Milage may very for those in a high-top ... but then again, they hold their heat a little better than the canvas ;-)

On 03-Jan-2015, at 11:13, Jim Felder wrote:

> Good save there, Don. Seeing is believing! I have run my propane heater in
> my westy without worrying about it as I can feel the breeze through the
> canvas with the top up. A sunbrella or nylon "canvas" would be a while
> different deal. Since VWs are considered to be among the tightest bodies of
> their era, I don't think I could get away with it in a tintop without
> ventilation.
> 
> A question for one of the more physics-minded on the list might be how long
> you could burn the volume of oxygen contained in a Vanagon at a certain
> altitude and still leave enough for yourself? Watching a single candle
> flame extinguish itself in a mason jar makes me think it isn't as long as
> you might think.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 8:50 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Over many years and different vans, the majority VW, I've often used my
>> cook stove for quick heat.  I've believed that my vans "leaked" enough
>> outside air that asphyxiation wasn't going to happen.  This is probably
>> wrong, at least in my tin top camper.  Just now, it being around freezing
>> in the pre-dawn desert SW, I brewed coffee and left both westie stove
>> burners on high for some heat as I watched the sunrise ....  I saw my
>> burner's flame diminish and get thready.  Thought I was out of propane...
>> But I discovered that a kitchen match, the "strike and light anywhere"
>> kind, that would not light!  No O2 or too much  co2....whatever, pretty
>> scary.  I ran back the slider and let some air in, things burn normal
>> again.
>> 
>> So I believe the warning against using the cook top for cabin heat.,..now.
>> I just saw why.
>>