this may sound strange but I am watching this because her pronunciation of English is very clear and easy to understand to me. I am a non-native English user from Korea.
She mentioned Medford (I assume Oregon) growing up in the Pacific Northwest I have heard numerous times that our “English accent” is one of the clearest and most like written English. I’m not sure if this is proven of how a made up language could be clearest but maybe this is a good litmus test
Sr L 32 others ... same boat. God Bless America (because we need it.) Be afraid, there's a recession coming. EDIT Also maybe a war we didnt need. Actually dont be afraid! balance being prepared with enjoying because we only have now.
I can’t believe all the snarky comments on here. Carolyn’s motto is Be Happy, Be Free, Be Kind....... that being said, I say if you can’t be kind, be happy and go free yourself That being said Carolyn, love your videos and your happiness is contagious. I so admire you for living your life your way
@managing today I only see the one above about ‘shabby’ now. I did write this a year ago and would only have made the comment had there been such remarks. Perhaps they were taken down. Please just notice the good part of my comment
Make sure to tilt your blinds UP when you close them. Cold air naturally descends, so it will come into your living space if your blinds are tilted down. Tilting them UP will help keep cold air out.
On the floors in my 1971 Shasta camper I bought those puzzle fitting rubber mats for exercise equiptment. And did my floors all throughout by fitting them and trimming them to fit with a pair of scissors. I did it wall to wall, and I could walk on my floors in winter barefoot. Insulated the floors really good and it also looked really good also.....buy a terra cotta flower pot to fit over one of your stove burners. Place it upside down on a burner after it is lit and adjusted to a comfort zone you like and walla, a small heater. You can adjust the heat by using the burner when lit low med , and you can also use it on high . But I suggest only for about half an hour on high, dont want the pot to crack. You sister are doing great. Be safe out there pleas.
I would get a job and rent an apartment if I didn't own my house and live like civilized folk..hell homeless in shelters live better then this..at least they have a warm bed and are not breaking the law or making towns crack down on use vacationers for stopping to take a break from driving and hassling us to convince them we aren't squatting..
live on a 43 foot Yacht with a 156 pound timber wolf, named Madison. She is much cleaner, (and smarter) than anyone I know. The more people I meet, the more I like canines.
We spent $50 on a roll of the silver bubble insulation and cut it to the size of windows and it works great for both keeping cold out and keeping heat out during summer.
How well would the silver bubble insulation work on a newer metal over wood-frame 8' x 16' shed?, which I use for my weights and tinkering with my bike? Gets hot and cold in there about 1/3 of the time I use it. I don't want to use gloves with weights, due to the cold.
@@kimberlyquintanilla5493 silver bubble insulation called refexit is excellent but would block all the light so regular plastic bubble wrap is great for windows.
@@williamthompson9261 reflexit is excellent for your application. You can even double it for higher rating. I plan to use it when I do a shed to house even under the floor to I dilate and keep out mice. Saw it on TH-cam@ Boss of the Swamp in his cabin build.
I've worked my butt off raised four kids on my own and took care of people with Alzheimer's and other problems for over 16 year's and have been though alot in life and always thought about doing what ur doing right now I think no I know you have to be a strong person to over come over everything life throws at you so thank you for sharing your life story it is really helpful I know what I want now I have a very bad heart condition it's part of the reasons why I want to do this I've always said I wanted to do it and very soon I'll be able to do thank you and may god continue to bless you
I consider people like you the angels of the world. Sometimes the difficult things wear a person down, and they do damage to self esteem and personal dignity. But please know that to people like me, you are better than royalty or celebrity. You are the very highest level that a human being can achieve. So I hope that you feel that you have accomplished tremendous things, and are very proud of them. God Bless you for all that you have done.
I remember watching this video 7 years ago. I love your positive energy! Carolyn this video was what inspired me to go fulltime. You still continue to inspire me!!!
I have lived in campers for the past 6 years because of work in Saskatchewan. It gets bitter cold here in winter months, like today -26 with the wind chill and it gets much worse. I have lived in this thing when it has gotten below -50 with the wind. For the first two years I used propane, and electric heat. I hated the cost of the electric and propane, and the moisture from propane was insane, so I removed my cooking stove, and built a heavy duty wood burning stove, and piped it out the side. Now I heat for free, and stays very hot even during the coldest nights here. When it gets to hot, I open a vent or a door and cool it down. I use the range to move the heat around. I also use wind generation to harvest power, and banks of batteries to store the power. Built the wind generator myself, and it works awesome. I love living this way, and probably always will live like this, and now many people are doing the very same thing, and the ones that are not, want to do the very same thing.
absolutely bubble wrap works great I do it on my house and I hate the house with the fireplace only we don't even turn on the furnace so I'm going to do the same to our RV we have a bounder 40 ft 2000
I do all of this boon-docking in MN during the middle of winter, just some added info that might help some people out, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH SNOW: pile the snow along the bottom of the RV/Camper/vehicle so the wind isn’t blowing up from under :) helps me a ton!
I'm a full-time RVer and I live in Canada. The winter temperatures we experience are a tad cooler than those you mention. I've lived comfortably for months of below zero temperatures that sometimes reach nearly 40F below. But I do have my furnace working properly - most of the time. Here are some tips for you: 1) If you must use a propane heater indoors, put it on top of your stove so as to take advantage of the stove-hood ventilation. 2) All your water lines to the kitchen run through the lower kitchen cabinets. Leave the cabinet doors open overnight so warm air from the cabin will keep those lines from freezing. 3) Ordinary automotive anti-freeze ( two cups per 20 gallon capacity) will keep your waste tanks from freezing at the temperatures your describe. 4) Your fresh water tank should be ¾ full..... NOT ¼ full. A quarter full tank will freeze loooong before a ¾ tank will. (A puddle freezes before a pond). Water only expands 9% as it freezes; you don't need much expansion space. 5) Pay attention to the comment here by Bobby Baldeagle. You MUST drain your pump as well as your lines. You can burn it out in as little as a few seconds if you turn it on when it has ice it. (how do I know that?!...... Not telling.....$130 for a new one.) 6) NEVER block your exit door like that. In case of a fire you'll never get over the dog (who will get excited) and with all that stuff on the floor...... Do you taste good when well done? Happy RVing to you!
Thanks for this. Years ago, in the lowest place in my life, I wanted to turn my back on the world and live on a shoestring in an RV. If there had been your videos, I might have done it. Fortunately, the VA rescued me, and with less stress I realized that RV life would have made me worse, not better. I love Winnemucca, and I'm glad there's no Starbucks there! Pretty good cafe though. Also a damn good man there dedicated to helping veterans and the young boys who often go astray in that desert place. Thanks and I wish you luck.
I wish I had this when I lived in my 34 foot Southwind, as I lived for 14 years in the old wreck! I never did half of what you do now. I did have a full sized Mr Buddy similar to yours and I survived, BARELY! I finally had to junk the old wreck as she was falling apart at the seams & I am now in an apartment, warm all winter, but no more travelling, but now I read about your travels & others and that satisfies my wanderlust. Thank you for your travels.
Buy and install 3M window kits around the windows before hanging insulated drapes. It fits behind the blinds, easy to install, very reasonable prices. Really helps keep the drafts down to almost nothing.styrofoam cut to fit the floor under large area rug will help keep the floor warm or at least not bitter cold. See you have a microwave...make a small bag(a sock will do in a pinch) fill with white rice about 2/3 full.....heat in mic for 2 min.....these little cozy will keep you warm for hours.
We live in a 5th wheel. One thing we do is get a roll of bubble wrap, it’s pretty cheap, and put it up on the windows! It makes a huge difference. Also take the same bubble wrap and cram it in any vents on the ceiling. Good luck everyone. Also we use the propane oven for heat! It gets really warm!
I've gone from listening to fear-mongering Alex Jones since January of 2020, thinking everyone is hunkered down at home, til' last week, when I started binge-watching Your amazing travel channel. I can't wait to retire & live a similar lifestyle. May God continue to richly bless You & Your beautiful dog !! @6:55
Hi Carolyn, good video, two suggestions... 1. You might consider making your window insulation process easier by cutting some aluminum window insulation to the size of your windows and door and then using velcro tabs at the corners. One side for the RV walls, the other for the insulation panel. That way its easy on and easy off in minutes. Like the idea of throw rugs for the floor. You might also consider a carpet remnant that you can cut around your cabinetry and bed and use with two way tape. If it gets dirty just toss out and replace but you'll have better insulation on the floor. 2. Also I guess you realize that having a 20 Gal LP tank inside your RV when you're using it is highly illegal. You risk a catastrophic explosion. When its in use it must be outside. Your Big Buddy heater is a great way to heat the RV. Also you need a LP alarm near your bedroom just in case. You did mention that you have a CO2 alarm, perfect. Take care out there.
Rick - 1. Excellent tip. about the aluminum and the carpet remnants! Brilliant! 2. Thanks for the advice about the tank.. will run it outside. thanks! I appreciate your great advice! - Carolyn
In my mobile home I use blankets to insulate my windows. You would be surprised at how low my electric bill is. In winter I open my curtains so the sun can heat me my home in the day and close when sun goes down. You can do all sorts of things to save on your heating and cooling bill.
Hey Carolyn, I learned a few years ago that if you slant your blinds toward the window it helps to keep the cold air from flowing in. When they are slanted toward the room the cold air does literally pour through them. Give it a try. I'm loving your video. I'm getting great ideas for my van!
Hi Carolyn, So my wife and I were full-timers in a 1996 35 foot Class A Allegro Bay Motor home. We lived in it for a little over 5 years. Health issues made us switch back to a house. So I have a couple of suggestions for you. There are these grow mats that come in various sizes. I had a couple of 9 x 12 mats that sat on the freshwater and black water tanks. They only use 20 watts of power each and generate 70 degrees of heat which going up against really cold temps never let my tanks get colder than 39 degrees. Now to power them, at Harbor Freight for $19.95 I got a Solar battery charger which produced enough power to run the mats. So that's one suggestion. Another suggestion is to go behind Best buy or some electronic store and find a chunk of styrofoam that fits the space between the door and floor and then go behind a carpet store and find a scrap of foam rubber and a bit of carpet and glue the foam block to the foam rubber and the carpet scrap to the other side of the foam rubber . If you are dry camping and can have a campfire get a metal bucket and fill it with large flat river rock and place the bucket and the rock really close to the fire. The rocks will absorb a lot of the heat, Then bring the bucket inside and set it on the stove the rocks will radiate heat for about 8 to 10 hours. Keeping you nice and toasty. Last but not least calk all the walls inside the house at the floor. Well, that will keep you busy and a lot warmer.
Also, word of caution, do not put rocks directly in the fire or they can explode. But yes, the hot rocks really help. I have used them while tent camping in cold weather. I put them inside a towel inside my sleeping bag. Sadly they actually burned a hole in the towel which shocked me because they were not on fire when i put them in but live and learn. I stayed toasty warm that night whereas the night before I FROZE! I loved those rocks.
Wow you have lots of knowledge. I live in a tiny apt that's cold. the windows are bad. I've got thermal curtains and will put plastic on the windows soon. So I could put that pink Styrofoam on some windows and door to help keep warm?
One of the great joys of RVing is to come back to it after a day of adventuring to a COMFORTABLE setting where one can get clean, fed and sleep. This video is eloquent testimony of the inconvenience and suffering RV owners are subjected to when trying to survive routine temperature extremes. The only alternative is the expense of "winterizing" and losing its use for months. Nearly the entire RV industry is at fault. All of the special accommodations outlined here are easy to incorporate into an RV when it is being designed and built. Until the public demands a better product, fiascos like this will be the rule.
I have done replaced my all-in-one power unit (breaker box, fuse panel, DC converter) myself ($600 in parts). That was last winter. And I am currently replacing my furnace. I bought a new one that is 5,000btu larger (35,000btu). Now I have to add 2 more 4" round flex ducts. My bathroom didn't have heat, nor did my cargo room. That will be remedied shortly. I am $610 deep so far. (That is only because I bought a $100 multimeter.) I predict another $100ish to finish it. But everything I do in my camper is self repaired AND upgraded. I am too poor to hire a service guy. All my power unit needs to be a 50amp service now, is the 50amp shore cord. The rest is done. But I am backwards compatible to with the way I designed it. I can still power both combined legs on one 30amp outlet. Or I can even still run it on a 15amp household receptacle. A 50amp box is actually dual 50amp breakers. Where as a 30amp box, is a single 30amp breaker. But my power unit is technically a dual 30amp service. I run two 30amp mains on a 50amp shore cord when I get one bought. But electricity just comes naturally to me (AC or DC) and I am a self taught electrician that does everything by the code book. ELECTRICITY CAN KILL YOU!!! DON'T DO THAT KIND OF WORK UNLESS YOU "FULLY" KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!
I live in a bus. I used either a Mr. Buddy Propane heater, or my wood burning cast iron stove. Which I have actually had a small wood burning stove in an small RV before. Just insulate the bottom legs with bricks, and pipe out through the roof hatch
i'M DEFINITLY going to add insulation in my cabinets. It would be worth the time to do it. Rv's need all the extra insulation they can get! I'm a first timer and cant believe how cold RV's get in winter time!! And I can also feel some rooms are colder than others. But the Buddy heaters are very good heat!! And so are electric blankets in bed 😁👍 Mine doesnt seem to use much electricity at all!!
Get spray insulating foam to spray around cracks also you can put clear insulating plastic to stop cold from creeping in at Windows. All this stuff can be had at a improvement home store. Use bedroom wool slippers when inside.
I was going to tell her some of the same things you talked about as well. The foam would help where that battery is at. Where the wires come in for her. Maybe even some thin foam sheets around and under it as well. You can just cut them to fit around it to help keep the cold out of that one spot.
