Terra-Sea
Pacific NW
Full Member
Joined: 02/15/2010
View Profile
 Offline
|
If you've ever been to a truck stop parking lot, you'll note that the truckers often sleep all night long with the engine on, taking advantage of the heater, etc.
Can the same thing be accomplished with a gasser in a B? In my case, I have sniffers for Carbon Monoxide and smoke. I'm thinking of cold nights when it seems wasteful to pay $25 for just an 8 hour/overnight power hookup.
1991 Dodge Ram 250 Turtle Top (aka Turdle)
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
300 HP heater is about as inefficient as you can get but yes it'll work.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
retraite
Wanderin' about
Senior Member
Joined: 04/08/2005
View Profile
|
If you leave the gasoline vehicle chassis engine idling all night, you'll soon be buying a new engine.
But, if you have a genset, you can surely leave it running all night and plug in an electric heater. Most folks that do that use either a small ceramic heater or an oil filled heater (if they have room for it).
The other thing you can do - which we've done enroute - is to pull in (everything is warm at that point), get out the down sleeping bags (they pack down really small), go to sleep with nothing running in our vehicle, and when we wake turn on the genny to power the small electric heater, and get back in the bed for awhile. That way we don't have to listen to an engine (ours) all night. Works for us.
If we do that in truckstop, we park near the cars - away from the trucks.
Cheers.
|
surveyorjp
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 09/05/2005
View Profile
|
retraite wrote:If you leave the gasoline vehicle chassis engine idling all night, you'll soon be buying a new engine.
Why?
2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. Popup shopping
|
Mr Bojangles
Hamburg, PA. 19526
Senior Member
Joined: 12/03/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Hello:
We know it's possible, and you have all the safety one needs with "detectors", so money is only factor. Do the math regarding "fuel consumption, and "wear and tear" on engine.
The Convenience while traveling is a big factor.... just pull over in safe location, and sleep for awhile. I'd do it.
SAFBVET.....
|
|
|
powderman426
ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Is there something wrong with the furnace?? The battery or batteries should last that long, and the LP used will be small in comparison to the fuel and wear & tear.
Ron & Charlotte
WD8CBT since 1976
28' Prowler & 05 Ram QC LB
I started with nothing and I still have most of it left
I never fail, I just succeed in finding out what doesn't work
.JPG)
|
retraite
Wanderin' about
Senior Member
Joined: 04/08/2005
View Profile
|
surveyorjp wrote:retraite wrote:If you leave the gasoline vehicle chassis engine idling all night, you'll soon be buying a new engine.
Why?
Oil pressure and cooling are the big reasons. Vehicle engines are designed assuming that they are running at something above idle (that means higher oil pressure) and are under some load, and that air is moving over the radiator as a result of moving down the road.
I know folks do it (idle for extended periods), but, IMHO, you're asking for (expensive) trouble.
If you like, think of it as similar to the "other end" of the scale. Would you drive your vehicle with your foot hard on the "go pedal", with the RPM pegged to the limiter for extended periods? Engines don't last long in that scenario either.
Diesel engines are different.
Suit yourself. It's your choice and your money.
Cheers.
|
past-MIdirector
Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 03/03/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Join either CampClub or Passport and it's only about $15 a night at a lot of camp grounds. We usually stop for at least 14 hours a day so we can fix dinner and relax. Then in the morning watch the weather while we are making breakfast. Way cheap than the fuel and wear and tear on the engine/generator. I was told by a trucker that his diesel engine uses less than a gallon of fuel an hour to idle and in cold weather it was better to idle and keep the engine warm then to shut it down.
|
Terra-Sea
Pacific NW
Full Member
Joined: 02/15/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
powderman426 wrote:Is there something wrong with the furnace?? The battery or batteries should last that long, and the LP used will be small in comparison to the fuel and wear & tear.
I took the furnace out. Noisy and it took too much room. I am a member of Passport and like them. Trouble is....they are not always in the areas I frequent or they require a two night stay. I was thinking in terms of a night snooze at a Walmart or truck stop, leaving the engine on with the heater going.
|
bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/30/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
powderman426 wrote:Is there something wrong with the furnace?? The battery or batteries should last that long, and the LP used will be small in comparison to the fuel and wear & tear.
+1
I'll note that many of the over-the-road drivers use a dedicated cab heater like my Espar diesel furnace. Cheaper than idling!
Dan
02 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 long tall home brew conversion
|
|
|
