Battery drain from heater use
 

We have a 2008 1508T Hi-Lo trailer. We bought it this past spring and have not yet needed to use the heater. Now that it's getting cooler, we want to use the heater, but we've been told that using it drains the batteries pretty significantly. Is this true? How about if we were plugged into AC current? Also, does it use excessive propane? Thanks for your response in advance. Jerry

It doesn't use excessive propane- depending on what you call "excessive". If you leave it running all night for a couple of nights it will add to your battery drain no doubt. With two group 24 batteries I've streteched mine out for three or four nights but I use everything judiciously. If you are plugged into AC current almost NOTHING drains your battery as your converter is changing that AC current to DC current and so your furnace, lights, etc do not need to go your battery to get electricity. If you are plugged in and worried about propane use then a nice little electric/ceramic heater should heat a 15 footer nicely. Another option is a "Mr Buddy" heater that will run off its own propane tank but YOU MUST LEAVE WINDOWS SIGNIFICANTLY CRACKED FOR VENTILATION OR YOU WILL DIE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISIONING! I also find them sort of bright and like sleeping with a light on.

Rick

If you throw on an extra blanket and turn the thermostat down to about 55 you can save significant battery and gas. As mentioned, a cube heater does a very good job when hooked to shore power. Remember, we are campers and we are tough.

I'm with Rich! Turn the heater off at night (or down very low). Use blankets. Then, use it in the morning to get the chill off.

- Jack

I agree with Rich and Jack. We have had snow on the ground when we wake up in the morning, frost all over the TV and trailer, but we have never used the heater during the night. It's amazing how fast you can get rid of the chill with a pot of coffee brewing and the heater on for a few minutes.

Well, also what jack and Rich and Gary say. That said- I find when I get up to make coffee the burners for heating water warm things up pretty well, also. The wife thinks I am very special if I've raised the temperature in the trailer and have fresh coffee for her at the same time. :)

Rick

You are a very smart man. That coffee on the burner warms things in various ways. :)

We used our 22' one hunting trip when it was well below freezing, overnight low teens, never getting to 32 during the day. The first night I put the furnace at 65 and it seemed to run almost constantly. The next night knowing the single marine battery wasn't going to take 3 nights of that I lowered the thermostat to 55 and it ran about 1/4 of the time. Still comfortable inside and we made it all 3 nights using the heater only from 9pm to 6am.

This is on a 1994 Funlight which after repairing the walls found no insulation in there. Don't know about the roof.

Heater use
 

Flannel PJS,Flannel sheets and some warm blankets and a nice thick comforter. Then In the AM fire up the stove for a hardy breakfast with the vent cracked. Rugs on the floor keep your feet happy. I also made snakes filled with beans to place around the HiLo in less than sealed up areas such as the door and inner areas between the upper and lower half. This is on the interior.

A cozy electric blanket can help create a good attitude and a good night sleep.