Alaska Winter in my 1968 Streamline Empress

[StreamlineAK]

Still Streamlining! Alive and well. I have a new tip for cold weather: heat under the bed. It makes a world or difference for whole trailer comfort. I guess last year it was like a cold air reserve that slowly leached out cooling the whole trailer. Less cold air along the floor. Morso stove is working great! Also I have a lot of off the grid in ak tips from being in a remote place this summer if anyone needs. So far, this year I have burned 3,000 lbs of coal (approx) and less than 1 cord of wood (free). That's less than $250 for heating this far. Not too bad!

[GeocamperAS]

Originally Posted by StreamlineAK

Still Streamlining! Alive and well. I have a new tip for cold weather: heat under the bed. It makes a world or difference for whole trailer comfort. I guess last year it was like a cold air reserve that slowly leached out cooling the whole trailer. Less cold air along the floor. Morso stove is working great! Also I have a lot of off the grid in ak tips from being in a remote place this summer if anyone needs. So far, this year I have burned 3,000 lbs of coal (approx) and less than 1 cord of wood (free). That's less than $250 for heating this far. Not too bad!

Would love to hear about the off the grid tips. I am very intrigued with this thread. More pic's would be great.
If I may ask, what type of jobs took you to AK?

[Kosm1o]

How are you getting heat under the bed? Do you have electric?
Have you seen northern lights yet this winter?

[Valacidor]

StremlineAK
What an amazing thread, you are really brave for living like that.
I grew up on the plains of the lower 48, outhouses and only a kitchen sink with water in the winter, 2 oil burning stoves in a 2 story old farm house with zero insulation. You are right, a night run to the outside at -20 with a 40mph wind teaches you control.
'Course now I don't even have to winterize, south AL is pleasant in the winter compared to your weather.
Love the pics.
Have a great, warm and safe winter.
Tom J

[StreamlineAK]

Ok, here are some more info:
Right now, I do have electric, but this summer in the natl forest, I did not. I also have cell service!! Summer location, no cell service.

As far as off the grid tips: if you use a generator, let it run a while! It actually takes quite some time to really make difference in the battery charge (depends on converter wattage). Always fill two spare cans of fuel. I was 85 miles from gas so I had to be careful. I recommend learning to play an acoustic instrument, a great way to kill time!

Northern lights: this year, yes. I actually saw them during the sunrise for the first time. Very pretty. Almost makes the cold worth it!

This year temps have been mostly above zero, but about now is when it starts to stay below or single digits. I am in a very mild part of AK com paired to Fairbanks.

As far as the under bed heat, I temporarily have an electric heater under there, but I am getting my furnace fixed!! Yeah! Back up heat!! And I have ducting routed under the bed. I hope to use the propane furnace to supplement the coal stove. One thing to note is propane is not popular in ak because it doesn't really flow well below -20. In rural Alaska, people use heating oil, which is diesel fuel. But, it's just a secondary source for me, so I'm not worried.

[StreamlineAK]

Early summer in the campground

[Softshell]

Hello Streamline-

Love your post! Since May I've been full-timing in my '94 Excella 1000.
Summer was wonderful, winter has been a learning experience. I finally have the frozen exterior pipes issued resolved. I'm as snug as a bug in a aluminum bun.

The attached photo was taken last week during a winter storm. Temps near 2 degrees.

Enjoying my Airstream in Missouri.

Mark

[iowamike]

I just found this thread an I think it is great! I visited AK for the first time last summer and loved it. I like to imagine moving there someday and doing something similar to what you are...

A couple questions: How did you find your parking location(s)? What kind of work do you do? What is the cost of living for a full timer up there?

Thanks, and stay warm!

[StreamlineAK]

"A couple questions: How did you find your parking location(s)? What kind of work do you do? What is the cost of living for a full timer up there?"

I work a regular 9 to 5 office job. I also campground host in the summer. Cost of living is more than the lower 48. The little stuff adds up. Especially shipping on large items, but it's not like it was back in the day.

Still streamlining! It's another easy year!

[StreamlineAK]

Almost forgot the parking space! They are hard to find close to town! I asked an empty lot landowner in a rural neighborhood if she was interested in renting her land, and she was.

[baylito99]

Must feel like spring up there already. Friend in Anchorage said it was 38 degs. yesterday. Had a -19 here in northern Michigan. WTH !!!!!!!

[StreamlineAK]

a photo from this weekend

[Chillpoints]

Love it. Glad you are still doing well. I was complaining about our dusting of snow this morning and temps at 33.

[janeinthemtns]

How close to the window frame did you install the double wall pipe? The closer to the frame I can put the pipe, the less dead space there will be on one side of the stove. Thanks. I'm looking at Morso stoves right now. Only problem with them is they only take a 12" log. that's a lot of cutting.

[Karsten]

I'm planning on spending the winter around the outskirts of Calgary, AB, Canada this winter.
I'll be in touch and letting you know what steps I'll be taking to keep warm and wet too.
I plan on keeping the water systems heated throughout the winter as well.
Have you considered running a hot air duct from your stove along side your water lines?
Do you think the Kimberly is an overkill stove for a 34" Excella?

Karsten

[StreamlineAK]

Originally Posted by janeinthemtns

How close to the window frame did you install the double wall pipe? The closer to the frame I can put the pipe, the less dead space there will be on one side of the stove. Thanks. I'm looking at Morso stoves right now. Only problem with them is they only take a 12" log. that's a lot of cutting.

I centered the hole for the pipe, just to keep it as far away from less heat resistant material as possible. I have not found the log size to be a problem, it's really not much smaller than I previously cut my wood. And don't forget you can put in a little bigger logs diagonal.

[StreamlineAK]

Originally Posted by Karsten

I'm planning on spending the winter around the outskirts of Calgary, AB, Canada this winter.

I'll be in touch and letting you know what steps I'll be taking to keep warm and wet too.

I plan on keeping the water systems heated throughout the winter as well.

Have you considered running a hot air duct from your stove along side your water lines?

Do you think the Kimberly is an overkill stove for a 34" Excella?



Karsten

The inside water stays fairly warm, my issue is draining the grey water, and my water source. Also, I never got that darn furnace fixed, so it has been exclusively coal/wood again this last year.

The Kimberly would not be overkill! My trailer is 29' and the Morso is a much larger stove than the Kimberly (from what I know). I found on the coldest days, a second heat source on the opposite side end of the trailer was helpful.

[janeinthemtns]

Looks great. THanks for the photo. I don't think this post is going in the right place.

[John Paul]

Thank you for your post! I Live in up-state NY. I recently bought a 78 Sovereign 31'. I'm planning on remodeling it and living in it full time. The water system was removed by the previous owner. I'm planning on keeping the plumbing inside. I'll be installing a wood stove and back-up propane heat source. I AM concerned whether or not it will be livable through the winter(or at least functional the way I would like it to be)Thinking about re-doing the insulation. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for the encouragement!

[TGAMO]

Hello - I am curious do you think you could have stayed just as warm with a 3 electric fan heaters as you do with the stove? Also what is the cost of electricity compared to the coal for heat?