RV Tank Heaters

[WaltP]

There are several RV tank heaters on the market but I haven't seen any discussions of them on the forums.
A couple of examples are

Amazon.com: JR Products (HTH-A) Holder Tank Heater: Automotive
RV Water Holding Tank Automatic Heater Pad 12" x 18" Therma Heat SL T1218 | eBay

I imagine they'd draw too much current for any long term boondocking, but wonder if they'd be useful where shore power is available.
Does anyone have experience with them?

Walt

[sokhapkin]

65 watts is a light load when on shore power.

[WaltP]

Certainly. But I wonder how effective/useful they are.

Walt

[Joe MacDonald]

if there is no insulation over it, it would be just better than nothing, as the cold air hitting it would sap all heating it provides. We have similar problems here at work with outside piping that has to work in the winter. After heat tracing, if the pipe is not insulated, the tracing does almost nothing, insulate the pipe though, and it wont freeze.

Joe

[WaltP]

Originally Posted by Joe MacDonald

if there is no insulation over it, it would be just better than nothing, as the cold air hitting it would sap all heating it provides. We have similar problems here at work with outside piping that has to work in the winter. After heat tracing, if the pipe is not insulated, the tracing does almost nothing, insulate the pipe though, and it wont freeze.

Joe

Good insight Joe. Thanks.

Walt

[Jon Vermilye]

They are an option on Escape trailers; they add the pads & use spray foam over the tanks (and bottom) of the trailer. I know at least one owner that camps many winter weekends here in the North...

[Uplander]

My travel trailer (not a FGRV) comes with the 3 holding tanks enclosed and insulated. The bottom area is where the heating ducts are...running around and between the fresh water tank, the black water tank and the grey water tank. When the furnace is running everything is warmed in the sealed insulated area.

Any after market heater would be of little value if the area around the tanks were not insulated and sealed off from the cold. Many travel trailers are not suitable for use in the winter. Do your homework before you buy if winter camping is something you plan on doing.

Happy Camping!