When you’re traveling in your RV, you probably want all the comforts and luxuries of your home, even if you’re going through extreme weather. Of course, this means that you need to find the best 12-volt heater for RV use. Having a portable heater onboard your RV means that you can always control the temperature inside your rig to ensure that you will be comfortable and warm wherever you are traveling.
While most RVs today come with built-in heating systems, these heating systems hook up to the RV’s propane system. This means that the heating system is often fixed and that there are areas of the RV that might not be heated to your specifications. Thus, you might want to get a supplementary heater for your rig. Also, having a portable heater means that you bring the heater with you when you alight from your rig. If you’re looking for the best 12-volt heater for your RV, this guide can help you choose the right model for your needs and budget.
Comparison Chart
A Detailed Review on the 5 Best 12 Volt Heater for RV Use
Lasko CD09250 Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat Heater
Product Highlights
This compact ceramic heater comes with a powerful 1500 watts energy that produces comforting heat for any rig. The Lasko CD09250 also comes with adjustable thermostat and three heating settings and a fan mode. You can comfortably adjust your preferred heat setup with eleven temperature settings. Place this product in your countertop, desktop to warm up tables, objects, and walls to give you a comfortable and cozy feeling.
The Good
The Lasko Ceramic Heater also comes with two switch knobs, allowing you to adjust thermostat and heat a room evenly. It is equipped with safety features such as overheating protection and cooling housing. What’s more, this heater only requires 110-volt power output.
The Bad
What we don’t like about this product is its flimsy casing. This compact ceramic heater breaks easily after a low drop. So, make sure to handle this one with proper care. Also, it does not come with automatic shut off which can be a fire hazard if left switched on.
PROs
- Product is affordable
- Easy to move
- It comes with 11 temperature settings
- Features high heat, low heat and fan mode
CONs
- Durability is an issue
- No automatic shutoff
- May not be suitable for large motorhomes or RVs
Ontel Handy Heater
Product Highlights
The Ontel Handy Heater is an electric-powered heater that only consumes 350 watts of power so that it won’t eat up a lot of electricity on your rig. You can program it for up to 12 hours, and the heater has both low and high settings.
The Good
One of the best things about the Ontel Handy Heater is that it’s portable! You can bring the heater anywhere in your RV to heat the space quickly. What’s more, the casing of the heater is made from metal, making it strong and durable.
The Bad
Although the heater is rated by the company for 250 square feet, it is more suited for smaller spaces of 100 square feet or less. What’s more, the heater does not store heating settings, which means that you need to manually program the settings every time you want to use this model.
PROs
- Compact and portable
- Small power consumption
- It is affordable
- Product is durable
- Quickly heats small space
CONs
- Poor safety features
- Can only be used for small spaces below 100 square feet
- Manual adjustment of settings each time
Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat
Product Highlights
The Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat has two knobs. The first knob allows you to adjust the heat mode of the heater: fan, low heat, or high heat. The second knob allows you to tweak the temperature to your exact preferred heat.
The Good
The XPS RIB features a strong and durable steel casing. The steel casing increases the lifespan of the tire and prevents the tire from wearing down quickly over dirt, mud, or rocks.
The Bad
Since the unit has a ceramic element, this means that you cannot use it in environments with high humidity. You won’t be able to use this heater in the bathroom or your kitchen unless these rooms have exhaust fans.
PROs
- Portable and durable
- Automatic overheat protection
- Easy to operate
- 3 different heating modes
CONs
- Cannot be used in an environment with high humidity
- Ceramic element is fragile
- No automatic shut-off when the unit is tipped over
BOVADO USA Oscillating Space Heater
Product Highlights
Just like the Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat, the BOVADO USA Oscillating Space Heater has the classic two-knob configuration to adjust the settings of the machine. The first knob is to adjust the heat settings among fan, low heat, and high heat. The second knob is for the thermostat. This is another model for those who love the old-school way of using heaters!
