For cold weather camping....

[Jim101]

What do you guys/gals do to the beds? We bought an electric heater instead of using all our propane to warm it up.....Do the Gizmos help? If you do the sides as well?
This is the first time we have used the warmers on the mattress, they don't seem to work,I don't feel them heating up? The middle seems a little warmer....

Thanks,

Jim

[DK-in-SC]

We crank up the mattress heaters. They don't get hot like an electric blanket but when you climb in bed it isn't cold either. It does take time to warm so turn it on an hour or two before bed.
Definitely PUGS on the tents and reflectix in the bunk windows. Huge difference in both the cold of winter and the heat of summer.
We use an electric baseboard heater in the main area and a small space heater in the back bed area in our 23IKSS.
With this setup we rarely have had to use the furnace.


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[codespy]

We have a heated mattress in our current 2008 Wildwood. Not sure they are available anymore, but much better than an electric blanket above the body. It warms the buns well.

It really helps after a cold night at the campfire, but have to turn it on about 1/2hr before slipping in there to have a nice effect.

Will likely transfer this to our new Wildwood once we take delivery. It makes the wife happy, which is all that matters in life at least to me.

Happy wife, Happy life!!!

[bikendan]

With all the positive posts about PUGs and Reflectix for the windows, you shouldn't even need to ask.
Should have got them already if you planned on camping in cold temps.

Mattress heaters work slowly and will work better when you are in the bed.

[bruane]

I had a ROO 19 before I moved to a 5th wheel. I used to turn on the electric mattress heaters before going to bed and had a Honeywell space heater set up. Only on the coldest nights did the furnace need to kick in. In fact during the night it was so snug that i used to turn off the electric blankets.

[yetavon]

love the cold weather...extra blanket and cuddle close...But several other folks have them and you can tell the difference when stepping in their camper...our 1st trip this year awoke to 9 degrees...
and PUGs and reflectix are in the works for the new camper....

[Briorick]

In our previous campers ( both being pop ups ), in one ( 2009 ) we had a heated mattress and furnace and nothing in the other ( 1995 ). Boy, that heated mattress and furnace sure was nice on a cool evening.

On the other hand, with the 1995 pop up we used a small portable electric heater, or our Mr. Buddy propane heater (when not hooked to the electric ) and snuggled a bit more. No furnace, no heated mattress! You learn quickly when you don't have enough blankets, when needed.

Now we have just the furnace in our HTT, but still keep extra blankets on hand.

* yetavon....we too love camping in the cooler temps. Love those brisk mornings.

[DK-in-SC]

Here's the heater we use. It fits perfectly against the island in our 23IKSS.



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[kandl]

A good quality down duvet is the warm ticket for us and we've spent countless nights in sub freezing temps.

[wicked1]

For me the 23IKSS came with a 30,00btu furnace and it runs off of propane so we use it and always have two full tanks. We just got our Roo but we never used space heaters just lots of blankets and kept the heat at 67. I guess this year we will try the heated mattresses and furnace in the Roo and see how it goes, but portable heaters? I have not tried that yet.


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

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[DK-in-SC]

When we have full hookups, we use the electric heater to save propane. It is silent and does a great job heating the main area of the camper. We did have one outing last fall when the overnight temps were in the mid 30's. Even with PUGS, reflectix, and the electric heater, we needed to use the furnace to keep warm.


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[Allcool24]

What do you guys/gals do to the beds? We bought an electric heater instead of using all our propane to warm it up.....Do the Gizmos help? If you do the sides as well?
This is the first time we have used the warmers on the mattress, they don't seem to work,I don't feel them heating up? The middle seems a little warmer....



^^^^this is not the norm our matress gets almost to warm if we dont keep the setting low...wait maybe mine is not the norm?

[Rrickim63]

I usually turn the mattress heaters on 6 and a few hours later climb into bed. They should feel warm when you climb in...

[RooVader]

With the mattress heaters it is less about them feeling warm and more just realizing "wow, I am warm and need to turn these things down". They are subtle but very effective.

I use double bubble ecofoil in my canvas ends and it does help but it is not as noticeable as pugs. I am thinking about doing the entire walls instead of just windows.

[yetavon]

We have added Pugs and Reflectix and it has made a huge difference on the cooling side of the curve, and am sure it will be the same for colder weather.
We tested the heated mattresses, and seemed like they didn't warm up much, but under a box was warmer, so waiting for further real world testing.
We also have used a small electric heater with a fan for years in other campers, and it seems to hold its own in the larger area we now have.

[rockfordroo]

This is the first time we have used the warmers on the mattress, they don't seem to work,I don't feel them heating up?

They're only about 100W (same as a large lightbulb). They don't get hot like an electric blanket does. But when you get in, as stated, you'll soon be turning it down.

[mark0224]

Heated mattress does work but it does take time to warm the bed especially if the mattress and bedding are very cold already.Try putting a comforter under the mattress to keep the cold out of the mattress. As to the electric heater we did similar and I put in an electric fireplace/heater, we had to use it our last trip out and the 1500 btu was just right. Night temp was in low 40's f and we were comfortable. The vent pillows on the ceiling vent help keep the cold out and keep the cold in if your using the ac.

[bikendan]

the heated mattresses get hotter when you're actually in bed, laying on them.
of course, you need hookups to run them.

we rarely camp with hookups but when we do, they're the bomb. and we also use a ceramic heater to supplement the furnace, when we have hookups.

we did camp in Yosemite one April and got so cold, it snowed all night.
of course there were no hookups but with PUGs and Reflectix, we stayed quite warm, even with the furnace turned down low.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by bikendan

the heated mattresses get hotter when you're actually in bed, laying on them.

of course, you need hookups to run them.



we rarely camp with hookups but when we do, they're the bomb. and we also use a ceramic heater to supplement the furnace, when we have hookups.



we did camp in Yosemite one April and got so cold, it snowed all night.

of course there were no hookups but with PUGs and Reflectix, we stayed quite warm, even with the furnace turned down low.

I would just think if it were that cold we would just sleep on the couch and keep both ends in on our 23IKSS


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

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[bikendan]

Originally Posted by wicked1

I would just think if it were that cold we would just sleep on the couch and keep both ends in on our 23IKSS


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

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i can't fit on our couch by myself and the dinette is pretty tight with both of us on it.