Chinook RV

Since hitting the road full time we are still trying to figure out the best layout for our interior. With winter coming up and the stock furnace too loud for our liking we decided to install another heat source. I spent the last week in Home Depot’s parking lot, two strangers driveways who helped with the project, a beachside lot, and a nice little side road by a park. We reworked the cabinet we threw together before we left and built something a little nicer with better storage. This also served as the best spot to mount the new gas stove. Then we rebuilt and repositioned the bench seat which gave us a TON more storage and a better seating arrangement. And since the counter space in our kitchen is so limited, I made the bench so it can fold up for more counter space when cooking or doing projects. Just waiting on the locking gas struts to arrive. Still need to sand and finish but it’s coming along.

Man have you done a lot of work, looking good. How do you like the Dickerson propane fireplace? Is this replacing the furnance and a/c heatpump?

Any downside to it?

Chuck

68camaro wrote: September 9th, 2020, 7:56 am Man have you done a lot of work, looking good. How do you like the Dickerson propane fireplace? Is this replacing the furnance and a/c heatpump?

Any downside to it?

Chuck

Thanks Chuck. We are going to leave the stock furnace for now but if the new stove works out good (Which it should) we will eventually pull the old furnace.

Whats the advantage of your new heater versus whats already in the chinook? Is it supposed to be more fuel efficient? I see it has an exhaust pipe on top, do you have to cut a hole in your roof to vent it? Can it be wired to function on the existing thermostat? I know my factory furnace uses a huge amount of propane during the winter months. Propane is my biggest expense during the winter since i dont chase the 70 degree weather.

dougm wrote: September 9th, 2020, 11:25 am Whats the advantage of your new heater versus whats already in the chinook? Is it supposed to be more fuel efficient? I see it has an exhaust pipe on top, do you have to cut a hole in your roof to vent it? Can it be wired to function on the existing thermostat? I know my factory furnace uses a huge amount of propane during the winter months. Propane is my biggest expense during the winter since i dont chase the 70 degree weather.

The biggest advantage will be how quiet the new stove will run. We didn’t run our furnace at night last winter because of the noise of it kicking on and off would wake us up. It’s wasn’t a huge deal since we were plenty warm in the bed with the down comforter and the dog. But we did wake up a few mornings with the temps inside the RV in the single digits haha. It also should be much more efficient then the stock furnace. Not to mention how great the stove looks with a real flame flickering. Yes I cut a 3” hole in the roof, used the existing tv antenna hole. It’s a catalyst style stove so the exhaust exits thru the inner chimney pipe and fresh air is pulled in thru the outer pipe.

I don't like the furnace due to the noise too, but I seem to be the only one who get wake up by it. If I have shore power, I usually use the heat pump on the roof, and we have not been to anywhere that cold that it does not work well. So the new furnace is right behind the driver seat?

I really like your window with the shade. However, mine is a Concourse, so it probably won't work as well.

chin_k wrote: September 9th, 2020, 4:39 pm I don't like the furnace due to the noise too, but I seem to be the only one who get wake up by it. If I have shore power, I usually use the heat pump on the roof, and we have not been to anywhere that cold that it does not work well. So the new furnace is right behind the driver seat?

I really like your window with the shade. However, mine is a Concourse, so it probably won't work as well.

Yea with the side entry it’s directly under the bed. Not sure if that’s how it is in rear entry models. There Is storage directly behind the driver seat, then the stove is attached to that.

Mine is actually a concourse too. I removed the big “concourse side window” and installed new euro style windows. The shade/screen comes with the window and attaches directly to the inner window frame. Lots of fiberglass work but it was 100% worth it, we love them.

Oh yeah, I remembered your windows mod. Completely forgot that.

First cold morning fire up! Heated the van up fairly quickly even without the 12v fan hooked up. The mornings warm up fairly quick here in Oregon so we didn’t run it too long. Excited about it tho, think it’s going to be the perfect stove for our situation.

Willywalderbeast wrote: September 16th, 2020, 3:59 pm First cold morning fire up! Heated the van up fairly quickly even without the 12v fan hooked up. The mornings warm up fairly quick here in Oregon so we didn’t run it too long. Excited about it tho, think it’s going to be the perfect stove for our situation.

Now all you need is a ambient music track of crackling wood fireplace and you are in cozy nirvana.....