R-Value of my Vista and stuff?

[jwcolby54]

Yes I understand this is a very nebulous subject. I purchased my Vista 26HE in the middle of 'record' colds for my area, clear down to the low teens soon. I am 'living in it' in my driveway... just because... why not. I think it is useful to experience the RV in various conditions where a failure is not going to kill, injure or even severly inconvenience me.

I am plugged into what appears to be a 20a outlet from the apartment. I am running ceramic block heaters. I am pulling about 1500 watts from one heater, 500 from a little heater and 500 from an oil filled. With the propane heater kicking in as necessary. Which when it gets down that cold, is pretty often, perhaps every 15 minutes. But it runs for a few minutes, turns off, then kicks in 15 minutes later.

I am doing a bunch of watts to BTU calculations. 1 watt = 3.412 BTU. So my space heaters are 1500+500+500 * 3412 = 8530 BTU constant.
All very unscientific. What I can tell you is that the electric heaters will get it roasting inside at 35 degrees outside. It just seems that there should be some rle of thumb to convert that observation into heat loss and that into one big R value for the RV taken as a whole.

Next I purchased a Wave6 catalytic heater and am having the propane plumbed to provide a tap for that. I also purchased a secondary 10 lb tank to be hooked in before the regulator to extend the propane.

What I can say next is that the glass in the driver area is just frigin cold. Knowing that windows in general are the big heat loss, I have plans to use that 'inside window wrap' stuff on the bedroom windows. Then the same thing for the window in the slide (couch). The passenger side window might get wrapped as well assuming that it is actually clear. I need to leave some window some room to open to provide the catalytic heater some air to burn.

Does anyone know of insulated windshield curtains that fit the vista series? If so, how well does it work?
A lot of stuff to put under one subject but I haven't seen a good discussion on this subject.

 

[Pointyears]

Does anyone know of insulated windshield curtains that fit the vista series? If so, how well does it work?
A lot of stuff to put under one subject but I haven't seen a good discussion on this subject.

Get something like https://www.amazon.com/SmartSHIELD-...&sprefix=insulated+panels,aps,175&sr=8-2&th=1 and cut to size.

 

[Morich]

We find the whole front of the RV is a big issue for heat loss,. Just too much glass. So rather than try to cover each section, we wall off the whole as we use the front very little once set.
This can be a simple curtain of heavy material on a bar near the ceiling, somewhat like a drapery.
I have driven lots of vans at work during cold weather and this is one way to make thing better while driving. If left open, you can feel the cold heavy air move to the front when you brake to a stop! It's like somebody pouring cold water down the driver's neck!

 

[powercat_ras]

Vistas are not designed as four season RVs but can be livable for short periods in below freezing temperatures.

Be sure to monitor your AC power to ensure that you are not generating too much heat in the AC wiring and outlets when using large electric heaters plugged in. Read the voltage with heaters off and again with heater on. Multiply the voltage difference between the two readings by 15 and that's how many watts of heat are being generated between your shore power source and the space heaters in wiring and connections. It's not unusual for hot spots to form in the outlet the large space heater is plugged into causing the outlet to fail. Feel the outlet after 15-20 minutes and make sure it is no more than warm to the tough.

The single pane windshield and front side windows can be covered with reflectix and or rigid insulation. I bought packs of 3/4" rigid insulation made for going in between furring strips on basment remodels and trimmed them to do the inside of the windshield and the side windows in front. I also use reflectix in the other windows, too. Ceiling fan opening insulation inserts. Another source of large heat loss is the step well, in my Vista there is no insulation in the step well walls.

When you start using no-vent propane heaters inside your RV, watch out for condensation forming from the water vapor byproduct of the direct vent propane heater. Also make sure to use no-vent heaters with oxgyen depletion shutdown.

 

[Pointyears]

Another source of large heat loss is the step well, in my Vista there is no insulation in the step well walls.

Not to mention doors that don't fit tightly enough.

 

[jwcolby54]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I will eventually be living in this, but out west. I understand elevation and temperature correlations and will travel where this kind of weather isn't. But it is nice to get a handle on how to make it work in an emergency.

 

[dkoldman]

Might just stick with some basic numbers to keep it simple for comparison.

We have 29ve. Coldest I ever recall spending overnight was 17F. We had propane heater / furnace set at 72. We have MCD shades on all windows pull down for blackout (not for heat) and we have one Lasko 1500watt heater that rotates at the front of the RV. It was set at 72 and pointed toward the inside of the coach.

For us, in the MBR, Kitchen and bath it was very warm and we could easily turn it up higher if needed. We also have a smaller 1500 watt table top electric heater but we never had a need for both. We just use it for quick heat in kitchen or bath, or maybe when exercising the genny just to help with the loads.

Now if someone had to sleeo in the Euro Loft they may complain of being too cold, but we would just give them an extra blanket. We have slept in tents in the low 20s with sleeping bags and it was not too bad.