. Forest River says the R38 roof and floor insulation, along with the radiant heat from the furnace in the underbelly, is good enough, to keep tanks warm enough. BS or true?

[SeaDog]

I have camped in some very cold weather in Idaho and never turned on my tank heaters, with that said I do pour RV antifreeze in each tank to ensure the valve part hanging outside the under belly covering doesn't freeze. My thoughts are that my tank heaters were more of a sales item then an actual necessity.

[donniedu]

How cold do you plan to camp? I have never used my tank heaters even down to around 10 degrees with 20MPH winds.

[Kimber45]

depends on how cold and for how long. You can always use space heaters light bulbs etc to help protect. I once had a "poop cicle" at the dump station after a weekend in the high 20's. Luckily it broke free and only a minor mess was involved.


PS R rating from manufactures are bull. In the home improvement world fiberglass insulation has to be about 12-16 inches thick for the equivalent of R-38. Pretty sure there is not a camper out there with a 12 inch roof.

[RickyD929]

Thanks. Like I said, the dealer we bought from says they always order their Sandpiper's with R38 insulation, and without heated tanks. When I asked about it, I was told the tank heater's were unnecessary with the upgraded insulation and furnace duct being inside the underbelly. Hard to take a dealer's word for being truthful

[Kimber45]

looked at the sandpipers before I got my Heritage Glen. I love that floor plan

[RickyD929]

We do too. The outside kitchen was the kicker.