Electric Heat
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Wish List
Forum Discription: Tell Forest River what you would like to see in the r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5573
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 7:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Electric Heat
Posted By: cody91
Subject: Electric Heat
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 1:28pm
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In light of the cold weather we've been having, I was curious if the new Rpods 2015+, were equipped with electric heating elements for use during times you have full hook ups. I have a 2014 R178 and it's equipped with a gas furnace.
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Replies:
Posted By: RescapePod
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 3:14pm
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cody91..I have a RPod 179 2015 and the only heat is the gas furnace. Most of us use a portable electric heater such as a radiator type or a ceramic type. On shore power they work great ! ------------- 2015 R-Pod 179 2013 Chevy K1500 |
Posted By: M0tl3y
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 3:43pm
2nd that. Plus the portable electric heater you can move around to keep it blasting on your wife's feet, just the way she likes it.  Happy wife ... ------------- The 178 club |
Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 3:54pm
| Thanks for the responses. Any particular brands/models you would recommend? Are they quiet? |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 4:11pm
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Our 179 only has the gas furnace. We have used a small electric heater when we has our Flagstaff pop-up way back, It heated the pop-up well in Mid to late October in Vermont. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 4:39pm
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When plugged in, this little Holmes works very well for me: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J2L9KY/ - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J2L9KY/ But, it will be a hot day in Buffalo before anyone gets my http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F232000-Indoor-Safe-Portable/dp/B002G51BZU/ - Mr. Heater Buddy away from me. fred
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 6:04pm
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I have a Mr Heater Buddy that I use in my ice fishing shanty. It will keep the shanty 75-80 degrees when it is 10 below zero out! Wouldnt trade it for anything. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 6:28pm
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leo/fwunder: purchased the buddy myself, excellent heater!! where do you guys place it in the pod; on floor, on table, anything underneath it? just curious. awesome heat. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 7:17pm
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I recommend the options above, but you can get a heat strip option installed in the A/C. It uses as much electricity as a portable heater but it doesn't do as good of a job according to some. Ironically though, I've found when it is really cold out that using the space heater with the A/C fan helps to get the heat into the corners better. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 7:23pm
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I have a small metal rack that I put it on, keeps it off the floor and from touch anything bad ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 7:46pm
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metal rack; nice. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 9:11pm
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Metal rack like Leo says is probably not a bad idea. I've just sat it on the floor. By the door when we're in for the night or anywhere it won't get kicked too easily. It will shut off if tipped more than 45 degrees, but I'd rather not run into it. I'm much more concerned about what's directly above and in front of it than below it. Henry, the campin cat, learned quickly to keep his distance. As opposed to the electric heater, I wouldn't run it all night while sleeping or unattended when leaving the pod. You probably could, but I wouldn't. Also, particularly with the electric heater, I use the pod's blast furnace to warm the place up in a hurry. Easier to keep warm than to get warm, although the Buddy on hi will warm it up quickly and cook a few hot dogs at the same time! fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Bonjour
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 9:57pm
| I see that the Mr Heater Buddy is approved for indoor use but the idea of burning fuel in an enclosed space seems counter intuitive. Do people feel comfortable going to sleep with it running - thinking fire or carbon monoxide? |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 10:13pm
I have a couple of Mr. Buddys and I think they are great. I have no fear of fire from them when used with a modicum of human intelligence. I might feel differently if I was also dealing with a couple of dogs or little kids. As for carbon monoxide, I think Mr. Buddys have a CO sensor that cuts them off. I have never really confirmed that or tested it. Pods have CO alarms. I would certainly test that often while using an unvented propane heater indoors. Still, I'm not sure I remember a heating season when there wasn't a news story about someone or even a whole family waking up dead from CO poisoning due to a propane heater. I may be paranoid or just over cautious, but I don't care to go to sleep in a tight little pod with a Mr. Buddy running all night. Maybe with the vent pretty wide open and a window cracked, which is a good idea anyway due to condensation. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2014 at 10:18pm
Ours is a "Holmes Ceramic Heater". Very compact, effective, quiet. I believe the currently available equivalent to ours, on Amazon, sells for around $32. ------------- John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 6:57am
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I wonder if anybody has refitted the POD with one of those heated mattresses, or maybe an electric blanket? ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 7:16am
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Tas Tarkas is right they have a sensor that will shut them down if the carbon monoxide level goes above a certain level. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 7:57am
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The Buddy also has a low oxygen sensor which makes it useless above 7,000 feet. Still a good idea to keep vent open and crack a window while using, in my opinion. The thing puts off so much heat you'd hardly notice. All-in-all, I'd still like to play with a hydronic heat system... fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2014 at 11:25am
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.... must .... resist ..... tinkering.... ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2014 at 8:17am
I agree this is a nice heater. I have it in my bathroom at home set to come on 30 minutes before I get up :) This is the Holmes I have in my trailer when connected to shore power. It's small, quiet, and thermostat controlled: http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Compact-Ceramic-Thermostat-HCH4051-UM/dp/B000V50GI0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1R0CCCGNH7ME5ZJECA0R I also carry a small Crane to connect when we're outside. The beauty of this one is that although it does not have a thermostat (only low and high settings), it runs on only 600W on low! Amazing heat also: http://www.amazon.com/Crane-EE-6490-Space-Heater-1200/dp/B0026IC2CI/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1416748548&sr=1-4&keywords=crane+heater And if that's not enough, I also have a Lasko 100 that we run all day long to keep the space at our feet under the table just right: http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-100-MyHeat-Personal-Ceramic/dp/B003XDTWN2/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_text_y We carry a lot of stuff :( JD |
Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2014 at 8:53am
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JD, Thanks for the info. Is the HCH4051 a quiet heater? Cody91
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Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2014 at 9:11am
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I find the Crane to be quieter, but again no thermostat. So, if the on/off cycling of a thermostat controlled heater will wake you, maybe the Crane would be better (just crack open a window if it gets too warm). |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2014 at 3:15pm
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We've used 2 of those Holmes heaters for years in our campers. Two in our popup for late October trips since it leaked like a sieve, one in the pod on low. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2014 at 8:55pm
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Like most on here we discovered the factory furnace did a good job of heating the pod, but during the night the noise woke us up, I guess you could get used to it , but no thank. We bought a Holmes 1500 watt electric heater, it has an adjustable thermostat, blower with or without heat, it has an oscillation setting if you like that function. We have camped when it was down into the mid 20's and the Pod had a hard frost on it in the morning. The Pod stayed a constant 73 and the little heater only came on every 15 minutes or so and was so quiet it did not wake us. We have a 172 and set the heater on the bunk end of the Pod and sleep in the short queen. It keeps the pod toasty. We use it during the day if its cool outside and only use the gas furnace when its cooler and we are setting up to warm up the interior initially. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 9:41pm
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I was looking around at some portable electrical heaters and I noticed there were infrared quartz models like this: http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Lifesmart-Profile-Element-Infrared/dp/B00HLTYAI6/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1416969597&sr=8-29&keywords=lifesmart+infrared+heater Has anyone had experience with an infrared heater? Thanks.