In past years I've owned four RV's: a class A, two Class C's, and finally a Clasd B. I found that by permanently installing a catalytic heater at floor level the vehicle stays warm. I agree with covering the windows to insulate them. In the Class C and B, simply blocking the driver compartment by hanging a blanket across the opening makes a big difference. A catalytic heater uses very little propane and produces radiant heat to warm up objects it's facing. I never used the built-in furnace because the fan motor always ran the battery down.
Very informative. I have dry camped in Illinois in the winter before (in the snow) in my 38' Class A with 2 children and a dog. We were warm and toasty with our propane heater.
Something most people do not know, is that, propane does NOT produce carbon monoxide, but instead, carbon dioxide, which is heavier than air, and will sink to the floor. This is why propane powered vehicles are used in warehouses. I have lived in RV's for over 25 years, and not had any serious issues. In winter, I insulate my windows with bubble wrap, which keeps the heat in, but also lets light in, without sacrificing your privacy. I am a stationary engineer, with a propane certification.
Thank you Terry! That makes perfect sense because the instructions for the sensor tell us to install it near the floor. I sleep on the bed and sit in the chairs, the only time I'm near the floor is if I dropped something and it rolled out of sight :) Thanks again!!
I used to work weatherizing homes and the best thing to do is to use caulking to seal your cracks especially around the windows even if you have to caulk them shut, the caulking does peel off later, the clear is best for peeling off caulk along your floors especially outside walls you'll definitely feel the difference
I live in North Pole Alaska. I have seen the weather down to -65 F and grew up in Alaska in a trailer house built in the lower 48 during the 60s. Very cold! The padding and carpet does add a lot of insulating value. As does quilts over windows and doors. The plastic window coverings adhered with the included double stick tape creates an air pocket that insulates. We open the sink cabinet doors to put more hot air to that area when it is extra cold outside, simple to do and it helps. Good luck from the land of the midnight sun and winter midday moon :)
I can install a woodstove in a trailer or RV with a chimney and you will love it. It can heat up an RV to 90 degrees F and outdoors it can be minus 35F
it would be hard to make a video about it.... because I don't have an RV or trailer to work with... but I've done it before for myself and lots of my customers.... "I'm the chimney guy"... which means I rebuild chimneys and I install woodstoves too, for the past 20 years... I love the work!
there are a lot of small stoves that are available from Finland that I've purchased here in Canada they are stainless steel no problem to install and a 4 inch circular vent is all that's needed to work for the chimney... but with a wood stove in an rv or trailer you need to open a window a crack, for extra oxygen so the fire doesn't go out and some decent hardwood
Just a note the Buddy Heater does have a CO-2 monitor that will shut itself down. One problem is the propane tank inside is not a good idea. The valve can leak. I use the same heater all the time but I do put the gas outside via a wire/ hose trap door on the side of the camper. Nice video just watch the gas. Best you.
Carolyn's RV Life i use a big buddy propane heater in my 03 32 ft travel trailer. It works amazing. as always propane heaters indoor or outdoor produces moisture and uses oxygen. I also use a 40 quart dehumidifier and keep a window cracked. I've gotten home to 15° and in no time I'm in shorts!!!!
Mr.Buddy is the man!Lol.Love that guy.Kept me warm in my truck all winter and I'm still alive.He didn't kill me and has safety features so it doesn't kill you.Worth its weight in gold.
Hi Carolyn, I'm enjoying your video series. I just moved into my Silver Eagle Class A and will be hitting the road very soon with my Harley hauler in tow. I am in upstate NY right now and have already seen minus16 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm lucky to have a working furnace, and when I heard you "drenched your furnace in WD40", I wanted to let you know that WD is not a lubricant, it will actually wash away lubricant and leave your bearings dry. You could try an actual lubricant, go to the hardware store and ask the smartest looking employee and I'm sure you will be directed to the right stuff... Maybe I'll see you on the road somewhere! Be safe, be happy, be yourself,...Garry
Great job, I have lived in several RVs until I got tired of being alone, I had them on a shop yard where I worked but whenever I visited my family I had so much fun I eventually moved with them, but I really loved the freedom and peace and quiet!
You do many good things, but may I make a suggestion? I live in a 46' fifth wheel trailer. What I did is I got 5 cast iron pans from five, and dime shops. I stack them all together, and set them on the burner on the stove. I only put it on low, and those cast pans heat up, and the heat that comes from them is incredible. Also when you turn the fire off the pans stay hot for a long time.
when I went hunting in my dads 23 foot 5th wheel it had one of them dumb furnace with a fan, that kill the battery's in one night, we set the oven to 300F and stuck a fork in the door to keep it open just a crack and it kept use taste at -10
Great video and tips, Carolyn. Here's a tip I've used before. Get bubble wrap and cut it to fit the window panes of a window, fill a spray bottle with water and put a couple of drops of dish soap then mist the windows and place the bubble wrap on the glass. It suctions right on and stays put. Then when you want to remove it, it comes right off. Then repeat the steps when you want it back up again. I reused mine a couple of winters. Happy trails!
+Jacki Sweetwood "put a couple of drops of dish soap then mist the windows and place the bubble wrap on the glass. It suctions right on and stays put. Then when you want to remove it, it comes right off. Then repeat the steps when you want it back up again. I reused mine a couple of winters. Happy trails!"
My Mr. Buddy would not relight at 2:00 AM because of lack of ventilation. It was 20 degrees and I was freezing. The next night I left the window open a crack and it worked fine.
The bathroom toilet can also be filled with antifreeze for plumbing, sold at a hardware store. Make sure it says -50 degrees F and it will keep the toilet from freezing. This year I went to Home Depot and got some white, 4ft long by 2 feet wide insulation. 6 come in the package, and I put them in my windows through the 2020-21 winter. I also got some plywood and painted it 2 times, both sides, (2ft by 4ft long plywood) and I laid them up against the base of the bottom of my PleasureWay van to help keep the wind and snow from getting under the van. The 12 pieces of plywood helps so much better and can be put under the van storage and can insulate against the heat in summer too.(I live in Canada, so I cope with ice and snow).
Hi Carolyn! Your post was a godsend! I am full-timing currently due to a move from one city to another, and heading where it is colder (LA to SFO) so very worried about how to keep warm. I bought solar panels but not installed yet. House furnace is a pain, and like you said, a huge drain on battery, generator, gas, and propane. Plus it overheats the RV. I need a steady small source of heat that can be controlled with a thermostat. The little Buddy heater looks just right! I think if I keep a window slightly open, that should do it. Its very heartening to know that you can camp even in snow, your post gave me a huge morale boost, thank you!! Now, to pass you some of my tips... I just installed wood flooring and ripped out old carpet. What I used as underlayment is called Silent Silver (or Silent Blue) from Amazon. 1/8" thick. You can get thicker versions. It cuts down road noise, insulates, is a moisture barrier, and gives cushioning to wood floor. Underlayment is the key. You can also slip this into door panels, walls, around battery box (leave holes open) and inside exterior storage areas to cut down noise, and insulate. From Fabric.com, I bought a rubber blackout cloth called Roclon Blackout Cloth. Mine is white. I made curtains for every window, that were lined with rubber lining to block out light and keep heat in. My curtain tracks were from IKEA, and I used drapery pin hooks (also IKEA) with shirring tape. I also bought Reflectix from Amazon, which is a bubble wrap with foil on both sides, same as your windshield folding shades. For $50 you get a large roll that will do all the windows on 3 RVs. Just cut out window shape, and wedge into window frame. If there is not enough traction, use Velcro. Reflectix + Lined Curtains keep you warm!
Thanks for sharing about the Mr. Buddy. I live in my horse trailer and use the same heater with the one pound tanks and don’t run it at night. Recently bought the hose attachment and filter but was concerned about using the big propane tank inside. Next winter I will feel more comfortable knowing it is safe.
I tried to buy some used a long time ago and it was impossible. Moving company's said that they keep using until they literally are falling apart. New are much to expensive in Ontario. I'm going to be on the outlook for alternative sources now. Everybody should do the same and report back here what they find.
Have you tried putting cardboard on your floors? It really makes a difference...we found fridge boxes at a local furniture store and covered all the floors in our RV. Used duct tape on all seams.....if any of the cardboard gets wet simply replace those pieces. We also use a free standing propane heater in our RV and ALWAYS keep a windows cracked in kitchen & bedroom.
Lyn Lewis Lady, I bought carpet from those big rolls at Lowe’s, cut it to size. It cost me $ 28.- for the whole thing .I can take it up to clean and I really do not have to worry about it getting whet.... If you can not afford that, then you should not spend a winter up north.
We live in northern Canada...our floors get wet due to snowy boots. The cardboard is insulation under the throw rugs.. thought you would appreciate the info.. having cardboard under the carpets kept our floors toasty warm..much warmer then just the carpet .
Lived in my car for a whole winter in Colorado a few years back when I was homeless. Before that I never panhandled and contrary to belief in a mid sized city at least here people are pretty generous. It was was always lower to middle class people that helped me out. Not once did I ever see someone in a Mercedes give me even a dollar. To save money I lived and slept in my car most nights. I'd find cardboard at the back of restaurants like mcdonalds and cut outlines so they would fit snuggly in all my windows. I would then take a large metal coffee can, buy a bunch of those cheap small candles, and put them inside the can and light it. I also used lots of blankets. Some nights when it got really bad like 20 bellow I'd have to turn my engine on for a few minutes but for the most part I was able to sleep pretty warm. As far as places go I would usually just park at a walmart as far out of the way as possible and never got bothered once. It wasn't pleasant though being 6 foot 2 inches tall but long story short had it not been for people helping me out I would have probably froze to death. Some people would drive by and yell things like "get a job" not knowing how moronic their statements where. If someone is homeless in the middle of winter getting a job doesn't fix everything. Most of the time when you get a job you have to wait almost 2 weeks if your lucky but most of the time 3 to 4 weeks to even get your paycheck. That isn't going to keep you warm or fed in the meantime. Long story short I eventually had enough saved up to move into a place and get a job. It was definitely an experience but I wouldn't want to ever do it again.
Isn't thatvtrue? Who do u think gives during weather disaster? US . I would bet going by how many -not how much tl -we who know poverty are the winners. I'm glad it was only that 1 Winter. Good 4 u.
@Gayle Elizabeth I am really glad to read this! If only there were more people like you!! You know I use to think like your friends (when I was younger) But you have made such a valid point!
I lived in a 24-foot RV for several years in Oklahoma and it gets cold and I just heated with my burner on my cook stove it was propane I did use a little fan to circulate the air I'm still here hadn't died yet
Just remember this. Cold doesn't travel, heat does. Cold is not a thing, but the absence of a thing, namely heat. The distinction actually does make a difference. Your desire is to hold as much heat inside your RV since the natural state is for hot objects to lose that heat to a less energetic environment. Now, heat loss comes from convection (moving air), conduction (contact), and radiation. You are taking good steps towards blocking convection, just remember hot air rises and cold air sinks. Insulating your floors would be a good idea since they will be cooling off your interior space by conduction. You can also use cheap $1 mylar space blankets (silver side in) to cover those windows. All in all, from a survival standpoint you are on the right track.
hi. can I advise you to buy roof insulation on a roll like the one u use at the front and back of your van. but what we did was we put velcro on the wall and on the insulation and it made a very tight seal I also sewed the blanket fabric on to the insulation. also we made a yacht stove/heater out of flower pots it's amazing there is videos on line how to make it. you use tea lights in it. all the best.
Love your video. My husband and I lived in our RV. In Denver for 9 years . We have been through it All. I don't know if you know but to keep your potty from freezing and becoming a huge turd sickle use I ce melt and Ridex right down the toiledt in the potty tank. We also live
Peninsula Glass in Vancouver Washington makes outstanding double-pane RV windows, which you can order and install yourself, if you are reasonably handy.
Window film put up with the double stick tape (the kind you smooth with a blow dryer) works wonders on drafty windows while letting light in. It does not interfere with window coverings and can be left on year round to save on a/c. Try it out. Alternatively, try window quilts. 👍
Carolyn's RV Life we leave it up year round and cover it with an upholstery cloth window shade (Roman shade). It would work even better with your blankets, as shown, or window quilts.
Try bubble wrap on your windows. Free in dumpsters behind furniture stores. Get the glass damp and it will just stick on. Also at Home depot they might have a flooring material like a yoga mat. Around 20.00 for for a 4x8 sheet. Insulates really well and rolls up easily later. I even put it under my bedding and in front of my door. It's often -20 here in Canada.
You are so resourceful! You use what you have , and if you don’t have , you make do. Good for you for sharing what you have learned. It will be a help to people in some way, sooner or later. Thanks for your upbeat personality in difficult times.
keep up the good work, because I'm learning so much from you guys!!😇 Yeah everything hole makes a difference, because we don't want to freeze to death!🙄
At 9 minutes in I lost track of how many windows are in your Rig. So glad things are going in your direction, thanks for the great tour. Enjoy your travels.
A better alternative to those blankets,are squared sleeping bags(not mummy) instead. They can be found cheaply on Amazon,Ebay,or at Walmart. You can either use Velcro,or curtain hooks to hang them.
As for the pipes freezing. I would get some some pipe insulation from Lowe's or Home Depot and wrap all the pipes underneath the RV with it and and secure it with duct tape.
For the battery box,a cheap styrofoam cooler could be cut and glued into place to line the inside,as well as the lid. You still need to leave some kind of venting for the battery,to prevent gas build up,and possible combustion.
For the leaks along the floor seams. I would get a couple of cans of Great Stuff poly foam,and run a bead of it underneath along the seams of the RV,anywhere I could access.
and a better alternative to that would be putting clear plastic over the windows to where is completely air tight been used for centuries. Why are people trying to reinvent the wheel with sleeping bags and overs etc etc. propane heater inside ehhh no thanks kerosene heater burns far better and cleaner with no smell
Tt Ss plastic being used for centuries? I think you might need some education on plastic and it being invented after the second world war . poly window plastic in the late 1960's. nice for covering home windows but in trailers and RVs it can be hard to keep taped to the window and even harder to keep from ripping. also when you want fresh air in the day time your shit outta luck
Hi Carolyn. Just found your channel. I bought my first camper in 2011 so I'm still kind of new at this camper stuff. I recently discovered that those propane sensors should be changed out about every 4 years or so. Mine kept beeping at me when I did not have any propane turned on. Didn't even have the line hooked up to the propane tank. Bought a new one and that beeping stopped. Not sure how old your sensor is but it might be worth your time and safety to look a that specs on it and change it out. Not hard to do at all. Have fun and stay warm.
