Mini Lite Cold Weather Camping

45RPM · 09-12-2018, 04:29 PM

This is our first year with a Mini Lite (2509S) and with cold weather coming I'm concerned about the cold air coming in through the storage doors, then coming up from behind the sofa. I would think that accessing items in storage through the outside storage doors would send a lot of cold air into the camper.

I realize that most of the storage items are accessible by lifting the sofa. But do the outside storage doors seal out the cold when left closed and latched?

Any suggestions (other than 'don't open the storage doors').

-Rich

Kimber45 · 09-12-2018, 04:51 PM

how cold we talking? anything below freezing for more then a few hours and you are risking damage to plumbing. If you are not paying for electric get yourself some inexpensive space heaters and burn the campgrounds power instead of your propane. Not many campers are truly 4 season rated for true winter camping.

Reverse_snowbird · 09-12-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I would think that accessing items in storage through the outside storage doors would send a lot of cold air into the camper.
Any suggestions (other than 'don't open the storage doors').
-Rich

With our small trailer, opening the storage doors does send a draft of cold/hot air into the trailer. The doors do seal out some of the cold.
I'm not sure how you'd seal it in the trailer itself...other than finding any gaps and sealing them (or perhaps stuffing some insulation behind the sofa)

45RPM · 09-12-2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimber45

how cold we talking? anything below freezing for more then a few hours and you are risking damage to plumbing. If you are not paying for electric get yourself some inexpensive space heaters and burn the campgrounds power instead of your propane. Not many campers are truly 4 season rated for true winter camping.

I'm talking about lower 40's at night. When the Murphy bed is down, the opening behind the sofa is just below the bed

-Rich

JayArras · 09-12-2018, 07:58 PM

Throw an extra blanket on. Seriously! Or run your furnace. That's what it's there for. Unless you're going to be living in your trailer for an extended period of time, I wouldn't worry about it. These units are not built for cold weather.

alix lines · 09-13-2018, 01:13 PM

we camp year round on Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada and sometimes during the winter it gets down to -10C. We use an electric heater in the living room and in the bedroom to supplement the furnace. Fleece sheets and an extra blanket work for night time. Sweaters during the day if necessary. We have a heated hose for the water and usually manage fine. We only have two outside storage areas and only one of them (the one under the bed) can be accessed from inside as well as outside. If it started to let in cold air, I would put a big piece of insulation just inside the outside door. We don't usually need to access that storage area once the trailer is set up so it shouldn't be an issue.
120 days camping so far this year and heading out today for another 19!!

K2Kevin · 09-20-2018, 01:30 PM

I’ve done a lot of cold (below freezing) camping in our Wolf Pup.

I don’t use water (winterized already), which mean pit toilets, but having electrical hookup helps us 100%. I bring an electric heater, and electric heated blanket. The small electric heater is more then enough to keep temp around 70+.

I used the furnace the first year, and after a few nights we were out of propane and woke up freezing at 4am. Always use the electric heater now.

My son and wife love the heated blanket.

bshort · 09-20-2018, 01:37 PM

We camp in the 30's quite a bit. We run a space heater and it stays warm. The furnace is noisy to me.

JayArras · 09-20-2018, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bshort

We camp in the 30's quite a bit. We run a space heater and it stays warm. The furnace is noisy to me.

LOL! That's what my wife says about the air conditioner. So as a result, I end up sleeping sweating bullets in the summertime.

NMWildcat · 09-20-2018, 02:51 PM

Most of us spend a night or two and figure out where the troublesome cold spots/drafts are and figure out a way to plug them or avoid them.

I'm sure you will to. Good luck!

MR.M · 09-20-2018, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I'm talking about lower 40's at night. When the Murphy bed is down, the opening behind the sofa is just below the bed

-Rich

Lower 40's is not cold weather camping .

Get a nice little ceramic space heater and use the campground electric . if not hooked up the furnace will do just fine

K2Kevin · 09-20-2018, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I'm talking about lower 40's at night. When the Murphy bed is down, the opening behind the sofa is just below the bed

-Rich

40's... nothing to worry about. Small space heater, site with electric, and you're golden. A great way to find air leaks in your camper is to close up all the windows/doors, crack open and run the exhaust fan.

I found I get air coming in where the city water and fresh water fill enters. Sealed it up and the camper is still freezing cold without a heater LOL.

These campers are built with insulation as an afterthought (Most of them). Ever look at the depth of insulation? I would get a better R-Value if I used my wife's left over cotton balls.

K2Kevin · 09-20-2018, 03:58 PM

I use this tiny little heater on LOW, and the camper stays warmer then I need. Its not loud, but sometimes does make that space heater rattle noise as it heats up or cools down. It has a thermostat, Ceramic elements, low or High heat (I keep on low), as well as fan ONLY. 1200 - 1500 Watts.

Found it on amazon for $39 two years ago, seems its gone up in price a bit since then. Broan-NuTone 6201 Big Heat Heater

2ondago · 12-01-2018, 04:30 PM

I saw somewhere, maybe on this forum, where the camps 20A service outlet could be used to run an additional heater if needed. I’ve wired an additional indoor outlet just for that purpose. Male plug hangs just under the skirt below my OEM electrical port. Nice not having to balance coffee machine, microwave and electric heater use on 30A service.

2ondago · 12-17-2018, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alix lines

we camp year round on Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada and sometimes during the winter it gets down to -10C. We use an electric heater in the living room and in the bedroom to supplement the furnace. Fleece sheets and an extra blanket work for night time. Sweaters during the day if necessary. We have a heated hose for the water and usually manage fine. We only have two outside storage areas and only one of them (the one under the bed) can be accessed from inside as well as outside. If it started to let in cold air, I would put a big piece of insulation just inside the outside door. We don't usually need to access that storage area once the trailer is set up so it shouldn't be an issue.
120 days camping so far this year and heading out today for another 19!!

Curious, is the bottom of your unit sealed, (can you see the tanks) and does it have tank heaters?

45RPM · 12-17-2018, 04:53 PM

Thank you for all of your comments/suggestions. What I was initially trying to determine was to find out if the Mini Lites with the Murphy Beds have a draft problem. There is an opening behind the sofa (when the bed is in the UP position) that goes right to the pass thru storage (unheated). And when the bed is in the 'down' position, most of the underside of the bed is exposed to the pass thru storage area. The only thing blocking the cold air from coming in the trailer are the 2 pass thru storage doors. Are these doors effective in keeping out the cold?
-Rich

**Flybob** · 12-17-2018, 05:13 PM

You will get a lot of condensation on the bottom of the bed if it is exposed to the pass through that is not heated. The warm moisture from your body will penetrate the mattress and condense on cold bottom. Most small TT and 5ers are not really designed for use in cold conditions. You will also get considerable condensation on windows and interior walls.

You may also like: