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Post by keeblerelf89 on Feb 6, 2023 11:35:58 GMT -5
Hey all, I have looked for a while and can't find any concrete information on the climate package from KZ. I have always been under the impression that if the underbelly is covered, then it is equipped with the climate package. There is no sticker on this trailer I am looking at (2019 KZ sportsmen 291BHLE) that says it has the climate package and it is quite far a way. So I don't wanna drive out just to be disappointed with the trailer. I am looking for a trailer that has som form of winter package because it will be used to hunt in early November in the high Uintah mountains and it gets rather cold there. So my question is, if this trailer has the covered under belly, does that mean it has the climate package?
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Post by 660catman on Feb 6, 2023 12:49:01 GMT -5
I’m going to go out on a limb and say it does NOT have the climate package. All underbelly’s are enclosed whereas the climate package is also heated and has R24 insulation in the floor. It should have the “climate package” sticker on it. I could not find any info to say that year or later years had it.
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Post by keeblerelf89 on Feb 6, 2023 16:03:50 GMT -5
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Post by 660catman on Feb 6, 2023 16:16:57 GMT -5
Hmmm, I looked but I guess I missed that link. Without the decal I guess the only way to check is pull down part of the underbelly.
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Post by keeblerelf89 on Feb 6, 2023 20:43:54 GMT -5
What would I be looking for when I got under there? I know the current owner stated that the trailer didn't freeze up until around 5 degrees F. And to me that seems rather low for not having a winter package but because I have never owned a trailer I would not know for sure.
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Post by 660catman on Feb 6, 2023 20:56:21 GMT -5
What would I be looking for when I got under there? I know the current owner stated that the trailer didn't freeze up until around 5 degrees F. And to me that seems rather low for not having a winter package but because I have never owned a trailer I would not know for sure. I would think if the floor was completely insulated you wouldn’t see the top of the I beam frame rails outside of the rails. There would have to be a good layer of insulation in that section. I can’t remember for sure as my Durango with the package is in storage. |
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Mark T
Weekender RV’er
Shorter days ahead
Posts: 57
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Post by Mark T on Feb 8, 2023 0:50:35 GMT -5
Yeah, 5 degrees seems pretty low. But then it really depends on how long it is that cold and how much water is in the tanks that has to freeze. And the climate package also has some holes in the heater ducts to put some hot air into the belly, so it probably does a pretty good job of handling lower temps. I would say that if the trailer has a belly cover at all then it has the climate package. I doubt they just throw that on every trailer without an upcharge. And as you can see in the "Standard" items shown for the trailer specs in your link, there is no mention of a belly cover. Only mentioned as an option in the climate package. What to look for beyond the belly cover: All plumbing and electrical coming out of the belly pan have been sealed.  At the rear of the trailer there is a trim piece holding the cover (10mm head screws).  If you remove 2 or 3 of these you can pull the trim/cover down and see the insulation. Yep, that is all that is in there - something like 1/8" or 3/16" foil faced bubble wrap.  Or you might just be able to peek in one of the corners and see the insulation.  Even with the climate package the tank outlets are below the belly pan and are uninsulated! I wrapped 1/4" foil faced bubble wrap around all of mine and foil taped it liberally.  |
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Post by num1dgh on Feb 8, 2023 7:58:46 GMT -5
Yeah, 5 degrees seems pretty low. But then it really depends on how long it is that cold and how much water is in the tanks that has to freeze. And the climate package also has some holes in the heater ducts to put some hot air into the belly, so it probably does a pretty good job of handling lower temps. I would say that if the trailer has a belly cover at all then it has the climate package. I doubt they just throw that on every trailer without an upcharge. And as you can see in the "Standard" items shown for the trailer specs in your link, there is no mention of a belly cover. Only mentioned as an option in the climate package. What to look for beyond the belly cover: All plumbing and electrical coming out of the belly pan have been sealed. View AttachmentAt the rear of the trailer there is a trim piece holding the cover (10mm head screws). View AttachmentIf you remove 2 or 3 of these you can pull the trim/cover down and see the insulation. Yep, that is all that is in there - something like 1/8" or 3/16" foil faced bubble wrap. View AttachmentOr you might just be able to peek in one of the corners and see the insulation. View AttachmentEven with the climate package the tank outlets are below the belly pan and are uninsulated! I wrapped 1/4" foil faced bubble wrap around all of mine and foil taped it liberally. View Attachment |
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Post by jfspry58 on Feb 9, 2023 13:31:52 GMT -5
Don’t know if this helps, but according to a 2017 KZ brochure, first year of production for the 291BHLE, the climate package was an option but not standard. Best of luck getting to the bottom of this. Safe travels!
