I sure hope folks truly appreciate the value of this information. I couldn’t imagine working through -40C; that’s far too cold!! I’ve had the family camping in -10C, but even then we had the camper heat going with multiple electric heaters too.
@@maryboggan8251 thats minus 67 F...at that temp all the moisture in the air freezes and looks like crystals dancing in the air...if your working outside you can't stop moving, or it gets really really uncomfortable.
Hey just found your channel. I’m in Alberta as well and I’ve stayed in my bus in the cold winter with my diesel heater but I’ve also camped at work in my jeep in minus 47 with no heater lol. I’ve been able to make it work. It’s really cold here though hahahahah. Enjoyed the video.
Well 👍, u gave the winter a try, n ya did it! And good tips for anyone wondering what it would be like. The older I get, the less my stamina I have for wanting to deal with freezing my arse off lol. So u summed it up for me "it sucks!" Lol. Now I did 2 winters in BC in my 5th wheel (sold it) n man the constant sogginess, the constant cloudiness, constant condensation issues, yeah I hated it. I don't know how much diff it would be in my truck camper only being i hated it so much back then can't see me ever doing it again, period. (Oh it was the second year that everything became a problem in the muggy weather. First winter not so much an issue). 🍻
I definitely don’t know how the old truck camper will hold up to that much rain but I also might be in a newer one by then too. I do love the cloudy rainy days when ever I’m down there lol just a nice vibe to me I guess 😂 🍻
Definitely Ike your videos and your way of thinking things through, very practical and realistic. I am 60yrs old and could be your mum, but you seem great company and a good guy, your mum must be proud of you. 😊❤🎉
Thank you so much! I had no idea, but where my home base is, we are cold when it is just below freezing. We have had 10 degrees F, and I run the house heat all the time. I can’t imagine doing that in my tiny camper. This is valuable information, and I am so thankful I ran across your video today. I don’t feel less cold even though we have a heat wave compared to the temperatures you discuss.
My coldest day in Canada , it was only -20 F ! Though the strong winds resulted in a wind chill that was the equivalent of -60 F ! No was walking that day , everyone was running !
Great advice! I Lived in AB for many years, but wouldn't want to be there in the winter in our van. We actually moved to Vancouver Island but visit AB in the spring, summer or fall. You would need a really good reason to live there in an RV full time. You need to have some survival gear for when the unthinkable happens! My hubby got a flat taking someone to the airport in -32 C. He had a lot of trouble getting the wind down spare tire from the back of the SUV and nearly froze to death. He made sure to keep the spare handier cold weather after that. Down Duvets are a must as well as really warm clothing. If you get a chill in your bones, it could be a long time till you get warmed up!
I see propane tank blankets are an option, but quite pricey. Have you considered a portable wind generator as another energy option? And for the summer months, a portable water generator, if of course you're near an adequately running stream. I have a 100 watt solar unit on the roof of my small camper , custom made an additional remote solar unit where I can direct it towards what sunlight there may be...switching between the two when necessary. If I were to do full time off-grid camper-living I may consider an RV indoor wood stove as another option. Despite the cold temperatures, the positives can also be worth the lifestyle. If you want to get away from the crowds; stay inside cozy warm during a winter blizzard. Peaceful journeys!!
I moved off grid in 2023, bought a 28ft 5th, put a 600-gal tank under the hitch, 48kw battery bank under the rear and a grey water treatment under the slide, then enclosed and insulated with a vapour barrier and 2 layers of reflectix. In Jan with only 1 layer at -33c, +.7 under, 18c inside, using a 350w heater all day with 1 hour of the 1500w. It worked but heat was localized. This month I added another layer and put a 170w under rug heater in the under space, so far only the 170w as heat @ -5c for over 6 hours it was 18c under and 20c inside, 2 season trailer so the heat bleeds from below. When I had just the vapor barrier, I used 36kw a day for heat, 1 layer 9.1kw a day, and now with the final layer under 5kw a day so I could heat the place with an ecoflow and an extra pack. This could easily be adapted to mobile builds, If I had a truck camper, I would put it down on 2" insulation board and reflectix and fill any voids camper to box, then make an exterior reflectix sock for the whole camper, held by padded magnets, when you drive oragami the shell and put it inside. Then put the rug heater right on the floor. The rug buddy is safe, I slept on it no hot spots, you can even shampoo the carpet on top of it. Reflectix or Resisto use tuck tape repair tape, it all stayed stuck from -33c to +37c. Warning reflectix is not Uv resistant the silver layer pealed like gold leaf after 1000 hours of sun, but it handles snow and ice it just slid right off, I will be applying silicone roof sealant to protect it. So far heating a 28ft trailer for 170w is way better than I expected. Living off grid on 120V is so easy, exception is the 9kw LPG Gen ready to make 400kwh on a single tank if needed. 5kw back up. If you have very limited sunlight buy a gen that can feed the maximum to the charge controller keep the charge time quick.
I have an Artic Fox 990 4 seasons truck camper. Which is a joke for Canadian winters. First winter in camper went through 2 30lbs tanks of propane per week at $42 a refill and I live one hour north of Vancouver BC. The winters are pretty mild here comparatively. Generator is needed to keep your batteries topped up if not on shore power. Camp grounds cost add up fast. It's not cheap to live in an RV in winter.
