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jhanan · 08-27-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upstateny

Rebuilding a house we purchased,but can't get a mortgage due to its not live able so we decided to live in a RV to save money so we can build and finish it quicker .So we are living in a snow region and very cold!!!

Upstater, we used our MH as a kitchen in the winter of 2011/12 when we put an addition on our house and replaced our entire kitchen (north of Albany NY area). We did not live in the MH. But to keep it operational during the winter, I purchased the external propane add-on kit from Camping World. This kit allows you to add in-line to the existing propane tank system an additional tank(s). I used a 100 Lb tank (separate) and lit comes with like a 6ft line. Big enough for plenty of fuel and small enough to load up in my pickup for refilling. We would turn the stat down to 45-50 and then back up to 70 when using the kitchen, then back down to 45-50. We got our kitchen done the 1st week of Jan, just in time to shuter down before the real cold sets in with mid to low teen's in Jan and Feb.

You will have to do a lot more to make it through the winter in upstate NY. There are some RV's who do the full winter at the Saratoga Springs RV park, so I took a drive through to check it out. There are several mods. They "full skirt" bottom of the entire the MH with insulation panels. They insulate the water and waste line hookups and add heat tape. They add insulation to the windows and the roof vents. You have problem with humidity, so you have to air out the MH often. You will have to heat tape the water lines in the water cabinets (I used a drop light for temporary solution). You have to be very careful with all this stuff since heat tape and drop lights can cause a fire.

You might check into a pellet stove - would be much cheaper to heat. Some pellet stoves are mobile home approved put you have to plumb in both air inlet (2") and the flue line (4") out the side of MH - that is a pretty big modification. I've seen plenty of mobile homes with them, but not an RV yet.

It is possible but expensive. Please post your pics.

Gingerela · 08-28-2013, 05:59 PM

I read about this product in the RVTravel.com newsletter two days ago. It's called Cheap Heat and once installed, uses forced air through your existing a/c vents to heat your unit. It runs about $500 or so. Best thing is that it runs on electric so you don't need to use your propane. I am considering it since I rather enjoy the cooler months of the year. Here's the link:

CheapHeat