The Good
One of the best qualities of this heater is the durability of the materials used; you won’t need to worry about the heater overheating or melting down even if you leave it running a little too long. What’s more, the unit also has a Positive Temperature Coefficient Heating Technology that protects it from overheating. Finally, it also has an automatic fail-safe that turns it off when the unit gets tipped over.
The Bad
If there’s one drawback with the BOVADO USA Oscillating Space Heater, it’s the noise produced when the unit is turned on. You might not want to use this unit overnight because the noise of the fan is loud and can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
PROs
- Easy to operate
- Product is durable
- Powerful for its size
CONs
- Noisy when in use
- Not good for large spaces
Honeywell HHF360V 360-Degree Fan Forced Surround Heater
Product Highlights
The Honeywell HHF360V is also adjusted using two knobs: one knob is to change the heat settings, and the other is for adjusting the thermostat. The unit has overheat protection and a tip-over switch that turns off the unit when the unit falls over to the side.
The Good
One of the best qualities of this heater is the durability of the materials used; you won’t need to worry about the heater overheating or melting down even if you leave it running a little too long. What’s more, the unit also has an automatic shut-off feature that protects it from overheating. Finally, it also has an automatic shut-off when the unit gets tipped over.
The Bad
If there’s one drawback with the Honeywell HHF360V it’s the noise produced when the unit is turned on. You might not want to use this unit overnight because the noise of the fan is loud and can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
PROs
- Easy to operate
- Powerful for its size
CONs
- Noisy when in use
- Not good for large spaces
Benefits of Having an RV Heater
The main benefit of having a heater in your RV is keeping your family warm and comfortable. This is important if you regularly travel to locations that have harsh and cold weather. You can keep safe and cozy inside your rig even if the temperatures outside your rig is dropping dangerously low.
Another benefit of having an RV heater is to protect your gadgets and appliances! When the temperature is cold, the moisture and condensation can break your gadgets.
Finally, having a heater means that you won’t need to limit your travels to areas with warm climates. You can still be warm and comfortable even if you visit locations that have cold or snowy climates.
A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best 12 Volt Heater for RV
If you’re looking for the best 12-volt heater for RV use, here are some factors to consider:
- Maintenance – how much time do you want to spend maintaining your heater? Entry-level heaters can be cleaned and maintained easily, but they don’t have a lot of different settings and features. Higher-end heaters might need a bit more expertise when it comes to troubleshooting.
- Efficiency – in terms of efficiency, you need to understand the British Thermal Unit (BTU). Basically, the higher the BTUs of a heater, the more heat it produces. Larger rigs need more powerful heaters with higher BTUs. 5,000 BTUs, for example, will warm up around 150 square feet of space.
- Speed – you should also consider how quickly a heater can heat a space. If you’re heading to locations with extremely cold weather, you don’t want to sit around waiting for your heater to work!
- Durability – you should always consider the strength and durability of your model. Keep in mind that your RV is constantly moving, which means that your heating unit is going to be jostled around frequently. If you don’t move the unit around, you should mount it on the wall of your RV to prevent the unit from moving around or falling over.
- Safety Features – the more safety features that your heater has, the better! Safety features such as automatic overheat protection or tipping over shut-off are important, especially if you tend to leave your heater unattended for long periods.
- Power Consumption – just like your heater at home, you don’t want to get hit with a huge bill when it comes to heating your RV! Check the power consumption rating of your heater and go for units that have a high-efficiency rating.
Wrap it Up!
There’s the bottom line: there’s no reason not to have a heater in your RV. Having a heater means that you will have a reliable source of heat and comfort anytime you need it. However, you should always make sure that you choose the best 12-volt heater for your RV in terms of the space inside your rig and your needs. If you have a large RV or you travel to extremely cold destinations, you need to invest in a powerful heater. If you are planning for a Van Conversion, you should also invest in a heater that has as many safety features as possible to ensure your peace of mind. Know more about RV heaters.