UPDATE 3/1/19
We wrote this article several years ago when trying to source the perfect small wood stove for our Airstream. With this search we found that there were gaps in size, features, output and price with stoves currently on the market. In 2015 we started our business out of the interested generated from this blog post. At Tiny Wood Stove we make the best small stoves, cookstoves, installation parts and accessories specifically designed for the Tiny House Community.
That said, now on to the article!
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Many of your are reading this article because you’re interested in wood heat for your your tiny space – whether it’s a small cabin, bus, RV, travel trailer, tiny house, sailboat, yurt tipi or some other small space. We were too! Our little family of four lives, works and travels in our Vintage Airstream. Our ultimate goal is to make the Airstream as off-grid and sustainable as possible and wood heat is a great off-grid solution!
Like us you probably have questions like:
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- Is wood better than propane?
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- Is wood heat a feasible heat source for small spaces?
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- Are wood stoves legal for Tiny Spaces in the USA?
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- Is a wood stove safe for Tiny (portable) spaces?
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- What Stoves are available on the market and which are the best?
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- Is there an affordable Small Stove option for my Tiny Space?
- How do I safely install a small wood stove in my Tiny Space?
We looked at each of these considerations before deciding on a heat source for our Airstream. After months of shopping, researching and asking questions we have ordered a stove and preparing for installation! Update: we have installed and used a stove for supplemental heat.
Read on to see our thoughts on each of these considerations, what we have learned and what stove we recommend.
PROPANE vs SMALL WOOD STOVE
Most RV’s are outfitted with forced-air propane furnaces or catalytic type heaters. When we bought our trailer it had an original Suburban forced-air propane furnace. There seemed to be some components missing and from what I’ve read these old units are sketchy and potentially deadly. So we removed the furnace and began looking at different heat sources.
For most people and spaces propane probably makes the most sense:
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- You don’t have to light and tend a wood fire.
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- You don’t have to chop, stack and move wood.
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- You don’t have to clean up a sooty-ashy-mess.
- You don’t have the faint, “fireplace” smell in your living space.
For us these benefits don’t really apply…I love to light and tend fires, enjoy chopping wood, don’t mind the occasional clean up and like the smell. If any of these really turn you off a simple propane fireplace or catalytic heater is probably the best option for your tiny space.
On the flip side wood stoves cost less to operate and are not dependent on non-renewable resources. Plus with propane you can have issues with humidity and condensation. For some reason if the cost of propane doubles or is not available I can still easily keep my family warm with salvaged wood scraps. The cost of propane can be significant:
PROPANE vs WOOD COST
Catalytic Propane Heater 3200 – 6000 btu $2.49 per gallon
Dwarf 3kw Small Wood Stove 10000 – 15000 btu free / low cost wood scraps
How many BTU’s do I need? For our 176sq’ of inefficient interior space we need roughly 12,000btu.
A medium Catalytic Heater can generate roughly 6000btu. To heat our Airstream comfortably we would need two of these heaters ($600) plus they consume roughly 1/4lb of propane per hour, which if left on 24hrs would last 3 days on a 20lb tank. To heat the trailer 12hrs per day would cost about $120+ per month in propane. From strictly a cost perspective a Wood Stove make lots more sense in the long term! Add in the fact that you can scrounge for scrap wood in most locations and a Wood Burning Stove is a no-brainer for us.
Here is a good article on Wood vs Propane Heat with a few more points not mentioned above.
OUR OFF-GRID HEATING PLAN
With our current travel plans we will be in warmer climates during the coldest winter months. That said we will still need a sustainable heat source to keep us comfortable on the shoulder seasons and if we decide to brave the winter. (Like this couple that lives in their Silver Streak Travel Trailer in Alaska!)
The main source of off-grid heat will be a wood burning stove. We can carry a limited supply of wood in our garage (the back of our truck) and most places we travel we will be able to source local dead, down and detached scraps of wood. (I am a firm believer in Leave No Trace!) To keep us from waking every 1-2hrs stoking the fire all-night I have read of people that use synthetic logs that will burn for 4-6hrs. So we plan to try out the presto logs for overnight use and when we don’t have access to dry wood.
BACKUP PLAN
The backup heat source for boon-docking is goose down. We all have fluffy down sacks to burrow in if we get chilled. Plus a simple in bed heater is a water bottle filled with hot water then covered in a wool sock makes for toasty toes.