At 0:24 *"It's SNOWING!!!" A wonderful woman I once knew said that very thing JUST LIKE YOU just did. If one has to look at Ads I don't mind one iota if they are HEATER ADS. Kudos to you and yours.*
I had a feeling that was the case. So you got a boyfriend? Cuz I am *available for that role if you had a mind to...* I'm up in Warshington above Oregon. If I knew your email I could shoot you my phone number. I'm EZ on the eyes and like all the usual stuff. I'm 64.
Good video I agree with everything that she has done . I'm in canada and i'll travel in my camper van until it gets to about - 8 c or so. Covering the windows really is important
Lots of great ideas . My MH is very similar to your lay out. The door area is one I'll definitely use. Since we have upper cabinets on either side of the door, I've used a tension rod above door and hang blanket over door at night. I am able to roll it up when not in use and you don't even notice it. I also use foam board in windows, especially windshield and under dash cut to fit so no fasteners needed., and boxed waterline and sewer hose with r19. When not in use, fold it flat and store in pass through bay. Full timing really teaches you about utilizing space AND problem solving.
Hi, I'm not tryingto be a bud-dingskie..but I had to call a 5th wheel home for about 3 years, No Fun at all. But on the brighter note, I learned a lot. I do remember seeing a type of heater that you hang in your window, solar powered during the day. An at night or whenever desired, you turn it on, an enjoy what the heater absorbed while in the window. Being it solar powered you'll save on battery & propane. I'm now in my home, but still would like to add these to my home. Just an idea. An I SO agree with "crabtree". Oh my goodness what a change in temperature the Window kits make. Homedepot has had the best deals, fyi. I wish you well. Be safe.
Good ideas. Get a single pop up igloo tent for your bed; really warm. interior Velcro works great to keep the quilts & coverings up on the windows & doors. Good video.
Written in TWO parts due to message size: Recently my wife and I had to live IN our RV through the entire winter here in Wisconsin. Let me tell you the story of how we lived in our RV for a full year INCLUDING through an ENTIRE Wisconsin winter up here. In 2014, We suddenly found ourselves in need of finding a place to live after being medical retired from my military service due to injuries.. It was decided to come home to Wisconsin.. little did we know finding a place to live would be near impossible in that little bit of time we had (two weeks in fact). While desperately trying to find a place to live, I had the idea of using what little money we had ($5000 cash TOTAL to our name) and buying a small used camper to live in for a couple months until we could find a place... little did we know finding a place would take over a year because I cannot and will not live in a city... and I had my Combat German Shepherd who retired with me as well. I am not a religious person by any means but I do believe in God and I know it was God that helped us because not only did we find a used camper, an RV dealer after finding out who were were and why were were looking for something in October in Wisconsin, sold us a 1998 - 38' Four Winds Windsport RV for... $5000. And get this.. EVERYTHING worked and was in really good shape with one exception.. needed a new engine battery (chassis deep cell battery was near new) and the genset would not start. Turned out the genset was just fine though! In fact it was only a clogged carb needle.. I unscrewed it, wiped it off with cleaner, put it back in and it has been running since! Not only that we also learned we got lucky there too because it is an Olan which is standard BUT are usually civilian standard models across the board.. apparently when our RV was built, Olan ran out of the standard model and instead put a MILSPEC Olan 7500 Genset into this RV unit! That means we got a military hardened high end generator included with the RV that was also 2000 watts higher in power rating. Along with that, to work right this RV had been also equipped with dual inverters and converters to boot. Anyhow, It was a lesson in itself but we did it and were comfortable the entire time. Let me tell you how we did it and how we set it up to survive the extreme Wisconsin winter. One major issue to note in this video is the gas heater.. IF you are going to go that route, make sure you have installed a carbon monoxide detector. If that thing fails you will suffocate. We have two installed regardless because the built in furnace uses gas as well. But a portable heater is even more prone to leaking fumes. Second, water. We had our pump and water working all winter without issue. You just have to take a couple steps to insure they do not freeze but it is very easy to do. For very little money, you can buy pipe insulation. Foam or tape. And it works great. As long as the temperature INSIDE your RV stays above freezing, your pipes will not freeze. I simply bought the pre made foam insulation tubes that just fit right around your pipes that stick together with sticky already on them. Peel the tape and the foam edges seal together. From there, I installed electric heating tape wrap around the pipes and drain pipe for both grey and black water tanks; and also installed a small thermostatic controlled electric heater that mounted to the chassis under neath near both tanks. The heater could then just be clipped on to the mount for use or when not in use, simply unplugged and unclipped and stored away in the cargo bay. I will explain how we powered them shortly... The two small electric heaters could run at 700 watt or 2000 watt settings and both were thermostatic controlled. I had one pointed at the grey and black water tanks as mentioned and it kept the space warm enough so they did not freeze and when I needed to empty them (I bought two portable tank containers on wheels for this purpose that I could roll and take to a dump location as needed, usually once per week even with showers. In addition, I took one more of these small heaters (they are only about 8" x 4" x 5" in size, thermostatic controlled) and created a mount back by the water pump. Both of these heaters were set to 40 F on their thermostats so they only kicked in when the temp dropped below 40. The idea is NOT to keep things warm, rather to generate just enough warmth to keep stuff from freezing. Trying to keep things at a warm temp would be impossible in fact. I ended up finding, to my surprise, neither of these two heaters ran much. Keeping the temp at 40 F ended up being rather easy to achieve and both these heaters, when they did kick in, I found ran for less than 2 minutes in those small areas to bring the temp back to 40 F. To be safe we also placed a smoke detector with each unit just in case however. Now that we are finally in a new place we finally found, my wife and I are upgrading the RV to solar energy and I also built a small portable wind turbine that clamps to the back ladder on the RV... The design I came up with should supply enough power to cover needs as I explain below once we complete this project. For that winter, however that we had to live in the RV we needed to make other plans due to the extreme conditions of a Wisconsin winter and knowing we needed heat and the power to generate it. So what we did is and was very simple. I bought two 100 gallon Propane tanks. Then spliced the internal tank line with a splitter valve. I added a regulator to the external tanks. That means that I did not have to mess with the internal tank regulator at all. I cut about 15' of copper tubing and put the ends on it, one to the tanks and one to the spliced splitter valve. I turned OFF the internal tank to keep that as a reserve backup tank. Turned on the dual 100 gallon tanks and the regulator I bought not only indicated WHICH tank was being used but told me when it switched automatically to the second tank and that the first was empty. When we need to move, I simply disconnect the 15' line, put the cap on the splitter, roll up the copper line and throw it in a cargo bay.. The two tanks slide into mounts that hold them secure and are attached to the frame of the RV inside the back cargo bay. The genset can run on either gasoline OR propane. And so we can run off either source for electrical AC power. However I did not want to have to listen to the generator running constantly to give us heat. So, what I also did was wire the system so that it monitors the batteries (deep cells) and when they drop to 40% power, it automatically kicks on the genset to recharge them to 90% before automatically turning off again. I added 3 additional deep cells to my RV on top of the one it was designed with. This increased dramatically the time between the generator charge ups. And it never kicked in at all during the night even with the furnace running a lot if it needed to on super sub zero weather nights. During the day, depending on what we were doing it would kick in 3-4 times during heavy load to charge the batteries... i.e. using the microwave a lot if we so desired. But normally it ran on average twice a day. And each day I would have a powerful laptop usually running all day along with internet service (SATELLITE at the time - I set up a portable HUGHSNET dish using collapse-able legs and cement blocks to hold it from winds once setup.. Now, that is gone and I have installed a full wireless system and we use cell phone hotspot if available or free wifi depending on where we are. The furnace runs off 12vdc as well so no worry about needing a lot of power from that either. Along with a laptop, usually the TV and sat dish would be on as well during the day time. Keep in mind we had the two electric heaters that put out about 700 AMPS when they ran as well. As long as we did not constantly use the microwave (and obviously had no need for AC in the dead of winter) or hair dryers or other huge power drawing things, the genset would only kick in a couple times a day. We used the microwave basically for when making or heating dinner leftovers or popcorn and that seemed to be just fine We paid approximately $120-$150 a MONTH for propane doing this (the house we now rent is about $250 a month.. what a difference) - depending again on how much AC power we wanted to use. And when one tank was empty, we just took it to have it filled while the other took the load.. And yes, there was one period where I procrastinated too long in filling the tanks and ended up having to shut off the splitter and turn on the internal reserve tank. That's what being lazy gets you though! You can bet I got the main tanks refilled right after that though! That's it when it comes to generating power and heat! And with other changes I will talk about, we stayed at 70 F the entire winter even with winds blowing hard at times. To insulate and keep heat from escaping we took a number of steps. First, I bought a bucket of MASTIC pipe paste. I then crawled under the RV so I could get to all of the furnace ducting and I applied a liberal coat of MASTIC on every seam I could find. I had my wife power up the furnace fan and anywhere I could feel air escaping I sealed with MASTIC.
PART 2 I then bought a bunch of 3/4" rubber matting remnants from carpet installs etc.. And since I would have to cut them to fit my intent, it worked perfectly for what I did with them.. Basically under the RV, I cut each section to match the floor area I wanted to cover and insulate, applied glue to the rubber matting and glued it to the bottom of the floor under the RV. And I can tell you THIS made one hell of a difference not only in retaining heat through the floor BUT ALSO sound while driving down the road. For the windows, we bought those silver window coverings like she showed in the video but in sizes that fit the different windows in the RV. In windows we rarely really used we put these silver insulators in. Then once that was done, we bought scotch guard window sealing film and applied that across each of those windows then closed their blinds. For windows we wanted to still have light through, we also applied the scotch guard window film to stop the loss of heat.. The film was stretched across the window frame which created about a 1-2" air pocket between the film and window itself which is the best buffer against cold you can get but still allowed us to see in or out. At night we just pulled down the blinds for privacy and a little additional insulation to boot. The door. Again, using that same rubber matting I used to insulate the flooring underside, I measured and cut a chunk the exact dimensions of the door frame. Then I mounted two hooks at the top of the door frame, put two holes in the rubber mat and just hung it on the inside of the door when we were inside for the day or night. This laid flat against the door frame and stopped all leaks around the door from getting inside. The steps leading down the exit on the inside we then used a section of that styrofoam silver line board you can buy cheap, cut a section that match the steps hole and simply laid it across that then laid a small door rug over that to hold it in place and cover the edges against any leaks of air. When we needed to go outside, just pick it up and set it next to the door, roll up the rubber insulation mat covering the door entry toward the top where it was hooked and I used Velcro straps to hold it there when the door is in use. Finally, the last thing we did was using that same styrofoam insulation with silver backing, I cut out sections that conformed to the dashboard where you fit normally go. I inserted each section so that it basically made the area under the dashboard now flush and seal everything under the dashboard back behind the styrofoam board This kept air from the engine compartment and under the dash from escaping or entering that way. Along with the silver windshield liner, we then put velcro tape across the top of the cabinets over the drivers/passenger area then we sewed a long strip of velcro on a heavy blanket material on one edge then hung that down to and flush with the dashboard. That pretty much kept all air flow from happening in the entire front section of the RV. This also still allow us access to the dashboard itself so we could turn on the stereo that was hooked to speakers throughout the RV, turn on the forward over head light if we needed something out of the front, turn on the satelite radio we installed AND more important, start the engine every couple of weeks if we were parked longer than 2 weeks in a spot to make sure it and the engine battery stayed operational. We also decided to just spend the little bit of money and bought inserts pre-made that are put inside the AC unit ducting on the ceiling (heat rises so this was important in fact) inside as well as pillow foam inserts that fit into each of the air ducts for fresh air on the ceiling as well. HOWEVER, to insure proper airflow, we did NOT seal the stove fan and air fresh air intake and the central ceiling vent was also left open. Temperatures dropped to -30 F that winter. During that time I think at the settings we usually had, the temp inside dropped to about 65 F so we decided to increase the furnace use by thermostat to reach 70 again. That lasted about a week and at the end of that month, I think we paid around $152 for propane due to the extra use. Additionally, I should mention one other thing that made a HUGE, and I mean HUGE difference... the thermostat! Our unit had come with the analog thermostats.. no frills etc. I took a chance and upgraded them to electronic/digital thermostats... and man am I SOOOO glad I did.. What a difference. The furnace went from running with temperature variants of 3-4 degrees either way to what it was set at to EXACTLY what you set the temp to be.. And that cut down on fuel use big time.. One thing we had read a lot about from other people was that they had a problem with fogging and freezing over windows. We DID NOT have this problem at all! In fact using the scotch guard film window covering that leaves a small 1"-2" gap was the reason why. I HIGHLY recommend you use this method for winter. It simply and easily sticks on around the entire edge and when winter is over it just peels right off and is cheap to buy. The second thing we did was REMOVE ALL light bulbs in every single fixture and replace them with new LED light bulbs.. We went from a HUGE draw of power from the batteries to basically near nothing just doing that.. Just so you know, you DO NOT, repeat NOT need nor have to replace anything to do this.. Simply take out the old bulb and put in the new LED version of the same bulb. Your power draw will be substantially less that you will think something has to be wrong until you get used to it uses so much less power from your batteries! ;-) BTW, using the two tanks, internet (at that time) from satellite and the two electric thermo controlled heaters as explained, it took us maybe 5 extra minutes to break down or setup if we had to move. It did take me about a week or so to do all the work right after we got the RV and realized we would be living in it through the winter, but knowing we were going to have to live in the thing through winter, I started on that early November right away to get it done in time. Here is the awesome part.. Total cost was LESS than $1000 for everything with the two propane tanks and my decision to add three deep cell batteries to the unit taking most of that cost up. Each LED bulb was a couple dollars. The mastic and foam stuff was about $100 total. IF you don't add batteries or as big a tanks as I did, you would easily stay well under $400 at most. One last thing we did do a bit later... I bought heavy canvas and created a 'bra'/skirting to hang around the entire RV. Since we were newbies I did not realize what winter cold air would do UNDER the RV especially when the wind kicked in and thus came up with this method. Some recommended bales of hay or straw but that is not practical if you need to move. So I cut up the canvas I bought to go from about two inches from the bottom side of the RV so it hung down and left about 5 inches extra AFTER hitting the ground. I then used found small boulders, pieces of logs and other heavy items and laid it ON the bottom 5" extra of the tarp on the ground to hold it against the wind flapping it around. Later, I had a brainstorm when I saw some old pallets in the junk. I grabbed them, ripped them apart them heavy stapled each board/slat to the bottom of each part of the skirting to hold the skirting from flapping around - that is why I cut each one to be about 5" longer than the actual distance from the RV bottom to the ground.. The weight of the pallet boards I stapled to the bottom of each section then kept them from being flapped around or moved by the wind blowing and kept the under side of the RV much warmer by far! So basically, we lived in the RV, had full running water, toilet and heat and only had one problem the entire winter where in the back near the water pump there is a small BRASS fitting corner in the water piping that was hidden behind the damn wheel well. The BRASS fitting got cold enough one night it actually cracked and any time the water was turned on, would generate enough power to spit water out of the crack.. We did not find it until one day I was checking things, looked under the RV and found a huge BLOCK of ice from the bottom of the RV to the ground! LOL That one little brass corner fitting... I replaced it once I found it in about 10 minutes and that was the only issue all winter. Of course it took about 3 days and a heat lamp directly on the ice to melt it enough to break free from the bottom of the RV without breaking anything.. That was a loud three days because we ran the genset full time for that due to the amount of power pulled by the heat lamp. One of these days I want to find a way to insulted for genset sound better... but it is not a critical thing except when trying to sleep. My wife and I had never owned or lived in an RV let alone in the winter like we did.. We had NO idea what we were doing at first. But using some thought and common sense, we planned out each thing we realized we could do easily and did so.. We had to be careful money wise because as a disabled Veteran, what I now get to survive on is peanuts. But we did it... and both of us would have no problem doing it again if we had to, not only because now we know what to expect, but because when we think back to 2014, it actually was rather cozy and comfortable!
