First year with a truckmount in the COLD!!!
- Thread starter Jeff Marek
- Start date
The only time I ever froze my van was when I thought I'd be extra careful and run 2 heaters, I didn't even think about it and as soon as I went to bed the breaker must have tripped. It was about 5 degrees that night, not good.
Sent from my iPhone using TMF Forums mobile app
longkenn
Well-Known Member
- May 7, 2011
- 4,937
- 2,377
- 113
- Real Name
- Kenneth Long
- Business Location
- United States
Wind chill will have no effect on your equipment. Wind chill is only applicable to living tissue. So, what is the lowest actual temperature you would expect to deal with??
If you van is going to be sitting for a few days I will tell you what I did with mine. I went to Harbor Freight and bought some moving blankets. I also purchased a very large tarp that was large enough to fit under the rear wheels and then pull the entire tarp over the entire van with enough extra to roll up some to put in front of the front wheels. Put a heater in the van. Now put the moving blankets so that they drape over the sides from the top of the van. You will need about 6 blankets to do it properly. Cover the top and sides. Now back your van onto the large tarp to where the rear wheels will hold the tarp down. Then pull the tarp over the van. Roll up the excess and place it just in front of the front wheels. Drive over the rolled up tarp about a foot or so and the entire van should be resting on the tarp. Now take cinder blocks and weigh the sides of the tarp down so that wind will not get under it. Doing this kept my van at 50 degrees F while the outside temperature hovered around 0 Degrees F. You should also put a wireless thermometer in the van so that you can monitor the temperature. It is best if you use one that has alerts that can send them to your phone, but you can get cheaper ones that just transmit the temperature to a receiving unit. Make sure you don't have flammables near your heater.
Check out how the van is wrapped in the picture in Post #3 or 4 and you can see how I did it. https://www.truckmountforums.com/threads/my-van-wrap-new-picture-coming-soon.68330/#post-923517
Last edited:
TopJobROd
Active Member
When I clean while it is below 10 degrees or so I have problems with the recovery hose building up ice, I went out and bought a box of flex duct (insulated flexible ducting for home heating and air conditioning systems) so that I run my solution hose and recovery hose through it and that helps a lot. First year I had the truckmount I had two electric heaters inside and a wireless remote temp sensor just to monitor. A lot of anxiety over equipment being damaged, I used SUNHEAT heaters, best and most efficient heaters I have found. I read on here a while back that one of the members uses sections of metal ductwork and directs the exhaust from the blower/engine down the ductwork to help keep the hoses from freezing, must really suck to live in canada with those low temps they have there.
Have you ever seen a flat panel heater. I run 3 of them in my trailer attached to the walls connected to a thermostat. Less than 13 amps for all three. Look here.
I just plug in my extension cord and it's stays about the same temperature. Last night it was around 15 below so I added an extra heater to be safe. Thanks
The whole state is getting hit with a cold front. Supposedly getting warmer next week. Hopefully lol.
That's what people say.... but then people are stupid.
Didn't you say you were from the north west? Be easy on yourself. Not stupid just mind challenged lol
Similar threads
