Are any/all Heartland RVs all season?

[Eternal Sonrise Roost]

Hello to all of our Heartland family!

We purchased a 2009 Heartland 21FBS late in 2019.
Due to Covid and several back operations on my wife we have really just started using it this year.
First thought is this travel trailer is beautiful!

Second thought is "is this camper a four season?"
We went out to Little Pine State Park here in Pennsylvania in early Autumn of 2020.
The night temperatures got down to 34 each evening.
Our 40A fuse blew and we had no access to replace it.
We ran an extension cord thru the window and for an hour before going to bed we ran a small space heater to warm up the camper before going to bed.
Then turned it off before going to bed not wanting to run the risk of having to use a fire escape window.
When we got up in the morning the camper was still very warm.

Second example.
Went camping in later July this year and temps were hot!
Used our AC for the first time.
It would kick on for maybe 20 minutes each evening and cool it down inside and then shut down for hours before kicking back on.
It would cool it down quickly and it would retain that cool for a long time.
Due to how long it retained heat and very cold nights and how long it retained the cool on very hot nights:

Is this trailer a four season trailer?

It is our first ever camper.
And honestly, we love the size, all the features, and the look!
We will hold onto this one for a long time.
Not sure how much we would use it when we purchased.
We have been using it a lot!

hanks and God bless!!

Michael and Karen
Williamsport, PA.

 

[sengli]

All RV brands seem to have the marketing hype on their units stating they are all season rated with special packages. Honestly these arent sticks and bricks type homes. The levels of insulation just arent there. To expect the same level of comfort thru all types of conditions seems reasonable if you believe the marketing hype, but its just not so. My thoughts are, these units are better than a tent!

 

[danemayer]

"Four Season" means something quite different for those in central Florida from those in the Colorado mountains. Sounds like yours isn't allowing a lot of heat transfer.

 

[TrailCreek]

Agreed that tents are worse, but that's what the story about the three little pigs is about. Same story wth RV's. Stick and tin, laminated, aluminum frame with bonded exterior/interior. While each has it's purpose, cost, efficiency, strength, they all have weakspots. Insulation values vary greatly but vulnerability lies with tanks and connections.

I've been in an RV when my bed covers froze to the wall. Definitely not enough heat but I wasn't concerned as the RV was winterized. You can keep warm or cool inside in any RV (I'm talking about towables) if you apply enough heat or AC power. Keeping tanks from freezing in extreme weather is harder. Most artic packages, besides adding insulation, usually have tank heaters or pads. Using floor ducted heat helps, as long as you are not trying to save propane by using a space heater or heat pumps and having the inside uncomfortably hot. Just insulating tanks in the envelope and hoping the tanks absorb enough heat through the floor is a house built from straw. Sooner or later the exterior temperature will overcome that effect and freeze from the bottom of the tank.

The next vulnerability is connections. Most class A motorhomes have a "wet bay" that has some heat source. Some towables have wet bays for water but few have sewer connections in the bay. You may need to add an incandescent light bulb for heat. Almost every fresh water drain and low point has exterior valves and uninsulated tube drops. Valves, hoses, and connections are the house of sticks. Better than straw but still vulnerable. Heated hoses, internal valves, insulation wrap will extend your resistance to freezing a little longer but if you have ever seen an RV used for long term living in a cold climate, you will understand that true 4 season living in an RV made of bricks requires skirting, heated hoses, heat tape and insulation for the water spigot, and some heat source under the skirted RV. Sewer hoses may need to be pvc pipe.

4 seasons is relative to your location. Where I'm from in Montana, the frost line is 6 feet deep. I have only seen one RV used in winter and it looked like an artic adventurer. Skirted with foam, reflectics in the windows, blue tarp on the roof to build an air gap, and a front porch entry to block wind from sucking heat out every time the door opens. Plus a heated insulated structure over the water connection and tunnel for the pvc sewer pipe. That was no longer a mobile RV, but more like a tiny home.

How far into the brick house do you want to go depends on where and how long you plan to stay, at least from my perspective. That's just one scenario. I'm sure others have valid opinions too. So, the short answer is, depending on your 4 season extreme, it's all relative. Still, better than a tent.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

 

[FL-JOE]

Our unit is 100% four seasons, but only because we are full timers and follow the sun. It works great anywhere in the U.S. from May to September, then it is perfect from October to April in central Florida.

 

[Eternal Sonrise Roost]

We are not looking to live out of our trailer.
Just considering using it in November if we would not pay a fortune in propane.
We were just curious as to whether the Heartland brand or even if some of their models were considered more of a four season for camping in colder whether.
I read how the Nash/Arctic Fox/Desert Fox brand is more of a true four season with better insulated walls, windows, water lines, and holding tanks.
With how little heating was needed to heat up our camper and how the camper maintained that heat for 8 hours we were wondering if this brand or model was manufactured more towards late season campers.
Also, with how the A/C kicked on for only 15 minutes or so and then kicked off and did not run again for quite a while due to how the camper held the cool inside also got me thinking about it.
This was not any marketing thing, or a desire to live in northern Maine through the winter.
It was just a curiosity due to how the camper maintained temperature ranges without constant running of A/C or heating units.
I was wondering if anyone knew for sure.
My guess is, just like the red lite switch, nobody really can say yes or no!!
Our plan to to go out in November to see how well it maintains temps inside.
We can do this with it winterized so we may do so first to help prevent any freezing of water lines or tanks.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and experiences on this issue.

Michael and Karen
Williamsport, Pa.

 

[chaplady]

I stayed in my Big Horn from March 2020 till Dec 31 2020. Used about 100 lbs cylinder of propane every 2.5weeks, also used infrared space Heat to help. Inaddition place insulation over windows towels keep heat in. Used heated water line sealed up coloraplast gaps. Longer term users at campground enclosed there trailers underside. We stayed warm and didn't freeze up that was main goals I added a storage bay heater too to help prevent freezing due to not having heated tank pads. This was in NJ Temps avg low to mid 30's Dec.

 

[Dmetcalf]

We are full time in our Cyclone. I added some floor insulation back under the garage area bevy there wasn’t any at all there from the factory. We are now retired so we try our best to chase the weather so we are comfortable.