When you're away and it's freezing

[Karin]

We're in single digits here in Colorado. I have some food and water in the school bus, which will freeze while I'm away. It might not be a huge deal - I brought the stuff in jars into the house, where I have some limited storage. But I'm curious what other people do in this situation.

For those who have encountered similar situations, and have to go to work in freezing weather, do you run a heater when you're gone or let the place freeze?

 

[kyonu]

I don't have experience in this, but from common sense I can probably say that it's recommended you are somewhere with shore power during days that cold to help with efficiency and weather conditions.

I can't see of any other way to get by unless you have a vast majority of propane available, which you can keep the unit at around 50 degrees so things don't freeze over... My $.02

 

[Spirituallifetime]

I have kept portable propane heat going when gone in larger travel trailers. It's not the best thing to do but what had to be done. Just make sure that any thing that could burn is not near the heater. If you can plug into shore power you could use electric heater but they don't produce as much heat and things still might freeze if outside temperature is cooled enough.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Would the stuff you are concerned about fit into an ice chest? Maybe with a hot water bottle in it as well?

Regards
John

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Would the stuff you are concerned about fit into an ice chest? Maybe with a hot water bottle in it as well?

Regards
John

Hmm heat the ice chest instead off cooling it. Could be worth trying and if it worked would save a lot on propane!

 

[highdesertranger]

how long are you going to be away, a couple hours, a couple days, a couple of weeks? I personally don't like to keep any heater running while I am away. highdesertranger

 

[jeanontheroad]

Wow. You sure have to be tough to winter in Boulder in an unheated bus. I hope that rent is super low so you can save for your own rig that can be moved to an rv park with hookups in the brutal winter months. I hope you are working at a job that might allow you to put in for a transfer to a better climate. Heating and cooling seems to be a persistant problem for van dwellers and other rv full timers without electric hookup or a reliable propane furnace. We usually have both of those things and extreme temps can still make us miserable. Having to be at work at specific times would only make it worse.

You mentioned somewhere a very long commute. That's got to eat up a lot of gas. My solution in your situation would be to look for a used trailer with a working furnace and a much closer rv park. A lot of older trailers in the lower to mid 20's can be had for a few hundred dollars. You might save enough money in gas to make up for the additional park rent and you surely will reduce your stress level.

You can practice your building and problem solving skills at your own discretion. You can practice living efficiently and comfortably in a small space. When you reach the time when you can get a van and leave, you will have an asset you can sell for seed money.

 

[Karin]

Thanks all for your responses.

I don't have a long commute to work, I'm really close.

I do have electricity, through a power cord strung from the house.

I'm actually quite comfortable, although the bus now looks like a cardboard shack from the inside, except with Styrofoam and Reflectix instead of cardboard. It's staying pretty warm when I turn on my Wave 6 and sometimes supplement with the electric space heater.

Also, I have the use of the house on the property, with some storage in the kitchen, but I tend to have more than can be stored there, as I tend to buy in bulk.

Jeanontheroad, I'm so on board about working towards getting a van and getting out of here. That's my goal, to eventually join the rest of you on the road. I'm so looking forward to those days!

Thanks again!!