Which Furnace for enclosed Trailer?

[summitboy]

The other thing to remember about the auto propane tanks is you pay by the litre not the fill. Works out a little cheaper. If anyone is looking for a 12-12-48-60 in Alberta i know where there is a little stash of almost new tanks. Always make sure you have a tank with a vapor outlet or you will have way too much heat when you fire her up, LOL !

 

[Bull]

i will post a couple pics this weekend when i get home. i have an atwood 40kbtu. mounted vertically. used flexible exhaust pipe to run the exhaust outside. welded a little bracket to mount two 30# LP tanks in front of v-nose.....no chance of interference during jackknife. clean and neat install.

 

[Mikboo]

blue flame heaters are BAD!!

Why hack up a trailer?
I use one of these:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332747_200332747

Plenty of heat, good to 1000 sf, takes up little space and no holes in the trailer. No power needed.
I also use mine up at 9600 feet so I would take the 5000ft with a grain of salt.

DO NOT USE A Blue-flame Heater!!!! I went the cheap way the first time too. They do NOT work above 4500 feet for long periods of time. Yes, they will work if you only want it to warm up the trailer while you're dressing/undressing. I had mine shut off on us two different trip in two different locations, both around 8000 ft. Trust me, you get very cold very fast in these trailers when there's NO heat!! The furnaces are the ONLY way to go if you are planning on sleeping in your trailer. Plus, you don't have to worry about the gasses in the trailer. Please put your propane tanks outside. I don't want to read any horror stories about any of you... well actually maybe we could get a propane company to spawnswer that one guy if he puts the tank inside. ONLY KIDDING!

Anyways, here are a couple of pics of my setup before & after I installed the white sheet metal.

BTW.. the this trailer is for sale so I can build a bigger one.

 

[wjl]

The original post just asks what furnace.
I did not know that it was used for sleeping and living in. Some of the trailer pictures posted look better than some hotel rooms I have stayed in.
Mine I only use it for warming up, changing, and drying the sleds and floor.
Door and top vent is ushally cracked, for the total of 30 minutes or less my heater works just fine.

If I were to have a bigger trailer and use it for living/sleeping yes the I would spend the money on a better heating system. It is not worth it for a 12ft v nose trailer.

 

[whitefish]

I have both a forced air and a catalytic. Best of both worlds. The cat works good to keeps things warm but suks for drying stuff out. I heard the cats actually put moisture back into the air. The forced air works good, sometimes too good. I do like the cat because it uses no power.

 

[ridinhard]

If your going to do, do it right.

Dont order a smaller BTU to save some coin, there was mention on here to use a smaller one, thats just silly no matter how you think about it. Last thing I want is a furnace screaming trying to keep up, running its arse off.

What size of trailer ?

Here's what i've used, with awesome results.

14' long plus 4' V nose, 8'6 wide and 6 feet high (interior sizes), roof and walls insulated. Attwood 28,000 BTU furnace.

Now i run a 24' + 4' v-nose, 8'6 wide and 6'6' high, roof and walls insulated. Attwood 40,000 BTU furnace.

NEVER run your tanks inside the trailer, common sense will prevail on that one !! Also, dont run them on the tongue, you jack knife that trailer and your fuct. Spend a little extra and run an under belly vapour tank. I use a 14" x 40", full up at any Auto propane station. For my new trailer, I just ordered the same size.

Thanks Darko,

How big of a hole is required in the side of the trailer to mount the 40,000 BTU attwood? Am I fuct without insulation or will I just be burnin more propane to keep the same temp? I'm lookin to dry gear out in the trailer overnight. Got a deal on a triton that was bought by the dealer when the dollar was good, inside is finished but not insulated, don't feel like tearin the walls and ceiling apart to insulate it if I can get by with burnin more propane. 30 bucks per night for propane seems like dickall when I burn 150 bucks worth of skidoo belts a day lol

 

[Bull]

i only put a 2 inch hole in the side of mine, but i kind of modded up my own exhaust setup using flexible automotive exhaust pipe. mine goes through plywood/fiberglass sandwich walls.

 

[Rhoward]

For ever 5 gallons of propane burned, it porduces 1 gallon of water. Vented furnace is the way to go if you are drying any thing.

 

[DARKO]

Thanks Darko,

How big of a hole is required in the side of the trailer to mount the 40,000 BTU attwood? Am I fuct without insulation or will I just be burnin more propane to keep the same temp? I'm lookin to dry gear out in the trailer overnight. Got a deal on a triton that was bought by the dealer when the dollar was good, inside is finished but not insulated, don't feel like tearin the walls and ceiling apart to insulate it if I can get by with burnin more propane. 30 bucks per night for propane seems like dickall when I burn 150 bucks worth of skidoo belts a day lol

I cut as per the instuctions, 7.5 inch's high and 18" wide. But as mentioned about you can do a small 2 hole (intake and exhaust).

Your clothes would dry im sure, just make a hanging system for them on the wall and duct a vent or 2 above them or below. Below would work best as the hot air rises, but may limit the wall space. Lots of creative ways to make her work, couple beers may help ya decide LOL.

One thing to remember, 1 90' elbow is the same as 10' of ducting. Less 90's the better, but in the real world your going to have a few of them forsure.

I know one guy drilled a ton of very small holes and used a few cans of spray foam insulation to do his walls. It worked pretty good, just cant spray too much in one area or you'll have bulging interior walls.

If I was in your position I would do the heater and try it with the insulation and see how it works. Insulating the walls may be a good summer project to get ya drinking beer in the trailer and away from the old lady

 

[ridinhard]

Thanx for the tips Darko, definately holdin off on the insulation till summer. Beers in the trailer in the summer is a great excuse to get away from the old lady, in fact ta hell with the insulation air conditioning might be a better investment. cheers

 

[Mountain Doo-OLD]

Why hack up a trailer?
I use one of these:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332747_200332747

Plenty of heat, good to 1000 sf, takes up little space and no holes in the trailer. No power needed.
I also use mine up at 9600 feet so I would take the 5000ft with a grain of salt.

I had one like that but never used it much as I was always cautious about fumes from the sled's- with the forced air you can dry clother and trailer going down the road-- otherwise with one like you have and doo that you might go BOOM!! but using it with sled's out to get dressed works fine- just like the forced air so much better...so does the ladies when you have to take them out on the 2-3 times a year ride......
Hope I dion't stick my boot in my mouth with that one

MD