Winter Freezing

[Sharky]

Does anyone have suggestion on best heater for Truckmount when using it during the winter? I have a Thermalwave setup. Or should i just shut down and add RV anti=freeze?

 

[Bryce C]

I did a ton of research and all electric portable small space heaters just randomly stop working pretty frequently, even worse others begin smoking, and whatever else. I found this thing, it goes under several different names but it is the same thing it seems. About $100. 1500 watts, analog, and they've been making the same exact unit for like 30 years. They hardly ever fail, simple. Don't get something that costs $30 or $40 and looks similar, it will be risky trash.

 

[Bryce C]

And then I got this thermostat because I have found that onboard thermostats in small space heaters are not reliable, and digital ones just randomly stop working in a short period of time. And the Marcell temperature monitor send alerts to my cell phone if the temperature drops below a certain level as a fail safe in case the electricity goes out or the heater stops working. I then mounted everything and wired up an electrical box and outlet and mounted it in my van so it is all neat and easy to plug in with an extension cord from my garage each day.

 

[Bryce C]

Depending on how cold it gets in your region you may want to insulate your van. If not then you may consider running 2 space heaters, 1 in the front and 1 in the rear. I insulated my van. Hopefully I can get through the New England winter with 1 space heater, we'll see. Thankfully with my setup my cell phone will begin alerting me in the middle of the night if the van isn't staying warm enough. I'm still nervous about it all. I need to be more like the lilly.

 

[bob vawter]

Does anyone have suggestion on best heater for Truckmount when using it during the winter? I have a Thermalwave setup. Or should i just shut down and add RV anti=freeze?

If you leave outside wit the heater on
You have at least an inch of ice on the inside

 

[MarkieMark]

We dont even get that cold here but I went ahead and did a cheap vevor diesel heater with 1.9gal tank in it last week as the high tops are harder to keep warm. My test last week in the 40s showed it kept 20+ above ambient outside on setting 3 or 10 so I am feeling good this year.

Last year we got some 15-18 degree weather which almost never hits us in West Texas that cause me lots of sleep loss and even put 2 electric heaters in the high top on different circuits to fight that odd all cold weather here.

That was the graph of my test with it being about 42f overnight. Dropoff at 7am was me with the doors open and heater off checking it out. Really easy to install in 10-20 min and total cost was about $150.

 

[KevinD]

If you leave outside wit the heater on
You have at least an inch of ice on the inside

That won't happen with an electric heater with a insulated van.. Heated with them for years. Now infrared propane heaters will do that due to the moisture they give off but not electric.

 

[bob vawter]

If you leave outside wit the heater on
You have at least an inch of ice on the inside

That won't happen with an electric heater with a insulated van.. Heated with them for years. Now infrared propane heaters will do that due to the moisture they give off but not electric.

True!

 

[they live]

Just hope it doesnt snow. I sealed mine in ice on the outside one year but nothing froze inside.