Hmm never thought about heating a propane tank with an oil pan heater. I may consider that. I usually just connect my camper to a 40lb in winter. That’s one thing that helps is bigger tanks. Another thing I’ve been told but haven’t tried is bigger hoses, a place in Minnesota will put larger hoses from tanks to regulator and replace regulator with one that has larger ports. I haven’t tested that one yet though.
My back up head solution is actually heated blankets powered by my jackery and those small green propane tank mounted to a buddy heater. Havent had to use them yet but its always good to have back ups if your that deep in the forest with the heater broken its not gonna be fun getting out at night.
Look up Truck house life. He squeezed a wood stove in a truck camper SMALLER then yours. It's saved his bacon several times. Those Chinese diesel heaters are unreliable, they soot up and the glow plugs fail. You should rebuild them once a year. , one needs 2 back up plans for heat if your camping in Alaska like he does.
I wouldn’t want to rely on a cheap Chinese anything if my life is at stake ! Fit a quality diesel heater they’re designed to operate in -40 but even then I’d want a back up heat source. Greetings from a mild U.K 👍🏻🇬🇧
There is a company called east to west that makes pull behind and 5th wheel campers that have a 5 inch thick insulated roof and floors and 3 inch sidewalls, it has heated tanks, heated water lines, both a/c’s have heat pumps, an electric fireplace, regular propane heat. So if you have enough batteries you will have heat. I am trying to convince them to produce a truck camper.
-40 is really cold, Stayed in a cottage at that temp and the propane tanks froze up which stopped the furnace working and a neighbouring cottager could not start their car.
We recently purchased an older but decent 34 ft Class A motorhome (460 gas V8). Gets a whopping (measured) 8.65 miles per imperial gallon. It's winterized and in storage at the moment, but we've already determined that it will need not one but two diesel heaters - not only for those few nights in southern Alberta that see temps way down in the minus-M.F. range, but also in case one of those heaters crap out on us. (these heaters also provide the advantage of fabri-cobbling heat exchangers to use exhaust heat to keep the basement from freezing. Definite CO warning systems required). We of course also have the generator and propane furnace as an additional backup. One thing we will certainly want is a portable power station of at least 2000 watt-hours' capacity (Bluetti? EcoFlow? Anker?) with the LiFeO4 (Lithium-iron-phosphate) battery - all the better for not only long life/several thousand charge cycles but also more stable than lithium-ion from a thermal runaway risk perspective.
minus 40 C in central Canada is quite rare. Here in northern Ontario you might get one night down to -40 but usually the lows at night are -20 to -25. Winters are getting milder.
In central Alberta every year you get a week or to at those temps. I grew up in northwestern ontario. I remember we would get more of those days than they get now in northwestern ontario.
Thank you for the very useful and valuable honest information you presented! I'm doing a cross Canada trip East-West bound with my family, ending up in BC somewhere. Will try to avoid those crazy winter temperatures. Most of our journey is planned from March onwards and hopefully all we will have to deal with is the rainy weather you mentioned in Southern BC.
After spending 9 years in Washington state, I realized I need and prefer the Sun than cold and snow. Snows fun for a few days but I’d rather be in shorts and a tank top. But I’m from Hawaii so guess I’m biased. Love your beautiful scenery of the snow but I’ll enjoy via TH-cam.
Hello Kevin i have watched a lot of van life videos forresty forrest being one and all give sound advice of how to survive the winter yes always have a plan B many thanks i don,t think ever had anything below minus 10 in the UK good luck
Get a Bigfoot truck camper! Made for Canadian winters, insulated to minus 20, but could sustain much more if you didnt use the water system. Spent two winters our on Vancouver Island ( plugged in and stationary) and was always toasty warm.
Watching your video I noticed your truck sways when you turn into the gas station. I had a f250 and northern lite 8’11 I used supersprings suspension best choice I ever made no Sway no movement
You are correct about Van Isl. It does rain along but we get very strong gale force winds it the winter months. 😅 It would rock and hope not roll your campers.😊
Propane goes from a gas to a liquid at a certain temp. I have been listening to your videos this morning since been looking at some slide in campers for back woods and traveling. If space permits for a diesel heater depends where you can mount it if you run your duct through the space your batteries are it'll heat that space with just just radiant heat coming off the vent tube(s) helping keeping your batteries from freezing. The issues you had in previous with your engine heater, could be low voltage or also when it gets really cold start up may take a few tries to get it fired up. It's a issue I have ran into with 2 of my diesel heaters, 1 is used in my portable ice shack and the other I heat the porch of the house year round non insulated and windows on 3 sides and drafts and those -30c days takes a few tries to fire up but it's running full out. I'm in winnipeg so we get the same type of cold you guys get except ours is probably drier but not positive on that. More videos to get through today !
depends where you are on Vancouver Island and when. I have lived in 3 provinces and experienced the cold working outdoors. Here on the Island we have many year round glaciers and snow flies whenever mother nature feels it is time. all 4 seasons usually include rain.
I live in the states, i truck camp to mtb. I usually have to stay 1 night of cold, then i head south. It might freeze at night, but nothing freezes. Buddy heater works for me, but i can see where it wouldnt there.
