How To Stay Warm During The Winter Season
Staying warm throughout the winter season when living in a van is more than possible however you will want to be prepared so you and your home can stay warm and safe while living in below freezing temperatures.
First and foremost, be sure to map out your travel itinerary so you can expect to have the right equipment BEFORE arrival. Also be sure to pack the right clothing: fleece pajamas, winter coats, wool socks, beanies, gloves, etc. In addition to clothing make sure your van is well insulated. You can learn all about van insulation options here and shop insulation materials here.
Our travel itinerary lead us to stay in primarily warmer climates. However as we slowly made our way to the East Coast for the holidays, we noticed our heating needs increasing as temperatures dropped. While there are many heating options out there, this is what we’ve used so far as well as a few recommendations from other van lifers. We hope to get you all set up to stay warm and thrive in beautiful, snow-filled mountaintops this winter.
Mini Compact Electric Heater
The Lasko Compact Space Heater is a good starter heater and was our first heater when living in primarily warmer climates, only needing to turn in on at night when temps dropped below 60 degrees. It’s only 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide. Not only does it store away nice and compact, it doesn’t pull too much energy, having a low wattage of 200-Watts and 682 BTUs. However this small heater isn’t strong enough to truly do the job if you’re living in the cold mountains this winter.
2. Strong Electric Heater
The Taotronics Space Heater was our next heater purchase. Pulling 1500Watts, this electric portable heater could heat up our little van fast and we could leave it running over night with temperature control features regulating the temp throughout the van while we slept. I will say, you have to have a LOT of solar or a generator to run this if you’re somewhere with little sunlight. We did upgrade to the next heater quite quickly as we didn’t want to continue using all of our solar power by running this heater. If you don’t have a ton of solar and won’t be living in sunny places, I would also forgo this heating option.
3. Portable Propane Heater
This Indoor Safe Propane Heater is the real deal. It runs off of propane and was a game changer for us. We absolutely love this heater. It’s high 3800-BTU means your tiny home will be filled with warmth in no time. It simply runs off of these 16oz propane tanks. The only downside is one tank lasts only one night so you have to continuously stock up on these little tanks. These portable propane heaters are really great options if you’re on a budget, just be sure to keep a window cracked to help reduce condensation that will build from propane use.
There is also a larger size option of this style heater. However you really don’t need the bigger one if you’re living in a van. The smaller one is more than strong enough to heat up your tiny home and takes up way less space.
*WARNING: If you use anything in your home that runs off of propane you will need to be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector. Propane is lethal if gas leaks. You can shop carbon monoxide detectors here.
4. Built In Propane Heater
This Atwood RV Small Furnace12,000 BTU 12VDC is a great option if your van doesn't run off of diesel gas but you’d still like to have a built in heater. This will need to be connected to a propane tank that should be installed underneath the van and will also need to have vent access somewhere through the side or bottom of the van, which prevents the condensation issue option 3 has. We are currently sticking to option 3 to save money, however plan to get this installed soon. These built in heaters are expensive and require extensive installation but are ultimately the best heating solution for the coldest climates.
5. Built In Diesel Heater
This Fiberly Diesel Heater is a great, affordable option if your van runs on diesel. If you have a diesel engine then you’re part of the lucky bunch that can get a built in heater that is directly connected to your gas tank. Again, any built-in heater is going to be costly and requires an extensive installation. During the install to the gas tank, a ventilation source to the outside will also be made, preventing the condensation build up option 3 has. Once all is set up, it requires little gas to keep your tiny home nice and toasty and is the ultimate luxury heating source when living on the road.
6. Heated Floors
There are not many things we wish we did differently with our van build, however installing heated floors is one of the only things we wish we had done differently. This Electric Floor Heating System runs off of a 120V connection and 240 watts. It’s simple to install and you don’t need much to make a huge difference in your home.
7. Heated Blanket
This portable heated, 12V blanket is next on our purchase list. It’s simple charge system makes it easy to charge up while on the road and is a fun way to get warm in bed while waiting for the heater to kick in.