Winter weather can make RV living tough: Thinly insulated, plywood walls, chilly winds creeping through poorly caulked windows… all of this means a cold home on wheels. Without some tricks up our sleeves, living in an RV when temperatures start to dip would prove difficult… most people wouldn’t do it!
Luckily, RVers have a few methods to stave off frigid weather, and keep warm while inside their rig. If plugged into shore power, an electric heater is a great option. But for those of us who are boondocking or off grid, there are plenty of effective heating methods that don’t require electricity. Here we’ll focus on our top four favorite ways to keep warm without needing to plug in to an outlet, including: Appropriate insulation, propane heaters, water bladders, and a secret weapon against the cold… battery-powered heated jackets!
1. Insulating Your RV
First things first: Without proper insulation, your RV will lose all internal heat, making cold weather unbearable.
Not only does insulating your camper keep warmth from heaters inside, but it also traps heat from other activities, like cooking, bathing, and even moving around. Hey, in the cold, every bit of warmth you can keep inside the RV helps!
Insulating Part I: Window Shade Insulating Inserts
Camper windows are by far the worst culprit when it comes to heat loss. There are several techniques for insulating RV windows in order to combat this. One of the best options is to build shade insulation inserts that can be easily set up and taken down.
To create your own shade insulation inserts, you’ll need several items: foam board (the thicker the better), reflective surfacing (like Reflectix), scissors or a knife capable of cutting the foam.
1. First, measure the windows’ length and height
2. Then, cut the foam board to size so it fits snuggly into the window space
3. Next, wrap the outer side with the reflective surface
4. Tape down the edges of the reflective surface to the foam board
5. Place the foam board snuggly in the window space during the day to reflect heat out during the day, and keep warmth in during the evening
6. You may need to tape the foam in place if the cut is too loose
Shade insulation inserts can easily be put on the windows or taken down depending on your needs, and are an incredibly cheap DIY project!
Insulating Part II: Reduce Airflow
Airflow under and around your RV can cool down its outer walls, which saps the heat from the inside. If you plan on parking the camper for extended periods of time, it’s best to find ways to limit the airflow under and around your RV.
If you’re willing to pay for a nice RV skirt, look for those with attachment buttons that you can install all the way around the bottom edge of your camper. Then, the wind tarp or “skirt” is secured around the lower, outer edge of the RV, blocking wind from flowing under the carriage and reducing heat loss.
Skirts can usually be cut to size when you get the material. Or, you can make your own by cutting a tarp to size and anchoring it to both the lower outside edge of the RV and the ground. As long as the skirting blocks the airflow from reaching the camper’s underbelly, it will do its job and reduce heat loss.
Insulating Part III: Caulk All Windows
Windows tend to wear quicker that other parts of an RV. To keep heat in the rig, make sure to check around the windows and find any damaged, loose, or missing areas; You may even want to scrape out the old and apply a fresh coat of caulk. Sealing up the windows securely will reduce drafts or air that may have entered through cracks.
Pro-Tip: Caulking is an essential on-board product for any RVer: Consistent care and maintenance is important when it comes to the coats around all the rig’s windows. Not only for insulation, but also to prevent rain and moisture from seeping through the cracks.
2. Propane Heaters
Propane heaters are an affordable, popular method of heating RVs. Two of the most popular heaters are: The Mr. Buddy Heater, and the Dickenson Marine Propane Fireplace.
The Mr. Buddy Propane Heater is compact, portable, and for such a small appliance, really packs a punch. This heater only requires a 1 lb. propane bottle that screws onto the side. It does not require an external flame to start: Just turn the ignition dial until sparks light up, the flame begins to glow, and the heating begins!
Mr. Buddy heaters also have a great safety feature: If the heater is accidently tipped over, the flame should shut off automatically. Just make sure to never leave the heater on unattended, or overnight while you sleep: The safety feature is great, but it’s never a good idea to leave propane gas running and fires lit without keeping a watchful eye… just in case.
How long a 1 lb propane tank lasts depends on the size of your RV, as well as the winter temperature. For us, we live in a 19′ rig in southern California. During the winter months, it does get cold, but never cold enough snow. So, a 1 lb propane tank might last us a week or two, as we turn it on and off during cold nights.
If you’re planning on living in an area that does snow, the Mr. Buddy should serve you well, but you’ll probably be going through a few bottles of propane a week to keep warm. Make sure you have enough on-hand, and have access to more. Without a heat source, RVs get very cold, very fast.
Another option is the Dickenson Marine Propane Fireplace. Unlike the Mr. Buddy Heater, this marine heater is not portable and will require some carpentry skills to install. Boats and vans often have these installed for not just heat but also ambiance, and if you’re up for a construction challenge, adding one into your RV adds a little je nais se quoi.
Note About Propane: Propane appliances should never be left on overnight or unintended. A propane leak can easily turn into a serious fire hazard, especially in an RV.
3. Water Bladder
Water bladders are a bit “old-fashioned” but incredibly useful for cold weather. Just heat a pot of water, pour in to the bladder, and place under your blankets near your feet or where ever else you’re feeling the chill.
Water bladders are not only easy to use, but highly economical: Once the water cools down, you can always pour the water back into a pot and reheat. These save money on propane tanks, and can be used overnight, unlike Mr. Buddy heaters that should never be left running unattended.
4. Battery-Heated Jacket
Okay, this is sort of cheating, but it’s also a secret weapon against the cold: Battery-powered heated jackets.
In order to power up these little life-savers, you’ll need to have enough energy to power them up (either plugging in to shore power, using a generator, or having enough solar power stored in your batteries/inverter). But, once the battery is full, you’ll be able to keep yourself warm for hours with this wearable, powerhouse of a “heater”.
These jackets can keep you warm in cold temperatures for up to 10 hours, depending on the setting used:
| Setting | Max. Temperature | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 100° | 10 hrs |
| Medium | 120° | 6 hrs |
| High | 130° | 3 hrs |
Having a heated jacket in your RV arsenal can help fend off that really chilly weather!
Wrap Up
RVs, vans and trailers are notorious for thin insulation and losing internal heat, making cold weather especially tough.
Luckily, there are a few weapons we have against the chill. First, make sure the RV is well insulated (without this, warmth will continuously seep out of the camper).
After insulation, make sure to have a good propane heater like a Mr. Buddy or Dickenson on hand: This keeps the interior comfortable and toasty. An extra piece of the winter arsenal is having a battery-powered heated jacket hanging up in the RV closet, for that really cold weather.
Lastly, never underestimate the power of simple, old-fashioned items, like water bladders. Inexpensive, easy to use, and keeps you warm for hours- even overnight- water bladders are often over-looked when it comes to RV heat without using electricity.