Malakie Usn. Thank you for your service! You say you used common sense, but I thInk you had much more knowledge and intelligence than most. I think it's a shame that as a disabled Veteran you weren't better taken care of by our government. People like you and Carolyn are making me see my own future differently. It's leading me to a more exciting and adventuresome life. I can't wait to get on the road!!
Thanks for the nice words... Even though the V/A and government treat us like this, I would do it all over again if called. I will admit it is not hard to live on what I get now but until things change, that is the way it will have to be. Because of that though, I often try to find easier and more inexpensive ways to do things and this was one of those times I put that to use.
I lost my home once due to an injury that couldt allow me to maintain 90 efficiency at the job. I had just bought a 36 ft class A RV for $15K befor the accident and it saved me & my dogs, from complete homelessness. I loved camping and traveling and thought this new life would be ok.I found I love it more than i thought i would.If I cant live as my prior income allowed me,then ld rather live in an RV traveling. I managed to return to working my field part time ,but lived in the rv and traveled all over nevada and Ca. to do it and work at the same work.Though there are disadvantages to it,I felt they were worth it.Home ownership requires more security and if payments falter for a couple months you lose the home and any equity in it,which I did on the last home I owned(3 total and did fine on them,until the last. When the income isnt as secure watch out,all it takes is one accident,misjudgement or any number of things! i shoulda originally got a good gobment job,but i didnt and the private sector will cut you at the drop of a dime . It was a time from the 60s through to 2007 and even now where the opportunity to make a profit on your home was /is good(better before 2007,but still doable. Anymore as one ages and job security health etc begins to falter,the rv life is the way to return to. I love it and as long as I can keep it runnin im a happy person.
RV furnaces are so inefficient... I use a big buddy and space heaters when on AC.... The big buddy heats my 34foot rig up super hot.. Big buddy heaters are safe for indoors... Has a low oxygen cutoff and tip over protection.... I always keep my sky light open a touch to vent.... I aslo have a CO2 detector.... I keep my 20lb tank outside and run it in a hole under my rig through the dinette storage... Good job on air leaks.... Its weird but my rig is 27 years old and the only draft I get is from the door... I also have on most of my windows a clear plastic sheet over the windows... you cant see it unless you run your hand under the wood blinds..
Very interesting, Thanks, I am a welder so I made a little bracket to mount a 1 burner Coleman camp stove that screws onto a 16 oz. Propane bottle, now it mounts on top of the 5 lb or 10 lb propane tank, connected with a propane hose, I made a spacer 4 inches above the burner that my stainless steel coffee pot sits on, so I have hot coffee in the morning plus warm heat all night on the lowest setting, my 5 lb tank normally lasts about 5 weeks. GREAT VIDEO, OH I live in a step van, I also have 265 watts of solar panels, 12v. And 2 6volt deep cycle batteries, in series to make 12vdc. Propane is the Only way to go for heat!! Way Cheaper and no problems. Thanks William.
Fredrick Laverdiere I bought carpeting and cut it to size. It is easy to take out to clean and it does not move and really keeps the floor warm. So, I have wall to wall carpeting, but can take it out easily.
I've seen the carpet squares at Habitat stores,... around $2 each.... easy to install without adhesive. I custom fit several windshield reflectors on my RV windows, makes a big difference especially in summer. Bigger rolls at Home Depot.... very cheap.
Neat set up.....I hope u never have a fire because your place would go up in flames so fast. You have combustibles in every square inch of your home. Please have multiple, full fire extinguishers close at hand....
Geez, can you be a bit more doom and gloom? She only needs to never use damn candles and she will be alright. Inspect the extinguishers you have periodically by checking the gauge and confirm it is in the green, look into the nozzle for any obstructions then knock the tank against a tree or something a few times to break up any fire retardant inside it that may have clumped up. Know how to release the trigger to spray a fire before you need it. and do not hesitate to use it, grab it first not a towel to fan flames etc.. A fire will cause panic and knowing what you are doing eases that.
@Marcus Bustad I agree, I like all my stuff, but it makes me crazy, so 1ST THING I noticed & wanted to tell her is GET heavy duty boxes (in AK, we call them "Fish Boxes"). Nearly indestructible, wax coated (for shipping plastic bags of frozen salmon), same size as long dresser drawers, but attach a handle on the end...) ppl here use them instead of luggage. I saw her "overhead" place she keeps the blankets. Looked like a twin bed size. Use them as drawers, you pull them out to store/ get your stuff! I'd buy 2, slide them in & out, much cleaner look, WAAAY easier to organize, holds WEIGHT as well as volume. Maybe Duck Duck Go it (Not Google- they're evil).
90% of RV construction is wood, foam insulation and possibly Fibreglass (GRP) and thats before you think of gasoline, diesel, propane fuel and the combustable stuff n clutter inside.... In case of fire.... Dont try n fight it.... Just get out.
I have NO drafts in my travel trailer, as I sealed & caulked EVERY seaming point....from the roof, walls, to floor & undercarriage of my RV. I have never had drafts. I reseal my rubber roof, every year. Caulk around the plumbing openings. Spray foam insulation is great too. I do have wall to wall carpet, with high end padding. My propane heater is awesome, and keeps me warm. I am going to install a small corner wood burning fireplace, utilizing lots of flashing, reinforcing the floor joists/flooring, with a retractable flue. I know lots of RVer's who have installed fireplaces, that work well as secondary heat, and saves money on propane. I won't be able to have my swivel rocker, anymore, but it will be worth it, considering I am a year round RVer. If you can't replace you RV windows, you can get plexiglass, cut to size, then clear caulk in. I utilize heat lamps, outside & under my RV, at the holding tanks & pipes, then wrap the bottom of the RV to hold the heat in....keeps the floor warm, too. Make sure your hot water heater is warmed, too....the water left in will freeze, expand & crack the hot water heater. Or you can empty the hot water heater.
Diane Morgan, do you use any special caulking? Explain, pls wrapping the bottom of your RV. I'm new at this and have much to learn. Thank you. Happy Trails June 22, 2019
Carolyn, omg. The big secret about trapping heat is preventing air from moving. Closed cell foams are cheap the thicker the better. The blinds do nothing. Heat travels through the weakest point, both sideways and down. Locking exercise mats cut to shape will stop a major issue with the floor better than carpet. As for the windows a trip to a box hardware store for good Velcro and hard sheets of foam cut to size is the way to go! If you can feel cold air coming in a joint such as floor to wall then seal it with clear flexible silicone. Enjoyed watching you set up the blankets - thanks.
this may sound strange but I am watching this because her pronunciation of English is very clear and easy to understand to me. I am a non-native English user from Korea.
you must be from SOUTH Korea
Interesting
She mentioned Medford (I assume Oregon) growing up in the Pacific Northwest I have heard numerous times that our “English accent” is one of the clearest and most like written English. I’m not sure if this is proven of how a made up language could be clearest but maybe this is a good litmus test
Also subscribe to Frugal Queen in France she teaches English as a 2nd language and her pronunciation is great.
The same here, I'm Italian.
This is absolutely NOTHING that I want to do, but here I am and liking the video.
I'M watching because I might have to live in a van down by the river if things go bad.
Sr L 32 others ... same boat. God Bless America (because we need it.) Be afraid, there's a recession coming. EDIT Also maybe a war we didnt need. Actually dont be afraid! balance being prepared with enjoying because we only have now.
I got the Chris Farley reference. Funny stuff. Don't fall on the table!
Your not lieing ...
I've kept an old van just in case, it's used for storage now.
Me too / you never know
I can’t believe all the snarky comments on here. Carolyn’s motto is Be Happy, Be Free, Be Kind....... that being said, I say if you can’t be kind, be happy and go free yourself
That being said Carolyn, love your videos and your happiness is contagious. I so admire you for living your life your way
I've only watched one other van dweller & this just seems so shabby compared to his way of life.
@@samanthab1923 most vanlifer youtubers are just for show they have houses lol.
She's sure got a headstart on the rest of us with this economy and coming situations. I'm seriously considering this option.
@managing today I only see the one above about ‘shabby’ now. I did write this a year ago and would only have made the comment had there been such remarks. Perhaps they were taken down. Please just notice the good part of my comment
I think she's an original. There's not many .
Make sure to tilt your blinds UP when you close them. Cold air naturally descends, so it will come into your living space if your blinds are tilted down. Tilting them UP will help keep cold air out.
That's what I do for my house too.
On the floors in my 1971 Shasta camper I bought those puzzle fitting rubber mats for exercise equiptment. And did my floors all throughout by fitting them and trimming them to fit with a pair of scissors. I did it wall to wall, and I could walk on my floors in winter barefoot. Insulated the floors really good and it also looked really good also.....buy a terra cotta flower pot to fit over one of your stove burners. Place it upside down on a burner after it is lit and adjusted to a comfort zone you like and walla, a small heater. You can adjust the heat by using the burner when lit low med , and you can also use it on high . But I suggest only for about half an hour on high, dont want the pot to crack. You sister are doing great. Be safe out there pleas.
Great idea!!!!
I confess, I think I would just start the engine--and drive straight south to where the palm trees grow.
lmao I agree
I would get a job and rent an apartment if I didn't own my house and live like civilized folk..hell homeless in shelters live better then this..at least they have a warm bed and are not breaking the law or making towns crack down on use vacationers for stopping to take a break from driving and hassling us to convince them we aren't squatting..
Boring boring boring.
live on a 43 foot Yacht with a 156 pound timber wolf, named Madison. She is much cleaner, (and smarter) than anyone I know. The more people I meet, the more I like canines.
Derek, from what I've heard, your parents referred to you as the "useless mutt." You're welcome!
We spent $50 on a roll of the silver bubble insulation and cut it to the size of windows and it works great for both keeping cold out and keeping heat out during summer.
How well would the silver bubble insulation work on a newer metal over wood-frame 8' x 16' shed?, which I use for my weights and tinkering with my bike? Gets hot and cold in there about 1/3 of the time I use it. I don't want to use gloves with weights, due to the cold.
I was just going to comment about using bubble wrap until I saw your post.
@@kimberlyquintanilla5493 silver bubble insulation called refexit is excellent but would block all the light so regular plastic bubble wrap is great for windows.
@@williamthompson9261 reflexit is excellent for your application. You can even double it for higher rating. I plan to use it when I do a shed to house even under the floor to I dilate and keep out mice. Saw it on TH-cam@ Boss of the Swamp in his cabin build.
Just a suggestion: get mylar space/emergency blankets and sew them to the back of your thermal curtains. It will drastically improve your heat.
Props, Carolyn!
You're not a part-timer know-it-all, You're a true nomad.
I've worked my butt off raised four kids on my own and took care of people with Alzheimer's and other problems for over 16 year's and have been though alot in life and always thought about doing what ur doing right now I think no I know you have to be a strong person to over come over everything life throws at you so thank you for sharing your life story it is really helpful I know what I want now I have a very bad heart condition it's part of the reasons why I want to do this I've always said I wanted to do it and very soon I'll be able to do thank you and may god continue to bless you
I consider people like you the angels of the world. Sometimes the difficult things wear a person down, and they do damage to self esteem and personal dignity. But please know that to people like me, you are better than royalty or celebrity. You are the very highest level that a human being can achieve. So I hope that you feel that you have accomplished tremendous things, and are very proud of them. God Bless you for all that you have done.
Your story sounds very close to my own. I hope you get to realize your dream an I hope I will also.
