Whats the best heating for inhouse Campervan?

Happywanderer · The Master

Whats the best heating for inhouse Campervan?

goinsoon · Guru

We have the same problem when we are free camping in the caravan, you can buy little portable gas heaters, but they recommend you don't use them in confined spaces.

We just wear our thermals

Sheba · Guru

So far, I've only used fleecy bedclothes, a thick padded bedspread, and a couple of small dogs. But that was only a couple of nights in Mildura, Winter before last.

Went to bed early, and got up when I was warm enough next morning.

Will probably take a feather Doona next time. Don't like the idea of heaters in the 'Van.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Happywanderer · The Master

No I don't like the idea of heaters in confined spaces either especially gas.
I froze at Wyalong on the way home. As well as wearing socks, nitewear and wearing my warm dressing gown all night, I have a velvety rug underneath and on top I had a doona and a knitted rug over my feet. I still froze, I looked in the mirror and was purple. Couldn't wait for a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs at the roadhouse.
Thats why I wondered what others do.

gordon_adl · Senior Member

How about a rechargable electric blanket that you plug into the cigarette lighter?
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/12v-portable-electric-blanket

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Here's another one on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Trillium-Heated-Travel-Blanket-Thermostat/dp/B001THP2H4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307100837&sr=1-1-catcorr

Happywanderer · The Master

I don't even use an electric blanket at home gordon so not something I really would want to try.
Maybe time to buy some NZ possum socks and thermals and a really good feather doona.

DeBe · Guru

All Im saying is my wife is Hot in bed!!! We use a fan heater & generator when not in bed if its freezing.

Firefly · Guru

We won't be able to get a heater this trip after just buying the van but we intend to get one of the diesel heaters, although they are a bit expensive. I do think it will pay for itself and give us a longer travelling time frame if one is installed. smile

http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/articles/diesel_heaters.htm

They exhaust to the outside so are pretty safe from all accounts.

DeBe · Guru

Another option I use is a sleeping bag rated at -5degC.

Cupie · Guru

Hi ..

I know that this is no help .... But this is one of the reasonswhy we have a full van ...

When going into cold country, we always take two king size feather & down doonas, plus an electric blanket to heat the bed before we get in.

We use the reverse cycle AC to heat the van at night & turn it off once in bed. We turn it on again if needed first thing in the morning. We use one of thost $20 heaters to heat the floor first thing too.

Lovely & warm.

cheers

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

We had a 12v electric blanket for Shirley, but found a couple of hot water bottles were a much better option.

When I am off High Country 4WDing in the colder months I use a -5C rated sleeping bag and never been cold yet, though at times when it has been extremely cold I have had to resort to wearing a beanie to bed.

When on 240v the small cheap fan heaters are hard to beat. In the past we have used a Coleman catalytic heater in the Campertrailer but always ensured that there was plenty of ventilation and never ran it overnight.

With our Caravan we retrofitted a diesel heater (overkill for a small Campervan) and they are brilliant. We have the digital control, which is programmed to switch on about 30mins before we usually get out of bed. If we wake early the control is near the bed head so we just reach up and switch on. It sounds a bit like a jet plane taking off when they first fire up, which is a concern if you have neighbours nearby, but once the temperature is reached they are quiet. Now similar gas units are available which by all accounts are much quieter at startup.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 4th of June 2011 12:00:21 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

A 240 v fan heater sounds the best for when plugged into power but the problem in a campervan is the amount of floor space is so small, where ever you put it the heat could be burning the wood on the doors either side. You only have the narrow bit of floor space between the cupboards, its not very wide. The rest of the space is taken up by the bed when made up.
I like the sound of a minus 5 sleeping bag

Cruising Granny · Guru

Put the heater on the bench if you have a stove in the van or near the micky wave or on the sink. Any solid surface away from bedding and curtains should be ok.
While the floor is the ideal, it's not always practical.
I use the r/c aircon and the thermostat decides the temperature to whatever I set it to. At the moment it's 22degC.
I also have a blower heater but it's either too hot or not warm enough and it doesn't have a thermostat. It's till in the cupboard.

