Airstream’s Tips For Staying Warm During Cold Weather Camping With Heat Pumps & Heat Strips

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Cold weather campers have the option of using their propane-fueled furnace or electric heat pump to warm up their Airstream travel trailers. (Photo courtesy of Airstream.)

Airstream owners are aware of their travel trailer’s rooftop air conditioning unit and their furnace, but may not be aware of another heating option available to them. Every Airstream trailer comes standard with an air conditioner and heat pump (heat strip on Bambi and Basecamp models). These quiet devices run on electricity and can warm the travel trailer without needing to burn propane by turning on the furnace.

Furnace vs. Heat Pump

Airstream travel trailers feature an efficient heating system with a liquid propane gas-fueled furnace. As long as there is propane in the tank, there is heat in the trailer. The furnace’s blower, which circulates warm air throughout the trailer, runs on electricity, but draws a low amount of power and will not be a drain on the batteries. When the trailer is hooked up to shore power at a campsite and the outdoor temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the heat pump can be a preferred option. Instead of using propane, the Airstream’s thermostat can be set to the heat pump. This is usually denoted by an HP on the display. The heat pump will warm the air inside the Airstream by reversing the flow of refrigerant and reversing the roles of the air conditioner coils and then cycle the warm air through the QuietStream ductwork in the ceiling. For more information, see Airstream’s blog post on heat pumps and heat strips, which details how the heat pump reverses the air conditioner’s process to create warm air.

Heat Strips

Basecamp and Bambi travel trailers use heat strips to achieve similar results as the heat pump. Heat strips create warmth by moving air over wires heated by the flow of electricity in a process called resistance heating. It is similar to how toasters and many space heaters work.

Airstream owners have the option of using either gas or electricity to heat their trailer according to the weather conditions and hook up options available to them.

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Source: Airstream