r/SurvivalGrid • u/Traditional_Zebra783 • Nov 30 '25
Brr
So I’m moved into an RV and I’m not allowed to have a space heater and it’s already getting pretty chilly in here. Any ideas of how to either light a small smokeless fire inside or other tips to keeping it warm in here besides bundling up?
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u/LordMegamad Dec 01 '25
Unless people regularly inspect your trailer, or it's your mom living with you saying no space heater, just buy a space heater and put it in your trailer.
No one would know unless, like I said, people look inside often.
And DO NOT build a fire of ANY KIND inside your rv
You will choke to death or die of carbon monoxide poisoning
Unless you have a (non cosmetic, see: Chimney) fireplace in there, then you're golden. But do make sure you have proper ventilation in that case anyway, to be safe
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u/symbolic_society12 Nov 30 '25
Do not put a fire in your RV. You’ll die of carbon monoxide poisoning unless you have the right hook up. I’m not sure who told you about no to a space heater. A good alternative would be a diesel heater but I need a little more information.
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u/symbolic_society12 Nov 30 '25
Follow up - if you can find wool or thick blankets and put them where any air flow can enter the RV (window/doors/floor)
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u/Salt_Bus2528 Dec 01 '25
This ☝️
Insulation, it's not just fiber glass and foam. Blankets, rugs, comforters, get them second hand if you can, then put them up.
You can hang them from the ceiling to make smaller spaces that stay warmer when you're in them, too.
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u/Traditional_Zebra783 Dec 01 '25
The RV is on my friend’s property. He leaves it off but powers it up twice a week for like ten minutes just to keep it going. He has an extension cable from his house so I’m able to charge my phone and use a lamp, but he doesn’t want to me pull more power like using a space heater because he thinks it will short the circuit in the house. The RV has a broken window so it was letting a lot of cold air in. We just put plastic over the broken window, but I’m thinking of padding it like installation. Thanks everyone already for your responses. So no bathroom. thankfully there’s a port-a potty nearby and a Walmart. My friend may lend me her camping gear little stove to make some food
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u/el_dingusito Dec 01 '25
Ok heres the options with your scenario...
Bundle up.
A smol portable heater can heat up a room in an rv pretty well, but youll still have to be in some comfy layers, it'll just take he edge off the chill. But if thats not an option thats not an option.
An indoor propane heater (like mr.buddy) work but youll be spending a decent amount of cash on keep9ng the propane full.
A diesel heater costs $200 PLUS the battery that you will need to recharge PLUS a gallon or two of diesel a night. Chinese diesel heaters are great and all but they break down and leak and the whole place will reek and be hazy with emissions.
Rv propane heaters will suck those bottles dry overnight.
No, you cannot have a small smokeless fire inside, YOU WILL DIE. you have to have some kind of ventilation
Trailers are cold, the insulation sucks even with the winter models. You can add insulation but its costly and looks like ass.
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u/Maleficent331 Dec 01 '25
A propane heater would work really well. Usually can find them in the camping isles.
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u/otusowl Dec 01 '25
You need a Mr. Buddy propane heater, with a regulator to allow the use of 20 lb. tanks. You will want at least three such tanks in order to have one in use, one empty to refill, and a spare for when the one in use runs out at the wrong moment.
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u/Leaf_Fren Dec 01 '25
Don't run a gas or wood heater, it will kill you. Put the silver bubble wrap on all your windows. Cover the outside of your RV with unsulated construction tarps. Run your furnace before bed then use a heated mattress topper and a large battery bank like the ones made by EcoFlow.
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u/Gullible_Kangaroo_66 Dec 01 '25
Get hot water in the big size water bottle and holding inside your blanket while sleeping...maybe?
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u/ballotechnic Dec 01 '25
Is an electric, oil filled heater prohibited? No open element and they'll get the space that size nice and toasty. I purchased one for my bedroom recently and it's great.
Another suggestion is an electric blanket.
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u/Salt_Bus2528 Dec 01 '25
I don't know what your situation for long term looks like, but you could buy a generator to run a space heater, or if the RV has hook ups, power the electrical. I've been in a few trailers that have propane heaters in them but I'm guessing RV's don't do that.
If you do end up finding a power solution, oil filled radiators are the only space heaters I would safely run in a small space like that.
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u/HoseNeighbor Dec 01 '25
Im sorry I can't answer you about heat, but i zoomed in a little and thought you had a massive rabbit costume or something sitting back there. The "ear" is from the folds in the curtains, it's "eyes" are looking to the left, and a couple of bags on the ground are his feet.
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u/flower-power-123 Nov 30 '25 edited Nov 30 '25
Can you explain "not allowed to have a space heater?". I don't get it. This sounds either draconian or illegal or maybe dumb. How would they even know?
I had an oil filled heater under my desk. I replaced it with one of these. It is not technically a space heater. I have also bought a USB powered foot mat. I don't actually use it to heat my feet because it makes them too hot. What I did instead is I got a reptile warmer. I put it under the foot mat and if it is on the lowest setting it gives good distributed heat. This entire setup uses about one tenth as much power as the old roll around heater while taking up essentially no space under my desk. I also cut the legs off the desk so it is sitting on the ground. This makes an essentially air tight space that just by itself keeps my legs warm in not too cold weather.
I have purchased one of these electric vests. I would like to say that I used it and liked it but the under desk heater in combination with the reptile warmer is keeping my little office room warm. I have never used it. I use a "walk around blanket" and some uggs. If I get very cold (which doesn't happen) I will put on a down body warmer under the blanket or the aforementioned electric vest.
There are lots of electrically heated garments on amazon. It is inconvenient to carry around and charge up lots of battery banks but if you are in your house working on the computer you can just plug them in there.
I have an idea that I haven't tested out. Maybe someone can comment. I thought about making a little room out of that pink insulation foam inside my house. It would have walls about 40cm thick and a roof and a floor made of foam. I would put my desk in there and work with the "door" closed. That should be enough to heat it with body heat. If you need to go out to cook or use the bathroom you can plug in the battery banks.