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Heater placement

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13316
Printed Date: 29 Mar 2024 at 6:23am
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Topic: Heater placement
Posted By: Buffalohunter
Subject: Heater placement
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 10:09am
So does anybody else own a 2020 189 R-Pod and wonder about the placement of the heater?  Went dry camping in the hills this past week...for the first time.  I could not figure out what the “brilliant “ engineer had in mind when they installed the heater.  It works fine but the fan blows the heat into the small compartment under the bed...fan blows to the right...rather than out into the living space. Is this the standard placement for all Pods?  Anybody else wonder why the heater was not placed to blow heat into the living space.  So as the heated air blows into this small compartment...nice and warm place to dry shoes...some of this warm air will drift out but by the time it makes it to the other end of the Pod...what warm air?  We had to put the thermostat at 73 to over heat that compartment and thus get some warm air out to my wife’s toes sitting at the table.  I am now looking at either turning and cutting out a place for the heater...or constructing a diverter to direct the warm air out of the compartment.  Am I missing something here, is this standard issue, is it a safety concern...whaddup?  Any ideas would be much appreciated.  Embarrassed



Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 10:43am
My set up is different than yours, but the heat is also pretty mis-directed.  Some people come up with some kind of diverter, others use a battery operated fan.  For dry camping you can use an electric heater, which is often the best option, but a Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater will run you out of a Pod.

Because of humidity buildup it's always best to leave a window and or the vent cracked.

TT


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2010 176
FJ Cruiser


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 1:45pm
For any non-vented propane powered heaters, it is a must to leave a window partly open.  It consumes the oxygen in the space and is supposed to have an automatic shut off if the O2 level goes too low, but what it it doesn't work and you're sleeping?  It may be a very long sleep.  Unhappy

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 3:12pm
I believe that the installed propane heaters in the R-Pods take in fresh air from the outside for combustion? There should be no problem with dropping the O2 level in the trailer.

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Jay

179/2019


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 3:35pm
For the record the problem with non vented propane heaters is CO (carbon monoxide) buildup in an enclosed space. The CO buildup is caused by low O2 levels due to inadequate ventilation but the CO is what actually kills you. 

The Suburban heaters in our trailers use an external air supply and are externally vented so not a problem. The heater in the 179 also blows into the under bed area but the opening into the rest of the trailer is plenty large enough that the whole space will be heated just fine by natural convection. Just be patient, you won't have hot air blowing right on you immediately. It won't get too hot under there unless you block off the space with gear. A couple pairs of boots are fine. 
 
Non vented portable heaters can be used if you want but maintain good ventilation and use a CO detector. I think the main reason to consider using one is to reduce electric consumption if you're boon docking. The Suburban furnace blower is an energy hog. 


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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: Buffalohunter
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 5:34pm
So “heating” the Pod is an indirect approach. Sure vents are open, windows cracked...but with the propane heater working don’t expect heat to be warm but to keep the inside from icing up? Using another heater while dry camping only sucks the electron flow from everything else...then what’s the point of having a propane heater that can’t heat the space? Of course the under bed area is nice and toasty. Looks like a custom diverter is in my future. O2 levels are a concern but freezing toes are the issue.


Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 5:44pm
Go with either metal or aluminum foil-covered plastic for the diverter. We used a magnetic plastic ceiling register diverter without foil and it melted. It was the perfect size though.

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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 5:56pm
Aren't the trailers required to have CO detectors as part of the life safety alarm system?  I know our Pod had one and the new trailer has a combined smoke and CO detector.  The problem with using un-vented propane heaters is that they don't get their O2 from outside to burn like the Suburban furnace installed in trailers. They use up the ambient O2 and, as that happens, the combustion becomes less efficient and more CO is produced.  That's why they have the automatic shut off when O2 reaches a certain level.  Again, if you leave a window open enough to let in fresh air it shouldn't be a problem.

If you have good battery capacity and a solar panel, assuming reasonable sunshine in the day, you should have enough electrons available to keep the it nice and warm inside all night, that is if you can stand the noise of the heater running.  We turn our heat off at night and use a down comforter to stay nice and warm in bed.  My job in the morning is to turn on the heat and start the coffee going.


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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: SteveA
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 6:50pm
Purchased one of these years ago and have used it in 2 different RV's.  In the Pod (179) I simply tapped into the Pod's gas line under the stove a quick disconnect attached to a rubber gas line and the heater. When in use I plug the line into the quick disconnect under the stove (storage cabinet) and place the heater out in front of the sink on the floor. It's a catalytic heater so it is extremely efficient, uses no electricity, very quite, has three heat settings however is a bit spendy when compared to a traditional portable propane heater like the Buddy. When camping in Yellowstone last month with lows in teens and 20's it kept the Pod in the mid 50's on the lowest setting at night. I do crack the sofa window and bath vent and have never in either RV had a Co2 alarm.                                                  www.amazon.com/Olympian-Portable-Catalytic-Camco-57331/dp/B000BUV1RK


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2017 179 1/2


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 9:12pm
Hot air rises. Once it gets warm under the bed it will convect into the room. It has to, there is nowhere else for the heat to go. It won’t continue to get hotter and hotter under the bed and the heat won’t disappear either. You really don’t need to blow the hot air directly into the room for it to get warm.

You don’t have to leave the window or vent open using the suburban furnace.

