How to add furnace to vintage trailer

[J. Morgan]

Mine is on the wall....



It was 22 degrees last night, it does a great job.


Brevi tempore!

[55AS]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Mine is on the wall....

Attachment 254014

It was 22 degrees last night, it does a great job.


Brevi tempore!

What heater make and model is that?

[J. Morgan]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Williams-17...3512/202034919

If you go this route, it pays to shop around, I did not pay this much.




Brevi tempore!

[55AS]

Wow. Picked up a Suburban 19,000 BTU furnace for under $300 on EBay. The Williams unit looks like it needs 110VAC for the fan. If I have shore power I can just run my heat pump.

[J. Morgan]

I run mine through an inverter.


Brevi tempore!

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by BambiTex

Agree about the catalytic heater. One came with the trailer and my wife refuses to use it so it is gone. On closer examination it appears I can put the furnace under the kitchen counter by giving up the lowest drawer. I feel better about having the exhaust vent on the street side as opposed to the curb side where we sit under the awning. Can tie into LP for stove but will have to run 12 volt wiring to that location.

Tex,

Double check your water heater space when you get that Suburban in hand to measure it & the fittings, cuz you may find it can tuck in nicely next to the water heater, "Y" off the gas & 12V already there, vent out the same place as the water heater (door or wall vent) - plus not give up that drawer space under the fridge - with space so precious in these smaller AS/Vintage Kin trailers.

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!
Tom
///////

[bredlo]

For those thinking about a Dickinson Marine fireplace (its official name is the Newport) there are a couple of propane units for sale around the country on Craigslist - and priced quite reasonably.

We already have ours, and would love to see more Airstreamers make use of these!

Santa Fe, NM:
Propane heater/ fire place

Cincinnati, OH:
Dickinson Marine P9000 Propane Heater

Juneau, AK or Shelton, WA (conflicting info)
P-9000 Dickinson Propane cabin heater

[bredlo]

For those thinking about a Dickinson Marine fireplace (its official name is the Newport) there are a couple of propane units for sale around the country on Craigslist - and priced quite reasonably.

We already have ours, and would love to see more Airstreamers make use of these!

Santa Fe, NM:
Propane heater/ fire place

Cincinnati, OH:
Dickinson Marine P9000 Propane Heater

Juneau, AK or Shelton, WA (conflicting info)
P-9000 Dickinson Propane cabin heater

[55AS]

Originally Posted by Tom_T

Tex,

Double check your water heater space when you get that Suburban in hand to measure it & the fittings, cuz you may find it can tuck in nicely next to the water heater, "Y" off the gas & 12V already there, vent out the same place as the water heater (door or wall vent) - plus not give up that drawer space under the fridge - with space so precious in these smaller AS/Vintage Kin trailers.

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!
Tom
///////

Water heater is under the (rear) bed and vents out the curb side wall just forward of the end cap curve. Mounting furnace behind water heater would be nice in terms of access to LP and power but:
1. Would have to be mounted on curved wall.
2. Would be a long way from the front of the bed, which would require reconfiguring grill arrangement somehow.
3. Would add weight in the rear, decreasing tongue weight.

[55AS]

The good news is that it will fit nicely in place of my lowest kitchen drawer. No cabinet mods required :-) Just need to cut a hole in the shell for the vent.

[55AS]

OK, furnace installed in cabinet, 12 volt and thermostat wiring run, propane lines connected. Last task is to connect intake and vent piping through shell. Both are sleeved pipes that are inserted from outside the trailer. Vent pipe can accommodate a large range of distances but inlet pipe can only handle a small variation. Based on my cabinet depth and the slight curvature of the shell, the inlet pipe is approximately 3/16" too long. Even though it is just a straight, single wall pipe, instructions warn against cutting it and recommend purchasing a shorter custom part from the manufacturer. I see no reason why the pipe cannot be simply cut to length. Anyone tried this?

[markdoane]

You might consider building a little frame around the vent pipe to help compensate for the curvature and keep the assembly vertical. I think it also has a more "finished" look.

[55AS]

Did you fabricate that yourself?

[J. Morgan]

I think you could cut it no problem if you are careful... But,,,, if you do screw up the cut, then you can order a new custom tube...


Brevi tempore!

[55AS]

Don't see how one could screw up the cut. It is just a straight, single wall pipe.
From the manual:
Under no circumstances should the standard 5" intake tube be cut or altered to adapt to the 21" - 23 1/4" range.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by BambiTex

Did you fabricate that yourself?

Yes. Just some scrap sheet and 1/16" aluminum cap channel.

[bredlo]

I'm wondering (hoping?) the exhaust leaves through the top pipe? Otherwise, with heat rising, you'd be more likely to pull the carbon monoxide exhaust back into the inlet directly above it.

I'll assume the manufacturer thought of this.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Yes. Just some scrap sheet and 1/16" aluminum cap channel.

Beautifully done!! Looks almost mass-produced, in a good way.

[55AS]

Originally Posted by bredlo

I'm wondering (hoping?) the exhaust leaves through the top pipe? Otherwise, with heat rising, you'd be more likely to pull the carbon monoxide exhaust back into the inlet directly above it.

I'll assume the manufacturer thought of this.

The top pipe is the outlet and the bottom pipe is the inlet so exhaust gases should not enter inlet.
I had no trouble cutting the pipe. Stainless cover plate needs to be "caulked" to shell. Anyone know if butyl tape would work ok? Much less messy..

[55AS]

I was very lucky that no cutting of the cabinet was required. Furnace fit nicely in the space previously occupied by the lowest kitchen drawer.