Keeping warm - not easy in our Autotrail last week

[Essgeebee]

Just back from Cornwall where we spent a lovely dry four days in our 2019 Autotrail Tracker. However, at night we struggled to keep the van warm enough. I’m reluctant to use gas for space heating as it’s still hard to get replacement cylinders at times so we just had the electric on full. We noted on the windy last night that the hab door is very draughty - the seal is in place but clearly doesn’t work very well. Add to that the gale blowing in from behind the fridge and elsewhere and SWMBO was not a happy bunny.
I’m going to have to see what I can do to improve things as we want to use the moho at all times of year. Any tips or advice welcome.

 

[Jaws]

Just back from Cornwall where we spent a lovely dry four days in our 2019 Autotrail Tracker. However, at night we struggled to keep the van warm enough. I’m reluctant to use gas for space heating as it’s still hard to get replacement cylinders at times so we just had the electric on full. We noted on the windy last night that the hab door is very draughty - the seal is in place but clearly doesn’t work very well. Add to that the gale blowing in from behind the fridge and elsewhere and SWMBO was not a happy bunny.
I’m going to have to see what I can do to improve things as we want to use the moho at all times of year. Any tips or advice welcome.

If you are relying on the built in heater that sounds about right !
Sadly they only seem to be suitable for tacking the edge off so to speak
I personally would do as a LOT of others have done.. Fit a diesel heater ..
Cheap as chips to buy and cheaper to run than gas

 

[Neil S]

Fit a refillable system instead of buying expensive cylinders of gas
It will pay for itself in the long run

 

[DandG5515]

First external screen cover reduces heat loss from glass. Internal and blinds I find not as effective. Curtain between cab and habitation to reduce drafts. We carry a fan heater with thermostat to raise temperature quickly. Then 1.5 kw oil heater left in middle of van on low settings overnight. Been toasty in -6c with this setup. The gas heating with electric option may be 6kw gas or 1.5kw electric. Sometimes use a quick blast of gas before going to bed. Don't be tempted to buy a small oil heater as they don't contain enough oil to keep the temperature up.

 

[Mousy]

Try throwing another dog on the bed…works for us

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[dazandandrea]

We are up to a 2 dog set up now.
Both medium size .
Just need feeding daily for best results.

 

[Soots]

You'll know it's cold when you get a " Three Dog Night"!

 

[grasscutter]

Some things you could try.
External thermal screens.
Make internal window covers from radiator foil.
Internal curtain covering screen/dashboard behind the seats.
Set vehicle cab vents to recirculate and not fresh air.
Amazing how all these small things make a difference.

 

[jongood]

Just back from Cornwall where we spent a lovely dry four days in our 2019 Autotrail Tracker. However, at night we struggled to keep the van warm enough. I’m reluctant to use gas for space heating as it’s still hard to get replacement cylinders at times so we just had the electric on full. We noted on the windy last night that the hab door is very draughty - the seal is in place but clearly doesn’t work very well. Add to that the gale blowing in from behind the fridge and elsewhere and SWMBO was not a happy bunny.
I’m going to have to see what I can do to improve things as we want to use the moho at all times of year. Any tips or advice welcome.

I was recently helping a neighbour with a mouse problem in a 2017 autotrail coach built. We got an endoscope to try and see what was going on and we're both pretty surprise to see the lack of insulation in both the grp side caps and the cap above the cab area. As heat rises surely insulating these would make a big difference?

 

[almichie]

I think there is a vent in the cab passenger side footwell that can be blocked - it certainly exists on the x250 (watch the frenchies on YouTube - Mike shows you where it is and the part number needed for the cover). As others have said - front external screen/additional heating.

if the heated air pipes go under the van it would be worth insulting these - air gives up heat very quickly - out Elddis suffered from this to the back of the van where the pipes dropped under and back a few meters.

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[martin2603]

Thé Hab door in our first coach built did not fit properly despite Constant adjustment. You could see daylight through it!! The Truma on electric was equally useless. We used a couple of 1kw oil filled rads when on hook up to keep it warm without using loads of gas. Silver screen is a must.
Fast forward to 2017 and Alde heating and doors that fit. The 3kw Electric set up is as efficient as gas, but I only ever need it on 2kw setting , too hot to be left on over night!

 

[Richard n Ann]

I pulled our fridge out and stuck armaflex tape round the back edge so it wedges in. Helps a lot to stop the draught.

 

[bexleyjohn]

We use an oil filled rad to keep in the MH while sat on driveway between trips. A small fan heater to use while away with a timer plug set to come on before we get up. Using the Truma (Combi 6E) on gas alone works well but of course means having to watch gas levels. The electric heating on a Truma has never been good but at the moment doesn’t work at all - which I don’t understand as heating the water in the boiler works fine on electric…… I don’t know why electric heating doesnt work but electric heated hot water does.
Any ideas anyone?

