Now that there is more than a “nip” in the air in many parts of the country, homeowners in traditional stix and brix homes are looking to turn on the heat their homey nests and to save money while doing so. It’s the same for RVer’s. Fulltimers and those brave souls who venture out in their RV throughout the winter have similar goals. Keep warm and cozy and not break the bank doing so.

For Fulltime RVer’s the most economical rates for camping fees are the monthly or seasonal rental rate. However, the monthly /seasonal rates do not include electricity in most cases. Some campgrounds also charge a daily electric charge which is a metered fee for actual usage. In extremely hot conditions, this can be a budget stretcher and it is really a disadvantage in cold climates if the RV furnace needs supplemental heat through the use of space heaters. Furnaces in most RVs are adequate to keep the rig warm and use the “forced air” concept similar to those in homes. The rig furnace is fueled by propane and the blower that forces the heated air into the unit runs on electric. The blower or fan can usually run off the 12 volt system which is important if you are boondocking or just dry camping for a night or two going from point A to point B. The big drawback to this is the quick depletion of your stored battery power as the draw on the battery is huge, again not a problem if you are plugged into shore power.

There are various types of supplemental heating sources. Electric space heaters, mentioned earlier are the most popular and the safest option. Catalytic propane heaters are great, but they must be hooked up to a propane source and emit hazardous fumes that necessitate adequate ventilation. Kerosene heaters should never be considered in a rig, the inherent safety risks of toxic fumes and fire danger is great. Some high-end coaches have heat pump systems. Since I know little to nothing about alternative heating systems, or for that matter heating an RV at all, I did some research and stumbled upon a great site, written by fulltime RVer Dave Damouth. He has a great site and his RV section is a wonderful source of information about all types of RV systems, repair and maintenance. You can check it out here. I strongly recommend that you book mark Dave’s great site and steer the mechanical genius that resides in your rig to visit it soon.

In the meantime, keep warm!