Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Lighting furnace

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Lighting furnace

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8253
Printed Date: 19 Jun 2025 at 7:43am
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Topic: Lighting furnace

Posted By: mylopez
Subject: Lighting furnace
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 8:32am

Do you have to manually light furnace or does it have an electric starter? (R-Pod 178)

Replies:

Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 9:02am

You should only have to set the thermostat to heat and have the setpoint higher than ambient. And make sure the propane tank valve is open and there is propane. Also make sure there is battery power available or be plugged into 120VAC power. The furnace won't run without some electricity for the fan and thermostat.

Before firing up the furnace, make sure to light the gas burners on the stove for a short time, this gets gas flowing out to the furnace quicker (if it's in the rear of the R-Pod).

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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI

Posted By: mylopez
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 9:13am

What do you mean by higher than ambient"? Sorry for all the questions, but new at this.

Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 10:37am

Originally posted by mylopez

What do you mean by higher than ambient"? Sorry for all the questions, but new at this.

In order for the furnace to turn on, you have to adjust the temperature on the thermostat to a temperature higher than what it currently is. Also, be sure to change the setting to 'furnace'.

You don't have to be plugged into shore power for the furnace to run, but if not, you'll need your battery to be connect to the Pod.

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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL

Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 12:28pm

If it's 78°F in the camper already, you would have to turn the thermostat up to at least 79°F to get the furnace to turn on. Ambient temperature is the actual air temperature.

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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI

Posted By: mtdave
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 12:02pm

I have a newbie furnace question too. With the camper plugged in to 120 and gas on, I adjusted the thermostat in furnace mode to higher than ambient temperature. The blower for the AC unit came on but the furnace did not. Why is this? Is the AC unit also a heater? When I do the same thing with the camper not plugged in the furnace does come on and heat.

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2011 R-Pod 176
2009 Chevy Suburban 1500

Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 3:00pm

Originally posted by mtdave

I have a newbie furnace question too. With the camper plugged in to 120 and gas on, I adjusted the thermostat in furnace mode to higher than ambient temperature. The blower for the AC unit came on but the furnace did not. Why is this? Is the AC unit also a heater? When I do the same thing with the camper not plugged in the furnace does come on and heat.

When you are connected to 120 volt power, the fan in your AC unit will run continuously while the furnace is set to 'on'. The furnace itself, which is below the bed in our 177, only runs when it senses that the ambient temperature is at least 1 degree lower than what the thermostat is set for. In my experience, it can take it several minutes to start the furnace though.

When you are not connected to 120 volt power, the furnace will still run, and it has a small blower of its own, but the big fan in your AC unit will not run.

The furnace uses far more propane than anything else in your Pod and also uses a fair amount of battery power when you're not connected to 120 volt.

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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL

Posted By: mtdave
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 3:26pm

Okay, I see. That thing about having the AC unit fan running continuously while the furnace is set to 'on' is an annoying option. Is there a way to change that?

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2011 R-Pod 176
2009 Chevy Suburban 1500

Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 3:56pm

Originally posted by mtdave

Okay, I see. That thing about having the AC unit fan running continuously while the furnace is set to 'on' is an annoying option. Is there a way to change that?

On the thermostat set the fan mode to auto.

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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Posted By: mtdave
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2016 at 4:01pm

Ah, nice. Thanks

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2011 R-Pod 176
2009 Chevy Suburban 1500

Posted By: densmorema
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2016 at 10:59pm

I n the fan mode on the thermostat make sure its in the auto mode or the ac blower will come on.

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Mike and Cherie
Michigan
2015 R179 2016 silverado

Posted By: densmorema
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2016 at 11:02pm

it should have auto ignition , just make sure the gas is on.

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Mike and Cherie
Michigan
2015 R179 2016 silverado

Posted By: ClariceRoberts
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2017 at 4:09am

Yeah the thermostat should always be on the auto mode. A few days back, my aunt also faced the same situation. Her furnace was not lighting. Some one suggested to make sure the thermostat is on the correct setting and temperature,
re-light the pilot if it has gone out, and make sure that the gas line
is working. At last she decided to consult the professionals to make sure the problems are solved well.

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Clarice Roberts

Posted By: traveleric
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2021 at 8:23pm

Okay I have this exact same problem and the responses I’m seeing aren’t getting me to the fix. Would love how to get my furnace to kick on.

2017 rpod 178

Also I’d anyone had the furnace manual link handy?

Thank you kindly.

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2021 at 9:44pm

Ensure there is propane in the tank, the tank is connected to the regulator, and the valve is turned on. Check by lighting the stove to verify that propane is flowing properly.

Set thermostat fan to Auto. Set thermostat mode to heat. Set temperature higher than the ambient temperature by a few degrees. The furnace fan should start up. After several seconds, the gas valve should open and the spark ignition should ignite the propane.

Potential problems:

No 12V power. Make sure the battery is correctly connected and that you have power to the system.

Blown fuse for the furnace. If fan is not even running, then this might be the problem.

Bad or stuck sail switch (lets the furnace electronics know that the blower is moving air properly). If the fan is running but gas does not flow, this could be the cause.

Bad electronics for the furnace. This has been known to happen.

https://forestriverinc.com/files/Component-Manuals/Heating%20-%20Air%20Conditioning/Airxcel%20%28Suburban%29%20-%20Furnace%20Model%20NT-16SEQ,%20NT-20SEQ%20Users%20Manual.pdf - https://forestriverinc.com/files/Component-Manuals/Heating%20-%20Air%20Conditioning/Airxcel%20(Suburban)%20-%20Furnace%20Model%20NT-16SEQ,%20NT-20SEQ%20User's%20Manual.pdf

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: traveleric
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2022 at 2:19pm

I think the issue is a bad sail switch. Will replace this weekend and let you all know.

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2022 at 4:35pm

Have never had this happen (yet) but expect it could be an issue to pop up on our 11 year old 177. Please let me know how involved it is to change the sail switch and how long it took to do the job. Thanks. We have used our furnace a lot over the last 11 years as we do the bulk of our camping in spring or fall when there are less people camping as versus the summer time.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."