 

[Richard n Ann]

We also use this small 500w fan heater. Good quality and helps a lot.

Amazon product ASIN B0778ZK42G

 

[Mr Trekker]

Thermostat switch went on our Truma fire, that cause it to stop heating. We alway close the hab recirculation and use silver screen, seems to do the trick

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[bexleyjohn]

Ours is the Pro Breeze 2Kw ceramic heater which swivels and has a cut off if it falls or gets kicked over. VERY efficient and rarely need to use it on the high setting. Works a treat with the timer plug. £39.99 on Amazon right now. Worth every penny.

 

[jongood]

I think you need to be carefull blocking vents up, they're usually there for a reason .

Interesting that all the solutions involve throwing more energy at the problem. Heat rises why not get insulating?

 

[gus-lopez]

Any tips or advice welcome.

As Jaws said fit a diesel heater and insulate the over cab and side panel caps.

 

[bexleyjohn]

Good point about more insulation but that doesn’t block the built in holes in the cab area which presumably are there for a safety reason? It’s the droughts that are the culprit.

 

[PP Bear]

When on EHU, I use one of these. Much prefer it to an oil filled any day. Extremely lightweight, instant heat, with dual settings and no having to wait for the oil to heat up and cool down. It also lays flat for storage under one of bench seats. Cheaper than oil filled too.

Had it on every night last week while I was away, blooming lovely and cozy warm.

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[Northernraider]

Off grid ive constantly found it a challenge to keep any of my vans warm so far ...the frankia was cold especially in the cab area ...draughts all the time it had Aldi heating. I had a large burstner years ago with same issues on Aldi

The hymer was also draughty in the cab but the draughts blowing through the ridiculously large fridge and oven vents was unreal . It had the truma heating .and again i had a mobilvetta years back that was the same

Also suffered lack of battery juice to keep these going any length of time

The iveco im currently in is the worst ...it has drop vents everywhere and the draughts are unreal . It has an eberspacher d2 diesel heater fitted but i dont think its powerful enough for the size of space.

Its one of my pet hates being cold thats why the vario im building will have a insulated bulkhead installed between cab and hab. 12v only fridge so no vents , drop vents for oven etc will be properly sealed. 5kw Diesel heater and a woodburner stove. And as much solar and battery power as i can fit lol.

Ive yet to hear anyone with a woodburner in a van say its cold ...most have complained it's too hot

 

[PP Bear]

I also seal off the cab area with blackout blankets, close the vents, switch to recycle mode and have started to cover the area from the dash top to floor with a warm blanket.

Think last week was an extra cold windy one, as I felt the difference from most other winter nights away

 

[Richard n Ann]

Glad we sorn the van in winter, that stops the problem

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

We too have an Autotrail. It is toasty warm at the back where the bed is but drafty at the front. Be sure to give the hab door a good slam when you close it as it makes a big difference to the seal. We put an old pillow in the doorwell too which stops a lot of drafts. Drape blankets over the driver and passenger seats as we find most cold drafts come in from there. It is also worth checking the hot air piping under the cooker as ours had become disconnected, hence poor hot air flow to the front.

 

[helzie2020]

I also seal off the cab area with blackout blankets, close the vents, switch to recycle mode and have started to cover the area from the dash top to floor with a warm blanket.

Think last week was an extra cold windy one, as I felt the difference from most other winter nights away

Could you post a photo of your blankets in place please?

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[Shrimp]

In the winter we have a DēLonghi oil filled electric heater on a timer switch, in fact we have two of them one bigger and puts out more heat than the smaller one.
When it’s really cold we have both on otherwise the bigger one keeps us warm.
Our van heater only works on gas hence the electric oil filled ones.
I don’t think you would ever stop all the droughts coming in!
We also have a Gaslow system and a Diesel heater if needed.

 

[bexleyjohn]

Wouldn’t you think manufacturers would have realised this problem of droughts from cab end by now? However, where theres a will there’s a way and we’re determined to get max use out of our MH no matter the weather.

 

[bexleyjohn]

The DeLonghi oil-filled heaters are good but so heavy and could be unstable when travelling if not strapped down well. Given all the gubbins we already have in our house on wheels (everything bar the kitchen sink), overall weight is an issue for me.

 

[Ivory55]

Wouldn’t you think manufacturers would have realised this problem of droughts from cab end by now? However, where theres a will there’s a way and we’re determined to get max use out of our MH no matter the weather.

Money, they are using a commercial van for leisure purposes. If they spend lots of money sorting it out then there would be endless shouting on here about rip off etc.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you are only using electric for heating with a Truma Combi the van will really struggle to get warm in cold weather.
The heating elements are only 2 x 900 Watts so only 1.8kw, on gas the heater kicks out 6kw.

There should be no draughts around the fridge if there are it's been incorrectly installed and is dangerous as if will allow fumes from the burner into the van.

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