Quote:
Originally Posted by Vitaver
...
Today wind is on the 25 knots range spiking to 75 (per forecast). ...
|
Thanks for the photos. You would notice a huge improvement in comfort and a savings in fuel if you constructed a skirt around the bottom of the Airstream. This would shield the floor from the wind which creates massive heat loss. The floor would be much warmer.
Here is a list of tips that you may find useful. (Some are more for dry camping and may not apply to your full-timing situation.)
1. Tow for at least several hours with the furnace on so that the trailer is already warm when you get to your campsite. The goal is to get everything warm inside - counters, walls, bedding etc., not just warm air as otherwise it takes too long to warm up the thermal mass.
2. Have lots of propane.
3. An electric site is ideal to keep the battery charged as you need 12 v power to run the furnace, fridge etc. If you have 30 amp power you can also run some portable electric heaters. An electric floor mat near the door is great for adding heat and also melting the snow from your boots.
4. Use Reflectix and cut to fit your windows, Fantastic vents etc. for use at night to keep the heat in and reduce drafts. I have considered using indoor shrink film kits, but haven't yet as fitting them around curved windows might be tricky.
5. I have blocked off most of the fridge vents to stop drafts and to allow the fridge to work better at low temperatures. Be sure and keep some venting to the outside for the propane exhaust if using LPG.
6. Cover the water heater hatch from the outside to prevent drafts (as you won't be using it during winter camping.
7. Use disposable cutlery and paper plates to avoid the need for washing dishes.
8. Bring enough drinking water in jugs (or empty jugs if water is available from the camp ground and keep it inside the heated space.
9. We use "Wag Bag" human waste kits. The bags fit inside the toilet bowl and have double zip-lock bags for disposal in garbage cans. I know others who use a plastic bag and cut up diaper.
10. An old fashioned hot water bottle is great for sleeping. Fill with hot water and pre-warm the bed for an hour before bedtime. Re-fill with hot water and they are good for the rest of the night to help keep you warm. Keep it next to your body and the temperature of the water stays at body temperature and if you need to move the bottle to another spot it is still warm all night.
11. Install a Dickinson boat propane fireplace. They add dry heat and ambiance and don't require any
12 volt power (although there is a circulating fan that can be used.)
12. Ventilate. In the winter the cold outside air is dry (even if the relative humidity is high). When you allow your moist inside air out and replace it with the dry outside air it will reduce the inside relative humidity as it warms up.
13. In hanging closets and drawers where you store clothing and linens, use desiccant de-humidifiers like Eva-Dry which absorb moisture and can be re-activated at home by plugging them in. Damp-Rid also works, but is meant to be disposable.
14. Have warm slippers for wearing inside as the floor is usually the coldest spot. As mentioned in # 3, above an electric floor mat can also be used under the dinette too as they only use 90 watts of 110 volt power.
15. Enjoy a fire in the outside fire pit. Make a wind screen with reflective Mylar and it will direct the heat to you.
16. Please don't bring a generator as the sound will destroy the peaceful tranquility associated with winter camping.
17. We are considering having a canvas shop fabricate a skirt to go around the bottom of the trailer that can be fasted on with dome fasteners at the campsite. Stopping the wind from blowing under the trailer will stop a huge amount of radiant heat loss from the floor and make the trailer feel more comfortable.
Remember when you are planning for your outdoors camping adventure (any season) that there is no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothing.
Linear Mode