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Posted By: Grayotter
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2014 at 11:58am
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Seems like the gas furnace contributes more moisture to the inside, whereas an electric heater dries the air out. I'm sure somebody here can explain it better... Gar ------------- Love2 1der |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2014 at 12:19pm
Hmm, dunno...could it be that the POD Gas System is drawing air form the outside and the electric heaters are drawing air from inside the POD? ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2014 at 1:40pm
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Neither affects the moisture levels. Both just recirculate the air inside. The combustion gases from the flame on the furnace are routed entirely outside. What raises the moisture levels inside if you use either of them, is the liter of water that you exhale and perspire every day. If you forget to crack open a window and the vent, then you have your own personal sauna by morning. If you use a catalytic heater things are different, since the combustion process produces moisture of its own which is vented inside, but again a cracked-open window and vent solves it. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2014 at 2:39pm
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When camping, I too always have the vent cracked and often times run the fan on low and also keep a window cracked. I guess that is why I haven't had any moisture issues in the POD. Thanks! ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2014 at 9:43pm
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On our first colder weather camp out we did not understand how tight the pod was and when we got up in the morning the inside of the windows were dripping water and running down the walls. Like others have posted we usually leave the shower vent cap cracked and or just barley crack open one window and use the 1500 watt Holmes heater, it cycles on and off and moisture problems are a thing of the past. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: acwadsworth
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 4:25pm
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Hi Leo! My husband and I live in Essex Junction, VT and I noticed that you live in Vermont, too. We're considering buying an r-pod 179. How do you like yours? What do you consider the pros and cons about it? Did you purchase it in East Montpelier? If so, how has their service been? Did you buy a seven year service agreement? |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 5:03pm
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Hi! Yes, live over in Lyndonville. We bought our 2010 171 and our 2015 179 both in East Montpelier. We really love our 179, we tow it with our Dodge Grand Caravan. Last year we towed it over to NH (for a couple days) and down to Assateague Island in VA ( for a week) and Cape Hatteras (for a month). The design of the 179 give you a lot more room and storage in the kitchen area and the closet by the bed. The pros are definitely the size to stay in, the ease of towing and they have great durability. The only con I have found so far is the noise of the heater/ac, the set up of the bed ( would rather you were able to walk on either side of the bed. But the pros definitely out weigh the cons. We did not grab the seven year service agreement, the 1st year bumper to bumper warranty lets us work any bugs out and the ease of working on it makes any repairs fairly simple. Their service is great. We had the co detector misfire on this new one 2 days before we were going to head to Cape Hatteras, I removed it, went over to the dealership and they tested it, and didnt have the exact model for our 179, so they ended up pulling one out of a trailer on the lot and giving it to us and were going to order one to replace the one in the trailer. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: acwadsworth
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 7:31pm
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Hi Leo, Thanks for responding so quickly to my post! I'm glad to hear that you love your 2015 179. We, too, would prefer a bed that we could walk around, but I guess you can't have everything! It was helpful to hear that you like the East Montpelier dealer and that you opted against the service warranty. I'll be back in touch if I have further questions. Thank you! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 7:43pm
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Feel free, anytime!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 7:54pm
The only reason Leo bought the 179 is cuz he needed more counter space to cut bait!!  fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 8:03pm
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Definitely and the big counter fits the portable freezer we got!! Fred, I will save you a spot in October on the beach!! The drum are calling!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 8:17pm
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I don't know, Leo. Fishing is hard!!   ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 8:24pm
ahhhhhh yes! Missing some tall cold ones ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: CFWARREN
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 9:30pm
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This reminds me of a question....I have a new 179, and when I try to use the heat, the heat comes on but the AC comes on as well. I hope this is just me doing something wrong, and not something wired up wrong. It worked right the first night out, but since then, that's what it does.
------------- 2016 179 - Hood River Edition 2008 Nissan Xterra |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2015 at 9:50pm
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A very common complaint. Set the fan setting on the thermostat to AUTO. Setting it to high or low will cause the A/C fan to run when the furnace runs.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |