Hi, all:
As new Scamp owners (July) we have so valued this site and specific responses to questions we have posted. Thank you!
This weekend we head out for our first "cool weather weekend" where the heater/furnace will be welcome. I had a bad experience as a toddler with a gas stove in a trailer that flashed and burned my face (think 1970s) and so gas appliances have always been a challenge for me. Now as we head out in Scampo with husband ready to run the furnace/heater all night as needed, I am concerned about running it when we are not alert and awake. I'm imagining dying in a fiery ball of flame from a heater that malfunctioned and we couldn't get out...
I would welcome a few stories or testimonials from you who have been Scampin' for 10, 20, 30, 40 years with the heater/furnace and lived to tell about it. I want to trust your wisdom and years of experience and some input on this would be helpful.
The flame is entirely contained between the intake and exhaust ports to the outside and never comes in contact with the interior air. All combustion is handled inside the heat exchanger and exhausts out the side. After 3 different campers and motorhomes over 30 + years the only issue We ever had was a failure to work due to a failed gas valve and board. My only negative comment is that the 16,000 btu furnace is much larger than the little scamp needs and is very fast to get too warm before shutting off. . These are good reliable units and with proper care and maintenance are a non issue. To keep mud daubers from building houses in the outside ports We always get the bug screens that clip on the outside. Look like little strainers. do not lean anything against or cover the outside "in-out" ports as they get hot when operating.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
My Scamp doesn't have a furnace, but if it did I would be leery of running the gas too. Probably not a totally rational fear, but it is what it is. I use a little electric ceramic heater when it gets cold. It is quiet and warms my 13' up quickly. It has a thermostat and an oscillating fan, and it was about $40. Plus if you are plugged into campground electricity, no cost to run it!
Rhonda Riebow
We have been Scamping with our 13 footer, "Lil Critter", since Nov 2005. We have slept thru minus 21 degrees and the "furnace worked very well however, the floor sure does stay cold.
As mentioned in other posts, the "furnace" is very noisy and the thermostat allows serious over runs of temperature in the little trailer. After a couple of years, we started using a small ceramic heater as stated in other posts. Electric works great down to about 30 degrees then you need the "furnace". We set the thermostat to come on when the heater cannot keep up.
The way the "furnace" is designed, the gas is burned with outside air, not air inside of the trailer. The air inside of the trailer is heated by a separate fan that moves inside air thru a heat exchanger separate from combustion air. We have no fear of using the "furnace". The quotes are because I think of the "furnace" as a gas heater.
Bob D
2005 13' Scamp "Lil Critter"
Brenda, AZ
As was already mentioned. the safety concern is not really an issue and the furnace heats well. It is just oversized for the job on a 13. It is also the smallest unit that Suburban makes. If Suburban made an 8,000 size we would be all good. I have two emails out to Suburban and so far no response for help to reduce the Btu of what we have. The little electric space heater is wonderful at 3-5,000 BTU for most camping we do but we like dry camping and with no electricity you are dependent on the furnace. I am continuing to work on a different Thermostat schema to better control the heat based on Rate of temp rise instead of on-off and the resulting over shoot. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but with work It could be better. Byy shutting off the flame sooner it could be more favorable result. Saving gas and battery power. Another possibility would be to shut off the flame when the output temps are above a certain high point as the output temps are unnecessarily hot which also contributes to the overshoot.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
The furnace is pretty safe but you have to do your part also:
1. Annual system checks. This alone will greatly reduce the odds of a problem occurring. There is more to properly checking a propane system than most people know or think about. See: http://www.rvdoctor.com/2002/01/what-pros-do-propane-system.html
2. Install a propane detector alarm. Replace it at end of life, if its damaged, etc.
3. Pay attention to the rotten egg smell. If you smell the gas (really the additive to the gas), then shut it off at the tank and have it inspected.
4. Follow the routine maintenance instructions in the furnace manual.
We are happy with the furnace in our 2015 13 Scamp. It is safe. As for heating overshoot, it does do that. I think a big part of that is the location of the thermostat. Because the thermostat is "around the corner" from the furnace it is one of the last areas to feel heat. Sorry, I don't have a suggestion for a better location! Our Scamp does not have a bathroom. I can imagine that with a bathroom, a much smaller area to heat, the heating overshoot may be worse.
I was testing the new Thermostat with an Anticipator circuit installed last weekend. on a 50 deg day and night the overshoot was far better and quite livable compared to the factory one. it was only $17 dollars and made by Honeywell. The anticipator also warms the T-stat sense coil while the furnace is heating, and they seem to work more in concert than reacting to an already at temp before entering the cool down phase. This may not be perfect but appears to be far better. It could result in more frequent cycling but some adjustment is possible. More testing to come next weekend.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
PDX Scampo, I hope you got some reassurance from the answers you received. Lots of experienced campers on this site, and no one has reported any trouble. Even those who say "mind your maintenance" (and I'll have to take a look at that, myself) have not reported any issues.
I agree with those who suggest using a small electric space heater, when you've got shore power and it's not all that cold out. For me, it means more even heating and most especially it's quieter. Quiet means a great deal to me!
Our solution for cold weather is quite simple. If wife and I are camping and cold nights prevail, a good down comforter for bedding, run the furnace before retiring and before we get up. If I am alone, then a quality sleeping bag, same drill. The thermostat is in easy reach, far better than getting up to "put wood in the stove". Yes the floor is cold, slippers beside the bed. And, the overshoot can be quite welcome on a cold morning!
Frosty
P.S. No pun intended.