Truck Camper Shell Living | How do I stay warm? | Beating the upstate winter cold
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- While preparing for this journey, the vast majority of my effort was spent preparing for the winter cold. There is a combination of different methods and gear I have utilized to make myself comfortable while stealth camping in the back of my pickup.
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Gear covered in this video:
Portable Propane Heater | www.amazon.com/dp/B01DD6C4MY
Twin Mattress | www.amazon.com/dp/B011397784
Cold Weather Sleeping Bag | www.amazon.com/dp/B007JTLKCC
Sleeping Pad | www.amazon.com/dp/B00HANOZRY
Gear I used to film this episode:
Sony A7III | www.amazon.com/dp/B07B43WPVK
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 | www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSLM1X8
RODE Wireless Go | currently sold out :(
I've bought a few heavy quilted bedspreads from Trift stores ( under $10 @ ) glued magnets in the corners of my van and sewed fender washers 3 inches from the edge of the quilt to mate with the magnets and overlap th gaps, good cheap insulation. I have 200 watts of solar panels on top, a charge controller, and a AGM Battery. This solar set up also runs a 12 volt compressor refrigerator and keeps my tablet and phone charged as well. I have a 6 inch foam mattress on the floor, with waterproof zippered cover, and a few rectangular sleeping bags layed out flat with a 12 volt truck stop electric blanket. To take the chill off in the morning I light a propane burner for a a minute or so. Then get dressed and head for the recreation center for a soak in the hot tub and a shower.
If your staying places that have power, throw you a 100ft extension cord, and a full size electric blanket in your truck. Even if you only have power a few nights a week, you'll enjoy those nights.
I’d consider leaving that draft alone because it may actually be keeping you alive while you sleep with the propane heater? I’d also consider a high quality OSHA carbon monoxide tester with a warning alarm capable of waking you from a deep sleep….
Good advice. Although the buddy heaters do come with auto co2 shutoff. I wouldn't trust it in an enclosed tight space.
@@BalthazarMyrrh70 no they come with lack of oxygen shut off not CO2
The propane you get from 20# tanks has a lot of contaminates in it. If you don't add a filter to your buddy heater the refilled 1lb canisters will kill it. This is the filter you'd be looking Mr. Heater F273699 Universal Heater Fuel Filter.
Get a large thermos . Boil water before you lie down and you can have a hot tea , hot cereal , or coffee when you wake up . You could also use a hot water bottle that you could refill from the thermos . Good luck and hi from Newfoundland .
The R value of Reflectix is 1. It's true intended function is Radiant Barrier, which requires some air space to be effective.
I did Alaska in a box. The box is amazing! A lifetime of evolution of a carpenter. You pick the box out of the truck with the fork when you get to the job. New home! Ridged foam with absolute thermal block. I heated with three candles in negative temperatures.
ALL FACTS I know what you mean,,,, I did it all too...,🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Alaska in a Box? What's that?
Amen brother. 🙏 I pray God puts a hedge of protection over you in your travels. I have been living in my truck for 4 months now and I just bought a camper shell. I still have to build the whole inside and insulate it and stuff so I will keep watching for more information. Your a cool dude man I subscribed. Stay blessed and God bless
Just found your channel tonight. I camp in my Toyota FJ cruiser. I do about 30 weekends a year. I love to see how people set up their trucks. I do a similar set up in my Toyota. Can’t wait to see more videos. I found your Instagram page as well. Excited to see what you have.
Great job! I recently sold the house, buying a truck and about to do this! I thought of using just one giant (taped together) aluminum foil bubble sheet fixed to the ceiling, then rolled up during daytime. The reason for this being that heat mostly escapes through the cracks. Having one large airtight bubble -- of foil bubble wrap -- would also keep more heat in while its windy outside. Foil bubble like this can be true foil sheets applied onto the bubble wrap, or the cheapy versions only spray aluminum like paint (which will fade in time). I was thinking of an electric heater via solar panels... go Canada!
Cheers keep it up man you're way ahead of me!