Another interesting backup option we are considering that would work in both off-grid & on-grid situations is an electric mattress pad. There are 12V mattress warmers that are pretty efficient (60w instead of 200w on similar AC models) and could optionally run off a solar powered battery bank. It wouldn’t do much to the inside temperature but it would make sleeping more comfortable!
SMALL WOOD STOVE QUESTIONS
SMALL WOOD STOVE LEGALITY?
Are wood stoves legal in Tiny Spaces? Great question! I’m not sure…this is a question that my wife was more concerned about than me. Building codes and other regulations currently do not apply for RV’s in most locations and it seems the EPA laws and regulations only apply to residential structures – but I’m no lawyer. For example you can install an non-epa certified stove in your shop or garage. Tiny spaces fall into a vast gray area and it’s best to check your local regulations to be safe. Tiny Spaces are becoming more common and more regulations will likely follow. But for right now it’s the wild west! For us in our Airstream we are not too worried about codes, EPA certifications and other regulations. I am more concerned about safely installing and using a wood stove.
ARE WOOD STOVES SAFE IN SMALL SPACES?
There are many safety implications with Wood Stoves. Fire due to improper installation or operation and carbon monoxide poisoning are serious concerns! We are a young family and have two little kids so safety is a TOP priority! With proper installation and detection devices wood stoves in small spaces is no more a concern than using one in a traditional space.
CLEARANCES
A Wood Stove has to be installed with proper clearances from combustibles. If not it can be a fire hazard! This is a challenge for small spaces because the space and location for stove installation is much less. Before buying and installing a stove check the manufacturer’s recommended clearances. If the stove cannot be installed following these guidelines it’s best to find either a different location or a different heat source. Heat shields (a fireproof material like metal installed with a 1” air gap behind) can greatly decrease these clearances.
FLUE
The flue (chimney pipe) in a wood stove is crucial. You can’t put a hot pipe through your roof and expect not to have problems. Flue systems are engineered to keep your structure safe from the heat of the stove and from the elements coming in the opening. There may be ways to make or rig a flue that functions but it’s much safer to get one specifically designed for that application. Alongside a properly installed flue regular inspection and cleaning is vital to ensure no creosote buildups and causes a fire.
DETECTION
A carbon monoxide alarm is essential while using a wood stove! Check batteries and test periodically to ensure proper functioning. If you’re regularly moving your space (bus, RV or travel trailer) you will want to do a pre-burn inspection of your stove after you have moved. With all the movement beating down the road you will want to inspect the pipe fitting to ensure a secure and airtight connection. We have two detectors in our Airstream to be redundant.
THE STOVE FOR THE AIRSTREAM
We initially installed the Hobbit small wood stove in our Airstream. We used it for 2 winters and while it’s a great little stove we saw the need for more versatility with small space heating. The Hobbit is expensive $1100 + shipping and the size/output was a bit overkill for our space.
So we created the Dwarf Small Wood Stove with (3) seperate sizes plus lots of personalized options like wood storage stand, tall legs and top baking oven for the 5kw. We are excited to offer these options to the Tiny House community!
We replaced our Hobbit with our Dwarf 3kw because it was smaller and lighter. Here’s a picture of it installed:
For More Information on the Dwarf Small Wood Stove Click Here.
BEST SMALL STOVE FOR TINY SPACES
The best stove for your tiny space depends on many different factors:
- What’s your budget?
- How quick do you need a stove?
- How efficient is your space?
- Is aesthetics or the look important?
- Is it going to be your primary heat source? Does it need to burn for multiple hours during the night?
- Is off-grid functionality like a cooktop & baking oven important?
CONCLUSION
Wood Heat is a great affordable and sustainable heat source for tiny spaces! With the growing trend of small space dwellings small wood stoves for tiny spaces is becoming more popular, prominent and there are more stove options than ever! To learn more about wood heat for tiny spaces visit our website: TINY WOOD STOVE! We created this site from our experiences as we struggled to find and install a wood stove in our Airstream.
RESOURCES
SMALL STOVES ON THE MARKET: Here’s a growing list of stoves currently on the market.
TINYWOODSTOVE.COM We created this website to share what we learned in researching wood heat for our tiny space. Lots of information!
