30' FC: Is one furnace enough in cold weather?

[DHart]

As Arizona residents, we don't often think much about furnaces, though it can get very cold in the high elevation parts of the state, in winter.

As we await delivery of our 2016 30FC, I'm wondering how we might expect our new airstream (2 heat pump/ACs and 1 furnace) to do in cold weather.

Does the single furnace keep the place comfy in cold weather?

Do any of you airstreamers feel the need to use auxillary space heaters in cold climates?

Should we expect the two rooftop heat pumps and one furnace to be all we might need when visiting places in cold temps? (We don't plan to spend any time in the snow, in the Airstream.)

Many thanks, on advance, for your thoughts.

[Arcticfox]

I cannot speak for the 30' units as we only have a 28'. But that said, we have used ours in some really cold weather here in Canada and the furnace is more than enough. I'm sure the cooler weather that you get at higher elevations in AZ will not be an issue.
Good luck and stay warm

Cheers
Doug


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[paiceman]

Works fine in the previous 30' we had, in the new one, same furnace we have not camped in cold weather and honestly have no intention of doing so.

Enjoy

[xrvr]

If you have enough propane, then you have enough heat. Jim

[ckottum]

The furnace is plenty even in low teen temps. As said the problem would be propane over several days of such low temps. When connected to external power we use a Dyson Hot space heater (quiet, even heat) in cold temps (on right now as we sit here southern Minnesota visiting family).

[xrvr]

Juspt remember at below freezing temps the furnace will force air to your tanks to keep them from freezing, an electric heater will not. Those Dyson heaters are great, are on our wish list. Jim

[mandolindave]

Two words…."sleeping bag"…..Okay four words…" snuggling partner "…Okay six words…." wool cap ".

I find the furnace too noisy. I turn it on for a while before I go to bed, which heats the camper, and open bedding.

[AirEgger]

We have a '12, 30 ft, FC and have camped in the low 20's. Furnace did fine. You should have no problems. In temps that low, be sure the outside hoses, etc, are taken care of. Good luck.

[Arcticfox]

I have also looked at the Dyson Heater at different times. I'm just not sure where we would store it while not being used? Considering a heater is not something we use a lot, a good storage point would be sort of mandatory.

[DHart]

Thank you, all, for the comments.

I think we will pick up the Dyson to reduce consumption of propane when shore power is available. I don't expect we will encounter lows much below 40 when we're Airstreaming.

If outdoor temps are going to be anywhere near freezing, we will most certainly head to warmer climates or beat a path back to Scottsdale.

[DHart]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

I have also looked at the Dyson Heater at different times. I'm just not sure where we would store it while not being used? Considering a heater is not something we use a lot, a good storage point would be sort of mandatory.

Would it fit under the rear queen bed?

[tjdonahoe]

We mostly use our heat pump on either end of our 31' classic,below 40 degrees the furnace runs

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by DHart

Would it fit under the rear queen bed?

it might i will have to go to the store and measure one.....

[DHart]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

it might i will have to go to the store and measure one.....

23" x 8" x 8" - it would seem that it should easily fit under the bed, but I don't know for sure.

[andreasduess]

One furnace keeps our 34 toasty warm, in any weather. Having said that, we've never tried it below freezing.

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by andreasduess

One furnace keeps our 34 toasty warm, in any weather. Having said that, we've never tried it below freezing.

ANY weather, but not below freezing? Hmmm...and you're from Toronto! Isn't it below freezing there a lot!? 😀


WBCCI #7246 Michigan Unit,Texas Hill Country Unit (associate member), AIR #91367

[Msmoto]

27FB... I was toasty with the furnace.

AirstreamREV_2009_Int_27FB_Snow_04.2010-4 by Fantinesvoice.com, on Flickr

And, this FB has two sets of pano windows ....lots of heat loss. This brings up another point....using something on the interior of the windows to reduce heat loss...e.g., a cellular blind or other?

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by TCwheels

ANY weather, but not below freezing? Hmmm...and you're from Toronto! Isn't it below freezing there a lot!? 😀


WBCCI #7246 Michigan Unit,Texas Hill Country Unit (associate member), AIR #91367

I realized what I had written after posting.

Any weather above freezing. We had frost last night, but I will be de-winterizung this coming week.

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by DHart

23" x 8" x 8" - it would seem that it should easily fit under the bed, but I don't know for sure.

Agreed - I would think it would fit just fine. Now I only need to think this through from a cost standpoint. Here in Canada the Dyson heater costs about 500.00. A tank of LP costs about 20.00, so that would translate into about 25 tanks. On the surface that seems like a lot of tanks, But thinking about it I'm not sure it really is in the big seem of things.

Cheers
Doug

[timhortons]

At least for the 16', I've had it in -8C and windy weather overnight several days in a row and it's stayed at 74F fine with the furnace operating at about 1/2 of a time during the night.

Using the heat strip to keep it warm and save propane by itself seems to keep it at close to room temp also, but the thing on the roof is so noisy that I would be inclined to bring my dyson for any lengthy time on electric heat. You can get them on sale for $350CDN or so. I cannot find any output or specs on the factory heat strip.

The issue is Propane Use. I dont' have enough data to give you a proper rate, I'm guestimating about 1 20lb tank every 3 days of use, assuming you turn it down a bit durring the day snowshoeing or hunting moose in michigan or whatever you do. 15-16 useable lbs X 22k BTU per pound / 12kBTU in ~30 hours furnace run per tank ?

As noted however, neither the heat pump, the strip, or the dyson will heat your tanks. The freshwater on the 16 is internal, so you have some safety, but the manual is clear that if you can't maintain above freezing(on furnace) you need to winterize the fresh water system immediately. Which sounds like no fun when you just ran out of propane and/or your furnace has broken in the middle of a snowstorm.

You can put some -45 washerfluid down with #1 and #2 in the bathroom on a winterized waste tank and use the potty (down to -25 I guess !) if you keep the ratio 1:1.

So you can use the trailer as a ski shack, or fishing hut or whatever in winter IMO, and this is how it is in the brochure, but you're going to be sort of dry camping and have to bring your water in in a 10-20L jug in the closet and boil for dishes and stuff.

I've done this and it's a little rustic, but if you just needed a place to sleep ...

Or if you are cocky and have unlimited propane, blast away.