Plz keep us informed if you hit the road cause I wanna do it too and if you do that will be more to incite me to do the same!! Best wishes!
I remember watching this video 7 years ago. I love your positive energy! Carolyn this video was what inspired me to go fulltime. You still continue to inspire me!!!
I have lived in campers for the past 6 years because of work in Saskatchewan. It gets bitter cold here in winter months, like today -26 with the wind chill and it gets much worse. I have lived in this thing when it has gotten below -50 with the wind. For the first two years I used propane, and electric heat. I hated the cost of the electric and propane, and the moisture from propane was insane, so I removed my cooking stove, and built a heavy duty wood burning stove, and piped it out the side. Now I heat for free, and stays very hot even during the coldest nights here. When it gets to hot, I open a vent or a door and cool it down. I use the range to move the heat around. I also use wind generation to harvest power, and banks of batteries to store the power. Built the wind generator myself, and it works awesome. I love living this way, and probably always will live like this, and now many people are doing the very same thing, and the ones that are not, want to do the very same thing.
I need yo be coached on how to install a wood burning stove in my Winnebago. Sounds like such a GREAT idea!
How do you get rid of the Carbon Monoxide?
I bet you get alot of girlfriends this way lol
Adrian Mac Donald. Wow,!😀 I am pressed. Sounds like you are enjoying life. 🤗. Happy Trails. Jun 22,2019
Dude. I have been wondering where to put a stove in my 18ft rv your the fuckin man
Bubble wrap on windows lets in light, keeps out cold
Oh i see . I thought the insulation /reflective material will keep more heat in compared to bubble wrap.
absolutely bubble wrap works great I do it on my house and I hate the house with the fireplace only we don't even turn on the furnace so I'm going to do the same to our RV we have a bounder 40 ft 2000
Try using heavy paint plastic from any store and tape it all around your windows & hang a blanket around your door it helps a lot
tiny bubbles?
That’s good
Not sure why I'm watching this, I don't have an RV!!
Because its interesting and informative. Im watching and I don't have an R V either
Samantha Browne I feel the same way you do !...maybe in the future it might be handy
@@sharonpurnell7316 yes pretty 😎
I'm thinking about purchasing some sort of r.v! And still I'm WONDERING why I'm WATCHING and making a COMMENT 😊This is informative!
Samantha Browne. Lol
I do all of this boon-docking in MN during the middle of winter, just some added info that might help some people out, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH SNOW: pile the snow along the bottom of the RV/Camper/vehicle so the wind isn’t blowing up from under :) helps me a ton!
I'm a full-time RVer and I live in Canada. The winter temperatures we experience are a tad cooler than those you mention. I've lived comfortably for months of below zero temperatures that sometimes reach nearly 40F below. But I do have my furnace working properly - most of the time. Here are some tips for you:
1) If you must use a propane heater indoors, put it on top of your stove so as to take advantage of the stove-hood ventilation.
2) All your water lines to the kitchen run through the lower kitchen cabinets. Leave the cabinet doors open overnight so warm air from the cabin will keep those lines from freezing.
3) Ordinary automotive anti-freeze ( two cups per 20 gallon capacity) will keep your waste tanks from freezing at the temperatures your describe.
4) Your fresh water tank should be ¾ full..... NOT ¼ full. A quarter full tank will freeze loooong before a ¾ tank will. (A puddle freezes before a pond). Water only expands 9% as it freezes; you don't need much expansion space.
5) Pay attention to the comment here by Bobby Baldeagle. You MUST drain your pump as well as your lines. You can burn it out in as little as a few seconds if you turn it on when it has ice it. (how do I know that?!...... Not telling.....$130 for a new one.)
6) NEVER block your exit door like that. In case of a fire you'll never get over the dog (who will get excited) and with all that stuff on the floor...... Do you taste good when well done?
Happy RVing to you!
Great advice
Thanks for this. Years ago, in the lowest place in my life, I wanted to turn my back on the world and live on a shoestring in an RV. If there had been your videos, I might have done it. Fortunately, the VA rescued me, and with less stress I realized that RV life would have made me worse, not better. I love Winnemucca, and I'm glad there's no Starbucks there! Pretty good cafe though. Also a damn good man there dedicated to helping veterans and the young boys who often go astray in that desert place. Thanks and I wish you luck.
I wish I had this when I lived in my 34 foot Southwind, as I lived for 14 years in the old wreck! I never did half of what you do now. I did have a full sized Mr Buddy similar to yours and I survived, BARELY! I finally had to junk the old wreck as she was falling apart at the seams & I am now in an apartment, warm all winter, but no more travelling, but now I read about your travels & others and that satisfies my wanderlust. Thank you for your travels.
Buy and install 3M window kits around the windows before hanging insulated drapes. It fits behind the blinds, easy to install, very reasonable prices. Really helps keep the drafts down to almost nothing.styrofoam cut to fit the floor under large area rug will help keep the floor warm or at least not bitter cold. See you have a microwave...make a small bag(a sock will do in a pinch) fill with white rice about 2/3 full.....heat in mic for 2 min.....these little cozy will keep you warm for hours.
I love people that have skills to survive and are ready for whatever comes up
My Husband & I lived in our RV for over 11 years.
Really good advice.
Blessings to you.
I relate. I've lived full time in a 1974 Airstream on a budget. Its creative living....unique & minimalist living.
Loved the video! Thank you. 😃💞💐
We live in a 5th wheel. One thing we do is get a roll of bubble wrap, it’s pretty cheap, and put it up on the windows! It makes a huge difference. Also take the same bubble wrap and cram it in any vents on the ceiling. Good luck everyone. Also we use the propane oven for heat! It gets really warm!
I've gone from listening to fear-mongering Alex Jones since January of 2020, thinking everyone is hunkered down at home, til' last week, when I started binge-watching Your amazing travel channel. I can't wait to retire & live a similar lifestyle. May God continue to richly bless You & Your beautiful dog !! @6:55
Hi Carolyn, good video, two suggestions...
1. You might consider making your window insulation process easier by cutting some aluminum window insulation to the size of your windows and door and then using velcro tabs at the corners. One side for the RV walls, the other for the insulation panel. That way its easy on and easy off in minutes.
Like the idea of throw rugs for the floor. You might also consider a carpet remnant that you can cut around your cabinetry and bed and use with two way tape. If it gets dirty just toss out and replace but you'll have better insulation on the floor.
2. Also I guess you realize that having a 20 Gal LP tank inside your RV when you're using it is highly illegal. You risk a catastrophic explosion. When its in use it must be outside. Your Big Buddy heater is a great way to heat the RV. Also you need a LP alarm near your bedroom just in case. You did mention that you have a CO2 alarm, perfect.
Take care out there.
Rick -
1. Excellent tip. about the aluminum and the carpet remnants! Brilliant!
2. Thanks for the advice about the tank.. will run it outside. thanks!
I appreciate your great advice! - Carolyn
The best insulation is "just thin air" and bubble wrap works very well as an insulation on windows. Much, much better than blankets and cloth.
Insulation works well, also...
In my mobile home I use blankets to insulate my windows. You would be surprised at how low my electric bill is. In winter I open my curtains so the sun can heat me my home in the day and close when sun goes down. You can do all sorts of things to save on your heating and cooling bill.
Hey Carolyn, I learned a few years ago that if you slant your blinds toward the window it helps to keep the cold air from flowing in. When they are slanted toward the room the cold air does literally pour through them. Give it a try.
I'm loving your video. I'm getting great ideas for my van!
God Bless You & Protect You Every Day Keep You In Prayers Amen
God BLESS u
Thank god god bless you
God Bless you. I love your ideas. I have 2 dogs and going to do the RV thing soon. Thanks for the ideas 👍✌
These are even practical and helpful ideas for my home. Anything to help my propane last longer. Thank you for sharing. Stay safe and blessed!
Hi Carolyn, So my wife and I were full-timers in a 1996 35 foot Class A Allegro Bay Motor home. We lived in it for a little over 5 years. Health issues made us switch back to a house. So I have a couple of suggestions for you. There are these grow mats that come in various sizes. I had a couple of 9 x 12 mats that sat on the freshwater and black water tanks. They only use 20 watts of power each and generate 70 degrees of heat which going up against really cold temps never let my tanks get colder than 39 degrees. Now to power them, at Harbor Freight for $19.95 I got a Solar battery charger which produced enough power to run the mats. So that's one suggestion. Another suggestion is to go behind Best buy or some electronic store and find a chunk of styrofoam that fits the space between the door and floor and then go behind a carpet store and find a scrap of foam rubber and a bit of carpet and glue the foam block to the foam rubber and the carpet scrap to the other side of the foam rubber . If you are dry camping and can have a campfire get a metal bucket and fill it with large flat river rock and place the bucket and the rock really close to the fire. The rocks will absorb a lot of the heat, Then bring the bucket inside and set it on the stove the rocks will radiate heat for about 8 to 10 hours. Keeping you nice and toasty. Last but not least calk all the walls inside the house at the floor. Well, that will keep you busy and a lot warmer.
Jeff strong, thank you for those suggestions.😀
Happy Trails (June 22, 2019)
Also, word of caution, do not put rocks directly in the fire or they can explode. But yes, the hot rocks really help. I have used them while tent camping in cold weather. I put them inside a towel inside my sleeping bag. Sadly they actually burned a hole in the towel which shocked me because they were not on fire when i put them in but live and learn. I stayed toasty warm that night whereas the night before I FROZE! I loved those rocks.
Wow you have lots of knowledge. I live in a tiny apt that's cold. the windows are bad. I've got thermal curtains and will put plastic on the windows soon. So I could put that pink Styrofoam on some windows and door to help keep warm?
Thanks again Jeff. You could write a book
Sweet!
One of the great joys of RVing is to come back to it after a day of adventuring to a COMFORTABLE setting where one can get clean, fed and sleep. This video is eloquent testimony of the inconvenience and suffering RV owners are subjected to when trying to survive routine temperature extremes. The only alternative is the expense of "winterizing" and losing its use for months. Nearly the entire RV industry is at fault. All of the special accommodations outlined here are easy to incorporate into an RV when it is being designed and built. Until the public demands a better product, fiascos like this will be the rule.
For the floor, I use a foam yoga mat or the foam squares from Harbor Freight Tools .keeps ir really warm on the floor. Put the rug over it.
Great idea! Thanks
We're going to do that!
That's a good idea
Your bearings are out in your furnace fan. It is a cheap, easy diy fix. I live full time in my fifth wheel :)
Commenting hoping she will see it
I was going to say the same thing
I have done replaced my all-in-one power unit (breaker box, fuse panel, DC converter) myself ($600 in parts). That was last winter.
And I am currently replacing my furnace. I bought a new one that is 5,000btu larger (35,000btu). Now I have to add 2 more 4" round flex ducts.
My bathroom didn't have heat, nor did my cargo room. That will be remedied shortly.
I am $610 deep so far. (That is only because I bought a $100 multimeter.) I predict another $100ish to finish it. But everything I do in my camper is self repaired AND upgraded. I am too poor to hire a service guy.
All my power unit needs to be a 50amp service now, is the 50amp shore cord. The rest is done. But I am backwards compatible to with the way I designed it.
I can still power both combined legs on one 30amp outlet. Or I can even still run it on a 15amp household receptacle.
A 50amp box is actually dual 50amp breakers. Where as a 30amp box, is a single 30amp breaker. But my power unit is technically a dual 30amp service. I run two 30amp mains on a 50amp shore cord when I get one bought.
But electricity just comes naturally to me (AC or DC) and I am a self taught electrician that does everything by the code book.
ELECTRICITY CAN KILL YOU!!!
DON'T DO THAT KIND OF WORK UNLESS YOU "FULLY" KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!
I live in a bus. I used either a Mr. Buddy Propane heater, or my wood burning cast iron stove. Which I have actually had a small wood burning stove in an small RV before. Just insulate the bottom legs with bricks, and pipe out through the roof hatch
I'm fascinated with insulation and love being warm and protected while it's cold outside. This was great.
i'M DEFINITLY going to add insulation in my cabinets. It would be worth the time to do it. Rv's need all the extra insulation they can get! I'm a first timer and cant believe how cold RV's get in winter time!! And I can also feel some rooms are colder than others. But the Buddy heaters are very good heat!! And so are electric blankets in bed 😁👍 Mine doesnt seem to use much electricity at all!!
Get spray insulating foam to spray around cracks also you can put clear insulating plastic to stop cold from creeping in at Windows. All this stuff can be had at a improvement home store. Use bedroom wool slippers when inside.
I was going to tell her some of the same things you talked about as well. The foam would help where that battery is at. Where the wires come in for her. Maybe even some thin foam sheets around and under it as well. You can just cut them to fit around it to help keep the cold out of that one spot.
Rick Ncarolina j
Ggfg
Rick Ncarolina kjhgcc
if she is using a heater which uses any kind of combustion i dont think that is a safe idea.
In past years I've owned four RV's: a class A, two Class C's, and finally a Clasd B. I found that by permanently installing a catalytic heater at floor level the vehicle stays warm. I agree with covering the windows to insulate them. In the Class C and B, simply blocking the driver compartment by hanging a blanket across the opening makes a big difference. A catalytic heater uses very little propane and produces radiant heat to warm up objects it's facing. I never used the built-in furnace because the fan motor always ran the battery down.
I love cold ...blankets work. Its the heat that i hate unless you have a/c its miserable
Miserable but, the fans keep my utility bill down. On a fixed income, ac is but one of many things I had to give up.
I like cold also,but what she is living is nothing like a hot flash thing, it's a life threatening cold.
This is the video that actually got me following you 😊I’m revisiting it now after a few years and it still brings me so much joy!! 😃❤️
These are all cool tips for staying warm in an RV. Thanks for your ideas.
Very informative. I have dry camped in Illinois in the winter before (in the snow) in my 38' Class A with 2 children and a dog. We were warm and toasty with our propane heater.
