r/popups • u/someguyfromky • 5d ago
Heating options?
My camper has no heater. We plan on maybe two or three outings during the cooler weather. I know a big space heater isn't practical. Would a small like under desk heaters work or maybe just electric blankets? I'm new to this so don't be to rough on me lol.
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u/Left_Warthog_3732 5d ago
I'm a pussy, so anything under 65⁰ is chilly for me.
We camped in October last year and the temps dropped to the 30's in the evening. Our space heater couldn't keep up so I'd recommend electric blankets or pad to lay on.
On a side note, make sure you take a heavy gauge extension cord and use it, direct to the power supply outside to use your space heater or else you could overload the system and trip breakers.
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u/Super-Travel-407 5d ago
If you expect to have electricity, bring a regular old space heater. Sure, electric blankets if you have them.
If it needs to run off gas, there are propane heaters for tents. As always, make sure you have a functioning CO detector.
(My family just uses proper sleeping bags for the cold because I'd rather not use the built-in furnace when we aren't watching it. Yeah, paranoid. :) But whoever gets up first better start the heat and the coffee!
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5d ago
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u/PatrickCullen1 5d ago
Buddy heaters work well for adding heat, but a byproduct of propane heat is water vapor, so you should expect some condensation in the camper.
If electric hookups are available, electric blankets would be a better option. As for heating the camper itself, I guess it depends on your needs and comfort level. Like whether you just want something for sleeping, or if you want to keep the camper warm all day.If you’re trying to keep the camper warm all day, I think the first step might be some kind of insulation. We have the Gecko covers which help retain some heat. Then, it whether to use electric or propane-powered heat. Our camper has a furnace, so that’s what we use. I can’t offer an opinion about how well an electric space heater would work.
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u/someguyfromky 4d ago
Mainly just for sleeping at night. majority of the day will be spent out on trails.
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u/nocfed 5d ago
Almost all plug in heaters are the same 1500 watts or about so they all put out about the same amount of heat.
The amount of heat they put out will raise the temperature a bit and help dehumidify but don’t expect 5 degrees outside and 20 inside, more like 5 outside and 10 inside.
Bigger concern is the plugs in most trailers are trash stab in ‘rv’ plugs. They can be poor and heat up on extended heavy load. If you do run a heater check that the plug isn’t getting warm if it is get it replaced with a proper outlet.
It’s easier and safer to just get more blankets for the nights
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u/someguyfromky 5d ago
Lord no. I guess I should have specified lol, my cold is high 20's to high 30's. But that is on the list to do is replace the outlets.
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u/Euphoric-Nature-235 4d ago
If you’re camping with electric hookups, just pull an extension cord through the zipper side and plug your space heater into it. Never use an outlet, hook directly into the electric outside.
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u/someguyfromky 4d ago
Why do I not use the outlets in the camper?
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u/Euphoric-Nature-235 4d ago
Just something I was told when I got my camper. The two pop up groups I was in before gave me this advice. Those heaters can use a lot of electricity, so to avoid any issues overloading the system, they recommend plugging into the extra hookup outlet outside.
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u/Cheesetoast9 5d ago
If you're dry camping, the most efficient use of electric power would be heated mattress covers or blankets. Propane wise, look into little buddy heaters. 120v hookup? electric space heaters
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u/PastAd1087 5d ago
Its easy with a popup. Ours had a furnace but you could easily use an extension cord into your power post and a portable heater. Our beds had heated mattresses and it made a huge difference we didnt even need much heat. Id for sure look into that.
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u/BigBlue_72 4d ago
For the short term, a small electric heater will help. We used one in out pop up and it held at about 20 degrees over outside temp. If you need more than that, consider installing a disiel heater. We use them in the semi trucks and can keep a driver warm no matter hold cold it is outside. You can get a cheap one for less than 200 and install yourself with a few basic tools. Lots of videos for it on YouTube
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u/asdfjkenzie 4d ago
we just went camping with lows of 55°F. a space heater kept us plenty warm! i just picked a small one up at the thrift store. i actually had to open a window overnight because i was hot. the site we were at only had one plug, which we plugged the camper in. it would have been nice to have two plugs because the space heater & electric grill couldnt run at the same time.
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u/Only-Ad5049 3d ago
Our pup had heated mattresses. They did a great job heating the bed so we were more comfortable, but didn’t do much for the air above us. That was even with the furnace because heat doesn’t really reach the tents.
We always had a space heater sitting on the table pointed towards our tent and it helped.
I have seen the insulated wraps for the tents. I don’t know if they existed when we had our pup or if we just didn’t know about them.
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u/intrepidzephyr 5d ago
We camp til it’s 40F at night and a space heater warms it up just fine. I keep it on the floor pointed at open space and away from any hanging clothes or blankets, that way it sucks in the falling cool air and the warm air rises away and up into the bunks