Cold weather camping with no furnace

[jeremy]

We left Birmingham Friday morning at 3 a.m. EST. Went north to Knoxville before stopping for breakfast as the kids and wife woke. Drove up to
Lexington VA, about 45 minutes north of Roanoke and stopped for two nights so I could visit my alma mater. Daytime temp in the 50s and low 60s,
nightie temp in mid 20s. This coach has no propane but we had 30 amp hookups. Shut everything else down and plugged in 2 cube heaters. Since we left
the dogs at home, we put both heaters on the floor, one at foot of steps, one across from fridge and we've been toasty warm. Got even colder last
night near Luray VA, but no problems here. 50 amps at a nice place called Outlanders, we had both heaters and the water heater running, even the
bathroom was luke warm thanks to the water heater. So yes, you can winter camp with no furnace, you just need a little planning. I wouldn't want to do
it with lows in the teens and highs about freezing for long, but a day or two would work. I will say a big difference is our honeycomb blinds. They
insulate the windows which seem to be the real weak spot.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL

 

[Carl Stouffer]

That works as long as you don't dry camp. We use a Pelonis ceramic cube heater whenever we are plugged in, and an extra blanket or two when we are
not. The nice thing about having a propane furnace is having the ability to take the chill off in the morning while dry camping. Without it, you are
out of luck while dry camping.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging

 

[jeremy]

Agreed Carl. We just don't dry camp. When I've travelled alone I've spent a few nights in a Walmart parking lot, but we just wont when the kids are
with us.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL

 

[johnny]

Never underestimate the value of an electric blanket on a cold night.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.

"Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon

 

[sean kidd]

+1 for outlanders, we stayed there this past summer, great tubing on the river, access to Shanandoah and Luray Caverns, did you drive over the hill
from 81? I chickened out and came in from Front Royal through the valley, we were coming from the north anyway.
--
Sean and Stephanie
73 Ex-CanyonLands 26' #317 "Oliver"
Hubler 1-Ton, Quad-Bags, Rear Disc, Reaction Arms, P.Huber TBs, 3.70:1 LSD Honda 6500 inverter gen.

Colonial Travelers

 

[jeremy]

Up and over. I got over my fears driving up and down from Rock City outside Chattanooga and on I64? coming across the Smokies. Now I just trust the
coach, downshift when I can't hold 40, and go down in the same gear I went up. I do keep a good eye on my brake fluid after a tough day!
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL

 

[Rdenney]

So, I'm driving to a meeting in Fairfax VA, and when I approached the exit
for Dulles Airport, my autopilot brain naturally took it. 95% of the time I
pass that exit on the Dulles Greenway, the airport is where I'm going. I
drove into the airport to turn around in the gas station for rental cars,
and I see a GMC parked at one of the pumps.

Well, not stopping would have just been unfriendly. So, I stopped and met
Jeremy, who had just returned the car he had rented for local sight-seeing
and was fueling up for the return trip to Birmingham.

We had a nice chat, reinforcing what makes the GMC community special. Good
luck on the return leg, Jeremy.

Rick "who still made it to his meeting on time, but now has to drive back
home in DC Friday traffic" Denney

> We left Birmingham Friday morning at 3 a.m. EST. Went north to Knoxville
> before stopping for breakfast as the kids and wife woke. Drove up to
> Lexington VA, about 45 minutes north of Roanoke and stopped for two nights
> so I could visit my alma mater. Daytime temp in the 50s and low 60s,
> nightie temp in mid 20s. This coach has no propane but we had 30 amp
> hookups. Shut everything else down and plugged in 2 cube heaters. Since we
> left
> the dogs at home, we put both heaters on the floor, one at foot of steps,
> one across from fridge and we've been toasty warm. Got even colder last
> night near Luray VA, but no problems here. 50 amps at a nice place called
> Outlanders, we had both heaters and the water heater running, even the
> bathroom was luke warm thanks to the water heater. So yes, you can winter
> camp with no furnace, you just need a little planning. I wouldn't want to do
> it with lows in the teens and highs about freezing for long, but a day or
> two would work. I will say a big difference is our honeycomb blinds. They
> insulate the windows which seem to be the real weak spot.
> --
> Thanks,
> Jeremy Knezek
> 1976 Glenbrook
> Birmingham, AL
>
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--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia

 

[jeremy]

It was great to put a face to a name Rick. Thanks for stopping and I'm glad you made your meeting. This community is very special. We are holed up in
Bristol TN. My luck on this trip is starting to fray as one of my hoses by the vapor separator disintegrated at our last gas stop spraying fuel
everywhere after I filled up. Got it changed but definitely still a strong gas smell in that area. I suspect more of those hoses are toast. Will see
in the a.m. and hopefully break the last day of driving for home.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL