Heating a van home?

[Broil]

.....I was thinking about what it would be like to live in my van during cold weather.  This is not necessarily a bugout, it could happen simply from not having enough income to pay rent (or mortgage for some of you).  Of course it would consume too much fuel to run the heater or an electric heater.

I can't use any method that would produce gases without venting, such as charcoal or wood burning, unless I were willing to put a hole in my roof and lay in some stovepipe with a tiny stove.  I'm not really willing to do that at this time to my beloved old Admiral Nelson......

Maybe it WOULD be best to put the hole in for a chimney.  Depends on whether I'm going to deal with serious cold, chronically subfreezing.  I have things besides my body that need to be kept from freezing.

[Diogenes]

A coleman lantern will heat your van, we used one in our 55 GMC panel truck when I was a kid, we just cracked the window a bit and it was still toasty.

[skepticus]

If I remember right Broil, you're in NorCal so it doesn't get terribly cold there in the winter (about the same as here in the Willamette Valley, maybe a little warmer).  I would suggest insulating the hell out of the van, skirting the bottom with hay bails or something, and just bundling up and using body heat to warm the inside.  If you've got a -20F sleeping bag, good thermals, wool socks, warm gloves, and a sock hat you should be okay.  I rent a place here in Oregon that only has electric heat and after looking into several different options I settled on the above option for staying warm as the only viable one for me in a grid failure scenario.

[pamela]

coleman lantern worked great in our van too when I was a kid.
also, I like the hot rocks idea Broil.
what about some kind of tarp or covering to put over the van to add a bit of insulation?

[white_stone]

We lived for close to 20 years 'on the road.' Always used a propane heater. Most times the bottle was inside with us, too. The stoves with the radiant ceramic inserts work best and take little gas. The vans were normally not air tight, so fresh air was not an issue. Had to put hardware cloth across the front to keep fluffy dogs from singeing their tails - that is a scent you will not long forget. 

Used a 2 burner propane stove running off the same tank. If you boil water and fill a gallon plastic jug, that makes great as a hot water bottle and you can always use it to wash dishes, too.

In our travels, staying warm was not as difficult as staying alive in the summers. Although stepping outside to walk the dogs was a challenge.

Coleman Lanterns may work but are risky, stink and expensive to operate as opposed to the propane heater. I did not like the bright light, it hurt my eyes. (We used 12-volt fluorescent lighting)

If the van gets a heavy coat of snow, you need little heating other than a good blanket.

[Diogenes]

We lived for close to 20 years 'on the road.' Always used a propane heater. Most times the bottle was inside with us, too. The stoves with the radiant ceramic inserts work best and take little gas. The vans were normally not air tight, so fresh air was not an issue. Had to put hardware cloth across the front to keep fluffy dogs from singeing their tails - that is a scent you will not long forget. 

Used a 2 burner propane stove running off the same tank. If you boil water and fill a gallon plastic jug, that makes great as a hot water bottle and you can always use it to wash dishes, too.

In our travels, staying warm was not as difficult as staying alive in the summers. Although stepping outside to walk the dogs was a challenge.

Coleman Lanterns may work but are risky, stink and expensive to operate as opposed to the propane heater. I did not like the bright light, it hurt my eyes. (We used 12-volt fluorescent lighting)

If the van gets a heavy coat of snow, you need little heating other than a good blanket.

Never noticed much stink from a coleman, but then I always liked the smell of one ;~). The mantles fuel burn about efficient as is possible, 14 hours on two pints of fuel. Mine burns both coleman and unleaded gas.

[Broil]

Well, I'm looking more for sustainable solutions that don't put out any carbon monoxide (yes, propane can do that - any open unvented flame can).  And I'm thinking of a situation where I may not be able to buy things like fuel from the outside world, whether it be from supply problems or hyperinflation.

There can also be problems with condensation which I'd like to avoid, so I might have a cammy tarp to hide the vehicle but I'd have to leave a lot of airflow.

I've got a sleeping bag that's decent enough together with comforters, plus layers of clothes.  It does get kind of old though after the first few weeks of living like that, what with the smell and itching from mites.  I guess I could rig up a shower if it comes to that, and maybe have a laundry tub.

[akaskip]

 If it's not a BO, have you considered a campground, they average from $14 to $18 a night around here with off season weekly rates cheaper than that, electric for a space heater and a close by shower, hopefully not with cold water , i don't know how bad your finances are or if there are campgrounds in your area?, it's worth a look if all else fails.

  Good Luck

[vision-master]

You can install a ventless propane heater. The vent goes out the side and the tank mounts under the frame. You can cook on it too. I ought to know as I lived in a van for two cold arse winters. The skiing was great! 

You just gotta figure out how to gain acess to holtel showers and hot tubs. 


Redneck van.................

[Broil]

No, I'm not in danger of becoming homeless at this time.  I'm thinking more in terms of economic apocalypse, or possibly being forced to bug out for other reasons.  The van is my emergency home, that's the only reason I'm keeping the old gas hog.

I think many of us will become homeless in the future, but I don't see it as imminent.  Probably the US will hang on for a few more years.  I'm just trying to think through how I might stay relatively comfortable for as long as possible.

[vision-master]

No, I'm not in danger of becoming homeless at this time.  I'm thinking more in terms of economic apocalypse, or possibly being forced to bug out for other reasons.  The van is my emergency home, that's the only reason I'm keeping the old gas hog.

I think many of us will become homeless in the future, but I don't see it as imminent.  Probably the US will hang on for a few more years.  I'm just trying to think through how I might stay relatively comfortable for as long as possible.

I've seen van with wood stoves before. Check around for a converted school bus! Woodstock baby!


I'd check around for a used motorhome. The brother has one in waiting with 50,000 miles for $3,500 - no rot either. Runs good A/C gen the whol deal.

[Broil]

Will he take $20 downpayment? 

[Broil]

You can install a ventless propane heater. The vent goes out the side and the tank mounts under the frame. You can cook on it too. I ought to know as I lived in a van for two cold arse winters. The skiing was great! 

You just gotta figure out how to gain acess to holtel showers and hot tubs. 


Redneck van.................

Oh, I would never do that to the Admiral Nelson, not unless it became rusty and smashed up.  He's a chipper old gent, well-dressed ..... I wonder if my friend could take a pic with his digital camera sometime so I can post it.

[Anasazi]

Why not burn whatever fuel is available, wood, coal, kerosene, etc., then heat your closed loop water supply outside of the van in a portable camp type stove and use small pipes sealed at your window with thermo-siphoning to bring the heat in? No pump or electric required.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermosiphon

[Zac]

Coleman and others make catalytic heaters that burn propane or butane without a flame and are supposed to be safe for use indoors.  

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5035A750&categoryid=3000&brand=

I have no experience with them indoors so am not recommending them.  If I were to use them in a tent or van, I would definitely also use a working carbon monoxide detector/alarm.  

The safer way would be to use a similar device to heat water outside the vehicle and transfer the heat to the inside of the tent/van with a water loop.  But, I'm not aware of an affordable commercial device that does this.    If there is much interest in such a device, I would consider building and offering them for sale though.  I would guess the cost to be around $500.  

But, I've been snow camping before.  While the cold may be uncomfortable, you won't freeze as long as you have an adequately rated sleeping bag.  (I consider my north face darkstar -40 F rated bag to be comfortable down to about 0.)