I’m back at it, testing another winter RVing product (or for boating). This one is a heater from the folks at Xtreme Heaters, built just right to tuck in RV storage bays or underbellies to fend off freezes. The heater is recommended by and pairs perfectly with the EZ Snap winter skirting on the Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer.
It’s a set-it-and-forget-it type product that kicks on at 40°F (4.4C) and outputs heat till 55°F (12.7C) , then goes into standby mode, keeping bays, plumbing, or engine compartments above freezing. The model I will be demoing is rated at 400 watts, designed for smaller areas and tight compartments.
The design is simple but well-built, with an all-metal case, large aluminium heating fins, and a PTC thermostat for temperature control. The status LED lights up: green standby, red heating, orange cool-down, and blinking green for self-test. A key feature is ignition-protected design, vital for boats and vehicle engine bays. No sparks to worry about near propane lockers under the RV skirt is peace of mind for me. Also, it’s water-resistant for damp bilges or other moist areas and comes with a beefy 15-foot power cord installed.
Brought it indoors for a quick once-over: plug in, green flash through self-test, solid standby. Used freeze spray on the sensor, and the heat came on wth a red status light. The unit pulls about 450 watts on average (fan’s a bit noisy, but hey, it’s for unattended spots like storage or bays). Once it hits 55°F, the unit turns off and has an orange status for a 10-minute fan cooldown.
I then tried it overnight in a real-world situation in my front overhang skirted compartment and hooked up my weather station for graphs. At 40F it turned on and warmed the compartment ot 55F, then went into standby mode. Worked as advertised. As we get deeper into the winter months and sub-zero weather arrives, I have some more tests planned, so I look forward to another video.
I’m impressed by the Xtreme Heater’s heavy-duty, rugged design. Fully anodized metal for harsh marine environments. Seems like it will last for many years. They come with a 5-year warranty from a USA-based company that is 20 years old.
But fair heads-up: the 400-watt units are for tight lockers or battery bays; for full skirting like my EZ Snap setup, you’ll need multiple heaters and likely the 600 or 800-watt models. They aren’t cheap, but they’re excellent quality, built to last, and an American family-owned company.
Xtreme Heater Demo Video
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