If you are in a pull behind travel trailer or 5th wheel try to put trailer skirt around the bottom of the trailer put heater under the trailer to keep the pipes from freezing I mainly heated with wood but I had propane for night time when the fire would die you could use electric space heater if you have enough electricity always have backup heat and electric
tack för en bra video. jag bor i sverge och hadde med mig husbilen i norra sverge 43 minus var det i 14 dagar, folk fattar inte vad kyla gör. mvh Angus
They say the comments help your searchability. Winter is relatively easy compared to the middle of summer. I can warm up my van on battery power. I cannot easily cool it. I started with a diesel heater stye heater that ran on gasoline from the van's tank. I had two of them and they just were not reliable. Maybe a really old VW Beatle heater could be reliable. I finally ended up with a Chinese Diesel heater. I have three of them. If a heater stops. I just replace the heater with one off the shelf. Then deal with the failed heater. I have the afterburner controller. I insulated the hell out of the living area. 5 inches of foam in the roof and 3 inches in the walls. I can warm up the living area with the vehicle's heater and it stays OK for about 6 hours in minus 20 C. (Backup if a heater fails) I have bifold insulated doors dividing the cab from the living area. The diesel fuel tank is inside a box that is separated but inside and heated by the living area. The clean as well as the waste water tanks are inside the living area. It is a gasoline powered engine. Which is easier to start in the cold than Diesel. I am in central and Southern Ontario, so not crazy cold, but not Vancouver Island. I have never experienced temps too cold to be comfy. I charge 400AH of Lifepo off the engine alternator. (In that box separated from the living area but insulated and warmed by the living area) Things I should do: I can seal the cab off better which will help in the summer too, I can seal between the floor planks which will help. I can insulate the back doors better. All in all. I would say do not under estimate just how shitty it can be. Everything that can freeze, will if you do not do something to stop it from freezing. Insulation is your friend.
With all due respect, a badass four-season Canadian-made fiberglass truck camper such as a Northern Lite is not even close to in comparison of that of a van or an RV. But thanks for sharing practical advice on how to, in general, survive in cold winter conditions
propane have a boiling point of -42. but already at about 20, the boil is so low that it can get problematic to support a heater or a stove. as a side effect of the boiling it takes up heat and gets colder, which doesn't really help things.
Kevin can I ask you couple of questions. I know nothing about surviving below 9 degrees. I slept 33 days in a row 2022 lows were 9 overnight. Things for me now are bad and be living in my minivan May1st paid rent for April. Heres my 3 question if youve time : Im in a van more or less a dodge caravan. I removed the front seat moving to BC and living in the van. When it reacches -4 -2 -6 in and around October / November I was going to do one of 3 things to survive. - option 1 buddy heater with my passenger seat removed I can build metal cage for the heater to sit and never spill setting me and the van on fire. Like a 4 wall metal protector and buy minoxide alarm option 2 - Hit camping store and with my wooden built bed just buy -40 mummy sleeping bag wear balaclava over my face so sleep only nostrils eyes exsposed. option 3 - this option is nuts the mini stove where I cut a hole in roof of van and have the heat pipe pop out roof and burn wood. From these options I feel BC only reaches -10 at worst and option 2 just splurging on blankets -40 quilts sleeping bags with me also wearing long johns may be enough no flames no buddy heaters running. I do not have a clue or help for installing diesel so thats out as is propane. Be honest am I off my head with my 3 options or will I experience a slow death. This is worst night over entire winter there -10. I appreciate any input you can send my way.. Thanks Kev.
My only worry with the buddy heater is the amount of moisture so you will need to crack some windows and make sure you have an alarm, a good sleeping bag would most likely be a good way to accompany the buddy heater but I don’t know if a wood stove would be worth it when you have to stoke it all night and you might get way too hot in a minivan with that
i would likely go with a -40C sleeping bag so your option 2. In -10 that won't be fun but probably the most doable. You can also buy those heated blankets. Maybe one of those blankets under the sleeping bag may help with keeping the heat in the bag. I see so many videos with people roughing it in winter but Canadian winters are a whole other ball game. It is life or death. Even in your home when we've had -48 and the furnace quits in the house. It drops fast!
Have a quality diesel heater fitted they are designed to operate in -40*c they can and should use kerosene in low temperatures fuel usage is low 4-5 hrs per litre on low about half that on high, the digital motor in these uses less energy than the normal motor in the cheap Chinese heaters so uses less of your battery power. Do some research on line it might be useful to you. 👍🏻🇬🇧
Aside from keeping warm what do you do if you can't even walk outside. Being couped up like that for 5-7 months would surely drive me insane. BTW, I live in Alberta, too 🤣
Great info was wondering if you run your hot water heater in those temps. Despite heated basement in my Bigfoot I am always worried about the hot water heater freezing up in extreme cold temps so usually bypass it and empty it. Do you keep in working all winter? Must use a bunch of propane in those temps but nice to have a running system. We can't do that up in Alaska because there are no dump stations open in winter months.
Unless it gets beyond -30 I keep water on, dump stations can be a challenge but I have been able to find them with some effort or going to a campground with full hook ups for a night
northern lites are factory insulated, some better than others in this video showed my 1998 9-6 classic and the insulation was good but lacked in certain places mostly cause they weren't classified as 4 season until 2006. my current 2001 10-2000 is a northern series and it has insulation everywhere the 9-6 lacked, also have dual pane windows where my 9-6 did not.
@KevinWaldsAdventures Good to know... I'm in the process of gutting a retired field ambulance truck camper, with plans on moving in full-time here in Calgary once I'm done. I was going to get it sprayed with closed cell foam. But to save money, I'm going with closed 2 & 3" closed cell foam boards.
