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11-12-2016, 12:45 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 29.3 (2016)
State: Montana
Posts: 511
THOR #4032
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Electric heater(s) in Ace - Have you used one?
Our propane furnace is very loud when in use.. it is close to the bedroom and can disturb our sleep. When plugged into shore power, we were wondering how a portable electric heater would work... has anyone tried it and how did it work for you?
Thanks,
Bob
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11-12-2016, 01:48 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 22E
State: West Virginia
Posts: 115
THOR #3119
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I have not tried an electric heater when camping but I did use one last winter while the RV was in the driveway and I was getting ready to go to Florida. I did not want the water pipes to freeze after flushing the RV antifreeze. I used one of those 1500w heaters that look like an old radiator. It did keep the temp above freezing inside when 25 F outside but it never got warm enough to take my coat off for the 2 days it was on.. The propane heater got the temp to 65 F in about an hour just before I left. If its just chilly out and you need to move the temp 10-15 deg OK but if it is really cold out forget it.
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11-12-2016, 01:48 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
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A ceramic heater will give the best bang for the buck. Be sure you don't plug anything else into the same circuit, heaters will max out load on most circuits, anything else and you'll trip a breaker.
I used two ceramic heaters in the Tuscany we had and kept our coach cozy except in really cold conditions.
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11-12-2016, 02:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: North Carolina
Posts: 292
THOR #5374
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We traveled to the northeast a couple of weeks ago and experienced nights in the 30's . A 1500 watt electric heater maintained temps in the low 60's at night in our Vegas 24.1.
I think we used the propane furnace twice first thing on a couple of mornings to get things toasty for showers.
Temps were pretty comfortable during the days so the electric heater was maintaining an already warm coach.
The electric heater is a great supplemental heat source .
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11-12-2016, 04:03 AM
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#5
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29m
State: Louisiana
Posts: 41
THOR #3932
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Electric heater
Hi , I've found one at k mart a few years back that has 2 settings, high and low.lowputs out 500 watts, high puts our 1000 watts,it's small about 12 Inc by 8 by 8 deep..knock it over and it turns off..low setting is perfect, and can b ran on generator too..
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11-12-2016, 04:25 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 26HE
State: Illinois
Posts: 150
THOR #4282
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Problem with most electric heaters is they mainly radiate hear to objects not warm the air. I use this heater. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000...acL&ref=plSrch
Does a much better job but it still needs some help. Use the furnace and get it up to temp then the heater does a pretty good job maintaining it. I used on in my 33' class a in 5 degree weather and it kept it in the 60's.I will run it in the very cold months in Chicago because extreme cold is rough on things. I try to keep it above freezing.
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11-12-2016, 05:55 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 22E
State: Washington
Posts: 304
THOR #4719
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We have excellent results with a small Voranado heater. The fan is quiet and circulates the air well. It has a thermostat setable in degrees. It maintains a constant temperature in the motorhome with very little noise/
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...l_1k44eksbqr_b
Ken
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11-12-2016, 01:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37TB
State: Kentucky
Posts: 1,032
THOR #1020
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Easy answer - use the electric heaters when you have shore power. Rare for us to need heater because plan is to stay where AC is needed. With kids in NC to see, occasionally that strategy doesn't always work. So we bought a small, electric heater with a thermostat at Walmart for about $15. Between that and the electric fireplace - toasty.
Also, simple out of convenience we often use a small electric frypan vs gas top. And we always use our convection over vs the gas oven. Gas oven makes the coach just too hot.
Just our two cents.
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US Army Retired - Loving The Road Trip
Challenger 37TB
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11-12-2016, 03:03 PM
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#9
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: A.C.E. 29.2
State: Tennessee
Posts: 46
THOR #3487
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Electric heaters
I used two ceramic heaters all last winter. They worked great, easily maintained 55 degrees when stored here in east Tennessee. We also use them when "camping out" when we are hooked up, quieter than the furnace. The furnace is great if we want to take the chill off in the morning. I installed a electric fireplace with heat under the dinette for heat and ambience.
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11-12-2016, 03:15 PM
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#10
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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I mainly use an electric heater in winter to exercise the generator.
The first weekend we went camping with our Axis it was in the 30s the entire weekend (during the day too--what you get when camping in Michigan in April, either 30s or 70s nothing in between!). That weekend we used a full tank of propane; didn't have an electric heater for the RV yet.