Something most people do not know, is that, propane does NOT produce carbon monoxide, but instead, carbon dioxide, which is heavier than air, and will sink to the floor. This is why propane powered vehicles are used in warehouses. I have lived in RV's for over 25 years, and not had any serious issues. In winter, I insulate my windows with bubble wrap, which keeps the heat in, but also lets light in, without sacrificing your privacy. I am a stationary engineer, with a propane certification.
Terry Wilson thank you for the information and about the bubble wrap that's awesome thanks have a great day
Thank you Terry! That makes perfect sense because the instructions for the sensor tell us to install it near the floor. I sleep on the bed and sit in the chairs, the only time I'm near the floor is if I dropped something and it rolled out of sight :) Thanks again!!
I used to work weatherizing homes and the best thing to do is to use caulking to seal your cracks especially around the windows even if you have to caulk them shut, the caulking does peel off later, the clear is best for peeling off caulk along your floors especially outside walls you'll definitely feel the difference
Um....yes, burning propane DOES make CO. It's also a "wet exhaust" as well.
How do you attach the bubble wrap to your windows?
I live in North Pole Alaska. I have seen the weather down to -65 F and grew up in Alaska in a trailer house built in the lower 48 during the 60s. Very cold! The padding and carpet does add a lot of insulating value. As does quilts over windows and doors. The plastic window coverings adhered with the included double stick tape creates an air pocket that insulates. We open the sink cabinet doors to put more hot air to that area when it is extra cold outside, simple to do and it helps. Good luck from the land of the midnight sun and winter midday moon :)
Thank you for keeping it real with all the technical difficulties that come with living in an rv
I can install a woodstove in a trailer or RV with a chimney and you will love it. It can heat up an RV to 90 degrees F and outdoors it can be minus 35F
it would be hard to make a video about it.... because I don't have an RV or trailer to work with... but I've done it before for myself and lots of my customers.... "I'm the chimney guy"... which means I rebuild chimneys and I install woodstoves too, for the past 20 years... I love the work!
any use of rocket stove ?
there are a lot of small stoves that are available from Finland that I've purchased here in Canada they are stainless steel no problem to install and a 4 inch circular vent is all that's needed to work for the chimney... but with a wood stove in an rv or trailer you need to open a window a crack, for extra oxygen so the fire doesn't go out and some decent hardwood
sounds nice. have thought about getting one.
i meant one with a barrell over it to radiate heat as well as convect heat ..with a stove pipe to vent the gasses
Just a note the Buddy Heater does have a CO-2 monitor that will shut itself down. One problem is the propane tank inside is not a good idea. The valve can leak. I use the same heater all the time but I do put the gas outside via a wire/ hose trap door on the side of the camper. Nice video just watch the gas. Best you.
Yup, was just reading that.. thanks for the tips and concern.. Will be careful! :-)
Carolyn's RV Life i use a big buddy propane heater in my 03 32 ft travel trailer. It works amazing. as always propane heaters indoor or outdoor produces moisture and uses oxygen. I also use a 40 quart dehumidifier and keep a window cracked. I've gotten home to 15° and in no time I'm in shorts!!!!
Mr.Buddy is the man!Lol.Love that guy.Kept me warm in my truck all winter and I'm still alive.He didn't kill me and has safety features so it doesn't kill you.Worth its weight in gold.
Cork tile floors for insulation. Seal the top with clear finish.
I love sleeping in a hoodie and also wrapping a soft blanket sort of around my head gently and it helps so much and cozy
I was wondering where my blanket disappeared to!
David Cripps shouldn’t have gone to the bathroom while it was in the dryer. And I’m just kidding
Dang I was about to claim it!😂
David Cripps good sense of humor lol
😄😂😄😃
David Cripps looks like it went where it was needed most.
I'm in England, the weather is mostly crap, I've been living in my camper for 3 years now, I've got a woodburner I love it, it's the only way 👍
Hi Carolyn, I'm enjoying your video series. I just moved into my Silver Eagle Class A and will be hitting the road very soon with my Harley hauler in tow.
I am in upstate NY right now and have already seen minus16 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm lucky to have a working furnace, and when I heard you "drenched your furnace in WD40", I wanted to let you know that WD is not a lubricant, it will actually wash away lubricant and leave your bearings dry. You could try an actual lubricant, go to the hardware store and ask the smartest looking employee and I'm sure you will be directed to the right stuff...
Maybe I'll see you on the road somewhere! Be safe, be happy, be yourself,...Garry
Great job, I have lived in several RVs until I got tired of being alone, I had them on a shop yard where I worked but whenever I visited my family I had so much fun I eventually moved with them, but I really loved the freedom and peace and quiet!
Lmao "Now that I think about it, that might have been the lost and found." That was hilarious.
God Bless you woman. I know things have been rough for you.
You do many good things, but may I make a suggestion? I live in a 46' fifth wheel trailer. What I did is I got 5 cast iron pans from five, and dime shops. I stack them all together, and set them on the burner on the stove. I only put it on low, and those cast pans heat up, and the heat that comes from them is incredible. Also when you turn the fire off the pans stay hot for a long time.
George Foltz ogh ok
What an incredible idea! I will definitely try the cast iron pans.
Just don't do this if you have any pet birds. Cast iron fumes kill the little guys. Even simply cooking with it. Stay warm gentlemen : )
when I went hunting in my dads 23 foot 5th wheel it had one of them dumb furnace with a fan, that kill the battery's in one night, we set the oven to 300F and stuck a fork in the door to keep it open just a crack and it kept use taste at -10
ADVENTURES with Christian this cast iron idea is wonderful and if you would put water in the top one the humidity makes it even warmer
Great video and tips, Carolyn. Here's a tip I've used before. Get bubble wrap and cut it to fit the window panes of a window, fill a spray bottle with water and put a couple of drops of dish soap then mist the windows and place the bubble wrap on the glass. It suctions right on and stays put. Then when you want to remove it, it comes right off. Then repeat the steps when you want it back up again. I reused mine a couple of winters. Happy trails!
Did the same, the difference is noticeable.
Missy B
Missy B--You didn't finish your comment! Put a couple of...What was next???
+Jacki Sweetwood "put a couple of drops of dish soap then mist the windows and place the bubble wrap on the glass. It suctions right on and stays put. Then when you want to remove it, it comes right off. Then repeat the steps when you want it back up again. I reused mine a couple of winters. Happy trails!"
Missy B Thanks!
My Mr. Buddy would not relight at 2:00 AM because of lack of ventilation. It was 20 degrees and I was freezing. The next night I left the window open a crack and it worked fine.
winky phillips They have an oxygen depletion sensor inside.
You always need a window cracked open while using a Mr. Buddy.
**If that sensor had failed**, you could have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The bathroom toilet can also be filled with antifreeze for plumbing, sold at a hardware store. Make sure it says -50 degrees F and it will keep the toilet from freezing. This year I went to Home Depot and got some white, 4ft long by 2 feet wide insulation. 6 come in the package, and I put them in my windows through the 2020-21 winter. I also got some plywood and painted it 2 times, both sides, (2ft by 4ft long plywood) and I laid them up against the base of the bottom of my PleasureWay van to help keep the wind and snow from getting under the van. The 12 pieces of plywood helps so much better and can be put under the van storage and can insulate against the heat in summer too.(I live in Canada, so I cope with ice and snow).
Harbor freight tools moving blanket $8 need heavy duty hooks to hang works gr8 + mr buddy heater keep a window cracked best wishes!
Hi Carolyn! Your post was a godsend! I am full-timing currently due to a move from one city to another, and heading where it is colder (LA to SFO) so very worried about how to keep warm. I bought solar panels but not installed yet. House furnace is a pain, and like you said, a huge drain on battery, generator, gas, and propane. Plus it overheats the RV. I need a steady small source of heat that can be controlled with a thermostat. The little Buddy heater looks just right! I think if I keep a window slightly open, that should do it.
Its very heartening to know that you can camp even in snow, your post gave me a huge morale boost, thank you!!
Now, to pass you some of my tips...
I just installed wood flooring and ripped out old carpet. What I used as underlayment is called Silent Silver (or Silent Blue) from Amazon. 1/8" thick. You can get thicker versions. It cuts down road noise, insulates, is a moisture barrier, and gives cushioning to wood floor. Underlayment is the key. You can also slip this into door panels, walls, around battery box (leave holes open) and inside exterior storage areas to cut down noise, and insulate.
From Fabric.com, I bought a rubber blackout cloth called Roclon Blackout Cloth. Mine is white. I made curtains for every window, that were lined with rubber lining to block out light and keep heat in. My curtain tracks were from IKEA, and I used drapery pin hooks (also IKEA) with shirring tape. I also bought Reflectix from Amazon, which is a bubble wrap with foil on both sides, same as your windshield folding shades. For $50 you get a large roll that will do all the windows on 3 RVs. Just cut out window shape, and wedge into window frame. If there is not enough traction, use Velcro. Reflectix + Lined Curtains keep you warm!
Lass-in Angeles q
Where do you get the cheapest fabric? I need 6x6 for spray protection and I tried dollar store and jo anns, but it is too expensive.
Benjamin Brinkmann Go to a thrift shop or use big thick towels:)
I use hot water bottles to warm the bed, and keep heat in while i sleep.
since I live in an RV, when it gets cold like that I Drive South.
Robert Matthews right
Atta boy!
LOL...yep
@Flatus Antiquitous Florida's nice. Just not downtown in any major city.
Florida is not the only southern state in case you didn't know.
Thanks for sharing about the Mr. Buddy. I live in my horse trailer and use the same heater with the one pound tanks and don’t run it at night. Recently bought the hose attachment and filter but was concerned about using the big propane tank inside. Next winter I will feel more comfortable knowing it is safe.
UHaul moving pad blankets are good for insulation and keeping light out. And theyre only $5 at Harbor Freight.
Good info thanks.
Excellent Idea!!!! Then I can stop stealing from Laundromat Lost and found piles! :-p
thank you.
I tried to buy some used a long time ago and it was impossible. Moving company's said that they keep using until they literally are falling apart. New are much to expensive in Ontario. I'm going to be on the outlook for alternative sources now. Everybody should do the same and report back here what they find.
Eric Baker -- very good chose Iv stored 2 of them awary.
Carolyn's RV Life Yes. Just trying to keep u out of trouble. lol.
Have you tried putting cardboard on your floors? It really makes a difference...we found fridge boxes at a local furniture store and covered all the floors in our RV. Used duct tape on all seams.....if any of the cardboard gets wet simply replace those pieces. We also use a free standing propane heater in our RV and ALWAYS keep a windows cracked in kitchen & bedroom.
Lyn Lewis Lady, I bought carpet from those big rolls at Lowe’s, cut it to size. It cost me $ 28.- for the whole thing .I can take it up to clean and I really do not have to worry about it getting whet.... If you can not afford that, then you should not spend a winter up north.
We live in northern Canada...our floors get wet due to snowy boots. The cardboard is insulation under the throw rugs.. thought you would appreciate the info.. having cardboard under the carpets kept our floors toasty warm..much warmer then just the carpet .
Lived in my car for a whole winter in Colorado a few years back when I was homeless. Before that I never panhandled and contrary to belief in a mid sized city at least here people are pretty generous. It was was always lower to middle class people that helped me out. Not once did I ever see someone in a Mercedes give me even a dollar. To save money I lived and slept in my car most nights. I'd find cardboard at the back of restaurants like mcdonalds and cut outlines so they would fit snuggly in all my windows. I would then take a large metal coffee can, buy a bunch of those cheap small candles, and put them inside the can and light it. I also used lots of blankets. Some nights when it got really bad like 20 bellow I'd have to turn my engine on for a few minutes but for the most part I was able to sleep pretty warm. As far as places go I would usually just park at a walmart as far out of the way as possible and never got bothered once. It wasn't pleasant though being 6 foot 2 inches tall but long story short had it not been for people helping me out I would have probably froze to death. Some people would drive by and yell things like "get a job" not knowing how moronic their statements where. If someone is homeless in the middle of winter getting a job doesn't fix everything. Most of the time when you get a job you have to wait almost 2 weeks if your lucky but most of the time 3 to 4 weeks to even get your paycheck. That isn't going to keep you warm or fed in the meantime. Long story short I eventually had enough saved up to move into a place and get a job. It was definitely an experience but I wouldn't want to ever do it again.
Isn't thatvtrue? Who do u think gives during weather disaster? US . I would bet going by how many -not how much tl
-we who know poverty are the winners.
I'm glad it was only that 1 Winter. Good 4 u.
GET A JOB!
You gotta hubba hubba your camera man to stay warm
@Gayle Elizabeth I am really glad to read this! If only there were more people like you!! You know I use to think like your friends (when I was younger) But you have made such a valid point!
Even with a job ,it doesn't always mean you wont be homeless places are expensive
I lived in a 24-foot RV for several years in Oklahoma and it gets cold and I just heated with my burner on my cook stove it was propane I did use a little fan to circulate the air I'm still here hadn't died yet
Just remember this. Cold doesn't travel, heat does. Cold is not a thing, but the absence of a thing, namely heat. The distinction actually does make a difference. Your desire is to hold as much heat inside your RV since the natural state is for hot objects to lose that heat to a less energetic environment. Now, heat loss comes from convection (moving air), conduction (contact), and radiation. You are taking good steps towards blocking convection, just remember hot air rises and cold air sinks. Insulating your floors would be a good idea since they will be cooling off your interior space by conduction. You can also use cheap $1 mylar space blankets (silver side in) to cover those windows. All in all, from a survival standpoint you are on the right track.
HEY!!!
That's my Blanket!
hi. can I advise you to buy roof insulation on a roll like the one u use at the front and back of your van. but what we did was we put velcro on the wall and on the insulation and it made a very tight seal I also sewed the blanket fabric on to the insulation. also we made a yacht stove/heater out of flower pots it's amazing there is videos on line how to make it. you use tea lights in it. all the best.
Good idea.........
