Let's Talk About Heating our Trailers.

Wagon Burner

New member
So Let's Talk About Heating our Trailers.

Well, Been thinking about this for some time.
"How do I effectivly heat my Expedition trailer, Or tent rather. and not Die in the process." :oops:

I recently read where Martyn (or maybe the client did it) installed a marine type heater into an AT, Chime in Martyn, I know your reading this :coffee:

After reading the article I got to wondering and thinking. Our trailers per say are compartmentalized. (Wow is that a word) so whats to stop a guy from comming up with away to simply ad a SMALL RV type heater.

My thooughts are this. Surburban Rv makes a compact 12v propane furnace that is used in tent trailers by varouis manufactures.

It measures, 9 3/8''H X 9 3/8''W x 21 1/8''D

Look Here: http://www.rvstuffusa.com/directdischargefurnacesbysuburban.html

What if a guy welded up a box and custom built this thing into it, so one could use a quick connect to the propane bottle, a quick connect 12v plug, and could haul it out when necessary, Maybe come up with a way to "Quick Mount it" Under the trailer when at camp so the exhaust is flush with the trailer. and route the duct into the tent.

It would be thermasticaly contralled as well.

It is a $600.00 item and not for everyone, But for those that it would serve. It seams it would work pretty well.

Im in the Pacific North West, and therefore Im in the Forested Colder climate.

Just looking for Ideas. I really Like waht Martyn did on that paticular AT put the unit itself was quited to me at $1,400.00: Wow1:

I would love to simply have a Zodi, But who knows what there doing. and they wont tell.
 
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Wagon Burner

New member
Mr. Heater

Buddy

http://www.mrheater.com/ProductFamily.aspx?catid=41

LOVE this thing. I have it hooked to a 2.5Lb propane tank it ran it on high for about 4 nights..all thru the night. Outside temp was about 35 and inside temp was about 60 on once occasion.


No, Two completely diffrent concepts. Its cadylitc and gives off carbon Monixide. I would be real cautouis of these, I know they say there Ok. But I wouldnt put my grandkids in a tent with one burning all night.
 
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ckkone

Explorer
No, Two completely diffrent concepts. Its cadylitc and gives off carbon Monixide. I would be real cautouis of these, I know they say there Ok. But I wouldnt put my grandkids in a tent with one burning all night.

The Mr. Buddy heaters have an automatic low oxygen shutoff system

How about an Eberspacher Airtronic, I think the KK campers use something very similar:

http://www.eberspacher.com/products/air-heating/

http://www.eberspaecher.com/show/1014805/Prosp_Reisemobil06_Engl_0408.pdf

You can buy it here:

http://www.gulfstreamshop.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2147

This look good as well:

http://www.clrmarine.com/m4_view_item.html?m4:item=W 5000699A

http://www.webasto.us/press/en/am_marine_heaters_807.html
 
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Martyn

Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Thats the one that Martyn used in the AT trailer I was refering to. Its a Great system, nad iwould buy it in a heart beat, But I was quoted $1,400.00. :yikes: almost fell out of my chair.

We didn't use it, it was a Mr Brady set up.

Using a regular trailer furnace is very feasible, the difficulty is with the ducting.

Stay tuned for what we have in mind for the "Overland" composite trailer.
 

Tucson T4R

Expedition Leader
For clamshells where you have permanent spot to install the heater through the trailer floor, Webasto diesel heaters are highly efficient and effective. I'm not sure how you could use one of these on the RTT set up, but with some ingenuity, it might be possible.

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_rv_heaters_826.html

I have one of these installed in my KK trailer and it works like a champ and just sips the diesel fuel.
 

Curmudgeon

Adventurer
No, Two completely diffrent concepts. Its cadylitc and gives off carbon Monixide. I would be real cautouis of these, I know they say there Ok. But I wouldnt put my grandkids in a tent with one burning all night.
You are mistaken. Catalytic heaters produce only heat, water, and carbon dioxide, not carbon monoxide.

I have both a Buddy and a Big Buddy and use one to heat my travel trailer when I'm boondocking. They have a low oxygen sensor which shuts them down if the oxygen level in the air drops too low. Even inside a closed trailer it has never shut down, because there is enough air exchange to maintain normal oxygen levels.

I also have a carbon monoxide alarm that sits about three feet from the heater. After a full night of running, when I get up in the morning the CO level is still zero ppm. I know the CO sensor is very sensitive because I have had it sound after a short time of using a propane lantern inside, and it was showing above 300 ppm CO.

They also have a very sensitive motion sensor of some kind. On many occasions I have had mine go out if I moved it while it was on. It's really annoying when I accidentally bump it when walking past it and then have to relight it. If I need to move it, I have found that I can very carefully slide it across the floor and it "might" stay lit. It takes very little movement to shut them down.

The bottom line here is that the Buddy heaters are specifically designed for indoor used. If they weren't safe, I would have been dead a long time ago. They are very safe.

JP
 

Wagon Burner

New member
You are mistaken. Catalytic heaters produce only heat, water, and carbon dioxide, not carbon monoxide.

I have both a Buddy and a Big Buddy and use one to heat my travel trailer when I'm boondocking. They have a low oxygen sensor which shuts them down if the oxygen level in the air drops too low. Even inside a closed trailer it has never shut down, because there is enough air exchange to maintain normal oxygen levels.

I also have a carbon monoxide alarm that sits about three feet from the heater. After a full night of running, when I get up in the morning the CO level is still zero ppm. I know the CO sensor is very sensitive because I have had it sound after a short time of using a propane lantern inside, and it was showing above 300 ppm CO.

They also have a very sensitive motion sensor of some kind. On many occasions I have had mine go out if I moved it while it was on. It's really annoying when I accidentally bump it when walking past it and then have to relight it. If I need to move it, I have found that I can very carefully slide it across the floor and it "might" stay lit. It takes very little movement to shut them down.

The bottom line here is that the Buddy heaters are specifically designed for indoor used. If they weren't safe, I would have been dead a long time ago. They are very safe.

JP

Thank you Jim, I stand corrected. I heard somewhere that it was Carbon Monixide. I appreciate the correction and good info for everyone to know.

But im still looking for, and to share ideas on how to do "real tent heater" for lack of a better discription. in our trailers.
 

Wagon Burner

New member
I am just about to replace the camper mog heater with a propex heater. They are really small and would work great in a smaller trailer, they might even work in a tent but the ducting is the hard part.

http://www.propexheatsource.co.uk/
http://www.westyventures.com/propex.html

Rob


See I think the ducting would be the easy part for a RTT.
WFTW did a nice Outlander Trailer. He hard plumed his in. I dont know that I would do that, but having a Hole stiched in with a flap and velcro would be simple enough. then just mount the unit, plumb it to ? and provide for flexable ducting that would then connect to the tent.
 

IH8RDS

Explorer
I too have thought about using a RV heater. The one in my travel trailer is a little to efficient, plus the wife would kill me. So that one will stay put. lol I would think a small heater from a slide in bed camper would work. It would just be a matter of making a seal-able hole in the tent and removable ducts. Not to hard, just have to get ingenious with it. Good luck and subscribing to the thread.
 

jeeperaz

Observer
The Mr. Buddy low O2 sensor works ... well enough that I can't use mine above 7000' elevation.

We use ours to heat our 25' toy hauler.


Still I would never run one while sleeping.
 

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