Need a simple cheap heater

[Jester]

Need something small, cheap and simple to heat a 4x8 trailer. Thinking about a small propane type that screws on the bottle but don't like the noise. Will keep the roof vent and window cracked for ventilation. Only going for a weekend in April and then won't be using it in cold weather so don't want to spend a bunch. Ideas??

[apratt]

This may work for you, but do make sure your windows are vented!!
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... ryid=28130

[halfdome, Danny]

I wouldn't sleep with any portable propane appliance, might not wake up . Danny

[TPMcGinty]

I've got one of these:

http://www.mrheater.com/productdetails_ ... d=41&id=24

It doesn't seem to make any noise. It also has an automatic shutoff if the Oxygen level drops to 18%. It's also approved for indoor use. I still would crack the vent and/or window to ensure enough O2. No sense in relying on the safety shutoff.

[Geron]

If you have POWER (you didn't mention) the little ceramics cannot be beat for heat and safety.
Cheap too.

gac

[mikeschn]

I agree with Danny. I wouldn't want to sleep with one on... you might not wake up, like these guys...

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 7417#57417

Mike...

[cablerunners]

Hi,

I have a couple ceramic heaters (cheap finds in thrift shops).

You may also look for the low-temp rated sleeping bags.

They do make tent heaters with 3" hose (like a dryer exhaust vent) you might look at those and figure a way to feed it to the trailer...

http://www.hotcampshowers.com/new51793.html

-phil

[Miriam C.]

I am personally not using propane for heat but Del went in winter from Washington st. to Florida and back with one. I don't think he used it when sleeping and he has a 12volt bed warmer, no insulation in the td at the time.

Personally I would rely on 0 degree sleeping bags, battery powered bed warmers and something for while you are awake. My electric works great but I am saving for a propane furnace like Mike's.

[cablerunners]

Hi,

After looking at this type heater for a while, I'll bet you could make a "plate" with a fitting to pop in your window frame and power it from the 12v battery on the trailer.

I'm beginning to wonder if we can make something like this ourselves and power it off a larger propane tank.



http://www.hotcampshowers.com/new51793.html

http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consume ... ovent.html

-phil

[Jester]

Excellent ideas!! Thanks so much! For myself i would go with the sleeping bags but.....living in western PA and sleeping outside during the first weekend of trout season in a sleeping bag requires a nice layer of body "insulation". Now, I have a rather nice layer that I have worked quite dilligently on accumulating over the past 41 years. It serves me well!! The nephew (who will be sleeping in the trailer) is not quite as fortunate. He's about 115 lbs. with "body insulation" equal to a 16oz. filet mignon!!

The campsites they will be at are primitive and have no power, that's why I was looking at the propane sources. I like that Mr. Heater option with the oxygen sensor. I would couple that with a Co2 detector in the trailer if I were to go that route AND keep the roof vent and window cracked. You can never be too careful!

Being this is my first build I was trying to keep things simple. I think when I build mine I'll put a small furnace in it with a thermostat. I actuallly have one now but the size and configuration of this project limits where I could put it and I'm not willing to give uo anymore space.

Thanks to all of the responders!! I knew you guys would come up with great ideas!

[TPMcGinty]

Jester, I also am putting a smoke/CO detector in my tear and leaving the windows and vents cracked just in case. The Mr. Heater also has two mounting holes that allow you to hang it on the wall if you'd like, so it's out of the way. I also saw it on clearance at Walmart for $60 last week. I hope that helps.

[halfdome, Danny]

Propane heaters create moisture inside a teardrop. I use to preheat with a Mr. Heater and noticed the moisture. Mr. Heater after awhile will keep shutting off, quite annoying piece of junk. A mattress heater and two 12 volt batteries works for primitive and with power and a small ceramic heater is great to heat the tear before you go to sleep. We do this every night in the winter. Remember were the nuts that sleeps in our TD year round in the garage, Jane loves it. Danny

[len19070]

This question comes up a lot. If you have 110V power, an electric heater can't be beat.

But both a catalytic heater and a furnace have there drawbacks.

A catalytic can kill ya, (very bad) and a furnace without 110V will eat a battery in a hurry. Forget what the charts say, a group 27 battery out in 20 degree weather won't last an entire weekend.

I use a Catalytic about 2-3 hours before I go to bed, shut it off and then get under a lot of blankets.

In the morning my stove slides into the cabin and I make coffee inside. That really heats the place up.

Hi,

After looking at this type heater for a while, I'll bet you could make a "plate" with a fitting to pop in your window frame and power it from the 12v battery on the trailer.

I'm beginning to wonder if we can make something like this ourselves and power it off a larger propane tank.



http://www.hotcampshowers.com/new51793.html

http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consume ... ovent.html

-phil

I agree this could be made with some dryer vent tube, a computer fan, a Coleman single burner stove (there 10,000 btu also) and some kind of heat exchanger.

There are lots of other "Low-Tech" ideas as well. A hot rock, Hot water bottle (made out of plastic juice bottles), a cast iron frying pan works great as a bed warmer, even a dog is good.

But my all time favorite is another body.

Happy Trails

Len

[mikeschn]

How many amps does that Suburban draw? I just went and took a look... the furnace that I bought draws 1.8 amps.
http://www.ducktec.com/hydroflame-furnaces.html

Mike...

P.S. If we run out of battery we'll have to resort to a two dog night!!!

Forget what the charts say, a group 27 battery out in 20 degree weather will only run a Suburban NT16SE about 8-9 hours. And thats not enough for a weekend.

[len19070]

P.S. If we run out of battery we'll have to resort to a two dog night!!!

Thats why ya got a new dog.

1.8 amps is pretty good. The one we tested at work was 3.8 amps an hour. We left the battery outside over night (17-18 degrees) and ran it from 7am until it failed at about 4:30pm.

Then we ran it the next day with the battery inside 68 degrees. It almost made it 24 hours, both tests were constant use.

Happy Trails

Len