OTHER SMALL STOVES
Northern Too – Pot Belly Stove
OTHER OFF-GRID ARTICLES
POWER: DIY Portable Solar System
SHOWER: Off-Grid Pressurized Shower
LIGHTING: Simple LED Hack for RV’s
COOLING: Off-Grid Cooling & Air Conditioning
Feature Image from Horby Island Caravans – Quality Caravan Builders in BC.
I can’t discourage this idea enough. The space it would take up, the constant smell of burning wood/ash, the weight of hauling a cast iron stove …
but mostly you have to think of the danger of fumes and carbon monoxide poisoning. These stoves are meant to be stationary and even the marine stoves would not be subject to the kind of movements of a moving trailer. Everytime you hitched up and moved, you’d risk breaking a seal fro the exhaust flue.
I understand wanting to reduce costs, but there is a reason there are dozens of propane options and apparently no practical options for wood burning in a (mobile) airstream.
Best.
Jk
Appreciate the feedback!
While I have considered most of the issues you brought up (space, weight and smell) the constant movement is a point of concern.
We just embarked on our maiden voyage from the midwest to the northwest and I am surprised by the amount of movement that happens inside the trailer. Our vintage trailer is probably due for new axles but I imagine even with fresh legs the constant jostling is significant.
Before pursing this option more I am going to track down some of the other folks I have seen that have installed wood burning solutions into their RV’s and pick their brains.
Whatever the heat source careful inspection, and a good CO alarm is a must!
Cheers!
My wife Terry and I are also preparing to move into a vintage (1966) Airstream full time, after re-evaluating/reinventing our lifestyle. The heating and power solutions have been most interesting to investigate. We too are considering one of these tiny wood stoves and anxiously await more information on the Kimberly as it becomes more widely tested. We found the catalytic propane units we tried on previous camping trips to contribute to moisture buildup, and instead preferred to run the propane furnace when needed.
The solar charging system and uprated battery bank we are installing should allow at least minimal use of the electric option when boondocking.
Best of luck to you and continued success in prioritizing your lives as we believe more people should!
Lou and Terry Axt
Hey Lou & Terry,
I would love to see pictures of your trailer!
What is the size of your battery bank? Are you keeping it in the trailer?
Thanks for stopping by and keep us updated on your journey!
Cheers!
-NICK
We bought a Kimberly and we are very disappointed in it. It fails to put out much heat at all. The maker, Roger, came to our fifth wheel and it was installed all correctly and everything, but he said we had air leaks. WE have always been able to keep our house warm with an electric heater. This stove cannot keep the house above 60 degrees when it’s cold outside. It has a hard time keeping it warm even when it’s in the low 40’s. WE have had to run the electric heater also. Our trailer isn’t that old, 2006, and it has the Alaskan Pac so it heats pretty easily. The stove just fails to put out any heat, much. Roger said he would send us a iron top for the stove, but as of yet, no top. It’s been about three weeks, so we are thinking no top. Just wanted to let you know not to spend the extra money for the Kimberly because it really doesn’t help with heating.
Sorry to hear that Teresa! Curious what is the length of your trailer? Did Roger test the stove? Did he say it was working correctly? Was the iron top suppose to help retain some heat? Hope you get it figured out!!!
Yes, Roger came to our house, and said the stove was working fine and that it was a problem with our trailer. I don’t think it is. Our trailer is 35 ft. long with the four slides. He said to roll up towels and put in our slides, and to put plastic on the windows and things like that. But, like I said before, we can keep the heat at a constant level with the electric, so I really don’t think it is air leaks. Yes, the iron top is suppose to help it put out more heat. He wanted to come to our house, and help us close up air leaks, but we will wait and try the new stove and see how that does. I will update again once we get the new stove in and let you know how it goes.
Nick,
I’ll send up pictures as the trailer progresses. The wood-burning stove question is one of the things we haven’t decided on yet. Also looking at flooring options, such as bamboo or cork. You can see the exterior(along with our tow vehicle) here: https://www.facebook.com/louaxtjr
Just completed the pex plumbing and will be adding a second 12 volt marine battery soon, to be mounted in the rear hatch area. We went with 12 volt batteries to have the option of taking the trailer battery and using it in the truck in the event of a battery failure in the tow vehicle. The serviceability issue is a high priority for us to try try to keep expenses at a minimum, and we do not plan on adding an air conditioner.
