Boler furnace

[RLP]

I have a 1972 13 foot Boler. It appears it used to have a furnace because there is a metal patch on the exterior just above the wheel well which I suspect was the vent location. I would like to install a furnace again, probably just a convection type since one with a fan would draw to much battery power (I mostly boondock).

So where exactly did the original furnace sit? There is only about 7 inch clearance between the wheel well and bottom of sink drain. There is more clearance from floor to sink drain ahead of the wheel well but not much width.

Can anyone direct me to a furnace that will fit my Boler. Pictures of what you have installed would also be great.

Thanks in advance.

[Roy in TO]

Google this:
site:fiberglassrv.com +"gravity furnace" +boler

There are furnace manuals in the Document Center on the left side bar.

A number of boler furnaces looked like this:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/a...1&d=1287185795

[Rick G]

Originally Posted by RLP

I have a 1972 13 foot Boler.

Can anyone direct me to a furnace that will fit my Boler. Pictures of what you have installed would also be great.

Thanks in advance.

My 74 Boler had a gravity type furnace, a Wagon-Master 6000B. It was tall and narrow, about 9 X 16 inches, and not very deep so that it would go in front of the wheel well. It was positioned from the bottom of the kitchen cabinet on the inside of the trailer, at the very left side of the kitchen cabinet. A cupboard was to the right of the furnace, and the fridge to the right of the cupboard. A picture is attached of the furnace without its cover and the interior burner and new control module for it.

It can be quite difficult to get a gravity type furnace (that does not use any electricity) these days as most furnaces are now fan-forced and are much deeper. The advantage of the new ones is better heat distribution through the trailer. The disadvantage is that they use electricity, sometimes lots of it. I personally like the gravity type for a small trailer.

Your best bet to find an old gravity type heater might be an RV junkyard. I have not heard of any modern furnaces of this type being made. I still have one in my current trailer, a Duo-Therm which is also very shallow in depth and mounted against the wheel well (though on the street side, not the kitchen side). It is basically a barbecue-type burner in a sealed box with a fresh air tube and exhaust tube mounted concentrically. It does not use any room air, a huge advantage over the space heaters.

Hope that helps.
Rick G