What I don't like about your truck is that if Something happens At Night You can't drive away ..Youre STUCK... I have a Box Truck I can go from my living space to the Stering wheel in 2 sec... Plus I tie the doors down if someone tries to open doors he can't he'd have to smash stuff...
I heat my home with propane in northern Alberta, if it gels at minus 44 degrees celsius (or Fahrenheit, its all the same at 40 below) you can throw a pail 🪣 of water 🌊 on the tank, its a short term solution, but can help. Otherwise, tarp over the tank, bank it up with snow ❄️, and put a 100 watt incandescent light bulb 💡 under it(such as a trouble light) keeps a 500 gallon propane tank operational. So...this could be difficult for a camper, but ya a source of heat to midly heat the propane tank is a must. Propane is dirty fuel ⛽ ive froze off at -42 have a secondary source of heat.
Hey Mate, We are a family from New Zealand, we are just researching the possibilities of a year travelling in Canada. Whats the best option for securing an RV? Hire? buy and then sell? Are their private personal rental options? I'm sure like NZ there are loads pitched to take all the tourists money, but seeing if you could offer an advice?
Rental becomes pricey if you’re looking for something for an extended length of time. The rental is certainly cheaper than hotels on a per night comparison and the rv comes “x” number of kilometres per day included. However, if you exceed that mileage, the additional cost per kilometre adds up really quick and may make renting a vehicle and staying in hotels a cheaper option. You may want to check out CanadaDream RV rental and google some other places like that. This place is about a 90 minutes from where I live. $1,600 Cdn a week and includes 100 kilometres a day. Over that is 30 cents a kilometre. Canada is huge so a two weeks could get you from the middle of Canada to the west coast and back and it’s about 7,000 kilometres total. You would be on the hook for 5,600 kilometres at 30 cents per. And gas mileage is about 10 miles per gallon. I know because I rented and Ra from this place before. www.sunvalleyrv.com/rent-a-make--rentals
If you put a diesel heater or better yet a gas heater you could definitely keep that small space warm! Maybe also get some nice thick window covers too!
I moved to the tropics as soon as I was able. If it’s not between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, I don’t go there. I grew up in Chicago. My fondest wish is to never see another snowflake in real life as long as I live.
I sure hope folks truly appreciate the value of this information. I couldn’t imagine working through -40C; that’s far too cold!! I’ve had the family camping in -10C, but even then we had the camper heat going with multiple electric heaters too.
I agree for some crazy reason I thought ah arctic camping trip would be fun but after this video I'm so thankful he stopped all my crazy thinking
@@edwardboyer7102Lol 😂😅
-55 C was the coldest I recall working outside in. I would of quit, but no way home lol.
Can you please translate to Fahrenheit.
@@maryboggan8251 thats minus 67 F...at that temp all the moisture in the air freezes and looks like crystals dancing in the air...if your working outside you can't stop moving, or it gets really really uncomfortable.
Hey just found your channel. I’m in Alberta as well and I’ve stayed in my bus in the cold winter with my diesel heater but I’ve also camped at work in my jeep in minus 47 with no heater lol. I’ve been able to make it work. It’s really cold here though hahahahah. Enjoyed the video.
🥶in a frickin Jeep ? The warmest thing might be the pee bottle. 😂…til it freezes.
Did your desile heater keep you warm enough I'm gonna winter camp in my travel trailer
@@adamkenny7848diesel heaters work like a charm you'll be too hot
@glennbeadshaw727 thanks man
should upload a video with you surviving in your bus in the winter sir - I would like to watch it!
Did just this for 3 years , no running water ..funny am in an apartment now ..running water was truly a novelty to have in my life again ❤
I could not agree with you more, warmer is better and why I am in Florida 🏝️ 😅.
Excellent video and very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
Just the hurricanes to worry about
No biggie, you just drive away.
Best advice of all - Your rig has wheels, drive off to somewhere warmer! 😃
Cooool. Keep your mug frosty, and your keg above freezing. 👍👍
Well 👍, u gave the winter a try, n ya did it! And good tips for anyone wondering what it would be like.
The older I get, the less my stamina I have for wanting to deal with freezing my arse off lol. So u summed it up for me "it sucks!" Lol. Now I did 2 winters in BC in my 5th wheel (sold it) n man the constant sogginess, the constant cloudiness, constant condensation issues, yeah I hated it.
I don't know how much diff it would be in my truck camper only being i hated it so much back then can't see me ever doing it again, period. (Oh it was the second year that everything became a problem in the muggy weather. First winter not so much an issue). 🍻
I definitely don’t know how the old truck camper will hold up to that much rain but I also might be in a newer one by then too. I do love the cloudy rainy days when ever I’m down there lol just a nice vibe to me I guess 😂 🍻
Great video..good advice. Hi from Ireland.
We need this Kevin thanks because any day I feel the shit going to hit the fan, and as a senior,now camping not out of the picture!
Definitely Ike your videos and your way of thinking things through, very practical and realistic. I am 60yrs old and could be your mum, but you seem great company and a good guy, your mum must be proud of you. 😊❤🎉
I learned a lot. Thank you for a fascinating discussion.
Thank you so much! I had no idea, but where my home base is, we are cold when it is just below freezing. We have had 10 degrees F, and I run the house heat all the time. I can’t imagine doing that in my tiny camper. This is valuable information, and I am so thankful I ran across your video today. I don’t feel less cold even though we have a heat wave compared to the temperatures you discuss.
