The temperature got down to 10 degrees last night. For the first time I slept on the bus with no heat at new low temperatures. I had heat for a few hours, through the propane heater, but it finally stopped working right as I was about to go to sleep. I slept relatively comfortably under layers of sleeping bags, quilts and comforter. Plus both my pets snuggled around me to share body heat. Nala slept on my right under the comforter and Miss P slept under all the blankets with her paws resting on my long underwear clad arm. I woke this morning at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep. The cold around my face was as jolting as dunking my head into ice water.
The really uncomfortable times were getting up to pee. This morning the pets' water bowl was frozen and had to be thawed out on my propane stove. As suspected, fluid items like the olive oil, were rendered solid. Here is a morning picture.
Here is Nala still under the covers, until she thought is was time for a walk. Then she looked like she was wearing a robe, instead of a comforter.
Overall, it wasn't any worse than I expected. It is a wake up call that it is time for me to shed my 'Punisher' underoos and put on my big boy pants.
Brian, we have a lot of experience with Mr. Heaters, we used to live in a tent for a few years. We went through a dozen heaters before we found out what the problem was.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have an inline filter, the additive they add to large propane tanks, (garlic smell), builds up in the pilot light orifice and small diameter feeder line which keeps the thermocouple activated, choking up the gas flow. The problem is magnified if you let your tank run low, the garlic stuff pools in the bottom.
The only workaround is to buy an inline filter available at most hardware and sporting stores.
About propane, check around, some places fill for half the cost of others.
You might also look into a kerosene heater. Coleman used to make a domed top one that works incredibly well, (that's what I used), and was inexpensive to operate.
You don't have to worry about carbon monoxide if you have a detector in good order. It will alert you long before you get to dangerous levels.
Now, about your bus. I used to live in a 1974 77 passenger Blue Bird body Chevy in Minnesota. I know how to stay warm in one to 30 below.
You have to "zone" your living space. I recommend as heavy of carpeting, and or rugs that you can get a hold of. Carpet up the walls up to the windows. Lots of your heat sneaks out the floor.
Next, wall off the drivers and door area with thick blankets, or better yet, sleeping bags, floor to ceiling. Do the same with the windowed walls, draping quilts or sleeping bags floor to the padded head bumpers above the window, if you don't have the bumpers, get a screw gun and put up a wood strips in the areas you need to attach things to.
You can also buy those 3M picture hangers that wont mar your finish and you won't have to use a screw gun on your interior, just poke holes in the blankets to hang them up or get fancy and sew loops on them.
Now Zone your sleeping area by walling it off with another set of blanket curtains, on walls too. Make this area as small as possible so you only have to heat this area at night.
At this point, it's about survival. Go to thrift stores and second hand stores for your quilts, sleeping bags, and throw rugs. Check with local churches to see if they have such things to give you, make a small donation for their kindness.
Next, go to carpeting outlets, they tear carpeting out everyday, much of it very nice stuff. If you can, screw up foam board to the walls before securing carpeting.
I never had a problem with my battery freezing even to 30 below. Ever. You need a good battery, or a bank of smaller batteries and you have to keep them constantly charged. Moving every day should do this unless your alternator is not doing it's job, check your connections. Check your battery and keep the cells full.
If you do these things I think you will find yourself quite comfortable and toasty.
I finally went to a used RV parts place and bought a Coleman wall furnace, it was easy to install, the toughest part was cutting the hole in the roof to vent it. They have wall venting ones now that will do the trick. They work great.
Most of them will heat your entire bus for considerably less and have a thermostat so you can turn it down to just above freezing at night.
Hope this helps, we have been in your shoes and are worried for you, try to get these things taken care of and You'll cruise through Winter in comfort, (relatively!).
Sorry Brian, finally took a good look at your build, you do have foam board and experience with Kero heaters, was just so worried about you using that Mr. Heater tonight, and your battery that I just posted first and did my back round reading later.
ReplyDeleteTry zoning your area with the rugs and sleeping bags, makes a huge difference.
Good luck and that's a great looking rig!
Thanks for the explanation on Mr Heater and Propane. Makes total sense. I use to think it would sputter and go out more frequently when the tank was low because the pressure was weakened. That safety smell is the likely culprit. I will be picking up an inline filter soon.
ReplyDeleteI had toyed with dividing my bus into rooms when I was building it up. But for the sake of simplicity I left it an open floor plan. I had thought about using blankets as dividers last winter but I didn't want to start drilling holes in the ceiling for a temporary fix. That 3M hooks idea is great. I can use it to follow the angle of my curved roof. Keeping that rising hot air for slipping over the top into unneeded areas.
I tend to err on the side of extra cautious as far as not sleeping with the heater on. Plus, I consider it a waste of propane to let it run all night just so I can wake up in warmth. My stack of bedding is plenty enough. I just have to put up with my hand slipping out and getting numb cold. Not a big deal.
Thanks again for the great tips.