Expo rig heat

[jsawduste]

Thoughts on adding a heater to the bed area of an Expo rig ? Must be self contained. No hookups.

Be it a Suburban or a pickup with a cap ?

Maybe some kind of propane tent heater that exhausts out a window or port ?

Be nice to have some kind warm place to go on a cold day/night.

Carbon Monoxide it one of my biggest worries here. Electric would solve the fume problem but how do you power a heater up for any length of time ?

[cowboyup21]

unless your running a second battery and a power inverter, then you could run a electric heater (option I would go with). Otherwise a small propane heater and a exhaust fan routed out a window would be the other option.

[BAGDADEXPRESS]

Some states have begun a no diesel idle rule a rest areas so many new devices for heating cabin area have become available.

A forced air propane heater for RV's use is best option, heater is mounted outside of vehicle with ducting being directed into area to be heated. The propane tank can be mounted under chassis, or on roof rack.

There are engine cooling system heaters that circulate coolant through a heating core too, this maybe good for you.

I've never been big on cabin heaters myself, actually like being in an extreme cold weather sleeping bag instead.

[jsawduste]

Thanks for the help guys. Prefer not to have to worry about CO so electric is the first choice. Wonder how long a battery/inverter setup would run ?

Need to google the heater for big rigs. Never thought of that.

Nice warm cabin, good book and a comfy low rise chair.

[TurboNerd]

There's propane heaters designed for indoor use. They have a catalytic converter that does some voodoo magic to make them safe. I've not looked too far into them - they may still require some ventilation?

[The Adam Blaster]

If you don't "have" to heat the air, you might look at an electric mattress pad/blanket or whatever. Some of them draw very little juice, usually adjustable, no emissions, and you can set it 1/2 hour before you go to bed and have a nice 'n toasty mattress to sleep on.

[bigun]

Originally Posted by The Adam Blaster

If you don't "have" to heat the air, you might look at an electric mattress pad/blanket or whatever. Some of them draw very little juice, usually adjustable, no emissions, and you can set it 1/2 hour before you go to bed and have a nice 'n toasty mattress to sleep on.

These are good they also make or used to a 12 volt electric heater. If the back of your rig is well insulated and free from drafts it will be easier to keep warm. I am looking at a combo idea of engine heater off the coolant, mattress warmer on the bed combined with some heavy warm bedding, and a propane heater in case it really gets cold. Then again you could build a wood heater that sat on the tail gate and sleep with your head at that end of the bed so you could reach out and keep feeding it branches all night. Before anybody says anything I have seen this done many years ago!

[max adams]

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_off_h...ters_1069.html
We install both the coolant heaters and the air heaters at work, they can be ordered for gas or diesel engines and draw minimal amps to ignite the fuel as well as a fuel pump that runs intermittently. They shut down with less than 10v and are vented outside the vehicle. They are kind of pricey but very effective.

[85blue4runner]

have seen some guys in our club use the catalytic propane heaters in tents and truck beds with camper shells and they are all still alive with no ill effects..

[bigun]

Originally Posted by max adams

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_off_h...ters_1069.html
We install both the coolant heaters and the air heaters at work, they can be ordered for gas or diesel engines and draw minimal amps to ignite the fuel as well as a fuel pump that runs intermittently. They shut down with less than 10v and are vented outside the vehicle. They are kind of pricey but very effective.

Corvair cars had a gas fired heater in them they were mounted up front in the trunk and could roast you out of the car. The neat thing is they had ducts on them so it would seem you could rework them for your application

[Patrol]

Originally Posted by max adams

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_off_h...ters_1069.html
We install both the coolant heaters and the air heaters at work, they can be ordered for gas or diesel engines and draw minimal amps to ignite the fuel as well as a fuel pump that runs intermittently. They shut down with less than 10v and are vented outside the vehicle. They are kind of pricey but very effective.

I have the ThermoTopC in my truck and love it ! I can set the time when the heater starts and have a fuzzy warm truck in the morning and can even start the heater with a call from my cell phone
Another advantage is that I can run the fan alone without heater when the dog is left in the car for some time.

[baldfatdad]

can't help myself. In order of how warm you will be:
Fat girl
2 fat girls
3 dogs
catylic heater
two good sleeping bags and a skinny girl

[jsawduste]

Originally Posted by baldfatdad

can't help myself. In order of how warm you will be:
Fat girl
2 fat girls
3 dogs
catylic heater
ONE good sleeping bag(s) and a skinny girl

Fixed it

[YuppieTrash]

From my experience winter camping (and i'm a skinny guy) all you really need is shelter from the outside elements and a very good sleeping bag. For example, last time i went, it was -10 at night and i was sleeping in a tent on 12" of snow. A good insulating foam pad (or two) underneath you is very important. Then a quality down bag rated for the temp you expect. I had a -20 bag, so i used that. Brought along an extra summer bag to double up in case I got cold. I wound up unzipping my winter bag and putting a leg out because i was warm. The worst part isn't the sleeping. It's the getting up in the morning when all your clothes and boots are cold.

[dbreid]

I use a Catalytic Heater inside my Suburban and it makes things very nice. I use the fan operated (battery) coleman one. Black Cat Pro or something like that. I have used it in an enclosed truck lots of times. Very nice, and you can get Coleman fuel pretty much anywhere.

[JESSE_at_TLT]

I'm putting a military multi-fuel heater, a propane heater out of an old motorhome AND radiant heat under the laminate flooring in my camper. I don wanna freeze.