Try using padded moving blankets as your rear curtains. Inexpensive (less than $10/each) and efficient insulation. Buy 2 and cut/sew to fit how you want.
I too have been praying about a similar thing and today I stumbled upon this video. Hearing the ending resonated with me in an unexpected way.
Thank you for making content!
Must be the soundtrack 🙂
I will have a van before the year is out! My 2 kids and I will use it for travel and I am so excited! Nice setup you have and I’d do a similar one if it was just me ☺️
Going to be living on the road soon for work and looking into this type of lifestyle to save on room and board. Thank you for sharing.
Truck cap camper is the way to go! Make sure the cap fits the truck well though, especially if you don’t mind spending the money. I searched for a deal and it doesn’t fit perfectly so there’s a lot of draft from spots I had to plug up
Me & my wife camp in the high sierra around snow all the time, we have a pillow top mattress an a 2 person down bag rated to 0, also a small Kovea heater, the biggest mod has been a professional crawl thru (Breezer Windows), in the morning when it's cold i roll over an hit the remote start an maybe go back to sleep. P S it does NOT leak!
I have a truck shell camper, buddy heater, inverter generator around 2000watts. Im still experimenting with a Dietz lantern ( Jupiter) it was originally designed to keep a green house above freezing...around 1400 to 1500 btu output, a 80 percent fill will give you about 50 hrs burn time. The other items will heat it no doubt but it over does it or it requires the generator and a electric space heater. Since the diestz Jupiter wick it 7/8 wide it doesnt pull pure paraffin up through the wick efficiently , so you need a good clean kerosene to burn, such as K1
Great ideas thanks 👍
I look for wool blankets at the Goodwill. They work better than anything. Keeps me warm and dry..no sweating ..I love them! Do you have a pass through window to your truck cab? I'm getting a remote start to crank up the truck heat and put the fan in the window. I wouldn't use the Buddy...Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector..be safe!
I was using a buddy heater too......but the damn condensation is terrible. When it gets down to 10-20 degrees you wake up with ice all over the inside. So I got a 12 volt electric blanket to plug into my Jackery, it shuts off after 90 minutes (pain in the ass) and depletes the Jackery pretty quick. So, I recently bought a Champion 2000 watt inverter generator and a real electric blanket. The Champion will run for 11 hours at quarter load...not really stealth camping but I plan to lock the generator to my front deer guard run a cord to the back. I haven't tried that out yet but hoping to soon!!
I seen other TH-camrs talk about diesel heat being an option to, being that it burns a lot dryer. I haven't come across a portable diesel heater though.
@@thehumancondition2947 I’ve checked them out also....I’m on the fence with them. Heard many pro’s and con’s!!!
Look into setting up a bivy inside of your camper, on top of your sleep platform. Take your sleeping bag inside your bivy. You will be using your body heat to regulate ambient temps. Stay blessed.
Impressive spiritual content at the end 8:15 Glad I stayed tuned. Peace.
I lived in my mini van for 16 months ,,,winter time too it was the best time of my life I never learned so many things and I was able to save more then half of my check ever months ,,, I save big doing that....in a house now for 4 YEARS...🤔🤔🤔🤔👁️👁️👀👀👀. No brainer...🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑
Thank you for the help. I just got kicked out of my mom's house. I have a truck so this was the only option to live on my own. January cold snap wish me luck
Finally found another truck shell camper channel! I sleep with buddy heater
It's a growing lifestyle!
John snow knows what he’s talking about!
Reflectix has a R1 value so it's not given you much support. I would build those window covers out with reflectix, corrugated plastic and heavy black fabrics. That would protect you better. Prius Stealth Camper on youtube has some great vids showing how to make them.
Make some curtains out of wool, give them zippers, you could even add zippers to the side so you can zip them to the edges of the camper shell
You got a new subscriber
good job
Love the music!
I Love-Luv "U' , "PLEASE" remain permanently safe !!!!.
Continue in prayer. Be well and be blessed my brother.
