Cold weather usage

[Caminonut69]

Looks like I will be going to south Detroit Michigan in January for work. I hate motel rooms and thought about taking the RV as I have a place to park it. I would like to know if anyone is using theirs for cold weather camping and any pointers you might have.

[The Gritz Carlton]

It's brutal. You'll go through propane for heat like rats go through cheese. If you have FHU's you can use electric heaters for heat but you'll have to deal with water hoses freezing and general issues with a cheaply build, poorly insulated tiny house. If you have other options I would go that route. Dealing with these issues as a "hobby" when camping is one thing...depending on them while working is another.

[16ACE27]

Your DRV should be OK depending on how long you'll stay, how you prep it with heated hose wraps and skirting, and of course; how bad the weather gets while you're there.

[dapperdan]

I agree with the others, can it be done? Definately. Will your stay in the Michigan winter be enjoyable? Probably not, depending on how cold it gets. Keep in my you own a RECREATIONAL VEHICLE! None of these were designed for extreme temperatures, hot or cold! There's no way around it, you WILL use a significant amount of energy in either extreme, hot or cold.

Just my 2 cents though. Good luck in your decision.

Dan

[Cummins12V98]

Get Cheap Heat installed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lt Keefer]

I was at a campground in Northern Kansas last month and was surprised that some of the rigs were set up to be used year round. I'm sure you can do it, but I would probably check into an extended stay motel.

[Elite Washington]

I would rather stay in a hotel or just about anything versus my RV during the winter. Our winters in Washington State are pretty good compared to most northern states and it would still be miserable. The people that I have seen do it have skirting all around, all pipes are wrapped, tank heaters and a delivery service for propane. You will probably spend as much for propane as an extended stay motel.

[Caminonut69]

I have the cheap heat and I have a heated water hose. I stayed in some 20 degree weather this past winter and I’m impressed with the cheap heat as I never used propane. I have the heat pads on the tanks and the outlet pipe.

[lwmcguir]

Cheap heat is only cheap if you have a non metered long term site

[dapperdan]

Originally Posted by lwmcguir

Cheap heat is only cheap if you have a non metered long term site

Good point! We have the Cheap Heat too,LOVE it, it's GREAT as long as the resort "eats" the electricity!!

Dan

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by dapperdan

it's GREAT as long as the resort "eats" the electricity!!

Dan

True! But most do not..With the Aquahot [AHE-100-02] I cut my metered power bill by a bunch just by turning off the electric heat element(s) inside the boiler and using only the diesel burner.. [Metered rate was $0.175 per]

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by lwmcguir

Cheap heat is only cheap if you have a non metered long term site

NOT TRUE!!! Still WAYYY less expensive than Propane. I have a metered site in CA and exclusively use my Cheap Heat over Propane.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by dapperdan

Good point! We have the Cheap Heat too,LOVE it, it's GREAT as long as the resort "eats" the electricity!!

Dan

Dan so you would rather lug around the tanks to be filled and pay more for Propane?

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

NOT TRUE!!! Still WAYYY less expensive than Propane. I have a metered site in CA and exclusively use my Cheap Heat over Propane.

Sure is higher than my diesel burner by a long shot

The KW price is the key

Propane is expensive and the heaters are typically very inefficient so I get why folks went to electric

However, if you're in a cold climate you are going to use a lot of KW's keeping the RV warm and if you're paying you will notice that

To broadly say cheap heat is cheap is not true at all

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

Dan so you would rather lug around the tanks to be filled and pay more for Propane?

You have a valid point when comparing almost anything to exchanging 30-pound propane tanks. We had 40 pound and they werent fun either

That is why the Aqua hot on diesel is the best way if you're going to be in cold weather often

Anyone staying over winter in the cold better have a 100-gallon tank or something similar unless they are prepared to change tanks every couple of days

Or as you noted, electric heat and electric included or a hefty budget

[anijet]

Originally Posted by lwmcguir

You have a valid point when comparing almost anything to exchanging 30-pound propane tanks. We had 40 pound and they werent fun either

That is why the Aqua hot on diesel is the best way if you're going to be in cold weather often

Anyone staying over winter in the cold better have a 100-gallon tank or something similar unless they are prepared to change tanks every couple of days

Or as you noted, electric heat and electric included or a hefty budget

So where does the Aqua pull the diesel from?

[Caminonut69]

I used the cheap heat this past winter and paid electric but it was way better than the price of propane. My original question was how many DRV owners have stayed in their RV in colder weather. I owned a keystone before this one and even though it was 10’ shorter the DRV is cheaper on the electric bill by far.

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by anijet

So where does the Aqua pull the diesel from?

150 gallon on board tank

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by Caminonut69

I used the cheap heat this past winter and paid electric but it was way better than the price of propane. My original question was how many DRV owners have stayed in their RV in colder weather. I owned a keystone before this one and even though it was 10’ shorter the DRV is cheaper on the electric bill by far.

Lets hear from someone staying in an RV with zero low temps telling us how they stayed warm using electricity and thougt is was economical

I have tried it

[Cummins12V98]

Problem here is we are talking two different animals!!! Motorhomes are NOT the same as a DRV RV 5er that this topic is being posted in.