It dissipates the heat more evenly, that's all!
it worked for us. thanks guys
jjmunna
jjmunna
Love your video. My husband and I lived in our RV. In Denver for 9 years . We have been through it All. I don't know if you know but to keep your potty from freezing and becoming a huge turd sickle use I ce melt and Ridex right down the toiledt in the potty tank. We also live
Peninsula Glass in Vancouver Washington makes outstanding double-pane RV windows, which you can order and install yourself, if you are reasonably handy.
thanks for the tip
My pleasure.I installed these a few at a time in my camper until I had all of the windows replaced.They really helped.
Hey Javabear! Hi there. That's right, you've seen it.
Thank you,you are very kind.
Window film put up with the double stick tape (the kind you smooth with a blow dryer) works wonders on drafty windows while letting light in. It does not interfere with window coverings and can be left on year round to save on a/c. Try it out. Alternatively, try window quilts. 👍
Sounds like a great idea- I'll look into that. thanks!
Carolyn's RV Life we leave it up year round and cover it with an upholstery cloth window shade (Roman shade). It would work even better with your blankets, as shown, or window quilts.
good to know! TY
Carolyn's RV Life You are welcome. Am enjoying and learning so much. Thank you!
Try bubble wrap on your windows.
Free in dumpsters behind furniture stores.
Get the glass damp and it will just stick on.
Also at Home depot they might have a flooring material like a yoga mat.
Around 20.00 for for a 4x8 sheet.
Insulates really well and rolls up easily later.
I even put it under my bedding and in front of my door.
It's often -20 here in Canada.
The reason people remove the carpet is DIRT. WATER, and hard to keep clean.
No offense meant. What I am trying to say is that carpet is tough to keep clean in an rv. You had mentioned that lots of people take it out . Sorry.
Charles Adamski_1
You are so resourceful! You use what you have , and if you don’t have , you make do. Good for you for sharing what you have learned. It will be a help to people in some way, sooner or later. Thanks for your upbeat personality in difficult times.
may God bless you girl it's people like you who make the world go round
keep up the good work, because I'm learning so much from you guys!!😇 Yeah everything hole makes a difference, because we don't want to freeze to death!🙄
Interesting video. You are a brave, pretty lady. Sending prayers your way for Safety.
So cozy
Nice comment
At 9 minutes in I lost track of how many windows are in your Rig. So glad things are going in your direction, thanks for the great tour. Enjoy your travels.
A better alternative to those blankets,are squared sleeping bags(not mummy) instead.
They can be found cheaply on Amazon,Ebay,or at Walmart.
You can either use Velcro,or curtain hooks to hang them.
As for the pipes freezing.
I would get some some pipe insulation from Lowe's or Home Depot and wrap all the pipes underneath the RV with it and and secure it with duct tape.
For the battery box,a cheap styrofoam cooler could be cut and glued into place to line the inside,as well as the lid.
You still need to leave some kind of venting for the battery,to prevent gas build up,and possible combustion.
For the leaks along the floor seams.
I would get a couple of cans of Great Stuff poly foam,and run a bead of it underneath along the seams of the RV,anywhere I could access.
and a better alternative to that would be putting clear plastic over the windows to where is completely air tight been used for centuries. Why are people trying to reinvent the wheel with sleeping bags and overs etc etc. propane heater inside ehhh no thanks kerosene heater burns far better and cleaner with no smell
Tt Ss plastic being used for centuries? I think you might need some education on plastic and it being invented after the second world war . poly window plastic in the late 1960's. nice for covering home windows but in trailers and RVs it can be hard to keep taped to the window and even harder to keep from ripping. also when you want fresh air in the day time your shit outta luck
I am so impressed with your resourcefulness! It is obvious that you thoroughly enjoy the life you have chosen. I hope we meet in our travels someday.
Thank you Joyce, I appreciate that!
Use plastic bubble cushion ,on your windows ,it keeps cold out , I use it at my home and it keeps cold out and heat in 😊
Carolyn...You Rock! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Hi Carolyn. Just found your channel. I bought my first camper in 2011 so I'm still kind of new at this camper stuff. I recently discovered that those propane sensors should be changed out about every 4 years or so. Mine kept beeping at me when I did not have any propane turned on. Didn't even have the line hooked up to the propane tank. Bought a new one and that beeping stopped. Not sure how old your sensor is but it might be worth your time and safety to look a that specs on it and change it out. Not hard to do at all. Have fun and stay warm.
Did you check the batteries on the old one? most will start beeping if the battery is low.
Well, I meant the 12v sensor, the LP sensor. Ha ...thinking one thing and typed the other. haha.
At 0:24 *"It's SNOWING!!!" A wonderful woman I once knew said that very thing JUST LIKE YOU just did. If one has to look at Ads I don't mind one iota if they are HEATER ADS. Kudos to you and yours.*
Howard.. awww. its sounds like a lovely memory. Thank you!!
I can't request the types of ads on my channel.. sorry. :-(
I had a feeling that was the case. So you got a boyfriend? Cuz I am *available for that role if you had a mind to...* I'm up in Warshington above Oregon. If I knew your email I could shoot you my phone number. I'm EZ on the eyes and like all the usual stuff. I'm 64.
Good video I agree with everything that she has done . I'm in canada and i'll travel in my camper van until it gets to about - 8 c or so. Covering the windows really is important
Lots of great ideas . My MH is very similar to your lay out. The door area is one I'll definitely use. Since we have upper cabinets on either side of the door, I've used a tension rod above door and hang blanket over door at night. I am able to roll it up when not in use and you don't even notice it. I also use foam board in windows, especially windshield and under dash cut to fit so no fasteners needed., and boxed waterline and sewer hose with r19. When not in use, fold it flat and store in pass through bay. Full timing really teaches you about utilizing space AND problem solving.
To keep the draft off your head turn your mini blinds upside down facing up. You'll block more light and air this way! :) Try it!
Hi, I'm not tryingto be a bud-dingskie..but I had to call a 5th wheel home for about 3 years, No Fun at all.
But on the brighter note, I learned a lot.
I do remember seeing a type of heater that you hang in your window, solar powered during the day.
An at night or whenever desired, you turn it on, an enjoy what the heater absorbed while in the window.
Being it solar powered you'll save on battery & propane.
I'm now in my home, but still would like to add these to my home.
Just an idea. An I SO agree with "crabtree". Oh my goodness what a change in temperature the Window kits make. Homedepot has had the best deals, fyi.
I wish you well. Be safe.
Good ideas. Get a single pop up igloo tent for your bed; really warm. interior Velcro works great to keep the quilts & coverings up on the windows & doors. Good video.
Sorry Carolyn, I love Bob, he knows the in and outs of camping full time ! I always watch Bob!❤️
Me too luv both of their channels 💞💞
Hey! That's my blanket!! ;)
lol
Remember
ali xena no it ain't it's my blankie. Lol
Lmbo
No.....IT'S MINE
Written in TWO parts due to message size:
Recently my wife and I had to live IN our RV through the entire winter here in Wisconsin. Let me tell you the story of how we lived in our RV for a full year INCLUDING through an ENTIRE Wisconsin winter up here.
In 2014, We suddenly found ourselves in need of finding a place to live after being medical retired from my military service due to injuries.. It was decided to come home to Wisconsin.. little did we know finding a place to live would be near impossible in that little bit of time we had (two weeks in fact).
While desperately trying to find a place to live, I had the idea of using what little money we had ($5000 cash TOTAL to our name) and buying a small used camper to live in for a couple months until we could find a place... little did we know finding a place would take over a year because I cannot and will not live in a city... and I had my Combat German Shepherd who retired with me as well.
I am not a religious person by any means but I do believe in God and I know it was God that helped us because not only did we find a used camper, an RV dealer after finding out who were were and why were were looking for something in October in Wisconsin, sold us a 1998 - 38' Four Winds Windsport RV for... $5000. And get this.. EVERYTHING worked and was in really good shape with one exception.. needed a new engine battery (chassis deep cell battery was near new) and the genset would not start.
Turned out the genset was just fine though! In fact it was only a clogged carb needle.. I unscrewed it, wiped it off with cleaner, put it back in and it has been running since! Not only that we also learned we got lucky there too because it is an Olan which is standard BUT are usually civilian standard models across the board.. apparently when our RV was built, Olan ran out of the standard model and instead put a MILSPEC Olan 7500 Genset into this RV unit! That means we got a military hardened high end generator included with the RV that was also 2000 watts higher in power rating. Along with that, to work right this RV had been also equipped with dual inverters and converters to boot.
Anyhow, It was a lesson in itself but we did it and were comfortable the entire time. Let me tell you how we did it and how we set it up to survive the extreme Wisconsin winter.
One major issue to note in this video is the gas heater.. IF you are going to go that route, make sure you have installed a carbon monoxide detector. If that thing fails you will suffocate. We have two installed regardless because the built in furnace uses gas as well. But a portable heater is even more prone to leaking fumes.
Second, water. We had our pump and water working all winter without issue. You just have to take a couple steps to insure they do not freeze but it is very easy to do. For very little money, you can buy pipe insulation. Foam or tape. And it works great. As long as the temperature INSIDE your RV stays above freezing, your pipes will not freeze. I simply bought the pre made foam insulation tubes that just fit right around your pipes that stick together with sticky already on them. Peel the tape and the foam edges seal together.
From there, I installed electric heating tape wrap around the pipes and drain pipe for both grey and black water tanks; and also installed a small thermostatic controlled electric heater that mounted to the chassis under neath near both tanks. The heater could then just be clipped on to the mount for use or when not in use, simply unplugged and unclipped and stored away in the cargo bay. I will explain how we powered them shortly...
The two small electric heaters could run at 700 watt or 2000 watt settings and both were thermostatic controlled. I had one pointed at the grey and black water tanks as mentioned and it kept the space warm enough so they did not freeze and when I needed to empty them (I bought two portable tank containers on wheels for this purpose that I could roll and take to a dump location as needed, usually once per week even with showers.
In addition, I took one more of these small heaters (they are only about 8" x 4" x 5" in size, thermostatic controlled) and created a mount back by the water pump. Both of these heaters were set to 40 F on their thermostats so they only kicked in when the temp dropped below 40. The idea is NOT to keep things warm, rather to generate just enough warmth to keep stuff from freezing. Trying to keep things at a warm temp would be impossible in fact.
I ended up finding, to my surprise, neither of these two heaters ran much. Keeping the temp at 40 F ended up being rather easy to achieve and both these heaters, when they did kick in, I found ran for less than 2 minutes in those small areas to bring the temp back to 40 F. To be safe we also placed a smoke detector with each unit just in case however.
Now that we are finally in a new place we finally found, my wife and I are upgrading the RV to solar energy and I also built a small portable wind turbine that clamps to the back ladder on the RV... The design I came up with should supply enough power to cover needs as I explain below once we complete this project.
For that winter, however that we had to live in the RV we needed to make other plans due to the extreme conditions of a Wisconsin winter and knowing we needed heat and the power to generate it.
So what we did is and was very simple. I bought two 100 gallon Propane tanks. Then spliced the internal tank line with a splitter valve. I added a regulator to the external tanks. That means that I did not have to mess with the internal tank regulator at all. I cut about 15' of copper tubing and put the ends on it, one to the tanks and one to the spliced splitter valve. I turned OFF the internal tank to keep that as a reserve backup tank. Turned on the dual 100 gallon tanks and the regulator I bought not only indicated WHICH tank was being used but told me when it switched automatically to the second tank and that the first was empty.
When we need to move, I simply disconnect the 15' line, put the cap on the splitter, roll up the copper line and throw it in a cargo bay.. The two tanks slide into mounts that hold them secure and are attached to the frame of the RV inside the back cargo bay.
The genset can run on either gasoline OR propane. And so we can run off either source for electrical AC power. However I did not want to have to listen to the generator running constantly to give us heat. So, what I also did was wire the system so that it monitors the batteries (deep cells) and when they drop to 40% power, it automatically kicks on the genset to recharge them to 90% before automatically turning off again. I added 3 additional deep cells to my RV on top of the one it was designed with. This increased dramatically the time between the generator charge ups. And it never kicked in at all during the night even with the furnace running a lot if it needed to on super sub zero weather nights. During the day, depending on what we were doing it would kick in 3-4 times during heavy load to charge the batteries... i.e. using the microwave a lot if we so desired.
But normally it ran on average twice a day. And each day I would have a powerful laptop usually running all day along with internet service (SATELLITE at the time - I set up a portable HUGHSNET dish using collapse-able legs and cement blocks to hold it from winds once setup.. Now, that is gone and I have installed a full wireless system and we use cell phone hotspot if available or free wifi depending on where we are. The furnace runs off 12vdc as well so no worry about needing a lot of power from that either.
Along with a laptop, usually the TV and sat dish would be on as well during the day time. Keep in mind we had the two electric heaters that put out about 700 AMPS when they ran as well. As long as we did not constantly use the microwave (and obviously had no need for AC in the dead of winter) or hair dryers or other huge power drawing things, the genset would only kick in a couple times a day. We used the microwave basically for when making or heating dinner leftovers or popcorn and that seemed to be just fine
We paid approximately $120-$150 a MONTH for propane doing this (the house we now rent is about $250 a month.. what a difference) - depending again on how much AC power we wanted to use. And when one tank was empty, we just took it to have it filled while the other took the load.. And yes, there was one period where I procrastinated too long in filling the tanks and ended up having to shut off the splitter and turn on the internal reserve tank. That's what being lazy gets you though! You can bet I got the main tanks refilled right after that though!
That's it when it comes to generating power and heat! And with other changes I will talk about, we stayed at 70 F the entire winter even with winds blowing hard at times.
To insulate and keep heat from escaping we took a number of steps. First, I bought a bucket of MASTIC pipe paste. I then crawled under the RV so I could get to all of the furnace ducting and I applied a liberal coat of MASTIC on every seam I could find. I had my wife power up the furnace fan and anywhere I could feel air escaping I sealed with MASTIC.
