I imagine I'll be off grid most if not all the trip(so no electricity), usually I just bring extra blankets but my pup will be with me and want to keep it safe. I'm pretty broke and so cheap options are appreciated. I was thinking I'd just go with a propane mr heater
Yeah I’d go with a Buddy heater
Diesel heater, have 2 in my 42ft toy hauler, never use my wood stove anymore
If you don’t mind cutting a hole in the floor (sacrilege, I know), maybe install a cheap Chinese diesel heater. If you have a solar panel, it can keep a deep cycle battery charged pretty well for the amount of power the heater requires, and a 5 gallon jug of diesel should last the week pretty easily. They’re really easy to install, too. The heater could be mounted under a bench, or wherever works for you, and can be pretty well hidden.
If you can swing state park fees for one or two nights, try Farragut – beautiful park and location with electric and nice showers.
An electric blanket averages about 50 watts per hour. Underneath a comforter it’ll keep you toasty in utterly cold weather, you’d just need to be able to supply 0.5 kWh per night (about as much as you’d need to run a counter height 5 cu ft fridge – one typical sized deep cycle battery can safely provide you about 12 hours).
Similarly, you could get a couple hot water bottles, get some water hot, fill them, and throw them under a few blankets. If you’re worried about it going cold in the middle of the night, a nice big thermos could be used as a refill, just don’t spill it on yourself in the middle of the night.
If you do the mr. heater please make sure you have adequate ventilation, a safe place to put it where the dog won’t knock it over, and a CO alarm.
If one night gets super cold, or you’re just trying out your setup and decide you are too cold, have a backup/emergency plan. Maybe some of those cheap air-activated hand warmers, another set of clothes to put on underneath your blankets, and a hot beverage in a thermos to warm you up until the morning. No shame in running your truck for the heater to get yourself warm again. Don’t let water freeze in such a way that it bursts anything.
Good pair of booties or mukluks never hurt anyone.
Absolutely a buddy heater. I have the single, not the giant one, and I get 3 to 4 hours out of a little bottle on low. I’d suggest getting a 20lb bottle adapter.
Buddy heater. Get carbon monoxide detector and leave a window cracked. Or get a cheap quiet gas generator and use a space heater or electric blanket.
