RV Propane Heater vs. Electric

Above, The Beast at Joshua Tree National park where the propane heater drained the house battery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2015, I spent a night at the Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. Although it wasn't winter yet (it was in November), the nighttime temperatures got down into the 30s. I used the RV heater for the first time.

The following morning, I found that the house battery (there were no power hook-ups at the campground) was drained to practically zilch. The battery is needed to power the RV heater fan. Since it was about 5:00 in the morning, firing up the generator was out of the question as it is noisy and there's other campers to consider.

Instead, I started the engine and it began to charge the house battery since it is much quieter. But the charging was too slow, so I left the campground around 6:30. I didn't camp in such conditions (no electric hook-ups and cold temperatures) again.

About a year later, I was camping at a RV park in Topeka, Kansas and since there was a Walmart nearby I bought a ceramic space heater. The nighttime temperature was forecast to get into the 20s. Since I had power from the campground, that worked fine for me and I didn't have to use the RV propane heater.

RV Life has an article on what is right for a RV: Propane or electric? It discusses the pros and cons (like what I experienced) on heating a RV during winter conditions with propane and electric heaters. 

They begin with:

With winter in full swing, many campers are missing their RVs like crazy. Meanwhile, there are RVers who choose to keep on camping despite the chilly weather. The trick to enjoying winter camping trips? A heater, of course!

Most people who camp in cold weather only occasionally simply turn on the RV propane heater included with their trailer or motorhome. This is fine in some cases, but depending on your camping style and preferences, it might not be the best option for you. 

Wondering what options you have besides the traditional RV propane heater, and which heating option would work best for you? In this article, we will discuss both of these things so you can head out on your winter camping trips with confidence. 

To read more, go here.