Wheel House heater on while trailing 4-6hr trips?

[bASS_BLASTER]

Stupid question, but I don't want my stuff, water, minnows, liquids to freeze up during minus temps on long, 4-6hr trips. Is it a good idea to set temps and leave wheel house heater on while trailing? Besides wasting propane, what could possible go wrong?

[B-man715]

I don't see it hurting anything, just sucking down a lot more propane like you already expect. A 60+ wind in negative temps will likely have it running non-stop, which will also knock your battery down.

I prefer to keep stuff in the cab, a cooler, or even just wrapped in a sleeping bag or blankets. Also having any liquids starting out at room temperature from your home instead of the fridge will buy you much more time without any explosions

[bak2MN]

Depending on the heater it may or may not stay lit. And depending on things you could have a major gas build up with potential bad results.

[JimW]

I do turn mine on while loading my stuff in it. Keep it at 40 until i am on lake and setup. Then i turn it up to 50 to 55.

[OutlawBiz]

Not a great idea IMO. What happens when you add oxygen to fire!? You get MORE fire. How about a 55-65 mph "breeze" while driving down the highway through the furnace intake or exhaust, or a hole in the floor etc.!? Hot a bump...furnace gets jarred loose or propane line breaks while you have an open flame...

Here's what happens...just a few weeks ago a few miles from here:

$38,000 Ice Shack bursts into flames while furnace is on while travelling

It literally takes 10 mins to get a warm wheelhouse. And we are ice fisherman...we typically dress for the cold, so why take any chances.

[Gus]

Any concern about salty road spray coming in the air intake and (over time) causing premature burner failure?

Never experienced it, but I think it's plausible.

[nofishfisherman]

If you are carrying items that may freeze in your house while traveling just store them in a cooler. Coolers are just as good at keeping the cold out in the winter as they are at keeping it in during the summer.

Once you get on the lake and start setting up turn the heat on. By the time you are done monkeying around getting the house set and moving stuff from the truck to the house you'll probably have a nice warm house.

[damdiver]

I can't find the article now, but a $38,000 fish house caught fire while going down the road near Brookings, SD. Totaled!

[Boar]

If one just lights the furnace while payig access fee, by the ti.e you get out to wher u want it will be plenty warm with out driving 60-70 mph. For four-six hrs.

[leech~~]

I know we use to drive down the road with the propane heater running in our RV so not sure how different that would be?

[OutlawBiz]

I can't find the article now, but a $38,000 fish house caught fire while going down the road near Brookings, SD. Totaled!

Hey damdiver...look about 3 posts above yours...see the blue web link!?

[harvey lee]

Any concern about salty road spray coming in the air intake and (over time) causing premature burner failure?

Never experienced it, but I think it's plausible.

Nothing I even think or worry about.

One time I fired up my furnace while I was getting a road pass as it was about -20. I fire my furnace up when I get out of the truck. By the time I drop the house, cut holes and get everything ready in the house, it's warm and ready to fish, well at least 55-60 degrees in the house.

[Redlineracer12]

I know we use to drive down the road with the propane heater running in our RV so not sure how different that would be?

In an RV it might be designed to run while in motion (ie intake/exhaust for furnace is protected). I know for sure my fish house furnace exhaust is in the v-front, so it would be very easy to blow out the flame while trailering at highway speeds. I just turn the heat on when I get there before I drive out onto the lake.

[outdoors247]

Quote:

I can't find the article now, but a $38,000 fish house caught fire while going down the road near Brookings, SD. Totaled!

HOLY CARP! What size house was that? It must have been the Taj Mahal of fish houses for $38,000!

[OutlawBiz]

HOLY CARP! What size house was that? It must have been the Taj Mahal of fish houses for $38,000!

It was NOT worth $38k! I personally know the shack...it was built by a shack manufacturer YEARS ago. One of the previous owners tried building one for himself with an aluminum frame and slide-outs etc. thinking that would be the shack of the future. Don't think it went over very well so they never mass produced them. I heard that it wasn't even $30k to build originaly, and was totaled out in another insurance claim a few years back for $20K and he bought it back for $5k or something.

Then this whole fiasco with it burning up after driving down the highway with the furnace going happened...really a shady deal in most peoples eyes that know the situation. Besides not being worth $38k...the whole point was what can happen when you leave the furnace on while travelling.

[leech~~]

In an RV it might be designed to run while in motion (ie intake/exhaust for furnace is protected). I know for sure my fish house furnace exhaust is in the v-front, so it would be very easy to blow out the flame while trailering at highway speeds. I just turn the heat on when I get there before I drive out onto the lake.

Point well taken Redlineracer12, good example.

[bASS_BLASTER]

Great inputs. Looks like my vent hole is located up in the V front so I will probably take some time to insulate all liquids or keep them in the cabin.