Using rv water on the ice

[clownshack]

So we upgraded our Ice Castle from a 6x14 to a 8x21rv hybrid this summer. One of the main reasons for the upgrade is for showers-hot water on the ice.

I already had the underside spray-foamed and filled the area under the storage tank and the entire bathroom with 4.5" I added a drain to the water heater, and a tee to the water pump to draw straight from a jug of antifreeze.

How have you kept the shack warm for the 5 hr. drive to LOW? Any problems keeping the furnace on that long at 70 mph? I have only left it on in my other shack for 20 miles tops and everything seemed to work great. My other idea is just putting a quick connect to the propane line inside and hooking up a buddy heater for the drive. Should keep it warm enough?

The potable tank is only 15 gal. I think I would like another 15 gallons with what works good for this?

Any other tips or watch out fors?

Thanks for any help.

[Boar]

Boy, Ive never heard of anyone doing this. Ive seen the hybrids, been in them have a freind that has one but dose not attempt your senario. I think its recommended not to travel high speeds and long distnces with the furnace on, pluse alls it takes for the buddy heater to kick of is hitting a bump like raild road tracks. I wish you luck in this idea but think your inviting problems. Good Luck clown hope it works. let us know

[clownshack]

Good point Boar. I never thought about the tip switch on the buddy heater. The shack has torsion axles and rides pretty smooth. I can monitor temps from the cab of the truck with the remote thermometer I installed. I wonder how sensitive they are if mounted to the wall?

[bigshooter23]

I would skip the gas fired furnace and maybe get a electric base board heater or else heat tape around the water lines. just run the generator in back of the truck when traveling. Helped a buddy with his and so far so good

[JimW]

Clown, I have a fishhouse with water/shower/etc. I would not use the water in the winter. I think the lines by the water heater/holding tanks/water lines in the wall would have a chance of freezing especially on the drive. I would not chance it. I asked the manufacturer of mine and they did not suggest using water in the winter as they could not guarantee the water would not freeze. I have used my furnace on the drive and it has been fine, but there is always a chance it could not light.

Jim

[clownshack]

Running a electric heater might work but I only have a ef2400 yamaha. I can only run one 1500w heater with it so about 5000 btu. I know that kept my little shack warm but have my doubts it would keep a 21' shack warm at -10f and 70mph.

All the water lines and holding tanks on my shack are in heated space, if the shack can stay even sort of warm the lines are not freezing. The water heater is all I would worry about because it has the tp blow-off,anode-drain and combustion vent to the outside. I could leave this dry for the drive though.

[clownshack]

I heard the manufacturers don't recommend it but I am going to get it to work reliably. To keep the wife happy!

Worse case I freeze the lines and pump, all super cheap and easy to get to.

What kind of furnace do you have that you have traveled that far reliably Jim?

[Bryce]

Sounds like a lot of trouble. How do you intend to deal with the hot water heater at the end of the trip? There are places on shore that have showers.

[Dozer]

I built my house but I use my water/shower all the time on the ice. I leave mine full of antifreeze until I get to the lake and then fill everything. I suck water from the lake for mine though. I also pull mine all the time with the furnace lit with no problems.

[clownshack]

The water heater drains with a twist of the wrist.Easy

[Dozer]

I just cant imagine spending all that money on a house with water/shower to not use it and drive to shore and pay for a shower. Doesn't make sense to me at all!

[clownshack]

Thats what I wanted to hear Dozer! I could just stick the 3/8" line I installed to draw out of the gallon antifreeze and stick it in hole.... wife would go for that if I ran it through a carbon filter first. I think that would work awesome and solve about every problem I had! Thanks for all the help guys! Bunch of great ideas.

[Boar]

Absolutley, useit it if one can, its why ya got it. just see problems but looks like ya got it covered, good luck.

[dirt292lv]

Why not just try leaving the furnace I leave mine on all winter I don't have water in mine but when we go to red I shut it off when we get 30 min away I kick it back on always worked for me.

But if I had water in mine I don't think I would use it, time will tell seems like a lot more people are going with the rv

[clownshack]

Dirt, I will try running with the furnace on, seems like the consensus is that it will work fine. Thanks

[EJ]

Have run the heater on a lot of trips with no problems.

[Tom7227]

I am curious about this thread. How long would it take to warm up the unit if you didn't run the heater on the way up?

[clownshack]

My 21' takes 15 min for the air temp to reach 60° at 10° outside temp. Takes a little better than a half hour for the surfaces to warm up.

The 6.5 x 14 shack I just sold was about the same. At -10° it takes about an hour and a half before the wife is in a tee shirt and slippers

[clownshack]

One more question. Has anyone with a refrigerator tried using it in the winter? My shack has a large fridge and would be a whole lot handier to just leave all the food in it rather than in coolers outside.

[B-man715]

Why not just drive it there dry, use lake water, then winterize it once you leave??

[Bryce]

Use our fridge and freezer with no issues. We load in a heated garage and travel with no heat. Have lost some lettuce over the years but only when traveling in -20 type temps.

[clownshack]

Thats good to know Bryce, Thanks

Anyone else have any tips for extreme first world ice fishing? LOL

[Boar]

kegs take up alot of room.

[Bryce]

Stainless steel wineglasses travel better than the good crystal.

[BigDogRob]

Yep, keep your lines in the water...you'll improve your catch rate!