Winter camping Swift 20T or similar

[Schiel1]

Wonder how was your experience and what did you do (or not have to ) while camping in freezing cold weather.
Except for lithium batteries, grey and black tanks, (tanks are partially heated)
Looking to go out to Utah in early March and surrounding areas and the average lows can drop in the low 30's

 

[Iowagriz]

I ski camp with my 20T (non-Lithium). I fully winterize and have added additional insulation in the doors (where I could easily access). I don't use the tanks. Paper plates and jugs of water, bathroom in the ski lodge and pee in a jug as needed. I run propane for heat and the generator to top off the batteries prior to sleeping. Run the generator in the morning for coffee and batteries. I keep the heat at 55 during the day.

For Utah in March, and assuming the daytime highs are in the upper 30s, lower 40s, then I'd have no problems in using the tanks. I'd pour RV antifreeze in the tanks first, so it helps the areas that are not warmed by the tank heaters. It takes more than a few hours below freezing to really freeze up the pipes or tanks.

 

[Jimer]

How long can my propane furnace run in my 2024 20T (with nothing else on) before it would run my batteries down? Going for a overnight or two for the first time. Thanks

 

[Schiel1]

How long can my propane furnace run in my 2024 20T (with nothing else on) before it would run my batteries down? Going for a overnight or two for the first time. Thanks

Depends on your battery type. I have 200 amp hours of lithium (self installed) and in cold weather it does not reach the desired temp. (Set at 72 and got no higher than 6 And I still had roughly 75% battery voltage left.
Also the heater uses very little LP also. 2 nights of constant run and I may have used 1/4 of the tank.

 

[Schiel1]

For the record. We finished our Utah trip.
Got down to 28 on some nights. I used the tanks heaters and also bought 4 gallons of antifreeze. I put 1/2 gallon in grey and black on nights where I knew it was going to get really cold. No issues. Not sure if I needed the antifreeze but it was cheap insurance.
Only issue I had was and still does. When I get the LP filled it reads (DISC.)
It does that when overfilled or a bad connection. I believe it's the overfilled issue. Once I use a little it begins reading again.

 

[Jimer]

Thanks for the reply. I have standard stock batteries (non Lith)

 

[Schiel1]

Thanks for the reply. I have standard stock batteries (non Lith)

Be careful then. Monitor them carefully. Mine went down to 11.7 3 times and they were shot.

 

[Old and soft]

Depends on how much the furnace runs. If it cycles on and off it's obviously going to last longer.
My last tent camper had a 15kbtu furnace. On cold nites, 25f and lower, it would run for 8 hours straight on a group 27 deep cycle standard battery from napa.
I would get 2.5 nites and 4 pots of coffee out of a full 20#tank, 1 nite on the battery. YRMV.