HEATING

Baz

Use thermostatic control 2 stage Electric heater(1220 or 2400 watt) in the Camper Annex and Electric Blanket in bed if on powered site. Also have been known to leave heater running all night suspended from the bows in the tent.

All appliances on earth leakage cord of course.

Gas heater if not on powered site in the annex or perhaps two. No heater running on gas when in bed. Too dangerous. Plenty of material under the bed to keep cold out and good quality zip together sleeping bags. Thermal underwear and good thick socks in bed to keep feet warm.

Have slept in tent in below zero without power and survived OK.

Cheers

Magnus

I personally would use my credit card. It has been swiped so much it wont hurt to swipe it once more and find a motel room(if it is really cold and you have little ones).

Baz,

Stick with the "body heat" idea......MUCH cheaper and more fun.....(oh well, as far I can remember it was more fun, anyway!!! LOL)

Nothing worse than being cold when trying to get a good nights sleep so I always throw a hot water bottle ot two in the kit. They can be handy for tucking up the jumper or down the pants when it's brass monkey weather.

Evening Baz

Use a 1500W thermostatic controlled ceramic anti tilt heater when on powered sites, that is connected through a multi timer when sleeping that cycles 15mins on and 30 mins off during sleep period.

Also use a feather doona. The most valuable item in cold weather.

This by the way is in a Troopy poptop camper. Never have a problem with the cold now.

Ken Robinson

Tracy & I bought a small Gas Heater, but we don't use it.

We simply rug up to the max.

If I am following the Sled Dog Circuit in one of the forests, I will wear....

Jocks
Long Johns ( Cotton )
Cargo's
Over Pants
Tee Shirt
Shirt
Jumper
North Face Jacket
2 Pair Sock
Hiking Boots
Full Face Balaclava
Beanie
Gloves

This allows me to set up hides along the tracks and sit in puddles for up to 2 hours at a time with my cameras, and I am not cold.

Just rug up, it's way easier than trying to heat an area.

Cheers

Wolfie

You must be that Yowie that people reckon they see, with all that gear on must look 4 times your normal size lol.

Baz.

Baz,

Just the feather/down doonah for the night and have been too warm sometimes, though not if you get cold before you get into bed. Take longs if I need to as well. Thermals, top and long johns in polypropoline and fibrepile tops too, short and long sleeve.

You may wonder the polypropoline but I have used that in preference to a wetsuit in all but the colder waters in white water kayaking. Yes you get wet when you fall in but you dry out quickly too, all water is shed to the outer layers of clothing, perspiration too. I have worn it at night but too warm to wear long. Socks in bed if I am cold when I get there. Another thing on these synthetics they don't take much to dry them after washing either. Heather bought Travel Towels before the last trip too, take less room and very effective.

Was talking to Queenslander who was using an electric blanket through his inverter travelling through South Aussie where I had the side door open.

You could gather I don't go much on heaters in tents Baz........... I grew up with a school with chicken wire windows and drop the blinds if blowing a gale and rain from the wrong direction.

two bad women better than all the above,one each side

We were wondering if the Cobb was OK in the camper - saw somewhere that it is one of the uses ?

Double sleeping bag with a hot blooded partner is the best, have used petrol light in tent plenty of times to take chill off the air, and if real bad put gas heater on.
Father in law who travels half the year, never in c/parks, with small offroad c/van, puts a video on and elecrtric blanket from inverter and lays in bed to watch movie!
Puts gas stove on in van to heat van, only takes minutes.

Does the good old bundy bear count?

Tim

Good quality sleeping bags and good quality wife is all I use for warmth. Never been cold yet (except when I get kicked out for saying something I shouldn't have!!).

Of course, this comes from a bloke who doesn't own a jumper or jacket, just a Drizabone for the cold weather.

Cheers
John

So many differant answers thanks guys, Eildon is going to be cold as, still should be fun, winter is the best time to travel less crowds, hate crowds.

Baz.

It was -4 at Wollondilly River so was very cold for a trial camp after many years of soft living.

I agree with most of the above, Down doonas or sleeping bags, thermal long johns and tops, natural fibre jumper, beanie, scarves and gloves.

An extra wam body helps as long as it doesnt keep getting up and down all night and coming back cold and telling you the @#!!# temperature.

I was amused recently when sitting by the early fire having a coffee there was no sign of the kids at the camp next door, I was later to find out they were in the car with the airconditioning on.

The warmest fibre I know is "Samoyed Dog Hair". If you know someone who has one get them to save the brushings (clippings contain too many spikey guard hairs) for you when the dog sheds in summer. Then get it spun up into "wool" and made into a beanie or socks, I have a vest as well and mostly I am too hot in it. It can be mixed into mohair and/or sheeps wool. It seems to trap the air in and in very cold weather the pile stands up about 2 or 3 cm. It can be dyed successfully also.

Carolyn

It was -6 in the Simpson some years back. Definitely a 6 or an 8 dog night. We had camp beds then. Lined them with newspaper under the sleeping bags. Was still too cold. Dug a trench under each bed and filled it with coles from the fire. Then we slept well.

To keep warm at night out bush:

Have a 0 or minus rated sleeping bag
Sleep under cover
Sleep alone
Go to bed fully clothed wearing woollen garments
Wear a beanie or balaclava

alternatively:

Go the closest outback community and hire 6 camp dogs for the night.......they will keep you warm and up to scratch....hahahahaha

Heating is a problem for us too. We have a 5 month old what to do. Anybody have some thoughts on how to keep the baby warm if the hubby can't sleep with the baby in bed. Yes, yes kick him out but any other thoughts? We will be in a camper trailer, a tent 22 ounce thickness. Condensation is this a problem?

Baz,

Plenty of good quality Port, only for heating purposes of course, prior to entering the double swag. Hot water bottles, 2 sleeping bags zipped open, one on the bottom, insulating you from cold ground, one on top, partner close by, beanie on. Beautiful!

The only problem is SWMBO is not keen on camping in the colder months so I have to consume more port for safety reasons. Will be heading out this weekend to practice the above.

Cheers