Tank Heaters

subdoc4 · 03-09-2013, 10:57 AM

Does anyone know if tank heaters are installed on our units? I know the basement has a vent when the furnace is running.

homeguy · 03-09-2013, 11:28 AM

As I understand it, there is no tank heaters on these units. Running the furnace is sufficient to keep them from freezing. You have to be sure and run the furnace though, electric heaters in the coach won't necessarily keep them from freezing.

spindrift · 03-09-2013, 11:30 AM

Hmmm. I understood that the tanks are warmed by forced hot air. No?

Sailorman · 03-09-2013, 02:11 PM

I own a 2013 36RL. The vent on the ceiling of the garage is not attached to the furnace. I was told it is just there to allow some ventilation to the garage area.

When I removed the belly pan I found that there is no batt insulation around the tanks. One of the tanks, (the tank under the kitchen) had batt insulation above the tank. The only insulation I found that would affect the tanks was the approx. 1/4" thick foil insulation that sits directly above the belly pan.

I am guessing the only heat that gets to the tanks is residual heat off from the heat ducts.

Tank heaters would be a very good idea if you are going to use the trailer in a cold climate. Adding additional insulation around the tanks would help a lot also and would probably cost a lot less than tank heaters.

Please understand this information only relates to the trailer that I own and it is possible that other trailers have more insulation around their tanks than my trailer has.

jlandon13399 · 03-09-2013, 04:05 PM

I am a bit disappointed to learn that our tanks are not heated. Redwood advertisers these expensive units as full time living residences. They do not specify full time only in warm weather in the winter. Therefore one would think the tanks are heated. If someone from Redwood would like to address these posts I would surely appreciate it.

spindrift · 03-09-2013, 07:08 PM

I thought my salesman told me they were heated. The tanks in my Arctic Fox were heated so maybe I just assumed the RW tanks were heated as well. Oh boy

rcflame · 03-09-2013, 07:38 PM

There is heated, and than there is heated. If a furnace duct is in the area of the tanks, than the tanks are heated. However, if you want the extremely cold weather version, than you need tank heaters which are similar to the electrical heat tape that is used to keep water pipes from freezing in residential situations where the pipes aren't in a heated area. I know some manufacturers use to offer tank heaters as an option. Don't know if Redwood does or not. We're full time and one of the reasons is to try to avoid the area where we would need take heaters.

atom ant · 03-09-2013, 09:28 PM

They are heated. The entire underbelly is heated which includes your tanks and pipes. You don't need tank heaters when you have an enclosed heated underbelly. RW is a four season coach just like the others that say the are, just like our Montana, and it does not have tank heaters. There is a 2" duct feed direct off the furnace to the underbelly.
Edited by: atom ant

**Dave&Ginny** · 03-10-2013, 03:17 AM

The tanks are heated by the furnace due to residual heat however if you're going to be in winter camping conditions I would recommenced buying the electric heating pads. These however take a lot of power so you also better have a generator running if you choose to leave these on while traveling.

Just my opinion

spindrift · 03-10-2013, 08:45 AM

We have conflicting information here. Atom says the heating is direct (2" duct) and Dave is saying that the heating is residual (that sounds like indirect heating).

mhs4771 · 03-10-2013, 11:44 AM

We bought our RW so we could get away from freezing temps!!!! I know, not everyone can do that.

**Dave&Ginny** · 03-10-2013, 12:12 PM

I could be wrong .....but when I dropped the under belly to get to the water line, I didn't see any duct work going to the tank area. With that said, it is an enclosed underbelly with heat just above the tanks. In my opinion, in normal RV conditions you'll be fine with this arrangement and they build these trailers (as do other manufactures) for the way most trailers will be used. If you're going to use your trailer in unusual conditions, then you should adapt accordingly.

I pulled my trailer in blizzard conditions (-7 degrees 40 mph winds) while traveling down the highway in about 60 mph. My fresh water tank did freeze while it was 2/3 full. This didn't disappoint me because of the conditions in which I had put the trailer. I did have the furnace set at 50, the generator running as was the fireplace and hot water heater while going down the highway.

RVs are not built to be used under these conditions but they can be with precautions and a few adaptions.

atom ant · 03-10-2013, 01:28 PM

Dave, your fireplace running may have affected the thermostat so your furnace may not have been running enough to adequately heat the tanks.That can be an issue even when camped.

**Dave&Ginny** · 03-10-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Dave, your fireplace running may have affected the thermostat so your furnace may not have been running enough to adequately heat the tanks.That can be an issue even when camped.

You're right but I had the fan on the furnace running so it would circulate the heat. I also had a radiator type of electric heater in the basement set at 75 degrees.

Edited by: Dave&Ginny

Kevin & Tammy · 03-11-2013, 02:15 PM

We had the factory install tank heaters when we ordered our 36RE. They work great!

Think the price was about $150.

subdoc4 · 03-12-2013, 03:04 AM

Thanks all...I think that answers my question.

homeguy · 03-12-2013, 07:08 AM

We have been in Colorado and New Jersey during the winter. None of our campers have had tank heaters and we have no had a problem. We make sure that the furnace runs to keep the underbelly warm. We don't store water in the fresh tank though. While we have seen other campers freeze their tanks, we have not. Again, I think it is because we make sure that the furnace does run.

subdoc4 · 03-12-2013, 11:05 AM

Before purchasing our 36RL, we had a Grand Junction. It had toggle switches for the tank heaters. I was hoping these had a theromostat or some built-in function. I agree these are well designed. We are really enjoying ours!

atom ant · 03-12-2013, 12:45 PM

Redwood advertises:

•Fully Enclosed & Heated Underbelly

How that is truly accomplished may take a call to the factory I guess. I can't believe myself that it would be from radiant heat. A register on the bottom of the main duct, a dedicated duct, something. Unless you specifically want them for travel on 12V, you shouldn't need to add tank heaters to make these as usable in the winter. Even my non-full-time raggedy 4-season Keystone product has a 2" dedicated duct to the underbelly.Edited by: atom ant

**Dave&Ginny** · 03-12-2013, 01:54 PM

Keep in mind...the condition I had my trailer in when the fresh water tank froze. There are a lot of "stick and brick" homes that would have troubles with frozen pipes with the -7 degrees and hitting a 40 mph wind while going over 60 mph. This will be the same as a 100 mph wind in -7 degree temps. I'm not sure what the wind chill would be but a lot of stick and brisk houses would freeze under these conditions.

You may also like: