My dilemma

[opus]

I have 4 gensets...lol.  I have a 4.0 Onan I will put in it this fall.  Until then, I will pack a portable one along.  Not really worried about AC yet.  We dont use AC too much in this country.  Could go roof mount but they are pretty inefficient energy wise, I am told.  Plus I am not wanting to start whacking holes in the roof.  Might try one of those portable ones this summer and see how that goes.

[RJ]

Peter -

If one of your gensets is a contractor's model, please leave it home - your neighbors will thank you for it!

If you have a small diesel genset, then you can run it off the main fuel tank, no need to carry a different fuel type.  And the diesel gensets are much, much more efficient than gas or especially propane. 

Plus, you can set it up to provide power for the Webasto, thus, with the zoned suggestion by Don, keep everyone cozy until the diesel runs dry!

But set the genset & Webasto fuel pick-ups high enough that it leaves you enough fuel to get to civilization to refuel - don't want to send out a search party, you know!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[eddiepotts]

I agree Cody. A desk top portable is probably just as good. I just like this one because it is small and looks good enough to be built in. I think the last time I was in Lowe's it was on sale for $99. If he is wanting one for the summer It needs to be built in. The circulating fan in the room is the key to what ever heat he chooses. He will be having to open a window to let some heat out.

[robertglines1]

do mini-split ac on e-bay lots have heat and air 12,000btu is a good size they are differant in how they operate some will produce heat down to zero. would give you something to think about.

[opus]

Mini-splits are nice but that is way out of our budget at this time. :/

What about something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Procom-ML300TBA-30-000-BTU-Vent-Free-Blue-Flame-Heater-/120636588672?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c16804280#ht_1816wt_907

[thomasinnv]

Mini-splits are nice but that is way out of our budget at this time. :/

What about something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Procom-ML300TBA-30-000-BTU-Vent-Free-Blue-Flame-Heater-/120636588672?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c16804280#ht_1816wt_907

You will get responses from both sides of the fence on this one.  Some people are for them, and some are dead set against them.  Myself, I have used that type heater for years with no problems.  That having been said, 30k btu is way over kill.  That one would run you right out.  I have a 10k btu and it does just fine.  Have used it in my last 3 rv's, and have one in the bus.  the last one was a 36' fiver with 3 slides and it kept us warm down to single digits.  Once we got down that cold it was way past time to be moving on anyway so that's what we did....on to warmer climates.

[cody]

In the vent free area you'll find 2 kinds, one kind is the blueflame model the other uses a pad that glows red, I prefer the pad kind, I have several, one in the bus with 2 pads, one in the house in baraga with 5 pads and a thermostat control and one in the skanee house with 3 pads, I've used them for years and they don't bother either my carbon monoxide detectors or my smoke detectors, the blue flame type seems to use more LP gas tho for some reason.  All of mine are the Procom brand from Northern Tool.

[opus]

It says they dont work above 4500' [sigh].

[Chaz]

The vent free's also tend to "moisturize" the place a bit too. 

[oldmansax]

A decent sized battery bank (isolated from the start battery) will run your Webasco, circulator pump, & heater fans over night on thermostats. An additional alternator on the engine will charge the battery bank while your are driving. That is the way mine is setup although I am using propane instead of diesel. It is still the same principle.

TOM

[opus]

I have a 200A alternator.  I would think that would sufficiently charge anything I want.  I also have a lawn mower engine with an alternator attached that I could use while parked, to charge batteries.  What do you classify as a "decent sized battery bank"?

Seeing I am electrically challenged, I would like to hear how you have the Webasto setup to run on thermostats.  How do you manage to set it to cool down before it shuts off, like with the normal timer?

[thomasinnv]

It says they dont work above 4500' [sigh].

I have used mine at over 9000' with no problems at all.

[opus]

Go figure.

[opus]

My wife hung the divider curtain to the bunk room last night.  I then put one of those oil filled radiators in there.  This would heat the back bedroom and the bunk room.  It only got to 33 last night but I just went out and checked and it wasnt bad back there.  There was no bodies in there either.

I do suspect I could hang a small propane heater back there and it would do a better job than one of those radiators, plus I wouldnt need a generator running.

[mcidave]

I am also generally a newbee at heart...I looked at your pictures and love the bunks and read bed idea, I have adopted the same.
Also, the low budget schema makes for a happier accountant in long run!