Comments on: Electricity or Gas–Whatcha Gonna Heat Your RV With?

By: RVdude

RVdude — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:48:12 +0000

I’m looking for a new motorhome and on the subject of heating and cooling the only manufacturer that I can find that lists R values for their insulation is Newmar. Do any others show this anywhere in the manuals or literature??

By: propane heaters

propane heaters — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:16:59 +0000

propane heaters…

Well spoken. I have to research more on this as it is really vital info….

By: ecadvocate

ecadvocate — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:04:28 +0000

I wish RVs used better building materials with higher insulation values than typical construction. Today, they “insulate” but not well. The sales literature says “better than ever” but that’s like going from a D student to being a C student. We need A students.

Super insulated and super sealed homes, with windows facing the sun have proven you need only minimal heating from a furnace - the sun goes through the windows, gets soaked up in dark, dense (but heavy) materials like concrete, stone or water during the day and then releases the heat slowly at night - when you need it most.

But those materials are heavy and that’s bad for gas mileage. But let’s focus on the other half - the insulation. Super insulation and air sealing weighs very little is like a big fluffy coat with the zipper up. If the teeny holes that you can’t see aren’t sealed up, it’s like a fluffy coat with the zipper down - you got to have both. But most RVs have neither. They just have skimpy spring jackets on with buttons that the air can get through, not zippers. The other benefit of super insulation is hot summer A/C bill reduction.

We hear about codes - “our products are built to code”. Well, “code” doesn’t mean the most energy efficient home or RV you can build, it means the LEAST efficient home or RV you can build.

We’ve got to do better so future generations can enjoy year round, comfortable, energy efficient, financially efficient RVing.

By: Cowboy_up75706

Cowboy_up75706 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:13:00 +0000

I use two electric space heaters to heat my 37 foot Jayco TT. So far, it keeps the trailer comfy for me. And I don’t pay for the electric, yet. I am just curious though, on how they can charge for electricity use, cause I see alot of “come and go” type campers. Late arrivals/early departures.

By: john146

john146 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:39:00 +0000

Great post, but if you have a heat pump, it changes the economics in favor of using the heat pump over propane for almost any reasonable conditions except for temperatures in the 30s or below. I discuss it in my blog at http://www.ahrensadventures.com/blog/?p=18

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:21:00 +0000

This article was so timely!! That’s why I love this newsletter. We were just asking that question yesterday, but weren’t smart enough to figure it out! Thanks for the help. I know in a stick house, natural gas is cheaper than electricity, but didn’t know it could also be cheaper in an RV.