Also have a folding solar solution planned. Leaning toward the 130-watt economy model from CEA: http://shop.rvsolarnow.com This will allow us to stay at National Parks ( our favorite) with no hookups and lots of shade while allowing placement of the solar panels where they can get some direct sun.
I’ll let you know when we make our stove selection.
Blessings!
Lou
Love it! How high off the roof does the stack need to be, legally anyway? Can’t quite find that information anywhere. Thanks for the awesome post!
Thanks! Im not exactly sure there are, “laws” for this on RV’s but I could be wrong. The trailers I have seen with wood stove have roughly a 16-18″ chimney off the roof. There is a certain amount of chimney needed to get the proper draft for you stove… We plan to make our chimney as high as needed to allow our stove to function properly then have it, “removable” for when we are on the road.
Cheers!
-NICK
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The usual rule-of-thumb for chimney height is 24″ above anything within a 10 foot radius. That said, shorter can function better as long as your draft is sufficient and insulated double-wall pipe will make that happen. The ‘trick’ for any chimney is something that warms up quick and stays warm as long as the fire is burning with a flame.
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sail4free (former August West Chimney Sweep)
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Thanks!
I am looking into Rocket stoves. Supposedly the design is super efficient.
Hey Dan!
Let me know what you find. I love rocket stoves!
I’ve thought about this for the Airstream and attempted to build my own during a welding class but got a little overwhelmed. I got the interior fire box + chimney portion done and tested it – worked great…burned hot, hardly any smoke seemed to work well. The welding class ended and I lost steam on the project. With stoves there are so many variables to consider!
Love to hear if you find a suitable solution!
Hey Nick,
That’s good thinking on using a small wood burning stove. You mentioned you like Rocket Stoves and would be interested in exploring them as an option as well. We have developed a great little Rocket Stove that’s made locally here in the United States. It’s extremely efficient, portable and even has a chimney in order to vent the smoke as you see fit.
It may or may not be something you’d be interested in for your project but while you’re exploring your options I thought I’d mention it.
Our website is:
http://www.bobcatrocketstoves.com
Thanks for the write-up and sharing your experience,
Shelby
Thanks Shelby Ill checkout your site!
You people are so lucky. All wood stoves are “Not Sold in California”. The leading state in Sustainability, Solar, Energy from Renewables “Small Wind Turbines not allowed in your neighbors back yard” kind of place, go figure. Almost all wood and real DIY energy systems are done clandestianly and by the energy underground. When traveling in Califronia make sure its a Particulate and Toxic gases burn day. Remember neighbors are incouraged to turn in neighbors if your smoke is over 20% opaceity. Comrade …
Hey Nick,
I got your email and replied but never heard back from you?
Buck, you’re right California does have a lot of restrictions, but depending on where you live you can install a windmill or solar panels and there is still a lot of cool stuff going on.
Thanks,
Shelby
There is nothing wrong with a wood stove in a camper. Lots of people will tell you not to do it. That is because they themselves are not competent to build a system that will work. This does not mean that you can’t do it. A wood stove makes a lot of sense. The heat is warm and satisfying. You can’t use it while mobile, or if located somewhere where you might have to move in a hurry, but other than that there is not reason not to use wood heat. If you can heat a boat or a house with wood, a camper is no different. The fuel is abundant and often free. Concerns like draft can be managed with adequate cap designs. CO detectors, and dedicated outside air source for the stove are important but easy to provide for. I’m planning on putting one in my pickup camper, and also using it to heat a water tank as a thermosiphon reservoir to store heat. I’m buying a plain Sardine stove (no porcelain finish) with a glass face.
Thanks for your input Liam!
Goodluck with your camper project. Update us when you get your Sardine installed!
Cheers!
Hi, Just had to send you a possible stove that you would like to check out for your Airstream. The web site is Simple-fire.com which displays a rocket stove that is small and not expensive for what it does. I don’t have any connection with the fellow that is selling the units but think the product is great.
Sincerely, RM
Thanks for the suggestion – I’ll check it out!
Here is my little Hobbit stove. You can cook on the top in addition to being able to gaze at the fire. It is amazing how relaxing watching a stove going can be!
http://www.salamanderstoves.com/docs/64/the_hobbit_stove/
Here is a link to the Hobbit if you need more information about it.
