Coleman AC Heat strips

[mike44bx]

We have a Rockwood PU we bought last year and are enjoying the heck out of it and would like to extent our camping season by installing a heat strip in our Coleman Roof AC. I understand the procedure for installing the kit in the Coleman isn't too differcult. Has anyone had any experience with the Coleman Heat Strip? Thanks for all help.
                  Mike

[tlhdoc]

Hersheygirl s's DH installed one on their old camper.  You could email her and ask about it.  I was there, but not really paying attention.  I do know it wasn't hard to do.

[SherryandFamily]

We didn't install ours, the dealer did but we have experience with using it.
We use it a lot, but if its gets seriously cold the heat strips won't do it alone.  You need an additional source of heat.  We use either an "under the desk" ceramic heater or a oil circulating radiator style heater depending on how cold it is.

With the Niagara we now have a furnace and have only used it once.  We used the heat strips with the furnace as well to keep the warm air circulating.
Sherry

[mike44bx]

Hersheygirl s's DH installed one on their old camper.  You could email her and ask about it.  I was there, but not really paying attention.  I do know it wasn't hard to do.

Thanks for the info! Would you happen to have her e-mail address or is she listed on this site?
                          Mike

[camperholland]

We have the heat strip, but we don't use it. We use a small ceramic heater. It works better and cost less. Also it quieter running. You can
get them at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, & other places. We use ours in 20-30 degree weather. The heat strip is only good down to 40 degree
weather. Hope this helps.
Happy Camping

[tlhdoc]

The heat strip is only good down to 40 degree
weather.

Why is it only good down into the 40s?:confused:  It is an electric heater just like the ones you can buy at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc.  I am sure glad that no one told my heat strip it will not work when it is 7 degrees F out.:yikes:  It did a fine job, raising the temperature in the camper 30 degrees.  The heat strip in the AC has several advantages over using a small heater.  
It is always in the camper
It doesn't take up an extra room in the camper
It is out of the way, you don't have to worry about kids/pets knocking it over
It circulates the warm air into the bunkends
It is a nice white noise
It will block out the sound of the party going on a few campsites down
 
One thing people need to understand about the heat strip.  The fan is blowing the air so fast it doesn't feel very warm.  
 
I rarely use my furnace, but if I do I still use the AC on heat to rewarm the air and to circulate the warm air into the bunkends.

[tknick]

although i did not install the heat strips in our A/C, i have looked at the installation manual for them and it is not a difficult process.  it involves removing the interior cover, pluging in the heat strips, screwing them in and changing the control dials to allow you to turn the heat on.  if you are reasonable competant with hand tools and following instructions you shouldn't have any trouble.  the last time i checked w/ my dealer, labor was around $95/hr.  you can probably do the job in about 30-45 mins and save yourself $100.  

like tracy said, the heat strips put out enough heat for us.  the problem is not really with the heat strips, it with the camper itself.  the canvas shell of a camper simply doesn't have the insulating value to keep retain the heat/cool air at temperature extremes.  the heat strips will continue to put out plenty of heat at 40 below zero.  the problem is it the camper cannot contain the heat and it will escape to atmosphere before it warms you up.  i also like the fact that that it blows heat to each bunkend and the white noise is great too.

travis