Aux Electric Heater for the Cab?

[PCK]

My government job has been so delayed that I am now looking for an aux electric heater to prevent the contents of the cab freezing on a cross-country trip (do not need a heater for the bed).

I originally thought I would be traveling Sept or so cross-country so I bought a small 12V refrigerator and a LiFePo4 50 AH aux battery that I am charging from my 12V outlet. Now, instead of worrying about food spoiling, I am worried about stuff left in the cab (including some flowers) overnight freezing in the winter cold.

I have seen posts about propane heaters for ice fisherman and the like but I don't need something that involved or heavy duty (or potentially dangerous). Does anyone have any tips/leads on an aux electric heater that I can run off the 12V aux battery to keep the temp inside the cab above freezing? Thermostat would seem to be required. Would the heater draw too much current overnight to keep the temp up?

I have an XLT Tremor. Daytime would be covered by the standard heater but what can I use for the nights?

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[notfast]

12v at 120w is...barely any heat. Even one of those 120v, 300w personal space heaters are barely hot enough to keep your hands warm.

If you don't need to keep the entire cab warm, I'd consider using a cooler and devising some way of keeping it warm inside. Coolers work both ways...they are just insulated boxes after all. Maybe use HotHands chemical warmers or try a 12v/120w electric heater inside of a cooler or a heated seat pad or aftermarket heated seat kit.

 

[PCK]

Looking at some Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heaters on Amazon- looks like a Computer fan with a heating element. 50 or 100W rated. Wire a 12V digital temp controller to cycle the heater to conserve power.
Don't need much heat- just to prevent freezing.
Thought about getting a foam cooler and putting hot things in at night. But not sure if large enuf for flowers, other non-freeze items.

 

[oysterville]

Electric food delivery bag?

 

[Johnny maverick]

I have an 12v cooler that is a food warmer also. You're going to need a bank batteries to keep any kind of 12v heater going to keep the truck warm over night. They draw alot of power. They make a tiny diesel heater for this . Look it up on Amazon. It's a bit of work to install but it would work well for this application.

 

[RAnSD619]

By cross-country trip I assume you are driving in the day and sleeping in a hotel at night and worried about your cab contents freezing at night? If this is the case simplest would probably be to just bring in the sensitive items into hotel with you. Alternately, I would heat water while driving them place the heated water and contents in/under a sleeping bag or heavy blanket(s).

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