Suggestions for drying out my enclosed trailer

[Powderboy]

I park my trailer outside at my cabin. After a ride I have sleds full of snow, wet gear ect. I flip on the heater and it works perfect for melting off all the snow and drying the place out. Except...I'm getting tired of filling my 11 gallon propane tank. I'm wired for 110 inside the trailer so I bought one of those oil filled radiator style electric heaters. No go. Its not going to cut it. Any suggestions on a good electric heater that will work to dry out my trailer so I can save my propane for when I'm on the road?

Thanks

 

[Mafesto]

Do you have access to 220v?
Is trailer insulated?

I have a 220V 5000BTU garage heater that easily & quickly heats my trailer.

 

[Puckered Up]

Add a fan

You need air movement to speed the drying. I use a small radiant heater and put a fan in front of it. Open your roof vents a little bit to let the moisture out.

 

[allied1]

I use 2 of these. Very durable and inexpensive. They heat good and move air well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fahrenh...742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cb87d6ce

 

[GolfPineAcres]

Heat source, or two. Then large box fan or the furnace style blower. Gotta move that air around.

 

[94fordguy]

I use 2 of these. Very durable and inexpensive. They heat good and move air well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fahrenh...742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cb87d6ce

That's basically the same thing I use in my 3-place... 1 of them will get my uninsulated trailer about 15-20*F warmer than it is outside. The only problem I have is getting the water out of the trailer. I've tried drilling a few small holes to let it drip out, but if it's below freezing out it just turns to icicles and freezes the holes shut and then pools up and freezes under my doors so I can't shut them after I get them open. I used to park with the nose down so it all funneled to the front and didn't have much problem getting it out but I can't do that now so it all goes to the rear.

 

[summ8rmk]

Keep using ur oil heater and just get a fan to move the air around. No electrical heater will heat as well as the oil filled radiant type. U can get a 20" box fan cheap at any Wal-Mart and that will move a lot of air!

 

[SpencerA]

We leave our trailer up at our cabin as well and don't have easy access to getting propane. I just ended up getting a couple spare propane tanks.

 

[Blk88GT]

I'd put a good 220 forced air electric heater in it with a fan. If you're worried about draining it, build a drain at the back of the trailer into the floor. Some 2" PVC sliced down the center,cut into the floor with some heat tape on it would drain just fine. I'm sure there's other ways to do it as well.

 

[zr600]

Yeah put a drain in it with heat tape. Then cut your self some foam that will fit inside it to help keep the draft down if their is one, then when you are done you can pull it out easily and let it drain.

 

[Powderboy]

Keep using ur oil heater and just get a fan to move the air around. No electrical heater will heat as well as the oil filled radiant type. U can get a 20" box fan cheap at any Wal-Mart and that will move a lot of air!

I tried this idea and for sure it improved the situation. Now I have a new problem. My doors are frozen shut. Luckily I was able to get the rear door open but the man door and the front ramp no go. Any tricks to get the doors freed up?

 

[Puckered Up]

Ventilation

Do you have your roof vents opened up a bit to let the moisture out?

 

[Puckered Up]

Ventilation

Do you have your roof vents opened up a bit to let the moisture out? It is the condensation that is freezing.

 

[Pro-8250]

Just a thought.

Oil or gas will add moisture, electric will not.
Just a thought here but what if you closed her up. Heated it and had a dehumidifier in there????

 

[boondocker163]

kerosene bullet heater?

 

[monster715]

I like the idea about the drain.....I have been trying to think of different solutions for getting the water out as well.

Let me ask you guys this.....does anyone have the floor itself of your trailers insulated? I have the walls and ceiling on mine insulated and with the RV furnace in there - I can get it up to whatever temp I want. Unfortunately, you can tell that between the ceiling and floor there is probably a 30 degree difference in temp....if not more. I am a little afraid to insulate the floor with the idea that the insulation could (and probably will) get saturated with the water.

Is just running the fan the way to go to get the air circulating? Or is there a way to effectively get that floor insulated as well? Already starting my project list for the trailer for this coming summer.

Thoughts....?

 

[jsledder]

Oil or gas will add moisture, electric will not.
Just a thought here but what if you closed her up. Heated it and had a dehumidifier in there????

X2. One of them small dehumidifiers should work good, just be sure and empty the bucket when done heating or it will likely crack.

 

[FFLH]

Oil or gas will add moisture, electric will not.
Just a thought here but what if you closed her up. Heated it and had a dehumidifier in there????

These small dehumidifiers might remove 13 pints water per day and their condensing coils like to freeze up if temps get down to anywhere near 60. Not much help when each sled can drop gallons of water in a few hours. Concentrating on controled drainage and or venting and heavy air circulation to evaporate all the water are the better choices.

 

[Coldfinger]

If it's any help, I've caught the water and ice coming off my M8 a few times. About 5-7 pounds is the weight of all the ice. Not as much as I though as far as weight.

 

[motorheadskier]

good fan facing down and one of those radiant 110 furnace's work great... especially if you can get it in there when the sleds are still hot! 2 sleds in my trailer start to melt everything and if I get the heater in there fairly quick before the refreeze I can melt most of it out. just leave the roof vent cracked.