Below is a link all about cooking on a woodstove.
http://woodburnercooking.blogspot.co.uk/
I cannot wait to have a good look at the veggiemeal site. Both my girls are vegetarian, as was I for 16 years. I then decided to keep a couple of pigs and have subsequently been a bacon and sausage geek!
I have put on weight as a result and think reverting to a veggie diet now would be sensible for both body and mind.
I hope the sun is glinting of your airstream today.
Mark
I need someone experienced enough with wood stoves to put up my flue on the wood stove I have in my mobile home. I have all the parts. My husband died before he could get that done and we are having electric power problems now and then. This has been a strange winter and I want to know that I can survive if the power is out for a long period of time as my home is all electric.
Thank you
Hey Sara,
Sorry about your husband! I would do a local search for a wood stove dealer…they could probabbly direct you to someone local to install your stove.
Wood heat is a great option for these, “unpredictable” times! Along with proper installation be sure to get a quality dual-powered detector.
Wish you the best!
-NICK
I have been looking into the possibility of small wood stoves for the 1952 Royal Spartanette I am refurbishing. Thank you for your informative list. There is a new stove that has just become available. It is called the Mini 12 CT:
http://graystoveworks.com/
Hey Shannon,
Thanks for the comment. I am aware of the Mini 12…it wasn’t included in my original list because it was still a prototype. (their old link is in the resources section of the article)
Looks to be a great little stove! Ill update my list, thanks for the feedback!
Your Spartan sounds sweet, good luck with your reno!
-NICK
hello thanks for sharing, I didn’t read all the way down, did you manage to get wood heat to work? I will be living in a camper yearround, a 32ft with slide outs so there will be room for a stove, do u reckon I should use an actual chimney? do they stay cold on the outside of the pipe? I will be living in northern bc where it can easily get minus 30 degrees celcius, and I only want to use propane as backup when im at work
Hey Denys,
We have picked a stove we are just waiting for it to arrive. We went with a Salamander, “Hobbit” stove from the UK.
Stayed tuned for installation updates where we will address chimney, venting, precautions, etc.
Cheers!
-NICK
Hey, just discovered your blog and I am already hooked on it. But what I was wondering, in your search about synthetic logs, did you happen upon coffee or Java logs? Or even making your own briquettes from discarded biomass? Both of these technologies would potentially solve your problems of burn times and the coffee has somewhere in the ball park of 3 times the potential energy of a hardwood log of similar size. If you’re interested, I can send you links to what I have discovered. Cheers!
Would love to learn more…sounds like a great option!
With great interest I read your blog, because me too am looking for a good heat source (’88 Excella 32 ft Airstream). And couldn’t decide propane or wood. After reading the posts here, wood’s the winner.
Wood heat is so superior, I’m willing to make extra effort on seams, caulking, etc, also, the trailer is basically stationary except for moving.
Great suggestions from everyone.
My question is: where can I find reviews about the woodstoves? (from actual people using them). Anyone have links to websites or personal experience?
Appreciate your information.
Best wishes-
Ditte
Good question!
I have another website I made based on the interest to this article called: tinywoodstove.com. I hope to track down some folks using the various stoves and give their input.
From what I have read there are too many…I have seen the Navigator stoves in small spaces the most. Kimberly has some reviews but it seems mostly from people that are trying to sell them.
I hope to get some good honest reviews and make them available. Once we get and install our stove Ill be sure to update our experience with it.
Cheers!
-NICK
We bought the Kimberly, and I know why people are trying to sell them. They don’t put out the heat. We have also ordered the Hobbit to replace our Kimberly, and was told that they put out ten times more heat than the Kimberly. You wanted to know what people thought, so I thought I’d chime in.
Hi, love the site! My wife and I live in our 40′ Eagle bus/conversion and recently moved to the mountains of northern NM at 7400′ elevation to live off-grid. The first thing we did was to install a morso 1410 “squirrel” wood stove in our bus and made the stack easily removable for when we are traveling. Temperatures are down in the 20s and below nightly but the little stove is keeping us warm and cozy without having to insulate the windows. The only thing that isn’t really great is that because we have only soft wood to choose from for firewood, our burn times are only a couple hours, but we expected that and are still very happy with our choice of the stove.
Thanks Larry!
Glad to hear its keeping you guys warm! I would love to hear (and see) more about your flue setup!