Any unvented propane heater (blue flame or catalytic) will be as efficient as any other because 100% of the heat produced stays in the heated space, along with all the combustion products. You do have to provide ventilation for them to be used safely so that will reduce their effective efficiency. The externally vented Suburban furnace is less efficient because hot combustion gasses get exhausted outside. Which is actually more efficient in practice is going to depend on how much ventilation you feel you need to provide for the portable heater.

There isn’t any electric usage with the catalytic type so that can be a significant advantage. They’re quiet too. If you have electricity where you camp by all means get a portable electric heater. It is 100% efficient, quiet, no combustion gases, and best of all you’re not using up your propane.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2019 at 9:21pm
With our 179, I use a battery operated fan placed at the side of the opening opposite the heater to pull the hot air from under the bed and shoot it out into the larger cabin space. The side closer to the heater is left open for cold air return. This works quite well when we dry camp and are using the propane heater. If we have shore power, I use a small ceramic block heater. Either method gets the job done.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS


Posted By: geewizard
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 6:50am
Originally posted by SteveA

Purchased one of these years ago and have used it in 2 different RV's.  In the Pod (179) I simply tapped into the Pod's gas line under the stove a quick disconnect attached to a rubber gas line and the heater. When in use I plug the line into the quick disconnect under the stove (storage cabinet) and place the heater out in front of the sink on the floor. It's a catalytic heater so it is extremely efficient, uses no electricity, very quite, has three heat settings however is a bit spendy when compared to a traditional portable propane heater like the Buddy. When camping in Yellowstone last month with lows in teens and 20's it kept the Pod in the mid 50's on the lowest setting at night. I do crack the sofa window and bath vent and have never in either RV had a Co2 alarm.                                                  www.amazon.com/Olympian-Portable-Catalytic-Camco-57331/dp/B000BUV1RK


+1 to everything above.  We use the Wave 3 heater in our RPod and truck camper and are quite happy with it.  You can search for my posts and see how I installed propane lines with quick disconnects and shutoff valves.


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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC


Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 7:27am
I used a Mr Heater when I had the Pod. Same furnace under bed layout.  Window furthest from the bed cracked a bit, plus the bathroom vent slightly open. 

 The Mr Heater only has two heat settings, low and high. The Mr Heater LOW setting was still a lot of heat, and the one pound bottles would only last about 3 hours on lowest heat setting. So it was somewhat of an annoyance, knowing it was expensive heat, and wasted heat through the vent. But I never let it get colder than 55°F  when sleeping in the Pod.

 I had two 12 volt  Marine/RV batteries, and I could use the furnace if I wanted too for along weekend when cold out, but I actually hated the noise from the furnace directly under the bed, every time it cycles it would wake me. That's why I bought the Mr Heater. Never got around to making a propane connector from the 20 pound tank though, which was my plan for the Mr Heater. My new trailer has a furnace further away, multiple heat ducts, and is significantly quieter.



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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI


Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 8:32am
Many owners have built a deflector to move the heat out into the living space a little better.

Rpods are small spaces, the heater is a little bigger then a microwave, look around, see where else it could go.. nowhere convenient. They end up where they end up.. because that's where they fit.

The heater draws it's combustion air from outside the camper, AND exhausts the byproducts outside. CO is not a danger if everything is running right.

We recommend a small bit of cross ventilation in cold temps because of moisture build up and "sweating" that is common in all small spaces when there is a large temperature difference between inside and outside.


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Posted By: Buffalohunter
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 9:03am
Thanks for all the good info...my CO and smoke detectors work just fine. The heater does as well that’s why off-road I crank the heater up to 73 so I over heat the compartment whereby convection takes over and some of that warm air spills out into the living space. So bottom line leave the heater in place, maybe when dry camping try another electric heater but most importantly construct some kind of a metal smooth wall diverter.  Good call not to go with plastic...don’t need nothing melting on me.  Just trying to understand and customize my 189 to make it more comfortable eliminating the cold toes and other unforeseen problem areas.  This is such a great site with a wealth of information...thanks mucho.


Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 9:37am
Originally posted by offgrid

You don’t have to leave the window or vent open using the suburban furnace.

That's true in so far as CO is concerned.  My original comment about cracking a window and the ceiling vent was in regard to humidity.  If you don't mind waking up with water running down your windows and wall, you're right.

TT


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2010 176
FJ Cruiser


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 10:30am
Humidity? what humidity?  We don't have no humidity out here in NV.  Wink

-------------
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 11:48am
Originally posted by lostagain

Humidity? what humidity?  We don't have no humidity out here in NV.  Wink

Well, maybe not, but two people can exhale and/or perspire a surprising amount of moisture overnight.

TT


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2010 176
FJ Cruiser


Posted By: geewizard
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 1:16pm
Originally posted by Buffalohunter

Thanks for all the good info...my CO and smoke detectors work just fine. The heater does as well that’s why off-road I crank the heater up to 73 so I over heat the compartment whereby convection takes over and some of that warm air spills out into the living space. So bottom line leave the heater in place, maybe when dry camping try another electric heater but most importantly construct some kind of a metal smooth wall diverter.  Good call not to go with plastic...don’t need nothing melting on me.  Just trying to understand and customize my 189 to make it more comfortable eliminating the cold toes and other unforeseen problem areas.  This is such a great site with a wealth of information...thanks mucho.


http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13022&KW=cake+pan&PID=125499&title=rpod-177-furnace-deflector#125499


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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 2:13pm
We have dry humor in NV.  Big smile

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2019 at 2:33pm
Originally posted by lostagain

Humidity? what humidity?  We don't have no humidity out here in NV.  Wink
We keep our humidity right next to the steenking badges. LOL

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost



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