Can I run the propane heater while boondocking overnight?

[Glamper64]

Running the fridge would only help drain the battery and or propane which Imo, driving and using a propane appliance is a recipe for disaster.
Maybe one of those coolers you plug into your lighter is a good idea or a regular one would work...topping up the ice daily wouldn't be difficult. Of course cold pizza, peanut butter sandwiches and junk isn't a bad way to fuel up while driving

 

[orental]

There is no reason you need to do anything other than check and see if your on board charging system has a lithium setting. If it doesn't you will only get an 80% or so charge with some additional percentage over time. If you add solar you also need a solar converter that controls and adjusts the solar power to charge the battery. I bought a Renogy for a bit more as it has bluetooth that lets me see the charge status and more information. Also available is a self heating battery that allows it to take a charge if camping under 32 degrees which lithium don't like for charging. Renogy website has a learning section that has some basic and advance videos on how lithium and solar work.
If you post again add the year, make and model of your RV and tow vehicle for best advice. PM me if you want more.

Thanks! It's a 2023 Jay Flight 265RLS and the vehicle is a 2022 F150 Lariat 3.5 Eco with a max tow package. It has a single solar panel and you raise a good point, I have to find out if I need a solar converter. I'll take a look at the Renogy info for sure. Thanks again!

 

[orental]

I’m going to respectfully disagree with the many who’ve said this will work. Considering this is a several day long trip at minimum I don’t see it working without increasing your 12 volt power supply and being able to effectively recharge the battery or batteries during the day. Unless of course you barely run the furnace at night. Your truck isn’t going to fully recharge the battery in my opinion. If it gets cold enough might consider pulling into a rv park for a night.

Thanks! Yeah, seeing as this is the first time I'm driving in a cold location, I think I might skip the boondock (and battery test) and stay at an RV park.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Thanks! It's a 2023 Jay Flight 265RLS and the vehicle is a 2022 F150 Lariat 3.5 Eco with a max tow package. It has a single solar panel and you raise a good point, I have to find out if I need a solar converter. I'll take a look at the Renogy info for sure. Thanks again!

If you are rigged from the factory with a solar panel, you should have a controller mounted on one of your walls. Your battery converter is normally in your electrical panel, which charges the battery when you are plugged into a campground power pole or running on a generator.

 

[FISTEP]

I upgraded to 2 Eco-worthy 100Ah LiFePo4 size 24 batteries this year. I can't say if they are better than any other brand, I chose them because they were priced competitively and had good reviews. I got the version that pairs via Bluetooth with an app on my phone. I can monitor state of charge,( % or AH remaining) and charge/ discharge rate in real-time. I can monitor it while driving, camping, or charging at home. Each battery has it's own BMS and Bluetooth interface. It could answer all of your questions asked above.

 

[Kim Gass]

Beware of getting just any lithium battery off Amazon
Some are real fire hazards
to the OP we did not run our 12v fridge for the first days till we got to SC from
Maine
the outside temp never was above freezing
If you camp and run the heater of course you will need to run the fridge
We drained our battery in 6 hours: the fridge is s big draw
Solution: blankets sleeping bag

 

[JuneCleaver]

I expect that on a cold 30º night in a moderately insulated unit, the heater may run 50% of the time. If it draws 9 amps as does mine, then you will consume 4.5 ah each hour through the night, or 54 ah over 12 hours. Of course, now you need to replace that energy during the day. I suspect the max-tow package on the truck includes more charging capacity, but my guess and $2 will buy you a cup of coffee. Check your specs.

 

[Johnynorthland]

This is exactly why I purchased a 3,000WH solar generator, and it works great for this situation, especially since we switched to a 12V fridge, (that I give a hug every day to!), . I also added 200W of solar on my roof with a new 100amp hr AGM coach battery. The 200W of solar is obviously only good during the day. I didn’t have to add a complete solar system this way. I used the factory pre-wire solar connections, added a charge controller & PV breakers. I don’t have a built in inverter, and I don’t need one with my setup!

 

[Isaacs]

Hi,

I'm somewhat of an RV newbie with a Jayco Jay Flight 265RLS. We're driving from Toronto to Texas in a couple of weeks, and I used ChatGPT to plan a route that avoids areas prone to bad weather or steep terrain. However, I know the drive can still be challenging.

I’d like to stay close to interstates and overnight at Cracker Barrels or Walmarts. I know each has its own rules regarding overnight stays, so I've downloaded the RV Parky app to check ahead.

My question is: Will I be able to use the propane heater? If I keep my trailer plugged into my truck, will it draw power for the fan from my truck?

Any advice would be appreciated. We can stay in hotels, but I'd prefer to use the RV if possible.

Run your furnace for about twenty minutes while you're getting ready for bed, then kill it. Good blankets or sleeping bags will keep you warm during the night. If you wake up really cold, do the twenty minute thing again. Same thing in the morning when you get up. Keep in mind, your truck will do nothing unless it's running.

 

[Skyline]

A great emergency item to have should you find your TV battery is dead is a lithium jump box. The one I purchased claims 6000 peak amps and it will start a 12 liter diesel. It’s supposed to hold a charge for a year before needing a recharge.

 

[Retired mountain folk]

Hi,

I'm somewhat of an RV newbie with a Jayco Jay Flight 265RLS. We're driving from Toronto to Texas in a couple of weeks, and I used ChatGPT to plan a route that avoids areas prone to bad weather or steep terrain. However, I know the drive can still be challenging.

I’d like to stay close to interstates and overnight at Cracker Barrels or Walmarts. I know each has its own rules regarding overnight stays, so I've downloaded the RV Parky app to check ahead.

My question is: Will I be able to use the propane heater? If I keep my trailer plugged into my truck, will it draw power for the fan from my truck?

Any advice would be appreciated. We can stay in hotels, but I'd prefer to use the RV if possible.

We do all the time, of course we Put in two six volt batteries in line and have two hundred fifty solar power on the roof. Even when in a hookup park, we don’t even hook up unless we’re using the air, run everything, tv, heater, lights, etc. and our battery stays above 12.5.

 

[Susie410]

We live in Ohio, and have traveled interstates through that area. There really isn’t any steep terrain along the states you will be traveling. I-71 from Cleveland to Louisville KY very easy. Take I-65 south to I-40 and your past any kind of hilly terrain. I wouldn’t even call them mountains, nothing really over 4 thousand feet, and it’s a gradual climb. Nothing like the Rockies. . Enjoy the trip!