30IOK hard to heat

[X96mnn]

I camp later then most, last weekend was when I winterized and camped straight through tempatures just shy of the freezing mark. Found the camper in this situation not the easiest to keep warm. Furnace runs for the most part 24/7 to keep it around 65 inside. Again big camper and it is cold so I can't say I did not expect it. Will be looking at maybe adding a larger furnace though, I just don't like having to work it 24/7, electric heat is not an option.

[donniedu]

First quesrion, how cold? And what size is the furnace?

[X96mnn]

Can't tell you exactly how cold, if guessing 2 degree Celsius. The furnace is 35000 btu

[davel1971]

a lot gets lost out the windows. I would insulate them with something like Reflectix

[lbrjet]

Something could be wrong with your furnace. I can heat up our 31 foot box with two slides from 60 to 70 in less than half an hour at 30 degrees outside.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[chiro]

How cold are you camping in?? Have you tried a space heater? I have a 42 ft sandpiper and use an infrared heater and it stays nice and toasty!!The main heater hardly runs and we have camped in the teens with snow.

[X96mnn]

Where I camp late in the season it is dry camping. Electric is not an option.

My 30 ft tt heated no issue with a 30k btu but this is 38ft and has 3 ft more of ceiling space. Much much larger area plus three slides.

[B and B]

X96, We camped last April and had -2 and lots of wind in out Fifth Wheel. I found a duct had melted after it left the furnace. This dumped a lot of heat in the basement. The duct went to a splitter that bed the bedroom, floor register and basement registers. I replaced the plastic duct with metal and we had more heat in the cabin area.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by X96mnn

I camp later then most, last weekend was when I winterized and camped straight through tempatures just shy of the freezing mark. Found the camper in this situation not the easiest to keep warm. Furnace runs for the most part 24/7 to keep it around 65 inside. Again big camper and it is cold so I can't say I did not expect it. Will be looking at maybe adding a larger furnace though, I just don't like having to work it 24/7, electric heat is not an option.

I'm pretty sure the largest RV furnace is 42,000 BTU that's not much of an increase from what you have. Is it possible to drop the belly cover and add some insulation? That would be alot cheaper and might help more then just adding 7000 BTU's, plus the added propane that would be needed. Most RV's have very little insulation on the bottom. Just a thought. Or if you have room add a second furnace and use zones. Oh I just caught the part of your ceiling being 3' higher in this unit. As you know heat rises and will stay up top. maybe adding a ceiling fan to move the heated air back down might also help. I know I hate the cold so I feel for ya.

[X96mnn]

I will need to check and see if the plastic part is melted on mine. There does seem to be good air flow I just think it is a large area and thin walls.

There is a large ceiling fan, although closed up for the season I will be sure to try it the May 24 weekend, and yes I have started my count down.

[Kev]

I had the same problem doing some cold hunting here in Alberta last week. I'm thinking of trying this heater, doesn't have a flame to produce carbon monoxide, and doesn't need any power, just lots of propane probably.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...er/19333#qanda

[supercab79]

Kev that heater does produce co2 just be careful any unit that burns any fuel will indeed off gas if you read under specifications all the way at the bottom the last line says (use only in vented locations) I would hate to hear that you woke up dead because of an undersized Forest River furnace not being able to keep your camper warm. If it were me and you had to use something like that type of unit I would have at least 2 co2 detectors one in the room where the unit is and one in the bedroom on the wall next to where my head lays on the pillow. Confided space plus propane burning unit = trouble.

Just my 2 cents
Marc
Professional Plus Services Inc.
Heating AC and Ventilation
Est. 1994