I’ve seen both the Morso & Jotul small wood stoves. I didn’t consider these because they are significantly larger (15″x17″x27″) and heavier (215lbs) than the stoves mentioned above. Also considering the space we needed to heat they seemed overkill.
They are priced a little better than the Tiny Navigator Stoves (Morso $1000) so these may a better option for a bit larger spaces – like your large bus!
Cheers!
-NICK
Hey great website about small stoves. Likewise I have explored this option and have a Vermont Bun Baker installed in our 36′ Avion Coach. As a professional wildfire fighter we live in the coach during fire season, sometimes it can get cold at night in higher elevations and the Soapstone really levels things out in a small space. Gone are the spikes where its 90 one minute and 50 the next. It is a bit larger and much heavier than the stoves your mentioning, but works great for us. http://woodstoves.net/cookstoves/vermontbunbaker.htm
An option I did not see mentioned that seems viable is the Aspen by Vermont Castings. http://woodstoves.net/vermont-castings/wood/aspen-cast-iron-wood-burning-stove.htm
Lastly these guys in England have some pretty interesting wood cookstoves that may fit the bill for some. http://www.oilstoves.co.uk/appres.php?select=Stoves&select3=All&select2=Wood&select4=All
Thanks again for the great input on my favorite subject, woodstoves.
Here is another great site all about wood cookstoves and the folks that use them. There is even a forum for folks to ask questions and post used stoves for sale. http://cookstoves.net/
Thanks Woody, appreciate the info and links!
On the Kimberly subject I have to agree with you. I have seen this stove up close and personal at the Hearth Product Barbecue Association (HPBA) of which I am a member. I met with the owner and could see the quality of the build, just could not see where there was $4000 worth of value in the overall package. I’m into boats in a big way and I really wanted this stove for my sailboat that I sail here on Flathead Lake in Montana, but my problem is the stove cost more than the boat I want to put it in so mama slammed on the breaks on that idea.
I have an idea how much wood it takes to make their claimed BTU output of 42,200 and the numbers don’t add up. The average BTU of wood is about 7-8000 BTUs per pound, does not matter if it is hard wood or softwood, it is pretty much the same, except a log of oak is heavier than a log of pine, therefore it contains more BTUs per sq inch of space inside the firebox.
If you do the math and divide 42,200 BTUs by 8000 you get 5.275 lbs of wood inside a firebox that is literally 6″ x 11″ or .2 cubic ft. Not sure how you can cram in 5 lbs of wood into that size fire box but it is listed and tested by OMNI Labs which is a reputable lab. The 10 hour burn is also a mystery and I would love to get one of these baby’s and play around with it. I found the owners manual here and I think it says a lot about the quality of the stove and how its made. http://www.unforgettablefirellc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Kimberly%E2%84%A2-Wood-Stove-Owners-Manual.pdf
The Thermoelectric module is very cool and more stoves should incorporate them into their designs, the Russians and Chinese do.
Overall I’d say it is a great design for a small place, if it puts out as much heat as they say it does, it would drive you out of the small place, unless it is a Yurt like shown in their picture. I heated a 1200 sq ft averagely insulated home in Yaak MT. with a 44,000 BTU gas stove with no problem. We see 50 below up in the Rockies. Kinda puts a perspective on how much heat that really is.
So like the price, the claims are out there, time shall tell how many folks can duplicate the claims. That is where the rubber meets the road.
As this stove is US made and is not your typical US made woodstove, it has enjoyed a lot of good press coverage and was entered in The Alliance For Green Heat http://www.forgreenheat.org/stovedesign/finalists.html Anyone with a passon for wood heat should check these stove designs from all over the world. Some are very clever and unique, some are very easy to build yourself.
Thanks Woody, I checked-out your site and story the other night — I appreciate your perspective and expertise!
I think the exorbitant cost is to help cover the costs of the testing and licensing and all that legal stuff necessary to make them available to the public.
Could be. But the fact remains there are dozens of other manufacturers (even small cottage industries like Navigator Stoves) that has the same testing & licensing costs yet still offers a quality product at 1/4 the cost.
Value is somewhat subjective…evidently there are people that receive enough value from a Kimberly that they are willing to drop almost $4k to have one. With all the other great options on the market — there is not enough value there for me.