Sheets of armaflex and double sided moisture resistant tape for you hatch situation. I use armaflex everyday in refrigeration pipe insulation. It's the most dense insulation pound for pound. It's a bit pricey but it's far superior to standard fiberglass insulation. Make sure you get the sheets and not the standard pipe cut stuff. You need to go to a supply house for hvac and refrigeration
Good idea
You have a good mindset for a young man
Maybe check out the Chinese diesel heaters they sell now...and also get a co2 meter alarm with early warning. You could try the same reflectix that you already use on your curtains (and sew it together) or make it touch each side of the camper shell with magnets or a bottom curtain rod. Just my $.02. I also appreciate the ending...Good luck and take care. God bless.
Cool man
Try an oil/kerosene lantern....far cheaper, longer lasting, lighting, less intense heat for a small living area...use a carbon monoxide detector., crack a window...
will definitely check those out!
Wine sipper, do you have a particular brand of lantern you recommend?
Wondering if you ever tried using a generator and electric heater. I'm nervous about using a propane heater in my topper. Seen a number of small generators that have a good ratings not too expensive. They would be good for an electric blanket and heater to warm things up before going to bed.
I’m looking into a heat storm heater and a gasoline generator it’s either that or any other set up that seems more convincing. I’m mostly thinking of the price per night to get heat.
Cool
God bless brother, I also live off grid. For me, it’s full time. I have a truck slide in camper I put on a cargo trailer. When I get a chance I’ll send you some pics and vid’s for you to check out
Interesting review, thanks. Depending on how loose the seal on the lift gate is, you could get some foam pipe insulation that had the one split side and slide it over the edges to create a better draft seal when you close it up. You can buy tailgate seals that fit along the sides and bottom to do the same there. As for diesel heaters, although not properly portable you can get all in one units now where you just attach the inlet and exhaust pipes. Depends on where you can fit them to the outside, I guess. Be good if you could figure out a way to use one of those, I think. 👍🏻
How do you fit? Lol glad it worked.👍🏻
What type of Truck top do you have and what is the height of the back hatch? Tailgate to top of door? Do you think an ATV could be loaded in the back with the topper on it? Good video and many blessings
Is there any reason you don't use a hose to connect the larger propane tank directly into the heater instead of filling the smaller propane canisters? I swear there are hoses/regulator set-ups exactly meant to interface the large propane tanks to those exact heaters.(I one one too, a few people I have met have and talked about them)
Get a parking heater that runs on diesel or anything actually.
try lining the floor with packing blankets
I absolutely *have* to have an electric blanket. Looks like I have to have solar. Wether I want to or not. Or at least an inverter and some batteries.
I lived in my van for 16 months had all things NEEDED to keep me warm electric Blanket tv and food ELECTRIC HEATHER too phone tablet,🤔🤔🤔 I was good and saved lots of money too....🤑🤑🤑
Needs a 20lb propane hooked to a double buddy heater. No issues for three winters in the rockies.
thanks
Use a bed comforter.. Nice set up.
This man just explained the spot under his bed like we're at a Ted talk
Why not mount the tank and run the heater off of a 20lb bottle adapter on low?
God bless you
Should have a co2 detector for safety.
get yourself an ecoflow delta, and use a heater on it? you can use it even for xbox gaming, get about 4 hrs a day out of it. Hit the National Forests if you can get some gas money? Food stamps for food, medicaid for health. Just search for free campsites/dispersed camping. Get a hard drive, fill it up with some mp4 movies, a crapload, then just get a 24" LED low wattage tv, shux you can get 80hrs of tv watching. Solar only takes about 4-5hrs to charge up, and your good for another few days of movie, laptop, gaming?
I would hit the beautiful country, check out the national parks, find free campsites nearby, look up campendium, it lists all kinds of places. Hike tge trails, get a dog for a companion, a small cockerspaniel, or chihuaha? Throw out a hammock, get a kindle reader loaded up with 20+ books, chill, and read, maybe write a novel near a stream?