Loki · Senior Member

I can vouch for a good sleeping bag! You should also consider an accessory thingy that gets you a hot cup of strong coffee when you get up! Spent a recent night on Tassies NE Coast & was warm as toast - when I got up, tho, I was flat out getting a hot coffee organised!

With the dollar the way it is, it could be worth checking the web for some warm clothes to use as pajamas from overseas. Some of the outdoor outfitters have an excellent range of insulated underwear, snowmobile suits etc.

I'd be very wary of any combustion in a confined space as carbon dioxide could well result.

Cheers,

Anton

Firefly · Guru

Aldi just happen to have all that sort of stuff on sale this week Loki, an opportune time for a look see if you need any of this sort of thing.

Happywanderer · The Master

Really Firefly. Haven't seen a brochure. Must go have a look.

Sheba · Guru

Marj,

This Website gets you on-line catalogues for most of the Major Retailers you might use.

http://www.lasoo.com.au/home.html

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 4th of June 2011 08:13:05 PM

Firefly · Guru

Thats a real handy site Sheba thanks mate. smile

Heres Aldi's

http://www.aldi.com.au/

Sheba · Guru

Forgot to add "on-line" before. Have rectified that.

Thanks for that Firefly.

Cheers,

Sheba.

blaze · Guru

I spend a bit of time sleeping in a swag, love it. I have a high quality -5 rated sleeping bag (expensive), when rolled up it is about 140mm diameter and 250mm long. I have woken up in the mornings with ice on the inside of the swag and toasty warm unntil I need to make my exit as I dont wear much to bed. So I sugest a good quality sleeping bag
cheers
blaze

Pejay · Guru

'Morning Marj'

My hubby is also 'hot' in bed - not saying any more on that subject!!!! However, he did say that an old Army trick is to have a nip of Green Ginger Wine before going to bed should work for you. I was going to say a good drop of port could be an option. But definitely a hot water bottle is a great cheap option - if you are handy with the knitting needles, how about making yourself a nice thick pair of bedsocks, will warm your hands up as you knit too!

PeterD · Guru

A heater like this one only requires about 4 - 500 mm in front of it to prevert scorching.

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/office-supplies/heller-cermanic-fan-heater-1500watt/4mmb53eji.html?source=search&term=heaters

gubby · Guru

That's very similar to the unit we use in our pop top caravan. Ours has a digital thermostat on it, I can't see if this one has, through the night we set ours for 17-18 deg C and even in Tassie up at the Great Lake, where we had snow through the night it only turned on for a couple of minutes every 2-3 hours and we were nice and warm..

Beth54 · Guru

I'm warm enough when in bed, my problem is in the evening. When I'm with others, we like to sit outside under our awnings to chat or whatever. This is when I'm freezing, especially in my back.

Last year, in desperation, I got out the space blanket that I have for emergencies...this WAS an emergency as far as I was concerned...I wrapped it around my shoulders so it hung down my back. You beauty! I ended up taking to bed with me! But they do make a bit of noise. *crackle* *crackle*

But generally I try not to go away in winter. If I had a caravan it might be a different story.

jimricho · Guru

Maybe an internal body warmer such as that marketed by Bundaberg and available at your friendly local bootlegger may help!

Beth54 · Guru

jimricho wrote:
Maybe an internal body warmer such as that marketed by Bundaberg and available at your friendly local bootlegger may help!

Hmmm that sounds like a better idea! Except I'm not so keen on rum. But I know where I can get some home brew bourbon. wink

jimricho · Guru

Also Drambuie, the Scots were really onto something for their cold climate when they invented that!

Beth54 · Guru

jimricho wrote:
Also Drambuie, the Scots were really onto something for their cold climate when they invented that!

goinsoon · Guru

I am an old pensioner, I can only afford cheap port