Thanks for your input!
thank you very informative,
so wid d’ya think of these?
http://www.fatscostoves.com/
are they any good ?
cheers mick
Fatsco has recently changed hands and I have talked with one of the new owners, Julie, on the phone.
Fatsco are reproductions of an old-school design of a mini pot bellied stove. Very simple and not many frills but it will do the trick! It’s sold as a coal stove but my guess is you could also burn other solid fuel like small chunks of wood.
I have seen these installed in various RV’s, buses and boats. Looks to be a good affordable option!
Have a Hobbit on order, It seems that they are hard to come buy. Hope to hear soon.
Wonderful discussion and information–thank you. I am building a travel trailer with a historic feel to it and was planning on wood heat. I have an old Umco 28 woodstove, which I read somewhere was designed for use in a railway caboose. Does anyone have experience with these? It is obviously not an airtight stove and has to use cabin air supply. Would this work with proper installation?
Wow this blog is incredible! We have yet to purchase our camper- we’re still in the planning stages, so this blog is extremely helpful in figuring out which route we want to take on plenty of options. We decided early on that a wood stove would be our heating source. We love the crackle of a fire and don’t mind the extra work. I have three questions for the woodstove veterans:
1.) Has anyone had any luck purchasing and installing used woodstoves? If so, is there a particular website that sells them or did you just craigslist/ebay it?
2.) How do you install a flue that is removable for during travel?
3.) Did you have to do anything else besides regular installation of the stove and CO detector to prepare your trailer/bus for the wood burning stove?
Thanks Selena! Here are my 2-cents on your questions:
1. From my experience there isn’t a very big used market for small wood stoves. The market is small and a lot of the manufactures are fairly new companies. That said depending on your needs you may be able to find a old Jotul or Morso used.
2. Our flue comes out roughly 6″ from our roof then we have a 12″ stub of pipe + hood that is removable when we are on the road.
3. Yes. We built at small 2-drawer chest that our stoves sits on. This was to maximize storage + keep the hot stove out of the face of our young kids. We also needed to carefully plan clearances, install heat shields and secure the stove so it didn’t move while transporting.
Hope this helps! Good luck with trailer shopping!
I cant see using a wood stove of any kind INSIDE a camper. Especially one of those over priced ones. But I can see getting an outdoor wood furnace and ducting it into the camper. THAT makes sense. Of course, still use a carbon monoxide detector at all times. Over and out.
Thanks for the input Joe! For stationary setups the furnace outside is a great solution!
After building a trailer from the axle up, including installation of a wood stove, for cold-weather hunting/camping (to -40 deg) here are some lessons learned:
– insulate the trailer for winter use, otherwise it’ll leak heat like a wall-tent. The vast majority of commercial trailers are not built for serious winter use.
– use an airtight external air feed (and chimney), so you’re not exhausting heated interior air out the chimney and to prevent CO poisoning.
– have a (locking) exterior ash port and fuel feed door to keep the filth outside. Optionally with an interior fuel feed door for convenience.
– don’t punch any hole in the roof diaphragm, either for chimney or air vents. That will leak eventually, and the chimney pipe will be difficult to remove for highway travel. Remember this is not a permanent cabin or an ocean liner. Run a short segment of pipe out a side or rear wall.
– Remember wood fires have to be burned hot and fast, with lots of air. Never smouldering like the chimney-dampered old-time wood and coal stoves did. Smouldering got wood a bad rep which is why they’ve been banned in many areas. That means you HAVE to capture the heat with thermal mass during a brief burn so it doesn’t overheat the cabin and so it dissipates gradually into the living space. That requires some form of stone, firebrick, metal, and/or water jacket around the firebox to capture that heat and slowly release it.
All things considered, that will require significant planning and a good custom design. But the payback will be worth it.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi, solid fuel stoves were standard in caravans 40 or 50 years ago. I spent a cozy winter in one with no problems at all. It had a water tank around the flue which heated enough water for my simple needs. I didn’t really care that it was cold in the mornings until I had got it fired up again and I quite like heat to be directional, you know, so you can hold your hands close and toast them. I’m sure research and checking the options is a good idea but maybe you don’t need to overthink such an obvious choice. A friend had a stove made out of a gas bottle on his small sailing boat: small, compact, handsom. I think he burned charcoal in it. Good luck.
Thanks for comment!
Cheers!
-NICK