R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Siberian Icebox
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedSiberian Icebox

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>
Author
Message
RoadToad View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 18 Nov 2015
Location: Ninilchik
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 46
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Siberian Icebox
    Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 2:00pm
Driving south from Alaska to Texas. We’re in Toad River, BC. Last nite it was -20°F, our propane furnace would run 10-15 minutes- then shut off before reaching thermostatic setting. Anybody know why this might occur? 2015 R179. We’d like a little warmth tonite while passing thru this Siberian Icebox called northern BC. RoadToad <corax50@gmail.com>
No service here- I’ll check mail in a few hours at another wifi hotspot down road.
PS- THANX! In advance to whomever may help us.
2015 RP179
Back to Top
WillThrill View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 04 Jul 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 298
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 3:42pm
It could be an issue with the thermostat, and it could be an issue with the furnace itself.  Something in the furnace may be overheating and causing it to shut down prematurely.  I wouldn't have the skills needed to test it; you will likely need to take it to an RV repair shop.

Unless you can get it fixed, I would highly recommend that you get a small propane heater that can be run from 1 lb. bottles, 20 lb. tanks, or both.  Mr. Buddy has several models that do this very well and safely.  Just crack open the vent in the bathroom while running it.  You should be able to find this type of heater at any many stores, especially hardware stores.
"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 4:58pm
+1 - have a backup plan to your on board systems, heat especially. Furnace is a stand alone system, Mr. Buddy with one pound tanks ensures you have heat until you can determine furnace issues. Even minimal heat is good.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
Back to Top
voisj View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 19 Jul 2016
Location: San Luis Obispo
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 471
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 5:30pm
I had my furnace run off and on all night every 10 minutes while boondocking in 12 degree weather. It was a long night. The pod is just not insulated well enough to warm it up and hold it in these temps (-20) for more than 10 minutes. I  finally just turned on the generator at 4am and plugged in my ceramic heater. I bought a small propane heater just in case for next time. Are your tanks all empty or frozen?
cheers John
SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
 
Back to Top
Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1447
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 7:01pm
I haven't studied the onboard heater in Pods, so this may not be accurate.  Home systems that I have worked with have a bonnet switch to sense the air temp in the plenum leaving the furnace.  If it gets to hot the furnace shuts down until the temp returns to normal.  The fan runs during this short cycling.  It can happen if the output or return air vents are partially or fully blocked.  In our Pod the heat comes from the furnace and is vented into the Pod from a space under the bed.  This happens to also be a great place to store things.  We have laundry baskets that fit into this space that we use to store our clean clothes.  We make sure that the baskets are removed before we run the furnace.  
Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6283
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 8:34pm
For our 179, I purchased a fan that could be run on a 12V adapter or on batteries. O2-cool is one brand. I had originally purchased a similar RoadPro model that had 3 blades. I found an O2-cool one at my local Staples at a very reasonable price. While it technically runs on 9V (6 D-cell batteries), the 12V adapter I used with my RoadPro works with it and it just runs faster and a little louder. On the D-cell batteries, it is very quiet. I set the fan up at the opening of the recess where the heater is. I put it near the drawers. It pulls the hot air out from under the bed. I have not had any problem with the heater short-cycling.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
WillThrill View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 04 Jul 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 298
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 9:03pm
Originally posted by StephenH

For our 179, I purchased a fan that could be run on a 12V adapter or on batteries. O2-cool is one brand. I had originally purchased a similar RoadPro model that had 3 blades. I found an O2-cool one at my local Staples at a very reasonable price. While it technically runs on 9V (6 D-cell batteries), the 12V adapter I used with my RoadPro works with it and it just runs faster and a little louder. On the D-cell batteries, it is very quiet. I set the fan up at the opening of the recess where the heater is. I put it near the drawers. It pulls the hot air out from under the bed. I have not had any problem with the heater short-cycling.

I too suspect that a lack of ventilation and/or a faulty internal thermostat in the furnace is the culprit.
"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL
Back to Top
SteveA View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 19 Jul 2017
Location: Sandpoint Id
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 56
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2017 at 10:59pm
Bought this years ago for our Dynamax 36' XL as we boon docked a good deal of the time. Was plenty enough to keep it warm at night down to 30 degrees, haven't used it yet in the Pod but have to believe it will be more than plenty. I plumbed it into the stove feed on our 179. Very quite and extremely efficient.

Back to Top
Iceworm View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2017 at 11:59pm
Roadtoad, good luck with your adventure. You are brave. Last year we towed our 179 up the Alcan in November and it was brutal. About 3000 miles of ice roads from Washington. Temps were a little warmer than what you are experiencing. Very few places to tuck into for the evening. We had retroflexed the windows while in Idaho, but condensation was still an issue. The heater would take a couple hours to get up to temp but then stay fairly comfortable. Heater seemed to run about twice as long as the off cycle. This November we left it and the tow vehicle in Penna. and flew back to Delta Junction Alaska and will fly outside and bring it back in April. Again good luck, and the Lord be with you.
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Dec 2017 at 3:57pm
At -20F, you don't have enough surface area in a 5 gallon tank to evaporate fast enough to maintain gas flow.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz