Grandby - FREEZING inside!

[superduty]

This post is kind of related to my post from the other day 2kw Diesel Heater.

I noted that parts of the camper (2022 Grandby) were warmer than others. To be expected, but I was quite shocked by what I discovered. To my surprise a reusable water bottle up near the front of the bunk was partially frozen in the morning.

Up in Mammoth, CA, overnight temps dipped to about 9F. The 2kw diesel heater was running and putting out heat. The main part of the camper was comfortable between 68 and 72F. The main area of the bunk was around 66. Then I moved closer to the front of the bunk area. I felt a tremendous amount of cold from the front area. I do not have reflectix in that area. I have reflectix down both sides of camper between canvas wall and the factory thermal pack. there is no reflectix in the front or back walls. I took the cushions from the roll over couch and put them up against front wall. That seemed to help a lot in stopping or maybe blocking the cold.

I am able to see temperatures using Ruuvi tags. I also have two other digital thermometers that I use. The 3 are consistent within 2 degrees.

I put the Ruuvi tag in the front driver's corner of the bed on the wood platform. Once the Ruuvi tag settled the temp reading was 16F. That is 16F inside the camper. I have no clue how so much cold comes into the camper in that front area. I know there is zero insulation. I guess the cold goes right through the plywood. I would need a HUGE heater to be able to warm that area. The whole front area almost feels like there is a breeze of cold coming in. There is no damage or holes in the factory structure.

Has anyone had any success in stopping some of that cold that is coming in in that area?

 

[Occidental]

I also read your other post. I am definitely not saying I don't believe you, but it is hard to believe you are experiencing such temperature extremes, only because we haven't experienced anything like it. We only have a wave, which I hate, due to the condensation issues, so I am tuning into all the heater conversations. We have camped in weather down to about 8 F. We rarely run the heater all night, but we have run it at the lowest temperatures overnight, have reflectix and have not seen such temperature extremes, usually the temperature is pretty uniform throughout the camper. With the bed out I have noticed a small difference in temperature from the front of the camper to the temp under the bed, maybe 10 F at the most, but in my experience if the front or ceiling frosts up it happens throughout the camper, especially along the roof. I have never seen it localized in one spot. Maybe it is due to trying to keep the camper to warm and creating a big temperature gradient? We would usually be trying to keep the camper at 40-50 degrees at most, after that I am opening windows and looking to cool off for sleeping. I would never run a heater to try to achieve temps above 50. But again, tuning in to see what others will say about heating issues.

 

[rubberlegs]

Was the water bottle against the wall, and a blanket up against the bottle? Wall, then bottle, then blanket?

 

[superduty]

Was the water bottle against the wall, and a blanket up against the bottle? Wall, then bottle, then blanket?

Unfortunately, I can't say for certain how the bottle was positioned. I suspect it was very close if not touching the front wall. No blanket against it.

 

[superduty]

I also read your other post. I am definitely not saying I don't believe you, but it is hard to believe you are experiencing such temperature extremes, only because we haven't experienced anything like it. We only have a wave, which I hate, due to the condensation issues, so I am tuning into all the heater conversations. We have camped in weather down to about 8 F. We rarely run the heater all night, but we have run it at the lowest temperatures overnight, have reflectix and have not seen such temperature extremes, usually the temperature is pretty uniform throughout the camper. With the bed out I have noticed a small difference in temperature from the front of the camper to the temp under the bed, maybe 10 F at the most, but in my experience if the front or ceiling frosts up it happens throughout the camper, especially along the roof. I have never seen it localized in one spot. Maybe it is due to trying to keep the camper to warm and creating a big temperature gradient? We would usually be trying to keep the camper at 40-50 degrees at most, after that I am opening windows and looking to cool off for sleeping. I would never run a heater to try to achieve temps above 50. But again, tuning in to see what others will say about heating issues.

I had one previous trip in cold with the propane heater. It worked well, but I think it was only down to about 25 degrees that trip.

This was the first trip in the cold with the diesel heater. As such I was very curious about its ability to perform and spent lots of time monitoring and watching things. The diesel heater produced zero condensation. As noted, the temps in the camper were mostly uniform - only a few degrees difference from the rear and main bunk area.

The problem is the most forward part of the camper. As I got close to that area you could feel the cold. Without the cushions placed against the front wall, it was uncomfortably cold. There is an area of wood that is exposed (not covered by the Exped mattress I use). The area right above the wood is extremely cold. Basically, where the wood meets the front wall. That is where my 16 degree temp reading came from. It needs some kind of insulation.

I realize everyone has their own definition of comfortable. I like to run the heater so I can be comfortable in a T Shirt. The trips was 3.5 days in Mammoth. The heater ran almost the entire time, except a few hours during the days when it was too warm inside. It used a few gallons of diesel.

