Thought I’d share my propane powered catalytic heater installation. I know many former tent campers, particularly in the hot and humid regions,  make the upgrade to a Runaway camper in part for the built in air conditioner. My motives were a little bit different, as I like to camp in the western high desert in the winter and, as I grow older,  grew weary of the chilly nights that go along with that. I needed a small hard sided camper with built in heating that could also operate in an off-grid environment. The easy to modify Runaway camper proved to be an ideal basis for the project. What I have installed is a Camco Olympian Wave 3 catalytic heater, powered by propane. The Olympian Wave line of heaters are fairly popular with long term boondocking RV’rs to either augment or replace built in propane furnaces, which require significant draw from the 12V system. The Wave heaters have no fans and run solely off of propane. 

My Wave 3 installation is fixed to a frame on the front shelving (can be easily removed if needed) and hard plumbed with copper and brass fittings to the camper wall. The exterior wall has a quick-connect propane fitting that can be connected to either a 5 or 20 lb tank or a disposable cylinder as needed. Inside, there is an RV propane detector connected to the coach 12V system and a very sensitive CO monitor that is designed for automotive and light aircraft use. (it alarms instantaneously at 25 ppm, rather than 250+ ppm that the common household units are calibrated for. )

I’ve used the Wave 3 in conditions where the overnight temperatures were in the mid 20’s to mid-high 30’s and the heater, on the low 1600 btu setting, running all night, kept the internal temps in the camper at a balmy mid 60’s to low 70’s. I have a scrawny, energetic short haired 10 lb monkey-dog that loves to camp, hike and scramble but gets cold easily. She loves the heater as much as I do if not more so.

Contrary to popular belief, propane catalytic heaters produce very low CO as a byproduct of the catalytic process but they do produce water vapor. My camper doesn’t have the standard 5000 btu AC unit. In place of the standard AC mounting, I installed a  low power (4W, 12VDC) programmable exhaust fan that runs off of temperature and humidity set-points and helps maintain airflow through the camper, and keeps condensation under control.

I grew up in the 70’s using a kerosene catalytic heater in a Camel tent trailer. I know some people feel very leery about using propane heaters in small campers like ours but I feel 100% safe with my setup. 

that is very impressive Paul! 

I’ve been in 30 degrees with the coolcamp I used to own before the RR.I managed to be fine but not something I’d do normally. I can see this being a great solution for those in cold environments regularly. 

great work!

Was thinking over the week end about heat while boondocking.  We currently have a small Mr Buddy heater, but it has been finicky.  Sometimes works, other times not so great.  We reside in Florida but like to travel to cooler climates in Fall and early Spring.  Thanks for the install pics.

@clermont-cubby I have a mr buddy also, with an electric blanket if I’m in need.

I’ll be up in colorado for a few weeks and I’m wondering if I’ll have enough heat.

This set up is very impressive, thanks for sharing @lumpy-waters

What’s the black plastic case on the outside please? 

@thats-my-gigi I replaced the factory installed white colored AC power plug cover with a black one. My camper is a 2019 model which has the power plug input on the front wall of the camper. 

@lumpy-waters ahh, I have the same one but that box looked much bigger so I wasn’t sure if you’d added something else in there.

Did they change the location of that cord at some point? I’ve only seen them there.

@thats-my-gigi I believe from the 2020 models on, the power plug has been relocated to the bottom front driver side corner, which is a better location in my opinion. They also replaced the pig-tail style plug, which I am not a fan of, with a more streamlined flush mounted plug receptacle.

@lumpy-waters Thanks Paul, I didn’t know that!

I don’t think I could ever give up my A/C, so the heater is lost on me, but I just want to compliment you on how nicely organized the front of your Runaway looks.  And is that a safe in the upper right?  Just.…WOW!  Well done!

Really enjoyed this! Currently I’m thinking of a MR Heater lil buddy, but daughter says 1 propane canister at nite of camping can get pricey, so she’s talking me into the Mr Heater which is currently on sale at Costco for lower price than even the lil buddy is, plus I could hook to a small propane tank outside on front on the tongue..I have no ac so the window would be a great opening to run hose through along with giving air circulation…what ya’ll think??? along with the two side windows cracked also. I don’t do much COLD camping, just chilly am temps in Montana

Posted by: @graceofforests

I don’t think I could ever give up my A/C, so the heater is lost on me, but I just want to compliment you on how nicely organized the front of your Runaway looks.  And is that a safe in the upper right?  Just.…WOW!  Well done!

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment. The thing that resembles a safe is an access door to a wiring cabinet for the 12V system.

Hey there! Cool heater install! Pun intended! I like the idea of adding a heater and have been toying with the idea of adding a Diesel Heater? I used to drive an 18 wheeler and it had a Diesel Heater in the truck that could literally roast ya out of the truck! Worked really well! Do you think something like that could work in the Rangerunner? Again, thanks for the ideas! Blessings!

@mwfulwider Thanks! A diesel heater would probably work very well and would have some advantages over a catalytic heater. I had considered going that route but I ruled it out due to a desire to limit energy sources to propane and a 12V battery system. I grew tired of carrying around multiple types of fuel. I think the current draw of the diesel heater glow plug was also a concern at the time, as well as the additional us of 12V power to run the heater.