Beating Central Australia's freezing nights during winter.
Happy Camper said
04:54 PM Jan 26, 2014
We spend a lot of time in Central Australia April to July.
The days there are usually 21-25 oC which are fantastic but the nights can get down below zero.
Our van is modern and well insulated with double glazed windows which work great against the cold.
The marine ply floor however can turn into a frozen block which cools the van down.
To overcome this my wife purchased a length of carpet runner ( the type you see on polished boards in hallways).
We cut this into lengths to fit our floor plan.
As it has a flat pile that can be swept with a stiff broom there's no need to carry a vacuum cleaner.
The thick rubber backing prevents the carpet slipping as well its a excellent insulator and the whole carpet only added 8 kg to the load.
Coupled with our small ceramic heater we are now snug & warm at night @ around 18 oC.
This certainly worked for us.
Cheers,
John
-- Edited by Happy Camper on Sunday 26th of January 2014 10:54:31 PM
Beth54 said
09:26 PM Jan 26, 2014
Great idea. Thanks John.
sarg said
03:41 PM Jan 27, 2014
John, That's what I did last winter which I spent in Canberra. (cause my feet were freezing) I got the runner from Bunnings, very cheap and effective.
Nelly said
04:13 PM Jan 27, 2014
John what is the small ceramic heater you have?
native pepper said
08:09 AM Jan 28, 2014
We carry a portable wood heater I made with us, keeps the bus at 27deg even when freezing. As for carpets, we have 3 layers in our bus, which is great in winter and summer.
Happy Camper said
11:16 AM Jan 28, 2014
Nelly: - The ceramic heater is electric and made in France by Noiroit Electronic and purchased at the local "Good Guys".
Its very compact at 42cm long, 44cm high & 10cm wide on castors.
Its very safe with no fan and produces a constant warm heat - just set and forget.
We originally used a fan heater but found the fan sucked in fluff which gave off a burning smell on start up.
-- Edited by Happy Camper on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 11:19:46 AM
Nelly said
09:39 AM Jan 29, 2014
Thanks Happy Camper - interesting - yes I have a little fan heater and the dust does cause that burning smell.
Two Wanderers said
11:39 AM Feb 3, 2014
We have a diesel heater fitted in our van. Its fitted under the bed and ducted out and we find it very efficient!
Diggings said
04:43 PM Feb 3, 2014
I fitted a diesel heater last year, best thing ever, run it for about 10 mins before you get up, brilliant, I mounted the switches beside my bed.
brian said
07:37 PM Feb 3, 2014
I have had a diesel heater for a few years now.
Wonderful bit of kit.
The controls can't be reached from the bed, but I put them on my wife's side so she has to get out of bed in the morning to turn it on.
She always seems to need a cuddle to warm up again when she gets back in.
I have a duct going out to the annexe to warm that as well, it works exceptionally well
ozjohn said
11:34 AM Feb 16, 2014
We have a Truma E2400 LPG central heater. Beter than sliced bread and almost, but not quite as good a cold beer. OJ
Dunmowin said
11:51 PM Mar 7, 2014
Diggings wrote:
I fitted a diesel heater last year, best thing ever, run it for about 10 mins before you get up, brilliant, I mounted the switches beside my bed.
Wish we had done that. or remote control., Best thing however, is the diesel heater.
Jonathan said
06:03 AM Mar 8, 2014
Hi all .. I've run a diesel heater for the last 3 years in a MH and it functioned extremely well ! .. great for the user .. not always as "friendly" to surrounding campers due to diesel smells and a noise factor ..
With the recent change to a Caravan I went to Truma E2400 LPG gas heating ..
The end result is just what I wanted .. quiet .. no smells .. and far quicker heating than previously experienced ..
I feel it is probably not quite as economical as the Diesel Heater, but consider the efficiency much better .. and as such is less used (by me, anyway) ..
Thought I'd just add >>
.. when 240v is available I use a Heller brand Ceramic heater.
2 heat settings (750/1500w) and just a fan-only setting .. has oscillating base if you wish to use it .. temp set and forget with overheat protection .. and a safety tip-over switch.
It stands about 15" high .. has only a single speed .. extremely quiet .. and I've never had to use the higher settings.
I must add that I have no affiliation with any retail stores, but I did purchase it at Bunnings for $45.00
-- Edited by Jonathan on Saturday 8th of March 2014 06:33:12 AM
JayDee said
12:02 PM Mar 12, 2014
We enjoy the free bush camping from time to time.. So with that in mind, if and when you bush camp what style of heater do you have to make life bearable in the outback Winter time.
I know that there are plenty of options when 240 is available.
Can we run our electric blanket of the 12 system at night.
We have solar on the roof and a gennie. to replenish the battery.
I know that there are gas heaters, and in fact we have a "little buddy" but!!!! could be a problem.
What is your view re the above.
Jay&Dee
hako said
10:50 PM Mar 12, 2014
Really all you need is a hot water bottle as long as you have adequate blankets/doonas to keep the heat in. The hot water bottle will last for an hour or so and longer if you slip it in the bed an hour or so before retiring and then refill just before lights out. When we were kids it was a brick in the oven and then wrap it in a piece of an old blanket.
