Question about Winter TT heating and plumbing.

[StrayBytes]

Okay, here goes a question I have because this is my first trailer and first Winter of camping with it. I would like to find out what the rest of you do.

We're still going to be using our TT during the Winter, since we have plenty of days that are sunny, at least 60 degrees and pleasant here all season.

My plan is to use the onboard furnace and/or a portable electric heater when camping and also when we're home for comfort and to protect the plumbing when it gets freezing cold sometimes.

The owner's manual has one sentence that warns to NOT use a portable electric heater, but doesn't explain why, ...just the one sentence.

When I'm searching posts on here for answers, more than a few members posts mention using portable electric heaters in their units to supplement their heating.

This trailer has a single point furnace (no ducting), so I think the ends are going to be cold on some days - I think a supplemental heater is going to be needed.

So, can I use a portable electric heater inside my rig, or not? If not, why not?

Okay, another question - Even if I'm keeping the inside warm enough to protect the plumbing, what is going to keep the holding tanks from freezing since they are beneath the floor? I have an idea that the 'contents' of the black tank might be generating enough of it's own heat to keep from freezing, right? and when we're home it'll be empty so there won't be anything in it to freeze, right? But what about the grey water tank and the fresh water tank? They'll be empty when we're home but not when we're camping.

I guess the tanks would never really be completely empty, but there would be enough expansion room in them, right?

I could use your advice since I don't want to learn this stuff "the hard way"

[StrayBytes]

Okay, here goes a question I have because this is my first trailer and first Winter of camping with it. I would like to find out what the rest of you do.

We're still going to be using our TT during the Winter, since we have plenty of days that are sunny, at least 60 degrees and pleasant here all season.

My plan is to use the onboard furnace and/or a portable electric heater when camping and also when we're home for comfort and to protect the plumbing when it gets freezing cold sometimes.

The owner's manual has one sentence that warns to NOT use a portable electric heater, but doesn't explain why, ...just the one sentence.

When I'm searching posts on here for answers, more than a few members posts mention using portable electric heaters in their units to supplement their heating.

This trailer has a single point furnace (no ducting), so I think the ends are going to be cold on some days - I think a supplemental heater is going to be needed.

So, can I use a portable electric heater inside my rig, or not? If not, why not?

Okay, another question - Even if I'm keeping the inside warm enough to protect the plumbing, what is going to keep the holding tanks from freezing since they are beneath the floor? I have an idea that the 'contents' of the black tank might be generating enough of it's own heat to keep from freezing, right? and when we're home it'll be empty so there won't be anything in it to freeze, right? But what about the grey water tank and the fresh water tank? They'll be empty when we're home but not when we're camping.

I guess the tanks would never really be completely empty, but there would be enough expansion room in them, right?

I could use your advice since I don't want to learn this stuff "the hard way"

[TXiceman]

One thing you did not note was whether your RV has an enclosed under-belly or basement. If not, you will have some exposed waterlines as well as the tanks. Since you do not have a ducted furnace, I do not think you will have a heated and enclosed basement.

I'd worry about freezing your exposed waterlines and tanks.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

TXiceman should know, he's been there a long time. When the day-time temperature is above 40*F and night-time temperature is above the 28* range your pipes should never freeze. It is a good idea to block cold winds from the plumbing though. Using an electric space heater places a heavy load on the 14/2 120VAC wiring. While the wiring is designed to carry 15A, any other loads on that circuit may cause an over-load, resulting in the wiring getting hot, sometimes before the 15A breaker trips. This is nothing to be alarmed about, it just means you should monitor your electrical system while it it under heavy loads. MY answer to your heater question is; yes it's OK- If you are aware of the potential over-load more appliances will place on the system.
If you choose to use a catalytic LPG heater, there is a completely different set of rules to follow.

[TXiceman]

We have been living in the trailer since last December and had lived in it for a shorter term 2 years prior to that in NE Oklahoma. Coldest we have been in the trailer was 19 dF and we were OK. We ran a 1500 watt heater to supplement the propane furnace. Our trailer has a fully encolsed basement and it is heated by the furnace. All water tanks and lines are in the heated basement. Filled the water tank and dumped every few days, so that we did not have to worry with lines freezing.

When the weather is below freezing, we run about 4 to 5 days on one 30# propane tank while using the electric heater to help out.

One of the biggest problems of living in the trailer during cold weather is moisture. You have to be sure and vent when cooking and showering. Just your breathing puts a lot of moisture into the air and this condenses on the windows. Of course, the more you vent, the more cold airr you have to heat...so if is a catch 22 here.