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11-12-2016, 03:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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it took us over two years of full timing before we got even close to needing more propane since we use Electric Heaters almost exclusively - the only other time is when we are not on shore power or generator and might use the furnace.
the sound of the furnace blower and the need for propane tanks and refilling is why so many coach builders are moving toward Electric Only coach designs. Propane certainly has a good purpose, especially if you like cooking with it, or you have easy access to refilling your tank, but it is becoming less of a standard in the rv industry, especially in higher end coaches where you have room for 8 or more coach batteries.
if you drycamp or boondock as a regular habit, propane makes sense because you only need electricity to run the blower, and you're less reliant on shore power, generator, or even solar.
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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11-13-2016, 02:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 37GT
State: Florida
Posts: 809
THOR #5246
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Montgomery
Our propane furnace is very loud when in use.. it is close to the bedroom and can disturb our sleep. When plugged into shore power, we were wondering how a portable electric heater would work... has anyone tried it and how did it work for you?
Thanks,
Bob
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Bob, I don't like the regular "electric" heaters because I fear they are a fire hazard. We have used two different ceramic heaters for a few years now and they work great. One is the small box type and one is a tower that rotates back and forth.
As someone already stated, you have to know where to plug them in at because they will quickly overload a circuit. If outside temps are down in the 50's overnight we can simply leave one of these running in the drivers area while sleeping and when we get up in the morning the living area is in the mid 60's but the bedroom stays cool.
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Full Time in 2017 Newmar Ventana 4369
pulling a 24' enclosed (Mini Cooper/Harley/Kayak)
(traded 2014 Thor Challenger)
US Army 70-73 Retired LEO
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11-13-2016, 02:33 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 1,241
THOR #1249
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pjciii
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Nice compact unit. Have you had a chance to try it when outside temps are in upper 30's and 40's and if so, does it keep your RV comfortable?
Thanks.
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Former owner of 2015 Thor Vegas 24.1 in Ocala
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11-13-2016, 04:32 PM
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#15
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: thor 22FE
State: Georgia
Posts: 80
THOR #3371
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i have camped down into the teens with it earlier this year up in N GA mountains. it worked well in the bedroom or back of the class c. kept the rest of the coach in the low 60's to high 50's at max setting. i did have to offset in morning with a little propane furnace for the DW till she got warm. i was fine.
patrick
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11-13-2016, 06:56 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 1,241
THOR #1249
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Would probably do ok in my travels as I try to stay out of freezing temps, but sometimes get into them. Now, if there was a vacant wall spot to hang it. Not sure I have one until I can stop over at the parking lot and check it out.
Thanks for the info.
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Former owner of 2015 Thor Vegas 24.1 in Ocala
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11-13-2016, 11:02 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Thor Tuscany 40DX
State: Colorado
Posts: 121
THOR #5043
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Your lucky you don't have that Aquahot junk. Doubt it will keep our Tuscany 40DX warm if temps are in the 30's. Had it worked on 5 times last year in Quartzsite and it's some better now but way short of my expectations. 1 1/2 years old. About to leave for Q Tuesday and hope for better results. Hope my experiences are not the norm for this?
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11-14-2016, 02:21 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
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Mcr, you don't want to hang an electric heater on the wall, some draw air from the rear and blocking the air could cause overheating. Also, remember, the wall beard is flammable and you really shouldn't be hanging something hot on it for safety reasons.
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11-14-2016, 03:54 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 22E
State: Washington
Posts: 304
THOR #4719
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperD
Mcr, you don't want to hang an electric heater on the wall, some draw air from the rear and blocking the air could cause overheating. Also, remember, the wall beard is flammable and you really shouldn't be hanging something hot on it for safety reasons.
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Very good point.
A small automatic electric heater with a small fan, like I linked to earlier can set on the floor out of the way a bit, and be placed in storage when not in use. Our Voranado is small, quiet, and thermostatically regulated. we use it anytime we can, because it is much quieter that the furnace.
Ken
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11-14-2016, 11:04 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Florida
Posts: 1,241
THOR #1249
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperD
Mcr, you don't want to hang an electric heater on the wall, some draw air from the rear and blocking the air could cause overheating. Also, remember, the wall beard is flammable and you really shouldn't be hanging something hot on it for safety reasons.
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The Envi wall heater seems to have enough safety features, but there is no suitable wall space to hang one that is centrally located. Guess I will stick with my electric space heater.
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Former owner of 2015 Thor Vegas 24.1 in Ocala
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