Thank you for letting me vicariously live in the cold, dry Alberta winter from hot humid Florida!
Thank you brother. Very, I mean very valuable advice for anyone out there in the winter season. 👍🏻
My coldest day in Canada , it was only -20 F ! Though the strong winds resulted in a wind chill that was the equivalent of -60 F ! No was walking that day , everyone was running !
Thank you - Thank you, and Thank you, very helpful as I am planning on cold weather camping and never done it before.
Great advice! I Lived in AB for many years, but wouldn't want to be there in the winter in our van. We actually moved to Vancouver Island but visit AB in the spring, summer or fall. You would need a really good reason to live there in an RV full time. You need to have some survival gear for when the unthinkable happens! My hubby got a flat taking someone to the airport in -32 C. He had a lot of trouble getting the wind down spare tire from the back of the SUV and nearly froze to death. He made sure to keep the spare handier cold weather after that. Down Duvets are a must as well as really warm clothing. If you get a chill in your bones, it could be a long time till you get warmed up!
All diesel sold in Canada during the winter months is "Arctic Diesel" it has the antigel additives in it. No real need to add Prist.
I see propane tank blankets are an option, but quite pricey.
Have you considered a portable wind generator as another energy option? And for the summer months, a portable water generator, if of course you're near an adequately running stream.
I have a 100 watt solar unit on the roof of my small camper , custom made an additional remote solar unit where I can direct it towards what sunlight there may be...switching between the two when necessary.
If I were to do full time off-grid camper-living I may consider an RV indoor wood stove as another option.
Despite the cold temperatures, the positives can also be worth the lifestyle. If you want to get away from the crowds; stay inside cozy warm during a winter blizzard.
Peaceful journeys!!
I moved off grid in 2023, bought a 28ft 5th, put a 600-gal tank under the hitch, 48kw battery bank under the rear and a grey water treatment under the slide, then enclosed and insulated with a vapour barrier and 2 layers of reflectix. In Jan with only 1 layer at -33c, +.7 under, 18c inside, using a 350w heater all day with 1 hour of the 1500w. It worked but heat was localized. This month I added another layer and put a 170w under rug heater in the under space, so far only the 170w as heat @ -5c for over 6 hours it was 18c under and 20c inside, 2 season trailer so the heat bleeds from below. When I had just the vapor barrier, I used 36kw a day for heat, 1 layer 9.1kw a day, and now with the final layer under 5kw a day so I could heat the place with an ecoflow and an extra pack. This could easily be adapted to mobile builds, If I had a truck camper, I would put it down on 2" insulation board and reflectix and fill any voids camper to box, then make an exterior reflectix sock for the whole camper, held by padded magnets, when you drive oragami the shell and put it inside. Then put the rug heater right on the floor. The rug buddy is safe, I slept on it no hot spots, you can even shampoo the carpet on top of it. Reflectix or Resisto use tuck tape repair tape, it all stayed stuck from -33c to +37c. Warning reflectix is not Uv resistant the silver layer pealed like gold leaf after 1000 hours of sun, but it handles snow and ice it just slid right off, I will be applying silicone roof sealant to protect it. So far heating a 28ft trailer for 170w is way better than I expected. Living off grid on 120V is so easy, exception is the 9kw LPG Gen ready to make 400kwh on a single tank if needed. 5kw back up.
If you have very limited sunlight buy a gen that can feed the maximum to the charge controller keep the charge time quick.
wow! that is a detailed comment!
@@dawna4185 retired bored and detailed lol
@@bobmonztr haha...lucky you!!
@@dawna4185 14 years of cost cutting and saving, no car, no gf, stay home, just the no car paid for half of it all.
Wood stove bro and custom rebuild of insulation and your set!
The new lithium batteries you can get heated now. Great for Canadians 😊
Great informative video Kevin, I'm sure a lot of people will benefit from this information it may even save someones life one day!👍
I have an Artic Fox 990 4 seasons truck camper. Which is a joke for Canadian winters. First winter in camper went through 2 30lbs tanks of propane per week at $42 a refill and I live one hour north of Vancouver BC. The winters are pretty mild here comparatively. Generator is needed to keep your batteries topped up if not on shore power. Camp grounds cost add up fast. It's not cheap to live in an RV in winter.
Hi Kevin great video it sure very helpful for me❤❤❤❤ it’s giving me some things to get for my Rv home❤❤❤thanks for sharing ❤❤❤❤
Hmm never thought about heating a propane tank with an oil pan heater. I may consider that. I usually just connect my camper to a 40lb in winter. That’s one thing that helps is bigger tanks. Another thing I’ve been told but haven’t tried is bigger hoses, a place in Minnesota will put larger hoses from tanks to regulator and replace regulator with one that has larger ports. I haven’t tested that one yet though.
Definitely good information thanks, I will try my best to stay south.
My back up head solution is actually heated blankets powered by my jackery and those small green propane tank mounted to a buddy heater. Havent had to use them yet but its always good to have back ups if your that deep in the forest with the heater broken its not gonna be fun getting out at night.
Look up Truck house life. He squeezed a wood stove in a truck camper SMALLER then yours. It's saved his bacon several times. Those Chinese diesel heaters are unreliable, they soot up and the glow plugs fail. You should rebuild them once a year. , one needs 2 back up plans for heat if your camping in Alaska like he does.
