Converting standard trailer to 4 season trailer

[tbrady]

Hi All-

Shortly after we bought our 2018 21BHS (February this year) Livin Lite started offering a 4 season package for it, enclosed/insulated belly etc....   I would like to do this to the one I currently have.  Does anyone know if/how it can be done?  I'm pretty skilled with most things mechanical and/or carpentry so not worried if it is difficult, just wondering if anyone has tried doing this and what materials they used.

Also, does LL force warm air into the belly?  If so, do you guys know how?

thanks a ton!
tim

[Merlin]

I've thought a lot about this too. Here is a thread with photos from someone else. The heating is done by running a duct from the furnace into that space. It's not insulated, but it only has to stay above 32F. My 16TBS would be a huge ordeal to enclose with a single sheet of material, but I may be able selectively protect the plumbing/tanks with enclosures. I'll take a look at that "project" again next summer.

https://aluminumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=677.msg4883#msg4883

[DavidM]

The basic cabin: four walls, double pane windows, roof and the composite floor if you have one is pretty well insulated and is essentially what true 4 season RVs have. The difference is the plumbing and holding tanks in the "basement".

On the old LL website (see archives here), there was a lot of creative discussion about protecting it from freezing. Some ideas discussed:

CharlieM installed a fresh water circulating system on his 21 that used the hot water heater to circulate water through the plumbing using a separate pump and some plumbing mods.

I proposed 12V heat tape (big DC power hog) or a skirt to keep the heat inside with maybe a small electric heater underneath.

No one has reported doing so, but it may be possible to cut a hole undeneath the existing furnace and blow hot air into the basement. This plus a Darco or similar underbelly cover should keep it toasty down there. It will take some heat tape on the dump valves as they drop below the frame, but it will be minimal.

Here is my experience and thoughts:

Doing nothing will work down to maybe 25 overnight if it warms up during the day. But don't drive away in subfreezing temps. Chill factor at 60 mph will quickly freeze it all.

Just guessing but a skirt with nothing else will probably get you down to 20, particularly if the ground or pavement below isn't frozen already. Even lower with a small electric heater below.

The furnace duct to the basement and a cover underneath will keep it from freezing down to zero or below as long as the propane furnace is on inside.

CharlieM's scheme will do the same thing if the plumbing is left (partially?) non-insulated so it can transfer heat to the tanks and a bottom cover is installed.

David