PART 2
I then bought a bunch of 3/4" rubber matting remnants from carpet installs etc.. And since I would have to cut them to fit my intent, it worked perfectly for what I did with them.. Basically under the RV, I cut each section to match the floor area I wanted to cover and insulate, applied glue to the rubber matting and glued it to the bottom of the floor under the RV. And I can tell you THIS made one hell of a difference not only in retaining heat through the floor BUT ALSO sound while driving down the road.
For the windows, we bought those silver window coverings like she showed in the video but in sizes that fit the different windows in the RV. In windows we rarely really used we put these silver insulators in. Then once that was done, we bought scotch guard window sealing film and applied that across each of those windows then closed their blinds.
For windows we wanted to still have light through, we also applied the scotch guard window film to stop the loss of heat.. The film was stretched across the window frame which created about a 1-2" air pocket between the film and window itself which is the best buffer against cold you can get but still allowed us to see in or out. At night we just pulled down the blinds for privacy and a little additional insulation to boot.
The door. Again, using that same rubber matting I used to insulate the flooring underside, I measured and cut a chunk the exact dimensions of the door frame. Then I mounted two hooks at the top of the door frame, put two holes in the rubber mat and just hung it on the inside of the door when we were inside for the day or night. This laid flat against the door frame and stopped all leaks around the door from getting inside. The steps leading down the exit on the inside we then used a section of that styrofoam silver line board you can buy cheap, cut a section that match the steps hole and simply laid it across that then laid a small door rug over that to hold it in place and cover the edges against any leaks of air. When we needed to go outside, just pick it up and set it next to the door, roll up the rubber insulation mat covering the door entry toward the top where it was hooked and I used Velcro straps to hold it there when the door is in use.
Finally, the last thing we did was using that same styrofoam insulation with silver backing, I cut out sections that conformed to the dashboard where you fit normally go. I inserted each section so that it basically made the area under the dashboard now flush and seal everything under the dashboard back behind the styrofoam board This kept air from the engine compartment and under the dash from escaping or entering that way. Along with the silver windshield liner, we then put velcro tape across the top of the cabinets over the drivers/passenger area then we sewed a long strip of velcro on a heavy blanket material on one edge then hung that down to and flush with the dashboard. That pretty much kept all air flow from happening in the entire front section of the RV. This also still allow us access to the dashboard itself so we could turn on the stereo that was hooked to speakers throughout the RV, turn on the forward over head light if we needed something out of the front, turn on the satelite radio we installed AND more important, start the engine every couple of weeks if we were parked longer than 2 weeks in a spot to make sure it and the engine battery stayed operational.
We also decided to just spend the little bit of money and bought inserts pre-made that are put inside the AC unit ducting on the ceiling (heat rises so this was important in fact) inside as well as pillow foam inserts that fit into each of the air ducts for fresh air on the ceiling as well. HOWEVER, to insure proper airflow, we did NOT seal the stove fan and air fresh air intake and the central ceiling vent was also left open.
Temperatures dropped to -30 F that winter. During that time I think at the settings we usually had, the temp inside dropped to about 65 F so we decided to increase the furnace use by thermostat to reach 70 again. That lasted about a week and at the end of that month, I think we paid around $152 for propane due to the extra use.
Additionally, I should mention one other thing that made a HUGE, and I mean HUGE difference... the thermostat! Our unit had come with the analog thermostats.. no frills etc. I took a chance and upgraded them to electronic/digital thermostats... and man am I SOOOO glad I did.. What a difference. The furnace went from running with temperature variants of 3-4 degrees either way to what it was set at to EXACTLY what you set the temp to be.. And that cut down on fuel use big time..
One thing we had read a lot about from other people was that they had a problem with fogging and freezing over windows. We DID NOT have this problem at all! In fact using the scotch guard film window covering that leaves a small 1"-2" gap was the reason why. I HIGHLY recommend you use this method for winter. It simply and easily sticks on around the entire edge and when winter is over it just peels right off and is cheap to buy.
The second thing we did was REMOVE ALL light bulbs in every single fixture and replace them with new LED light bulbs.. We went from a HUGE draw of power from the batteries to basically near nothing just doing that..
Just so you know, you DO NOT, repeat NOT need nor have to replace anything to do this.. Simply take out the old bulb and put in the new LED version of the same bulb. Your power draw will be substantially less that you will think something has to be wrong until you get used to it uses so much less power from your batteries! ;-)
BTW, using the two tanks, internet (at that time) from satellite and the two electric thermo controlled heaters as explained, it took us maybe 5 extra minutes to break down or setup if we had to move. It did take me about a week or so to do all the work right after we got the RV and realized we would be living in it through the winter, but knowing we were going to have to live in the thing through winter, I started on that early November right away to get it done in time.
Here is the awesome part.. Total cost was LESS than $1000 for everything with the two propane tanks and my decision to add three deep cell batteries to the unit taking most of that cost up. Each LED bulb was a couple dollars. The mastic and foam stuff was about $100 total. IF you don't add batteries or as big a tanks as I did, you would easily stay well under $400 at most.
One last thing we did do a bit later... I bought heavy canvas and created a 'bra'/skirting to hang around the entire RV. Since we were newbies I did not realize what winter cold air would do UNDER the RV especially when the wind kicked in and thus came up with this method. Some recommended bales of hay or straw but that is not practical if you need to move.
So I cut up the canvas I bought to go from about two inches from the bottom side of the RV so it hung down and left about 5 inches extra AFTER hitting the ground. I then used found small boulders, pieces of logs and other heavy items and laid it ON the bottom 5" extra of the tarp on the ground to hold it against the wind flapping it around. Later, I had a brainstorm when I saw some old pallets in the junk. I grabbed them, ripped them apart them heavy stapled each board/slat to the bottom of each part of the skirting to hold the skirting from flapping around - that is why I cut each one to be about 5" longer than the actual distance from the RV bottom to the ground.. The weight of the pallet boards I stapled to the bottom of each section then kept them from being flapped around or moved by the wind blowing and kept the under side of the RV much warmer by far!
So basically, we lived in the RV, had full running water, toilet and heat and only had one problem the entire winter where in the back near the water pump there is a small BRASS fitting corner in the water piping that was hidden behind the damn wheel well. The BRASS fitting got cold enough one night it actually cracked and any time the water was turned on, would generate enough power to spit water out of the crack.. We did not find it until one day I was checking things, looked under the RV and found a huge BLOCK of ice from the bottom of the RV to the ground! LOL That one little brass corner fitting... I replaced it once I found it in about 10 minutes and that was the only issue all winter. Of course it took about 3 days and a heat lamp directly on the ice to melt it enough to break free from the bottom of the RV without breaking anything.. That was a loud three days because we ran the genset full time for that due to the amount of power pulled by the heat lamp. One of these days I want to find a way to insulted for genset sound better... but it is not a critical thing except when trying to sleep.
My wife and I had never owned or lived in an RV let alone in the winter like we did.. We had NO idea what we were doing at first. But using some thought and common sense, we planned out each thing we realized we could do easily and did so.. We had to be careful money wise because as a disabled Veteran, what I now get to survive on is peanuts. But we did it... and both of us would have no problem doing it again if we had to, not only because now we know what to expect, but because when we think back to 2014, it actually was rather cozy and comfortable!
Malakie Usn. Thank you for your service! You say you used common sense, but I thInk you had much more knowledge and intelligence than most. I think it's a shame that as a disabled Veteran you weren't better taken care of by our government. People like you and Carolyn are making me see my own future differently. It's leading me to a more exciting and adventuresome life. I can't wait to get on the road!!
Thanks for the nice words... Even though the V/A and government treat us like this, I would do it all over again if called. I will admit it is not hard to live on what I get now but until things change, that is the way it will have to be. Because of that though, I often try to find easier and more inexpensive ways to do things and this was one of those times I put that to use.
I lost my home once due to an injury that couldt allow me to maintain 90 efficiency at the job. I had just bought a 36 ft class A RV for $15K befor the accident and it saved me & my dogs, from complete homelessness. I loved camping and traveling and thought this new life would be ok.I found I love it more than i thought i would.If I cant live as my prior income allowed me,then ld rather live in an RV traveling. I managed to return to working my field part time ,but lived in the rv and traveled all over nevada and Ca. to do it and work at the same work.Though there are disadvantages to it,I felt they were worth it.Home ownership requires more security and if payments falter for a couple months you lose the home and any equity in it,which I did on the last home I owned(3 total and did fine on them,until the last. When the income isnt as secure watch out,all it takes is one accident,misjudgement or any number of things! i shoulda originally got a good gobment job,but i didnt and the private sector will cut you at the drop of a dime . It was a time from the 60s through to 2007 and even now where the opportunity to make a profit on your home was /is good(better before 2007,but still doable. Anymore as one ages and job security health etc begins to falter,the rv life is the way to return to. I love it and as long as I can keep it runnin im a happy person.
Malakie Usn Wow thank you for your inspiring story, & for fighting for the people of this country. I wish you well.
RV furnaces are so inefficient... I use a big buddy and space heaters when on AC.... The big buddy heats my 34foot rig up super hot.. Big buddy heaters are safe for indoors... Has a low oxygen cutoff and tip over protection.... I always keep my sky light open a touch to vent.... I aslo have a CO2 detector.... I keep my 20lb tank outside and run it in a hole under my rig through the dinette storage... Good job on air leaks.... Its weird but my rig is 27 years old and the only draft I get is from the door... I also have on most of my windows a clear plastic sheet over the windows... you cant see it unless you run your hand under the wood blinds..
Very interesting, Thanks, I am a welder so I made a little bracket to mount a 1 burner Coleman camp stove that screws onto a 16 oz. Propane bottle, now it mounts on top of the 5 lb or 10 lb propane tank, connected with a propane hose, I made a spacer 4 inches above the burner that my stainless steel coffee pot sits on, so I have hot coffee in the morning plus warm heat all night on the lowest setting, my 5 lb tank normally lasts about 5 weeks. GREAT VIDEO, OH I live in a step van, I also have 265 watts of solar panels, 12v. And 2 6volt deep cycle batteries, in series to make 12vdc. Propane is the Only way to go for heat!! Way Cheaper and no problems. Thanks William.
I'd recommend getting carpet tile if you want an inexpensive and simple way to install carpeting yourself.
Fredrick Laverdiere I bought carpeting and cut it to size. It is easy to take out to clean and it does not move and really keeps the floor warm. So, I have wall to wall carpeting, but can take it out easily.
Fredrick Laverdiere Fredrick yepper
I've seen the carpet squares at Habitat stores,... around $2 each.... easy to install without adhesive.
I custom fit several windshield reflectors on my RV windows, makes a big difference especially in summer. Bigger rolls at Home Depot.... very cheap.
Neat set up.....I hope u never have a fire because your place would go up in flames so fast. You have combustibles in every square inch of your home. Please have multiple, full fire extinguishers close at hand....
Geez, can you be a bit more doom and gloom? She only needs to never use damn candles and she will be alright.
Inspect the extinguishers you have periodically by checking the gauge and confirm it is in the green, look into the nozzle for any obstructions then knock the tank against a tree or something a few times to break up any fire retardant inside it that may have clumped up. Know how to release the trigger to spray a fire before you need it. and do not hesitate to use it, grab it first not a towel to fan flames etc.. A fire will cause panic and knowing what you are doing eases that.
@Marcus Bustad I agree, I like all my stuff, but it makes me crazy, so 1ST THING I noticed & wanted to tell her is GET heavy duty boxes (in AK, we call them "Fish Boxes"). Nearly indestructible, wax coated (for shipping plastic bags of frozen salmon), same size as long dresser drawers, but attach a handle on the end...) ppl here use them instead of luggage. I saw her "overhead" place she keeps the blankets. Looked like a twin bed size. Use them as drawers, you pull them out to store/ get your stuff! I'd buy 2, slide them in & out, much cleaner look, WAAAY easier to organize, holds WEIGHT as well as volume. Maybe Duck Duck Go it (Not Google- they're evil).
90% of RV construction is wood, foam insulation and possibly Fibreglass (GRP) and thats before you think of gasoline, diesel, propane fuel and the combustable stuff n clutter inside.... In case of fire.... Dont try n fight it.... Just get out.
Northy has
Marcus Bustad she does have some. Legally you have to have at least one
I have NO drafts in my travel trailer, as I sealed & caulked EVERY seaming point....from the roof, walls, to floor & undercarriage of my RV. I have never had drafts. I reseal my rubber roof, every year. Caulk around the plumbing openings. Spray foam insulation is great too. I do have wall to wall carpet, with high end padding. My propane heater is awesome, and keeps me warm. I am going to install a small corner wood burning fireplace, utilizing lots of flashing, reinforcing the floor joists/flooring, with a retractable flue. I know lots of RVer's who have installed fireplaces, that work well as secondary heat, and saves money on propane. I won't be able to have my swivel rocker, anymore, but it will be worth it, considering I am a year round RVer. If you can't replace you RV windows, you can get plexiglass, cut to size, then clear caulk in.
I utilize heat lamps, outside & under my RV, at the holding tanks & pipes, then wrap the bottom of the RV to hold the heat in....keeps the floor warm, too.
Make sure your hot water heater is warmed, too....the water left in will freeze, expand & crack the hot water heater. Or you can empty the hot water heater.
Diane Morgan, do you use any special caulking? Explain, pls wrapping the bottom of your RV. I'm new at this and have much to learn. Thank you.
Happy Trails June 22, 2019
Great advise thank you on her behalf
Diane,
You sound smart and brave! Do you have your travels on TH-cam also?
Carolyn, omg. The big secret about trapping heat is preventing air from moving. Closed cell foams are cheap the thicker the better. The blinds do nothing. Heat travels through the weakest point, both sideways and down. Locking exercise mats cut to shape will stop a major issue with the floor better than carpet. As for the windows a trip to a box hardware store for good Velcro and hard sheets of foam cut to size is the way to go! If you can feel cold air coming in a joint such as floor to wall then seal it with clear flexible silicone. Enjoyed watching you set up the blankets - thanks.