Agree'd, I would def have a mini woodstove set up for a secondary emergency!
I wouldn’t want to rely on a cheap Chinese anything if my life is at stake ! Fit a quality diesel heater they’re designed to operate in -40 but even then I’d want a back up heat source. Greetings from a mild U.K 👍🏻🇬🇧
I really enjoyed my cubic mini wood stove for the real cold weather in northern Alberta during winter.
What is a cubic mini wood stove? Can you use it in a van? Where can I get one?
@@ewwwobbieit's "Cdn. Made just Google foe specs....
There is a company called east to west that makes pull behind and 5th wheel campers that have a 5 inch thick insulated roof and floors and 3 inch sidewalls, it has heated tanks, heated water lines, both a/c’s have heat pumps, an electric fireplace, regular propane heat. So if you have enough batteries you will have heat. I am trying to convince them to produce a truck camper.
That would be a awesome but extremely heavy truck camper lol
Thanks for sharing your experience!
-40 is really cold, Stayed in a cottage at that temp and the propane tanks froze up which stopped the furnace working and a neighbouring cottager could not start their car.
We recently purchased an older but decent 34 ft Class A motorhome (460 gas V8). Gets a whopping (measured) 8.65 miles per imperial gallon. It's winterized and in storage at the moment, but we've already determined that it will need not one but two diesel heaters - not only for those few nights in southern Alberta that see temps way down in the minus-M.F. range, but also in case one of those heaters crap out on us. (these heaters also provide the advantage of fabri-cobbling heat exchangers to use exhaust heat to keep the basement from freezing. Definite CO warning systems required).
We of course also have the generator and propane furnace as an additional backup. One thing we will certainly want is a portable power station of at least 2000 watt-hours' capacity (Bluetti? EcoFlow? Anker?) with the LiFeO4 (Lithium-iron-phosphate) battery - all the better for not only long life/several thousand charge cycles but also more stable than lithium-ion from a thermal runaway risk perspective.
Great tips friend stay safe outdoors
Good stuff. Doing my first winter this year in Central alberta in my trailer.
minus 40 C in central Canada is quite rare. Here in northern Ontario you might get one night down to -40 but usually the lows at night are -20 to -25. Winters are getting milder.
In central Alberta every year you get a week or to at those temps. I grew up in northwestern ontario. I remember we would get more of those days than they get now in northwestern ontario.
The BEST way to survive a REAL Canadian Winter in a van or RV is to have that van or RV parked in Florida.
Great video do appreciate your videos thanks brother!!!
I've never seen the heat magnet before. That's a great piece of equipment for lots of application.
This is helpful. Im in ontario but potentially living in a camper trailer. I will have a wood stove, but that doesnt hellp water lines etc
Another very informative video. Thanks
Thank you for the very useful and valuable honest information you presented! I'm doing a cross Canada trip East-West bound with my family, ending up in BC somewhere. Will try to avoid those crazy winter temperatures. Most of our journey is planned from March onwards and hopefully all we will have to deal with is the rainy weather you mentioned in Southern BC.
Redundancy of all systems to ensure heat 24/7. I find catalytic heat helps keep temp above zero C to support other heat systems.
After spending 9 years in Washington state, I realized I need and prefer the Sun than cold and snow. Snows fun for a few days but I’d rather be in shorts and a tank top. But I’m from Hawaii so guess I’m biased. Love your beautiful scenery of the snow but I’ll enjoy via TH-cam.
Yep I agree with the vancouver thing I live near the kawarthas. They have no idea how cold it is...
Hello Kevin i have watched a lot of van life videos forresty forrest being one and all give sound advice of how to survive the winter yes always have a plan B many thanks i don,t think ever had anything below minus 10 in the UK good luck
Get a Bigfoot truck camper! Made for Canadian winters, insulated to minus 20, but could sustain much more if you didnt use the water system. Spent two winters our on Vancouver Island ( plugged in and stationary) and was always toasty warm.
Watching your video I noticed your truck sways when you turn into the gas station. I had a f250 and northern lite 8’11 I used supersprings suspension best choice I ever made no Sway no movement
You are correct about Van Isl. It does rain along but we get very strong gale force winds it the winter months. 😅 It would rock and hope not roll your campers.😊
Thanks for the info, good video, from ur neighbour in norther bc
Propane goes from a gas to a liquid at a certain temp. I have been listening to your videos this morning since been looking at some slide in campers for back woods and traveling. If space permits for a diesel heater depends where you can mount it if you run your duct through the space your batteries are it'll heat that space with just just radiant heat coming off the vent tube(s) helping keeping your batteries from freezing.
The issues you had in previous with your engine heater, could be low voltage or also when it gets really cold start up may take a few tries to get it fired up. It's a issue I have ran into with 2 of my diesel heaters, 1 is used in my portable ice shack and the other I heat the porch of the house year round non insulated and windows on 3 sides and drafts and those -30c days takes a few tries to fire up but it's running full out. I'm in winnipeg so we get the same type of cold you guys get except ours is probably drier but not positive on that. More videos to get through today !
I appreciate your honesty thanks
Wow. There are so many new rvlife videos, and most of you only have a year of experience. I've been doing rvlife vanlife for 20 years.