Heck I even have card games, "Arkham Horror The Card Game, Shadowrun Crossfire, and Dragonfire", these are terrific for coffee morning fun, takes about an hour to play a round. Even go fish for trout while hiking trails, and peeks. Why not go see the beauty if you can? Adventure, explore, build a campfire at night. Kong coolers keep ice upto 10+ days, shux theres your fridge, lol.
Way cheaper living. This is the path ill be taking as well. Too expensive out here, jobs just eat up your freedom, and life. Why not go enjoy it?
Have you tried the insulated curtains from Walmart. Very soft fuzzy backing. You could also double the curtains up. ☺️. How do you like your cooler? I just bought that same one. Hoping it’s good.
I was very happy with the cooler at first however now In the 60-70’s temp I gotta deal with melting ice after a day. Still stays pretty cold but can’t leave things unsealed or they get soaked
@@thehumancondition2947 thanks good to know. This cooler is an upgrade from my Coleman that I wrapped in styrofoam insulation trying to keep it cold. It became bulky so I thought I would try this one. I just can’t justify a yeti yet and don’t have my solar hooked up in order to add a fridge. Here is to hoping this cooler works. Take care
Are you friends yet with TacomaTraveler? She's got some great ideas too :) and some videos, as well as Bob Wells :)
😊😊😊😊
How do you make sure you’re getting enough oxygen when you’re burning propane?
Big Bubble wrap!...still get light day but can't see through day or night; tacky material will allow you to take up & down, put hanging net on ceiling to hold wrap when down; insulating too!
That tack is a good suggestion... might go with it!
@@thehumancondition2947 I think you can spray a light film of h20 to hold it up too; a light opaque fabric glued to one side will make it even harder to see through while still allowing light, yet still be light enough to stay up.
God bless
Once I have my rig I'd like to have several solar power stations and utilize one of those to power a hanging lamp that holds a small infrared bulb, like the ones you find in the reptile section of pet stores; I'd like to see how much power it takes and just how warm I can stay. I'm also thinking about an electric blanket that's powered by rechargeable batteries, which I could recharge with solar during the day. Have you tried any of these methods yet?
You trust a Mr buddy propane heater Wile you sleep ??
I was thinking about it , but you could easily die
Your camper got wet inside after that car wash?
How about some long johns (thermal underwear) as pajamas?
instant Like! for starting with Spongebob!
Crusher!
I heat my tent with alcohol I live in a tent and use a alcohol stove for heat
Don't use methanol aka meths aka methyl hydrate.
@@FirstLast-ml7yf i have a diesel heater now
What do you do with the condensation build up?
I use a candle lantern from UCO. It gives off 5000 BTU to control condensation. I am getting a UCO Candelier that uses 3 candles. Also, I have added 3/4 inch rigid insulation to the reflectix for windows. The flip top door insulation is affixed with velcro. The side windows are attached via hooks that are epoxied to the fiberglass shell. I remove them each day to allow any condensation on the windows to dissipate. The candle lantern is fantastic and hangs from a hook epoxied to the ceiling. The back window is insulated and is held in place by friction, and a small cutout that allows fresh air to be introduced to the sleeping space. I would never use a Mr Heater in a small space with bedding nearby. Too dangerous in my opinion. I am boondocking in Canada... and the winter is looming. For the most part I am comfortable with a duvet and cold weather performance clotning. :-) I do have a cold weather rated mummy bag that I will employ when the temps dip below 0 celcius.
deym i thought he was Jon Snow lol xD
Is that a Tiger blankey?
Genuine RITchie
Laundry?
What’s that
Here's a video of my camper build th-cam.com/video/_JjvzBplqNQ/w-d-xo.html
Just get a used truck camper
Thats the plan!
Don't understand why you need heat after you crawl into your bag for the nite. A little heat in the morning before you dress up and good to go. When I was his age I never used heat in the back of the truck except in the mornings when it got down into the 20's I would lite my Coleman cookstove just to warm it up to get dressed. I always took pride in "roughing it" when out hunting up here in MN. Don't know if I had a mental disorder or just wanted to be macho, but today these young kids are definitely snowflakes.....not men
Yikes carbon monoxide
I’ll keep you warm 😏