Good Luck.
Happywanderer said
11:55 PM Mar 12, 2014
I've got my hot water bottle and thermals to go under my PJs.
After all we are bush camping. Don't need all the mod cons.
Oh and my little dog Jessie keeps me warm.
Vic41 said
12:46 AM Mar 13, 2014
An extra doona or blanket under the bottom sheet, track suit pants and T shirt top, socks and beanie.....works for me....
I have long sleeved and long legged thermal underwear too from Anaconda, but usually find that is too hot.....sometime wear the top though.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 13th of March 2014 12:47:26 AM
JayDee said
01:04 PM Mar 13, 2014
Let me tell you, that in August at Tenterfield, Glen Innis Armidale the apparel mentioned above was of very little warmth comfort. We had to buy electric blanket and a gas heater
... not the best solution I know. So apart from a Diesel heater, what else will suffice???
Jay&DEE
Vic41 said
10:16 PM Mar 13, 2014
Hmmmm......was ok when we were at Glenn Innis, and it was that cold the water was frozen in our hoses (and ablutions) and towels and tea towels outside on the awning line were frozen solid......couldn't get the frost defrosted off our windscreen it kept forming again.....
Musta had thicker blood then, slept ok, the worst part was getting out of bed.
We spend a lot of time in Central Australia April to July.
The days there are usually 21-25 oC which are fantastic but the nights can get down below zero.
Our van is modern and well insulated with double glazed windows which work great against the cold.
The marine ply floor however can turn into a frozen block which cools the van down.
To overcome this my wife purchased a length of carpet runner ( the type you see on polished boards in hallways).
We cut this into lengths to fit our floor plan.
As it has a flat pile that can be swept with a stiff broom there's no need to carry a vacuum cleaner.
The thick rubber backing prevents the carpet slipping as well its a excellent insulator and the whole carpet only added 8 kg to the load.
Coupled with our small ceramic heater we are now snug & warm at night @ around 18 oC.
This certainly worked for us.
Cheers,
John
-- Edited by Happy Camper on Sunday 26th of January 2014 10:54:31 PM
Great idea. Thanks John.
Nelly: - The ceramic heater is electric and made in France by Noiroit Electronic and purchased at the local "Good Guys".
Its very compact at 42cm long, 44cm high & 10cm wide on castors.
Its very safe with no fan and produces a constant warm heat - just set and forget.
We originally used a fan heater but found the fan sucked in fluff which gave off a burning smell on start up.
-- Edited by Happy Camper on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 11:19:46 AM
I have had a diesel heater for a few years now.
Wonderful bit of kit.
The controls can't be reached from the bed, but I put them on my wife's side so she has to get out of bed in the morning to turn it on.
She always seems to need a cuddle to warm up again when she gets back in.
I have a duct going out to the annexe to warm that as well, it works exceptionally well
We have a Truma E2400 LPG central heater.
Beter than sliced bread and almost, but not quite as good a cold beer.
OJ
Wish we had done that. or remote control., Best thing however, is the diesel heater.
Hi all .. I've run a diesel heater for the last 3 years in a MH and it functioned extremely well ! .. great for the user .. not always as "friendly" to surrounding campers due to diesel smells and a noise factor ..
With the recent change to a Caravan I went to Truma E2400 LPG gas heating ..
The end result is just what I wanted .. quiet .. no smells .. and far quicker heating than previously experienced ..
I feel it is probably not quite as economical as the Diesel Heater, but consider the efficiency much better .. and as such is less used (by me, anyway) ..
Thought I'd just add >>
.. when 240v is available I use a Heller brand Ceramic heater.
2 heat settings (750/1500w) and just a fan-only setting .. has oscillating base if you wish to use it .. temp set and forget with overheat protection .. and a safety tip-over switch.
It stands about 15" high .. has only a single speed .. extremely quiet .. and I've never had to use the higher settings.
I must add that I have no affiliation with any retail stores, but I did purchase it at Bunnings for $45.00
-- Edited by Jonathan on Saturday 8th of March 2014 06:33:12 AM
I know that there are plenty of options when 240 is available.
Can we run our electric blanket of the 12 system at night.
We have solar on the roof and a gennie. to replenish the battery.
I know that there are gas heaters, and in fact we have a "little buddy" but!!!! could be a problem.
What is your view re the above.
Jay&Dee
Good Luck.
After all we are bush camping. Don't need all the mod cons.
Oh and my little dog Jessie keeps me warm.
An extra doona or blanket under the bottom sheet, track suit pants and T shirt top, socks and beanie.....works for me....
I have long sleeved and long legged thermal underwear too from Anaconda, but usually find that is too hot.....sometime wear the top though.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 13th of March 2014 12:47:26 AM
... not the best solution I know. So apart from a Diesel heater, what else will suffice???
Jay&DEE
Hmmmm......was ok when we were at Glenn Innis, and it was that cold the water was frozen in our hoses (and ablutions) and towels and tea towels outside on the awning line were frozen solid......couldn't get the frost defrosted off our windscreen it kept forming again.....
Musta had thicker blood then, slept ok, the worst part was getting out of bed.