Lots of us have wood heat on campers, no problems
depends where you are on Vancouver Island and when. I have lived in 3 provinces and experienced the cold working outdoors. Here on the Island we have many year round glaciers and snow flies whenever mother nature feels it is time. all 4 seasons usually include rain.
I live in the states, i truck camp to mtb. I usually have to stay 1 night of cold, then i head south. It might freeze at night, but nothing freezes. Buddy heater works for me, but i can see where it wouldnt there.
Hey you coming back? I really enjoy your videos!
If you are in a pull behind travel trailer or 5th wheel try to put trailer skirt around the bottom of the trailer put heater under the trailer to keep the pipes from freezing I mainly heated with wood but I had propane for night time when the fire would die you could use electric space heater if you have enough electricity always have backup heat and electric
tack för en bra video. jag bor i sverge och hadde med mig husbilen i norra sverge 43 minus var det i 14 dagar, folk fattar inte vad kyla gör. mvh Angus
Great information brudah
They say the comments help your searchability.
Winter is relatively easy compared to the middle of summer. I can warm up my van on battery power. I cannot easily cool it.
I started with a diesel heater stye heater that ran on gasoline from the van's tank. I had two of them and they just were not reliable. Maybe a really old VW Beatle heater could be reliable.
I finally ended up with a Chinese Diesel heater. I have three of them. If a heater stops. I just replace the heater with one off the shelf. Then deal with the failed heater.
I have the afterburner controller.
I insulated the hell out of the living area. 5 inches of foam in the roof and 3 inches in the walls.
I can warm up the living area with the vehicle's heater and it stays OK for about 6 hours in minus 20 C. (Backup if a heater fails)
I have bifold insulated doors dividing the cab from the living area.
The diesel fuel tank is inside a box that is separated but inside and heated by the living area.
The clean as well as the waste water tanks are inside the living area.
It is a gasoline powered engine. Which is easier to start in the cold than Diesel.
I am in central and Southern Ontario, so not crazy cold, but not Vancouver Island. I have never experienced temps too cold to be comfy.
I charge 400AH of Lifepo off the engine alternator. (In that box separated from the living area but insulated and warmed by the living area)
Things I should do:
I can seal the cab off better which will help in the summer too,
I can seal between the floor planks which will help.
I can insulate the back doors better.
All in all. I would say do not under estimate just how shitty it can be. Everything that can freeze, will if you do not do something to stop it from freezing. Insulation is your friend.
Awesome video very well done great job 🛠️🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦
With all due respect, a badass four-season Canadian-made fiberglass truck camper such as a Northern Lite is not even close to in comparison of that of a van or an RV. But thanks for sharing practical advice on how to, in general, survive in cold winter conditions
propane have a boiling point of -42. but already at about 20, the boil is so low that it can get problematic to support a heater or a stove. as a side effect of the boiling it takes up heat and gets colder, which doesn't really help things.
Good video sir.
This will be All of America soon...I do it full time... It's not so bad... It's different.... and it's better than the streets anyday...
👍 Looks Kewl . . . Stay Warm 😉🤛
Go for small wood stove nice dry heat
propane boils between 0f and 0c.
propane tanks exist in CA & TX, you won't over pressure it at 200 watts.
Hi Kevin, great information mate X X X
I was slept in a SUV under minus -40 degree in Arctic Circle without heat for about a month.
I plug my EV in and check into a hotel at -40 it then went down to -58C. That was cold. -78C wind chill.
This is the only reason I’m not living in a van. Canadian winters are brutal 🥶
Hi I just found your channel ❤❤I’m in Alberta😂😂
great video😀
Totally agree don't go walking in the backcountry, Bigfoot will find you and eat you😮
always, always carry some Jack Links beef jerky to toss and save your butt.👍
Kevin can I ask you couple of questions. I know nothing about surviving below 9 degrees. I slept 33 days in a row 2022 lows were 9 overnight. Things for me now are bad and be living in my minivan May1st paid rent for April. Heres my 3 question if youve time :
Im in a van more or less a dodge caravan. I removed the front seat moving to BC and living in the van. When it reacches -4 -2 -6 in and around October / November I was going to do one of 3 things to survive.
- option 1 buddy heater with my passenger seat removed I can build metal cage for the heater to sit and never spill setting me and the van on fire. Like a 4 wall metal protector and buy minoxide alarm
option 2 - Hit camping store and with my wooden built bed just buy -40 mummy sleeping bag wear balaclava over my face so sleep only nostrils eyes exsposed.
option 3 - this option is nuts the mini stove where I cut a hole in roof of van and have the heat pipe pop out roof and burn wood.
From these options I feel BC only reaches -10 at worst and option 2 just splurging on blankets -40 quilts sleeping bags with me also wearing long johns may be enough no flames no buddy heaters running. I do not have a clue or help for installing diesel so thats out as is propane.
Be honest am I off my head with my 3 options or will I experience a slow death. This is worst night over entire winter there -10. I appreciate any input you can send my way.. Thanks Kev.
My only worry with the buddy heater is the amount of moisture so you will need to crack some windows and make sure you have an alarm, a good sleeping bag would most likely be a good way to accompany the buddy heater but I don’t know if a wood stove would be worth it when you have to stoke it all night and you might get way too hot in a minivan with that
i would likely go with a -40C sleeping bag so your option 2. In -10 that won't be fun but probably the most doable. You can also buy those heated blankets. Maybe one of those blankets under the sleeping bag may help with keeping the heat in the bag. I see so many videos with people roughing it in winter but Canadian winters are a whole other ball game. It is life or death. Even in your home when we've had -48 and the furnace quits in the house. It drops fast!
