Wondered if a small electric fan heater is OK to use in a tent with an electric hook up as I know they take a lot of power.
Otherwise whats your best tip for drying your clothes when you cant hang them outside - not sure about the gas camping heaters
Whether it is compatible depends on power rating of heater and the amperage of your EHU. Most UK sites have 16A EHU (good for up to 3.5kW appliances), some have 10A EHU (good for up to 2.2kW appliances), but a few are as low as 5A or 6A EHU (only good for up to 1/1.2kW appliances). That is of course your total usage, including any other appliances you also have in use at the same time. Many fan heaters have two or more power settings, the lower one would likely be OK. TBH, anything over 1kW in a normal enclosed tent would likely become intolerably hot and much like a sauna!
Big problem with many tents is poor ventilation, they just become saturated with condensation and very humid air and EVERYTHING inside gets damp, drying wet clothes can be challenging. If your tent is the right type with a seperate porch area, it's good practice to try and keep wet clothes out of the main compartment and especially bedrooms! Some tents do have good ventilation points, but obviously, these need to be opened up if of the type that can be closed off.
Just tumble dry them. We collect small change in a coin purse for this (and parking).
Or get a rack & air dry them in the tent porch, out of the rain but in fresh air. Or a collapsible whirly (not all sites allow those).
Or… you can find electric clothes dryers that look like a small toilet tent with a rack inside, heater is a basic convector, silent; they’re in those magazines that fall out of the Sunday papers.
When I was a tenter, I would create hanging space using bungee straps and double-sided velcro tapes in the living area, for drying of wet clothes and towels.
I had used a small fan heater in various designs, always dual heat setting, with a fan-only function, thermostatically controlled, no more than 2kW at its highest setting, with safety cut out and other safety features.
I had used a portable butane gas heater that was designed for use in well-ventilated rooms in a draughty polyester tent without a sewn in groundsheet before.
When I switched to a cotton canvas tent with a zipped in groundsheet, it was much less draughty and I did not need to use the said gas heater again.
As already mentioned above, the amperage of site EHU various amongst sites. 10A is the norm for tents on grass pitches, whereas 16A is the norm for caravans and motor caravans, usually on hard-standing pitches. Some older sites may have less amperage.
Therefore, check the pitch details when you book for EHU supply, and check with the sites if this information is not specified in the pitch or site specifications.
I was cautious not to use more than one appliance with a heating element at a time, e.g. turning off the fan heater when I needed to boil the kettle etc., and continue to do so even though I have change to a campervan with its own onboard facilities, as I don't always stay on pitches with 16A EHU.
I strongly advise sticking to no more than 2kW per appliance with a heating element, and use only one of these appliances at a time.
Having good water-proof clothing, especially the coat and shoes, is very important. Pack as many spare layers as you can in case they get wet and can't be dried in good time.
Have fun!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 18/8/2021
Most sites have a laundrette with big washing machines and dryers.
Not small independent sites such as Certified Sites and Certified Locations of the two main clubs!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Lots of modern clothing contain man made fibres such as polyester and cannot be tumble dried because it melts!
It is not advisable to keep wet clothing inside a tent due to condensation as previously suggested. If you have a porch open to the air, that might be a better proposition as previously suggested.
Best not to get wet in the first place...take an umbrella
Just seen an advert for an enclosed airdryer available from Lakelands.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Definitely agree with the car as a drying area. Mr B-T and I always put our towels in the car, draped over the front seats, to dry. Even if it is cold outside, as long as it is sunny(ish) they will dry by the time we need them again. If we are off out in the car - they go on the back shelf to continue drying.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Drying your clothes in wet weather
via mobile 18/8/2021 at 6:38pm
