Space heater, electric blanket, or 4-season sleeping bag?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by gekko1323, Nov 16, 2023.

  1. gekko1323

    gekko1323 Road Train Member

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    Good evening folks. I'm getting ready for some lengthy winter driving, and am trying to decide how to keep warm. Last year I just wrapped myself in 2 heavy blankets, used heavy socks, a balaclava, and I was good to go---for the most part. On nights when it was especially frosty I just idled the truck and used the bunk heater. Now, that thing kicked some serious hiney, and I would have to turn it off in less than an hour. But I really don't like idling, even though I wouldn't have to worry about soot build-up and such.

    So I was thinking of some cheap alternatives and wanted to get some input before I decide. I'm considering:

    1- Space heater. I know that they are "illegal", but I could probably get around the portability issue by bolting it down. Or just not worry about it. My concern is the amount of power it would draw. I have an inverter, but I don't feel like going through the hassle of putting in a generator for lengthy use.

    2- Electric Blanket. Everyone raves about them, but I knew a guy who was permanently disfigured and lost the use of one hand because his electric blanket caught fire one night while he was sleeping. That was 30 years ago, so I'm sure there have been substantial improvements pertaining to tech and safety.

    3- Winter Sleeping Bag. My sister goes camping in the Colorado mountains all the time, and she suggested a mummy-style bag from one of the good brands. She says it does the job even in 0-degree temps.

    So what do you guys think?
     
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  3. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Why don't you just use your bunk heater like every other trucker on the road? You don't have to idle your truck to use your bunk heater.
     
    drh72, Siinman, gentleroger and 8 others Thank this.
  4. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    My younger me, a few years ago. I used a sub zero sleeping bag.
    N14 Motor treated fuel or idle the truck after 4 hours for 30 minutes to warm the motor.

    DD 15 now, I have APU so I don't have to idle when it gets below freezing. I still carry sub zero bag for emergency.

    Very important you get quality sleep.
     
  5. JoeyJunk

    JoeyJunk Road Train Member

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    Sleeping bag if you can stand waking up in a cold truck. Before I put my generator on the truck I carried a buddy heater and a 20lb propane tank. Didn’t care if it was legal or not. Rules end where my not freezing to death begins LOL.

    But yes as 86scotty said, use the bunk heater and only idle when it’s really cold if you are worried about fuel issues.
     
    W923, Siinman, INRUT and 5 others Thank this.
  6. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    My solution is a Webasto cab heater and I also use this LiTime 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery, Build-in 100A BMS, 2560Wh En with a Cobra inverter. A timer is plugged into inverter and an extension cord goes to the block heater. The timer is set up to turn on every morning at 5.30am, so by the time I get up at 7.30 engine is already warmed up and fires up easily
     
  7. SomeCanadian

    SomeCanadian Light Load Member

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    As someone who has done the propane thing, be careful and don’t buy the cheapest. Little buddy rebranded but they have low oxygen shut off (in theory it won’t work on at high altitudes. )

    I can’t stand getting up in the cold to start the truck. If you’re going to do the sleeping bag, a -20c or better mummy bag and a cheaper 0 bag around it makes it bearable to about -30c then you start adding layers to your sleep wear. But at -30 take your cell phone into the bag with you or it will be dead in the morning.

    but yes best solution is a webasco or similar. I think an electric blanket may leave you short on cranking power in the morning.
     
  8. gekko1323

    gekko1323 Road Train Member

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    For some reason, the bunk heater doesn't come on if the truck is off. I guess I will look into it. But like I said, that thing has to be turned off or it will cook me. And I don't want to have to wake up several times a night to turn it on and off.
     
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  9. gekko1323

    gekko1323 Road Train Member

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    Did you install the block heater or did it come stock?
     
    Rideandrepair and JoeyJunk Thank this.
  10. gekko1323

    gekko1323 Road Train Member

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    Yeah, that was the thing. Waking up to a freezing truck was NOT fun.
     
  11. FullMetalJacket

    FullMetalJacket Road Train Member

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    Depending on truck, may have to have something preset/switched in truck.

    With my last '18 Cascadia, I had to have either the foot well light or lower bunk floor light switched on for bunk heater to run.
     
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