Have a quality diesel heater fitted they are designed to operate in -40*c they can and should use kerosene in low temperatures fuel usage is low 4-5 hrs per litre on low about half that on high, the digital motor in these uses less energy than the normal motor in the cheap Chinese heaters so uses less of your battery power. Do some research on line it might be useful to you. 👍🏻🇬🇧
Aside from keeping warm what do you do if you can't even walk outside. Being couped up like that for 5-7 months would surely drive me insane. BTW, I live in Alberta, too 🤣
Great info was wondering if you run your hot water heater in those temps. Despite heated basement in my Bigfoot I am always worried about the hot water heater freezing up in extreme cold temps so usually bypass it and empty it.
Do you keep in working all winter? Must use a bunch of propane in those temps but nice to have a running system. We can't do that up in Alaska because there are no dump stations open in winter months.
Unless it gets beyond -30 I keep water on, dump stations can be a challenge but I have been able to find them with some effort or going to a campground with full hook ups for a night
Sooo...the best way to survive a Canadian winter is to not spend it in Canada.
That's bout right.
Sissy
@@ShayneCaesarlol
Diesel air heater fixes everything
Coiuh. 🙏🏾😛
I leave my cabinets open a crack to the heat can get in there and shits not freezing
Can you also insulate the inside of your propane compartment door? I see that it's vented, so maybe not.
To an extent I guess, you would want still some venting
Appreciate this, lots of good info. One question though... is your camper just factory insulated or did you upgrade it?
northern lites are factory insulated, some better than others in this video showed my 1998 9-6 classic and the insulation was good but lacked in certain places mostly cause they weren't classified as 4 season until 2006. my current 2001 10-2000 is a northern series and it has insulation everywhere the 9-6 lacked, also have dual pane windows where my 9-6 did not.
@KevinWaldsAdventures
Good to know... I'm in the process of gutting a retired field ambulance truck camper, with plans on moving in full-time here in Calgary once I'm done.
I was going to get it sprayed with closed cell foam. But to save money, I'm going with closed 2 & 3" closed cell foam boards.
What about getting a parkjng spot in an underground garage?
Why don't you use a battery blanket on the propane tank? That pan heater is way to hot for those tanks if you have a leak you could be in trouble.
furnace in the camper does it throw flames on the outside exhaust 🎉🎉
By the way that time was 5 minus very easy to check 😊😊
I need an explanation as to why the plastic lights on all these older RVs turns yellow
Is this in whitecourt alberta?
What I don't like about your truck is that if Something happens At Night You can't drive away ..Youre STUCK... I have a Box Truck I can go from my living space to the Stering wheel in 2 sec... Plus I tie the doors down if someone tries to open doors he can't he'd have to smash stuff...
I heat my home with propane in northern Alberta, if it gels at minus 44 degrees celsius (or Fahrenheit, its all the same at 40 below) you can throw a pail 🪣 of water 🌊 on the tank, its a short term solution, but can help. Otherwise, tarp over the tank, bank it up with snow ❄️, and put a 100 watt incandescent light bulb 💡 under it(such as a trouble light) keeps a 500 gallon propane tank operational. So...this could be difficult for a camper, but ya a source of heat to midly heat the propane tank is a must. Propane is dirty fuel ⛽ ive froze off at -42 have a secondary source of heat.
Don’t underestimate the Sasquatch 😵💫🦶🏿
Hey Mate, We are a family from New Zealand, we are just researching the possibilities of a year travelling in Canada. Whats the best option for securing an RV? Hire? buy and then sell? Are their private personal rental options? I'm sure like NZ there are loads pitched to take all the tourists money, but seeing if you could offer an advice?
if doing a year I would suggest buying ad selling, there are rentals but they would cost a lot for an entire year lol
Rental becomes pricey if you’re looking for something for an extended length of time.
The rental is certainly cheaper than hotels on a per night comparison and the rv comes “x” number of kilometres per day included. However, if you exceed that mileage, the additional cost per kilometre adds up really quick and may make renting a vehicle and staying in hotels a cheaper option.
You may want to check out CanadaDream RV rental and google some other places like that.
This place is about a 90 minutes from where I live. $1,600 Cdn a week and includes 100 kilometres a day. Over that is 30 cents a kilometre. Canada is huge so a two weeks could get you from the middle of Canada to the west coast and back and it’s about 7,000 kilometres total. You would be on the hook for 5,600 kilometres at 30 cents per.
And gas mileage is about 10 miles per gallon. I know because I rented and Ra from this place before.
www.sunvalleyrv.com/rent-a-make--rentals
is -40c like 30F? :P
This info is GOLD ------------SV
will this work for Kia Souls too?
If you put a diesel heater or better yet a gas heater you could definitely keep that small space warm! Maybe also get some nice thick window covers too!
i just use my remote startt to heat it up nbut its in seattle
@@KevinWaldsAdventures
Did it in a toyota matrix. You def can
I moved to the tropics as soon as I was able. If it’s not between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, I don’t go there. I grew up in Chicago. My fondest wish is to never see another snowflake in real life as long as I live.
Well Kevin done Kevin Thank you for the tips. (From Montana US.)
Very good youtube video! sir.