As the dates for your camping adventure approach, you have been keeping your eye on the weather. According to the forecast, the temperature will be a little cooler than normal. You are all packed up and ready to go, but you want to make sure that everyone will be comfortable at night.
What can you do to make sure no one freezes or is uncomfortably cold during the night? The following list, although not complete but is a start, is a list of items that will help you stay warmer. These are items that my family has used on some chilly nights in the mountains.
1 – Trailer Heater
As far as I know, every trailer, pop up, or travel has a heater built into it. The Fleetwood I own comes with two. I have only used the one that runs off my propane tank. The other is built into the AC unit on the top of the canopy. That one needs an electrical hookup to work.
With your propane tank on, click the furnace to on and adjust the thermostat to your desired temperature. Sounds easy right? It might be if you have a digital readout. You might have the older mercury type where you need to adjust the slider. The one in my trailer is located close to the floor, so if I want to guess the temperature I need to get on the floor to read it. It might be a pain but I can suffer through it in order to get warm. Of course, because it is close to the floor, I often need to turn it off because we get too warm. It’s that whole heat rises thing.
Just remember it doesn’t work as well as the heater in your house, but it will keep you warm. Make sure your propane tanks are full because it isn’t fun running out or having to go outside to switch the tanks in the middle of the night.
2 – Rated Sleeping Bags
I know many people that use sleeping bags when they camp in their trailer. We made our kids use them when we had our travel trailer. For the most part, they stayed warm. Well, they also had the walls of a contained structure. In a tent trailer, the locking in of the heat just doesn’t happen. It is tent material and it lets the cold in.
If you have ever tent camped then you know that a good sleeping bag that can lock the heat around your body on a cold night is crucial to survival. If you choose to use sleeping bags in your tent trailer, I suggest getting ones that are rated to the low temperature you will be camping in.
There are three (3) types to choose from:
- A mummy-style filled with down will keep you nice and cozy during the night. They are the best choice for cold weather because their shape creates less dead air space and includes an insulated hood for added warmth. They are typically lighter than rectangular bags because they use less material.
- The rectangle style is great for sleepers who need more room to move around at night. These bags are usually less expensive than the mummy type. They are heavier and bulkier, but you are only using them in your trailer and not backpacking with them. They are not recommended for very cold conditions.
- The semi-rectangular bags, sometimes called hybrid sleeping bags, fall somewhere in between mummy bags and rectangular bags. These offer a little more wiggle room than a mummy-style and are warmer than the rectangle style one.
It really all comes down to choice. What will make you the most comfortable during the night as to not wake up a popsicle?
3 – Warming Bags
I know plenty of people that swear by the hand-warming bags used by skiers, football players, and parents of any child playing an outdoor sport in late fall and winter. These can be inexpensive alternatives for just a night or two.
Placing them in your socks will keep the bottom of your feet and toes warm throughout the night. If you have gloves, placing one in each will also keep your hands warm. You should get about 10 hours of warmth from each of the warming bags.
4 – Electric Heater
For those who have electric hookups, bringing an electric heater from home is the best way to stay warm at night. From my own personal use, these work better at keeping the heat regulated throughout the night. If it has a digital thermostat setting it to a low comfortable temperature is ideal. They tend to run quieter than the one in the trailer and don’t use your propane.
This is my wife’s preferred method of warmth. Especially at night when getting ready for bed. She will set it to the desired temperature before we have our fireside treat. Then when we are done and ready for bed, the trailer is warm for the changing of clothes.
5 – Solar Blankets For Bunk End
Think of this as a cover or tarp for the bunk ends of your trailer. Place this over the canvas top and use bungee cords or tie-downs to secure it. This will not only reduce the heat loss through the top of the canvas but will also reduce condensation that will build up on the inside.
This is also something very useful in the summer as well.
BONUS – Electric Blanket / Bed Warmer
Now if you really want to spoil yourself while camping, and you have an electrical hookup, then placing an electric blanket on the bed is perfect. Just set it to the desired temperature and crawl into a warm bed. This is glamping at its finest! But all I know is that I do it to keep my wife happy (and who am I to complain about a warm bed).
They also make something known as a bed warmer. This is a mattress pad with heating coils. It operates just like an electric blanket but you lay on it. A low setting is recommended. Don’t want to wake up sweating – especially in the cold.
DOUBLE BONUS – Clothes
Packing the right kind of clothes for a cold night is vital to staying warm. Socks, long sleep pants or sweats, long-sleeved sleep shirt, hooded sweatshirt, and beanie are a must. Think layers for the night. However, I recommend not starting off with the sweatshirt. It’s nice to be able to add layers as needed. The beanie does keep the head warm and helps greatly in the morning to block out the light when you pull it over your eyes. The sweatshirt helps in keeping the cold off your neck and shoulders. Mine is usually right next to me if I need to grab it.
Wrapping It Up
As stated before this isn’t by any means complete. I am pretty sure there are other items or ways to stay warm in a tent trailer or any other trailer. These are just the ways that I have found beneficial on the camping adventures I have had with my family.
But what if you want to stay warm while tent camping? Check out How Do You Keep A Tent Warm Without Electricity for more great tips and ideas.
