Heater question

[Tad]

My 2nd Jayco and I'm taking this one out this weekend and have a question. It's a 2017 23bhm. I usually boondock when camping. This will be my first time in a campground . I plan on hooking up to 30A Service. Will my heater in this trailer run off just electric or does it need propane . Gonna need the heat since it will be in the mid 20s at night. Thanks for any help with this

[JFlightRisk]

You will need the propane. The electrics make the thermostat and ignition function, and the propane supplies the heat. The other alternative is some small electric heaters to plug in.

[Riverman]

I'd have both propane bottles full, at 25 degrees your furnace will get a workout. It's a shame that RV's aren't insulated better.

[Jagiven]

The furnace only works off of propane. Your AC might have a heat strip. Mine does, bit noisy, feels like cool air, due to the high volume, but it is about equivalent to 1600 watts

[RogerR]

My camper is small so a single heater works well but at home I use 2 in the family room with both set at 750 watts. This spreads the heat out more evenly.
A little trick at night or while you are away is to use foil faced duct wrap on the inside of the windows. Really cuts heat loss so heaters, propane or electric run less.
If you use the propane and can switch over to a digital thermostat (lots of posts on that) your temperature will stay much more stable.

[Tad]

Appreciate all the responses. Great info. Thank you so much

[CAG]

I have noticed that some Jayco's have "heat pumps" which are commonly used here in the low desert area on homes. It is the air conditioner that is running with a heat pump but without trying to explain it all, mainly because I don't understand it all, the air conditioner is working backwards and pumping warm air into the RV/home.

According to my RV manual, at a certain point the system will switch your RV over to gas furnace. This usually happens around 32F outside because heat pumps don't work well in very cold temps.

So, sorry, long answer but if your unit is a heat pump type air conditioner, you still need both electric and gas.

[FLascent]

We used our furnace in our 22bhm for the first time earlier this month, it got down to about 45 during the night. I turned the furnace on and about two minutes after getting into bed I had to get up and turn it off, I was nearly sweating. One of my future upgrades if we keep the propane furnace is going to a be a real thermostat.

[RedHorse1]

We camped in our HTT with the overnight temps in the mid 20’s and heated it with an electric space heater. I would use the furnace a bit in the mornings to take the chill out of the air. We heat the 5th with 2 space heaters using the furnace the same way. We also have a nice down comforter to sleep under.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

We camped in our HTT with the overnight temps in the mid 20’s and heated it with an electric space heater. I would use the furnace a bit in the mornings to take the chill out of the air. We heat the 5th with 2 space heaters using the furnace the same way. We also have a nice down comforter to sleep under.

X2, DW says she want here electric mattress pad heater in the cooler months.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

X2, DW says she want here electric mattress pad heater in the cooler months.

My neighbor has a mattress heater and he swears by it.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

My neighbor has a mattress heater and he swears by it.

I have to admit it is fabulous, with the hybrid and sleeping on the outside edge, when its 20 degrees outside.

[TCNashville]

My first camper which was a Rockwood pop up had heated mattresses. Turn them on 1/2 hour before bed and all you needed for a cover was a sheet! In the Eagle I just carry an electric blanket to take the chill off.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by FLascent

We used our furnace in our 22bhm for the first time earlier this month, it got down to about 45 during the night. I turned the furnace on and about two minutes after getting into bed I had to get up and turn it off, I was nearly sweating. One of my future upgrades if we keep the propane furnace is going to a be a real thermostat.

I agree with you, the furnace in our 22BHM is almost oppressive when it is running. Lately, I have been running the overhead AC on low fan while the furnace is on to circulate the air. It seems to help keep it from having those temp spikes.

[Marmot]

You can install a digital thermostat in about two minutes. $20.00 from HD or Lowe’s or Amazon. Mine is a Honeywell.

[RogerR]

If you get the Honewell Thermostat make sure it is the kind that has batteries so it will hold the preferred temp when the power goes out or you change camps. It is easy to install and holds temp much more closely..

[garywilson]

If you go with the space heaters some suggest, will it heat up the under floor pipes if you leave the fan running? I don't know about an air return that would circulate room air to the under floor ducts.

I usually use both when it is that cold to save propane unless I've left it winterized and get my water from a jug.

[Johnnymailman]

We boondocked so much in the beginning, that when we camped with hookups, I automatically turned on the water pump by habit lol.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

We camped in our HTT with the overnight temps in the mid 20’s and heated it with an electric space heater. I would use the furnace a bit in the mornings to take the chill out of the air. We heat the 5th with 2 space heaters using the furnace the same way. We also have a nice down comforter to sleep under.

Same here. Mid-20's in a small hybrid with good sleeping bags is toasty and comfy, especially with an electric heater with a small fan behind it. And a 60# hound helps out. In morning we turn the space heater off, turn the furnace on to warm up and to allow running the coffee pot without blowing a fuse. Once coffee is made we switch back to electric heat. Main concern with cold weather is freezing extremities with liquid in them, hoses and gate valves. We always run a fan and open some flaps in the tent in cold or rainy weather to alleviate condensation.

[Parcany]

Originally Posted by Marmot

You can install a digital thermostat in about two minutes. $20.00 from HD or Lowe’s or Amazon. Mine is a Honeywell.

If he has a Dometic thermostat there is no replacement except another same kind of Dometic. I have been looking for a better thermostat and there is not a replacement one cause the Dometic only has 3 wires.