We finally got our 19' on the road and checked over it a bit more carefully and noticed another thing we overlooked when buying this used trailer: it doesn't have a furnace.
So, should we retrofit one in or just rely on portable heaters?
I know you can't tell us the answer to that question, but if you could relate what a pain in the rear it would be to retrofit, or how great your portable heating options have worked for you, or anything else that you think could be helpful I would appreciate it. I doubt we will be wintering in the Dakotas, but we would like to head ot the mountains in the summer and we know it can get cool.
Also, the gray water tank looks rather exposed under there, does it freeze up easily in cool weather?Any thoughts on that would be interesting, as well.
If the trailer doesn't have one in it already, don't retrofit one. I had a furnace in my 5er and used it rarely. I used a small portable one and it did the job nicely.
I now have a 16 Scamp and it does have a furnace that I have yet to use. The portable one keeps it nice and toasty.
I can't speak intelligently on the subject of exposed grey water tank freezing.
- - Earl
Thanks Earl. On the portable, do you use a gas or electric?
The one I use now is electric. I stay mainly where electricity is available. Of course, that doesn’t help if I’m out boondocking occasionally. I use solar panels to keep my battery charged and will use the propane furnace sparingly. It’s running the fan that causes a drain on the battery.
We have owned our SCAMP 13' 40 years. Originally, it included the propane heater at the end of the lower kitchen cabinet next to the gaucho. We seldom used it. We felt it was unsafe to run it at night, for fear the bed blankets might touch it and cause a fire. When we restored our old Scamp 2 years ago, we removed the heater. We use a small portable electric heater, with three settings (600, 900, 1500 watts) and thermostatic control.
Everyone does things differantly of course but we do use the furnace,we go in colder temps sometimes and sometimes even in the summer on the mountains it gets cool at night,we dont always have hookups either in some of the Federal campgrounds so that furnace was a good thing for us.Guess it all depends on how and where you camp..As far as the grey water tank,ours on the 2015 13ft Scamp never froze,but then again we were using the furnace when it was cold out,and if it was not running it was because we were going down the highway and nothing ever froze,but I dont know about the 5ers
Launey and Earlene
Many thanks for the replies. I have no idea what we will end up needing, but good to know that others are out there having a good time without a furnace. I kinda wish we had it, but I just can't imagine it would be worth adding. The furnace alone is almost $400, plus the loss of storage and the hassle of installation. Maybe if we have a lot of trouble with the portable options we'll think about it.
Thanks again for all your comments. This website is huge in making me feel comfortable with this adventure!
Based on my experience and camping style, I ordered a Scamp with no furnace.
If on shore power, a small ceramic electric heater works great. If camping in cold weather, that is my preference.
If boondocking in cold weather, a small propane heater can be used for limited but sufficient purposes. I plan to have a Olympia Wave 3 propane heater. It won't be used that often but I like the fact I can get some heat even if I have no 120 OR 12 volt power available. You can't do that with the OEM furance.
Keith,
We got our 1988 5er home Sunday and it has a Suburban furnace. I intend to have a working propane furnace in. If this furnace is beyond repair, I'll have a new one installed.
Our recently purchase 13 has a working furnace in, it the furnace is a bit noisy. We had to remove several wasp's nest to get it to light.
Having camped in a teardrop camper and waking up to ice on the inside of the windows, I have decide to always have heat available. Heat is nice on a cold morning. We donot always camp where power is available.
Bob H. one of the Scamper Campers
in my 13 ft i use an electric heater the size of a six pack and in 40 degrees i woke up at 2 in the morning and it was 97 in my camper with it on low
I just picked up this sweet little heater at Goodwill for US $3.50 ! It wont heat up the entire trailer on really cold nights of course, but it should come in handy. And at only 250 watts, 2.1 amps (120VAC) it won't strain the system even if I am on 15 amp service. It does put out a good amount of heat. No thermostat however, its on High, Low, or off.
Found it on ebay also:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honeywell-Sidekick-Ceramic-Personal-Heater-White...
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