 

[Dirtroadsavant]

That’s a chilly spot for us too. We’ve had great luck with a 12v twin size bed warming pad. We run it for about 45 minutes before turning in and the wonderful individual who sleeps in that spot loves it. And the 100 ah lithium battery barely notices it.

Twin, Heated Mattress Pad, Non-Fitted, Size 36 x 60, Model# T36 12V Used in Trucks, RVs, Campers, White​

Brand: Electrowarmth
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars

 

[Occidental]

Well, maybe the combination of a bit of insulation of some sort on the walls and the cabover (reflectix or something similar to an artic pack) would help seal out a bit of the cold, but it is a pretty big temperature gradient you are trying to overcome, so I don't know how much it would help.

 

[Seattle Mitch]

I usually sleep east to west on the bed. That is to say head and feet toward sides of the camper not toward front and back. If it is gonna be especially cold, I pull the bed platform back into the main camper area. Similar to what you would do if you were going to add all the cushions and expand the whole bed. That pulls me away from the front wall and allows the warmer air to circulate around the bed platform.

 

[pvstoy]

That’s a chilly spot for us too. We’ve had great luck with a 12v twin size bed warming pad. We run it for about 45 minutes before turning in and the wonderful individual who sleeps in that spot loves it. And the 100 ah lithium battery barely notices it.

Twin, Heated Mattress Pad, Non-Fitted, Size 36 x 60, Model# T36 12V Used in Trucks, RVs, Campers, White​

Brand: Electrowarmth
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars

It might be a Iceland thing, but your link only brings me to a page with a zillion blankets. I can't find the one you are using. Using a phone does not help.

 

[Dirtroadsavant]

It might be a Iceland thing, but your link only brings me to a page with a zillion blankets. I can't find the one you are using. Using a phone does not help.

Here we go. I hope…..

RV/Truck Bunk Warmers 12V Warming Pad with 7 Adjustable Settings

Description Features Specifications Available Sizes Videos Bunk Warmers Non-Fitted 12V Warming Pads with 7 Adjustable Setting Enjoy a great night’s sleep anywhere you stop. 12 volt bunk warming pad goes “on the mattress” under you (heat rises). Plugs into the lighter socket. Pre-warms bunk and...

electrowarmth.com

 

[pvstoy]

That link works for information. Thanks for that. Patrick

 

[JaSAn]

You are probably going to have to add insulation and circulate warm air into that space. There is a lot of outside surface area to volume.
And there is very little insulating value in plywood or soft side material.

For winter camping in my Grandby I cut 3/4" Foamular blocks that I put on sides and in front of the lift panels. Also had a small muffin fan blowing air into that space.

 

[dirtnsmores]

Here we go. I hope…..

RV/Truck Bunk Warmers 12V Warming Pad with 7 Adjustable Settings

Description Features Specifications Available Sizes Videos Bunk Warmers Non-Fitted 12V Warming Pads with 7 Adjustable Setting Enjoy a great night’s sleep anywhere you stop. 12 volt bunk warming pad goes “on the mattress” under you (heat rises). Plugs into the lighter socket. Pre-warms bunk and...

electrowarmth.com

nice. I may end up ordering this... but I might need two for the whole bed. So you don't run them all night?

 

[Dirtroadsavant]

nice. I may end up ordering this... but I might need two for the whole bed. So you don't run them all night?

We’ve found that a preheat to take the chill out of the foam mattress and the sleeping bag does just fine. If one got cold in the middle of the night, of course, relief is just a switch away. I should add that our experience is not with deep winter camping, but with shoulder season nights in the 20s. Good luck!

Ps. The company web site has almost permanent discount codes, so be sure to look around.

Pps. You could turn it sideways and warm the full torso areas for two people. That’s our plan if we ever get caught in super cold temps.

 

[superduty]

Here we go. I hope…..

RV/Truck Bunk Warmers 12V Warming Pad with 7 Adjustable Settings

Description Features Specifications Available Sizes Videos Bunk Warmers Non-Fitted 12V Warming Pads with 7 Adjustable Setting Enjoy a great night’s sleep anywhere you stop. 12 volt bunk warming pad goes “on the mattress” under you (heat rises). Plugs into the lighter socket. Pre-warms bunk and...

electrowarmth.com

This seems pricey for a twin size. Is it expensive because it is 12v? It seems most of the ones on the market are 110v.

 

[dirtnsmores]

This seems pricey for a twin size. Is it expensive because it is 12v? It seems most of the ones on the market are 110v.

I agree it seems steep. But I haven't found a 12v pad on Amazon that seems decent.

 

[jiminruskin]

I have a 200 amp hour lithium battle born battery bank with a 2000 watt sine wave inverter. I can run a full size 110 volt heated blanket on low without depleting my battery power overnight. It has 6 power settings with the highest at 130 watts with 10 timer settings, I am guessing the low setting is less than half of that. It keeps us warm and toasty.