Camper Trailer Heating

[corynmelnkids]

No the milks got its own heating system just trying to keep the wife happy and warm as we all know the old saying.
Happy wife Happy Life.

[Sicilianmama]

i am sure it wouldn't go down well she is still breast feeding i suggested sitting out by the campfire to feed bub i said i will make it nice and big all i got was the look.

What about one of those baby wrap sling things that baby can snuggle in whilst BF? Baby stays snug and warm and can still BF.

[Redcherokee]

Mate bought one of those Coleman catalytic ones last year, and has almost convinced me to get one.   Reckons it is pretty safe, works well for a smaller camper, but wouldn't be enough for heating a big annex.

Would be enough to keep mum from freezing while nursing during the night.  Add a warm dressing gown or blankety snuggly thing, and she should be right.  Hot air rises, so if it is feasible to sit up on the bed rather than down on the camper floor it should also be warmer.

[Paul (SA)]

The latest ed of Camper Trailer Touring has an article on them I think.

[Sicilianmama]

We use a Coleman catalytic gas heater to warm up the inside of the camper and it works well. Fumes are low with these catalytic heaters but as with all gas heaters you should have adequate ventilation and never sleep with them on!
Cost was around $120

Just wondering where you get these from and if I was to run it inside the swan for like an hour or so before bed then turn it off would there be a risk of poisoning? I'm just wanting to take the chill out of the air for the kids, not neccesarily to keep us warm if that makes sense?

[SteveandViv]

We use a Coleman catalytic gas heater to warm up the inside of the camper and it works well. Fumes are low with these catalytic heaters but as with all gas heaters you should have adequate ventilation and never sleep with them on!
Cost was around $120

Same. We used ours quite a lot as we traveled through Aus during winter. We refill the small canisters from our 4KG bottles using a coupler you can get from the US. We would leave it on while awake then turn it off when we slept.

[Desert lover]

I've been doing a bit of 'research' re portable diesel heaters and came across two brands.  Have a look via google at dieselheatingaustralia website and also www.eco-camper.com.  Both a fairly pricey but being portable are kept outside the camper and the warm air is piped inside via a hose.
Good luck and stay warm!!
Desert Lover

[sablesoft]

Just wondering where you get these from and if I was to run it inside the swan for like an hour or so before bed then turn it off would there be a risk of poisoning? I'm just wanting to take the chill out of the air for the kids, not neccesarily to keep us warm if that makes sense?

Hi,

I have purchased a Carbon Monoxide Sensor LCD Monitor from ebay, this has a led readout.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221039946764?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I have used my Coleman Procat Catalytic Heater in the annex and main tent, just made sure I had a few air gaps to ensure fresh air flow. 

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE VENTS OR OPENINGS TO ALLOW FRESH AIR IN AND Carbon Monoxide OUT.

It will be interesting to run some tests when the alarm arrives, prices of these alarms vary on ebay up to $40 for what appears to be the same alarm.  do a search for Carbon Monoxide on ebay.

Ray

[Sixtys Guy]

I would feel uneasy relying on a $12 unverified carbon monoxide alarm from Hong Kong to protect my family from potential death. Then again I wouldn't use an unflued heater in a sleeping area either.

[sablesoft]

I would feel uneasy relying on a $12 unverified carbon monoxide alarm from Hong Kong to protect my family from potential death. Then again I wouldn't use an unflued heater in a sleeping area either.

Hi,

I NEVER sleep with the heater on, and I make sure there are vents open.

I am looking at running some tests with it a shower tent to see what / if it reads, as a first step.

[austastar]

I am looking at running some tests with it a shower tent to see what / if it reads, as a first step.

Hi,
   keep an eye on the quality of the flame as you watch the CO level start to rise. (from outside goes without saying)


I would be interested to know if you can detect any change from a nice clean blue burning flame down to a yellow smokey flame before or after the meter indicates a change.


cheers

[LucyJ]

I can't speak from experience with heaters but I can speak from experience feeding a little person in the middle of the night freezing my <insert exposed body part here>, get your mind out of the gutter, I was thinking stomach!

It was actually easier feeding my older one in our old tent, where I would just roll over and scoop her out of the cot and bring her into bed. But with the camper trailer and my little man, I had to completely get out of bed, down a ladder, and almost burst into tears because I didn't have a chair to sit in, so sat on the freezing ladder with my back and stomach exposed. On the first night I think he wasn't dressed warmly enough and so woke quite a few times! Tired grumpy Mummy the next morning.

My advice would be have bubs in with you, keeps everyone warm and takes little effort to feed little one. I haven't always been comfortable sleeping with a small one, so I can understand that and you still have to deal the time they go to sleep and you going to sleep, you don't want him/her to roll off!
The other option is to make sure there is a chair set up inside, with a blanket,doona, dressing gown set up to wrap around her.

They are my 2 cents worth, I hope they help!

[Black Diamond]

Anybody used one of these? I've heard some good things and they seem pretty cheap http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem?itemId=330747643876

[austastar]

Anybody used one of these? I've heard some good things and they seem pretty cheap

Hi,  reading the specs, it looks very close to the Webasto in function, but bolted together as a free standing unit. I can't make out the combustion air intake and exhaust, but they should be underneath, and the image has been trimmed.
The Webasto is less 'industrial' looking, but that is not necessarily of any practical use.
At 4.6 kW the heater described has twice the heat output of our unit.

Before deciding on diesel, consider the gas fueled versions, they have some advantages re less Amps to get started, clean burning with out the 'kero' smell of diesel, and don't have a 'ticking' impulse pump to feed the fuel to the unit.

There is some forum discussion here if you are interested.

We went for the diesel simply for the calorific value of the fuel and the convenience of having it in a 25L tank that will double as a reserve if we get caught short between service stations.

cheers

[BigJules]

There was a write up in a recent ed of CTT on the merits of gas and diesel heaters. Both seemed good, with stregnths and weaknesses.

If you can carry two gas bottles, I felt gas would be easier. Also, gas systems were reportedly quieter, though more expensive to run.
If you prefer a diesel system, it is important to ensure intake and exhaust are well separated.

[Burnsy]

Anyone got or used one of these?

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/Choose-Your-Own-Adventure/Family-Camping-Trip/Mr-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater

[Burnsy]

Anyone got or used one of these?

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/Choose-Your-Own-Adventure/Family-Camping-Trip/Mr-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater

Bump, anyone??  They are on the primus site so I am assuming their quality is OK and there is a connection hose that allows it to be connected direct to a big bottle (3/8 ??) fitting available which makes it even more attractive.

[Jeepers Creepers]

just trying to keep the wife happy and warm as we all know the old saying.
Happy wife Happy Life.

Well, all i can say is GOOD LUCK with that..... In about 10 years, make sure you post how that is working out for you.

[oldtrack123]

Hi
 One should take note of the warning with most portable gas heaters about use in
 enclosed areas
Carbon monoxide poisoning deaths are NOT uncommon
A camper trailer MAY have adequate ventilation but use with great care
Peter

[Burnsy]

Hi
 One should take note of the warning with most portable gas heaters about use in
 enclosed areas
Carbon monoxide poisoning deaths are NOT uncommon
A camper trailer MAY have adequate ventilation but use with great care
Peter

The one I linked to has an oxgen sensor cutout in it.  Still keen to hear if anyone has used one, for $125 it could be worth a go.

[TroyE]

  head to FNQ we only have a handful of cold nights a year 

troy

[cruisindub]

head to FNQ we only have a handful of cold nights a year 

troy

My wife wants to move to Darwin.
Shesno idea if she'll like it or not, but its always hot.
Her excuse is that we'll save money on not buying jackets.

[Grungle]

The one I linked to has an oxgen sensor cutout in it.  Still keen to hear if anyone has used one, for $125 it could be worth a go.

I don't like any sort of exposed gas / bar heater due to the fire hazard but that aside, looking at the product specs, a single propane cylinder for this heater only lasts 6 hours on the lowest setting so you will need to carry quite a few cylinders if going for a decent trip. There are transport issues with this alone and the costs for each cylinder is around $15 to $25 depending on where you get them (probably higher in remote areas) so a 2 week trip using the heater every night means carrying 14 x 0.5kg cylinders which will cost $280 at an average of $20 a cylinder.

Personally I would get the Webasto diesel one on eBay for $899 which is a higher initial cost but cheaper to run in the long term -> http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/110907746575

Regards
David

[Grungle]

Anybody used one of these? I've heard some good things and they seem pretty cheap http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem?itemId=330747643876

The specs read that this sucker draws a continuous 4.1 Amps and burns 0.6L of diesel on the low setting alone. Too big and hungry for my liking.

Regards
David

[britts]

I rang to company selling the above ebay diesel heater and it's a copy out of china, not a webasto. 12 month warranty and they are in the process of getting spare parts for this product, the other thing is that the warranty is not void if fitted by the purchaser.
I think I'll wait until they have been out a but longer.