12v Heating blanket for Cold Camping

[canman]

You might want to look into heated mattress pads as well. Had a link in an email, but can't find it as someone in our club was looking into this last year, and IIRC there was an American company specializing in DC powered blankets/mattress pads. Below is a pic of a buddy's trial solution for his RTT...

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

But how many cup holders do you have?

5

 

[Marine7]

We use a heated mattress pad on my 33' off-shore cruiser. Keeps you nice and toasty out on the Atlantic! (Plus our lil buddy propane heater that this threads NOT about.

 

[mano002]

We have a cheap 12V electric blanket from amazon that we use in the RTT to warm up the bed before we turn in. It has the 30min/45 min timer on it. It extends the camping season for the wife that's for sure. It's not hot, but the sleeping bag isn't cold when you crawl into it. I would buy it again.

 

[Dave 2000]

I was going to do the eberspacher install (which this thread is not about ) in the 80, then pipe the warm air up to the RTT, a 12v blanket sounds good and a lot simpler/cheaper.

I think using a mains one via an inverter may consume more than using direct 12v, perhaps the conversion loss would be greater?

Subscribed!

regards

Dave

 

[Hornd]

I have one of these but I have yet to try it:

Heated Mattress Pads, Bunk and Table Warmer: ElectroWarmth

Read the reviews on Amazon:

Twin, Heated Mattress Pad by Electrowarmth, Non-Fitted, Size 36 x 60, Model# T36 12V Used in Trucks, RVs, Campers
by Electrowarmth
4.4 out of 5 stars 47 customer reviews
| 19 answered questions


List Price: $118.50
Price: $90.50 Free Shipping for Prime Members
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[Hornd]

Be very careful with a Mr Buddy heater.
CO or Carbon Monoxide will get you the deepest sleep of your life if not careful.
Expect lots of moisture buildup with burning propane.
I would crack a few of the furthest windows an inch or so regardless of what you use.

 

[1973Guppie]

I would not use an electric, get a propane heater like this, I have the one listed below and it is awesome. It is ceramic and works great, safe for tent use. My daughter and I used this in big bear in november in a tent. It was raining outside, and very cold but we were cozy all night long.

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-MH...83164458&sr=8-1&keywords=mr.+heater+big+buddy

I am planning to add a propane tank to my rear rack to run the heater in the RTT during cold nights.

 

[1973Guppie]

Be very careful with a Mr Buddy heater.
CO or Carbon Monoxide will get you the deepest sleep of your life if not careful.
Expect lots of moisture buildup with burning propane.
I would crack a few of the furthest windows an inch or so regardless of what you use.

these heaters are ceramic and are made for indoor heating, it has a carbon monoxide detector and it will shut off automatically if levels are high and or if it tips over. I do however keep a vent open if using in a tent.

 

[Hornd]

these heaters are ceramic and are made for indoor heating, it has a carbon monoxide detector and it will shut off automatically if levels are high and or if it tips over. I do however keep a vent open if using in a tent.

I have a Mr Buddy Ceramic one and have used it in an ice shanty. Nice units, but they need make up air. I'm not trusting my life to a Sensor on a $50 Made in China Heater, while I sleep. If I put in in cruiser I would use a battery operated CO detector for redundancy, and still have make up air. This will keep you out the Obit in the Paper.

 

[1973Guppie]

I have a Mr Buddy Ceramic one and have used it in an ice shanty. Nice units, but they need make up air. I'm not trusting my life to a Sensor on a $50 Made in China Heater, while I sleep. If I put in in cruiser I would use a battery operated CO detector for redundancy, and still have make up air. This will keep you out the Obit in the Paper.

Easy up on the mud OCD. Not interested in arguing about it but the directions and mfg statements are fairly clear it is safe for indoor use.

"It combines radiant heat comfort with fan-powered convection heat for maximum heating efficiency, providing safe, reliable heat anytime. Use it for emergency situations, workshops, garages, storage buildings, construction trailers, barns, tents, patios, porches, cabins, fishing shanties, truck caps, barns -- anywhere you want to stay warm. May also be used inside your home in case of a power outage"

the directions are clear that you should have a vent in an enclosed space.

 

[Marine7]

I don't think HORND was being OCD, I think he was just trying to keep you and your family out of the obits. If anyone wants to trust a $.15 part they put on a $50. heater..... your asking for trouble. Happy Wheelin'!

 

[Funner]

i use one of the 12v blankets, ordered off amazon. It has the 45 minute timer which seems fine. I wake up a couple times and click the button. Tested it at 14 degrees and kept me warm enough that I was reasonably comfortable. I would say you should get one. For what it's worth, I sleep with it underneath me.

 

[aktundra]

I realize this thread has headed in some off topic directions, an option to consider.

I've tent-camped here in Alaska with Boy Scouts, year around, for +25 years. My personal cold record is -27f. (twice)

These kids never have the expensive specialized sleeping bags for extreme weather. However, if you take two regular sleeping bags, and stuff one inside the other. (Best if the inside bag is cut as a mummy bag) You go from 2" of loft to 4" of loft. The comfort level increases almost exponentially, the battery never runs down, CO never a concern.

To the down side, when you are all zipped up, you look like a grub with a face

 

[Funner]

I realize this thread has headed in some off topic directions, an option to consider.

I've tent-camped here in Alaska with Boy Scouts, year around, for +25 years. My personal cold record is -27f. (twice)

These kids never have the expensive specialized sleeping bags for extreme weather. However, if you take two regular sleeping bags, and stuff one inside the other. (Best if the inside bag is cut as a mummy bag) You go from 2" of loft to 4" of loft. The comfort level increases almost exponentially, the battery never runs down, CO never a concern.

To the down side, when you are all zipped up, you look like a grub with a face

I think I have restless leg syndrome or something as I flip flop around a bit in bed, that sounds a bit too constrained for me. For the rest of the non afflicted world I bet some would think it comfy.

 

[greentruck]

The sensors on the Mr. Heater units are reliable, as I was a skeptic until I did some testing in my shop. The thing shuts down long before bad air becomes an issue.

That said, inside the truck with people sleeping is just too tight...the burns will get you

You can see how it's baked the grass in front of it. You'd need a space of about 3' in front to be safe, even if you didn't mind maybe melting the carpet. This pic was taken under our awning, which encloses the rear of the truck. Leaving it on out there is a possibility. You can see my anti-tip mount. We weren't cold enough to do that, still sounds a bit risky, more because of the fire issue than bad air, as the awning setup is definitely a little breezy without a floor.

I'm interested in what people find in using an electric blanket. I have a CPAP I need to keep running, so doubt we'd have extra power for a blanket even with the extra battery, but an e-blanket could help some folks out.

 

[aktundra]

Double check the ambient are temp for the CO sensor to operate properly. Seems like the air had to be fairly warm for an in-house sensor used in a truck

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Like @Funner I also use a heated blanket to heat the mattress in my CampTeq for the last couple years.

 

[bug616]

I've used one of the standard 12v heated fleece blankets for a while, just to preheat the sleeping bag. I am now looking at getting one of these https://ravean.com/shop/uncategorized/ravean-wearable-heated-sleeping-bag/

 

[SmokingRocks]

So Here was the nest,

Got a basic 12v heating blanket from wally world, put it under the fitted sheet on the air matress. The bed was layered as such, air mattress, heating blanket, fitted sheet, regular sheet, comforter. I Hardwired the blanket into a slot in the rear fuse panel (power is always on to the rear panel) and turned it on early. It did a great job.

The bed was warm all night long. It was about 20 degrees outside +/- and we were exposed to rig shaking wind for most of the night. We did pull an additional top blanket over us at about 4AM but otherwise we were incredibly comfortable.

The blanket was rated at 3-4amp draw. The battery started at 12.8v (9:15 PM) and when we woke up it was at 11.3 volts (8:30 AM). The rig started on the main battery, I didn't even have to link the aux battery. I was thoroughly impressed.