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11-26-2015, 10:34 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #17675
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Winter camping update
Happy Thanksgiving from Bend Oregon. 10 degrees here this morning and I thought I would share our modifications and updates on our 2016 3440rl.
Immediately after we bough it we sealed up the bottom the best we could. After that the basement was approximately 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. We were supplementing heat with a 1500 watt ceramic heater in the living area that was running most of the night. The furnace would run for about 6 minutes every 12-20 minutes. Temps averaged 30 outside, 40 in the basement and 62 inside.
Yesterday we completed the following modifications.
1) The outlet on the bottom of the furnace was significantly hotter than the other two above it. So we moved the 4" bedroom ducting to the bottom outlet of the furnace and installed a 4"-4"-2" tee and put the 4" bedroom and the 2" bathroom ducting onto the tee. On the middle outlet we put the duct going to the tank area. We then sealed off the top outlet of the furnace as there was no need for it.
2) installed skirting from Idaho Canvas. Great company with a quality product at a fair price and was delivered 1 week ahead of schedule.
3) left the white plastic behind the convience center off and put a 300 watt heat lamp near it.
4) Moved the 1500 watt ceramic heater from the living room to the basement area.
The results. Last night it got down to 10 degrees outside, basement was 67 and inside was 66. The furnace ran significantly less and the floors were very warm.
I may need to fine tune the heater and the heat lamp combination (may not need both) but it is a good piece of mind when you know it is warmer underneath and the furnace is running less.
Happy Camping!
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11-26-2015, 05:19 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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You should verify that your modifications don't reduce the amount of heat going to the tank/plumbing area. You don't want to have frozen water lines or tanks, which the heat from the furnace helps prevent.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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11-27-2015, 01:19 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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The skirting should really help do the trick I would guess. Sounds like you have made some pretty smart modifications for severe winter use! Congrats!
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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11-27-2015, 05:00 AM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #17675
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Down to 2.8 degrees last night and the 59 in the basement. We did keep the electric fireplace on all night. Bob, I have the temp sensor behind the convience center and it is open to the tank area. There are a lot of things to get dialed in yet. We covered the windows in the bedroom with foil but have held off covering any in the living area because we like to look outside. I was thinking how nice a roller shade with reflective would be.
Bill
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11-27-2015, 05:59 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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When we were full time in our 3400RL we went thru below zero temp and found the following. At around zero the fridge quit working. Sealed off the bottom fridge vent except for about 2 inches and switched it to gas and everything started working ok. At -10 the fresh water tank pick up froze. No pipes inside froze. I would have to hook up to water at night to take a shower then disconnect it because the campground did not have any water with heat tape. Fireplace going and one electric heater going all the time and burned a tank of propane just about everyday. But it did stay warm inside.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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11-27-2015, 06:15 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Good thought-out mods Flintlock
Thanks for sharing them.
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11-27-2015, 08:40 AM
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#7
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #17675
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Thanks for the info Dennis. So the fridge likes propane better than electric when it is below zero? The vents on mine are in three rows. Did you seal off the bottom two or all of them except a 2" secton of the top one?
Thank you,
Bill
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11-27-2015, 12:59 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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They all will work better in cold weather on propane. That is what the Fridge factory told me. I sealed off all 3 rows except for the bottom one. The 2 inches was near the burner for air. With the furnace running I never had any problems when dumping the holding tanks.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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12-05-2015, 04:22 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Off direct topic, but related ... Bear in mind my better half is a "city girl" and has next to no known metabolism. She says if overnite temps inside were 66 degrees, divorce and alimony would follow. Ha! I guess that's part of the reason we are seasonal campers.
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12-05-2015, 09:55 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Thanks for the info Dennis. Hope I don't need to use it.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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12-05-2015, 02:30 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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Dick, as long as you point that Dodge in the right direction you won't have to use it.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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