Jay
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Post by keeblerelf89 on Feb 10, 2023 10:18:54 GMT -5
Wow thank you for all the pictures and info. I will have to get under it when I go look at it just to make sure. I know a dealer here said they would crawl under it to check and make sure for like 70 bucks. The fact that I couldn't find an other reference about a belly covering either that's why I thought it had the climate package. But as I said, the seller says that it is covered and insulated but no vent to the bottom which I thought was weird they left out 1 of 3 of the climate package. I will also have to absolutely insulate the drain pipes from the black and grey which seems easy enough.
Another question I have is, while doing research about the size of the fresh tank I found that it was kinda small. Do any of you have issues with only having 38 gallons of water for you and your families?
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 10, 2023 10:29:05 GMT -5
My wife and I use between 10 and 15 gallons per day if we conserve a bit.
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Post by 660catman on Feb 10, 2023 19:52:03 GMT -5
My wife and I use about 10 gallons a day but that’s not showering everyday. Coffee water, drinking water and ice maker water is carried in 20 litre containers. We carry two 20 litre and two 10 litre containers for the 10 days where we go each year. Too many times we’ve had boil water advisories there.
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 10, 2023 19:58:52 GMT -5
I wouldn't guess get the VIN and make a call to KZ and ask they should know what they put in any unit.
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Mark T
Weekender RV’er
Shorter days ahead
Posts: 57
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Post by Mark T on Feb 11, 2023 0:39:09 GMT -5
keeblerelf89,
As far as I know there is no "vent to the bottom". There is no hole in the floor as such to heat the belly. Plumbing, electrical, and propane will come up through the floor inside the cabinets and behind the power center. I believe these entries are foamed closed to keep out dust and mice/etc. I could go look. I have heard that the heating ducts under the floor have some holes in them to send some heat down under but I can't confirm that. I really think that the duct is uninsulated, so poorly insulated, or so poorly sealed ,that it warms up the belly just from heat loss along the duct. Some trailer Mfgs. put heating pads on the tanks that are thermostatically controlled, but as far as I know KZ does not have this option. If it is freezing out and you are only using electric heat, then you should consider running the furnace fan to send some warm air through the ducts and into the belly.
My wife and I can go 4 days (maybe 5 if we plan ahead) on 45 gals of fresh water. We also carry another 18 gals of fresh water in jugs that we can pour in if we want/need another day or we have somehow used more that we expected. I know some folks are much better at water conservation than we are.
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 12, 2023 19:35:06 GMT -5
keeblerelf89, As far as I know there is no "vent to the bottom". There is no hole in the floor as such to heat the belly. Plumbing, electrical, and propane will come up through the floor inside the cabinets and behind the power center. I believe these entries are foamed closed to keep out dust and mice/etc. I could go look. I have heard that the heating ducts under the floor have some holes in them to send some heat down under but I can't confirm that. I really think that the duct is uninsulated, so poorly insulated, or so poorly sealed ,that it warms up the belly just from heat loss along the duct. Some trailer Mfgs. put heating pads on the tanks that are thermostatically controlled, but as far as I know KZ does not have this option. If it is freezing out and you are only using electric heat, then you should consider running the furnace fan to send some warm air through the ducts and into the belly. My wife and I can go 4 days (maybe 5 if we plan ahead) on 45 gals of fresh water. We also carry another 18 gals of fresh water in jugs that we can pour in if we want/need another day or we have somehow used more that we expected. I know some folks are much better at water conservation than we are. I don't think you will find a hole in the floor.
Wife helping install an extra vent to the living area, here the walls still in place. I wish I could sit in the basement like that, who am I kidding I can't sit anywhere like that.
Here is the heater in my KZ, not sure you can see it but one of the vent ducts is smaller, that vent exits under the floor, behind the wall in the basement. The heat stays primarily behind the wall and at the back of the water heater.  
All done, more heat to the living area
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Post by keeblerelf89 on Feb 15, 2023 17:19:37 GMT -5
keeblerelf89, As far as I know there is no "vent to the bottom". There is no hole in the floor as such to heat the belly. Plumbing, electrical, and propane will come up through the floor inside the cabinets and behind the power center. I believe these entries are foamed closed to keep out dust and mice/etc. I could go look. I have heard that the heating ducts under the floor have some holes in them to send some heat down under but I can't confirm that. I really think that the duct is uninsulated, so poorly insulated, or so poorly sealed ,that it warms up the belly just from heat loss along the duct. Some trailer Mfgs. put heating pads on the tanks that are thermostatically controlled, but as far as I know KZ does not have this option. If it is freezing out and you are only using electric heat, then you should consider running the furnace fan to send some warm air through the ducts and into the belly. My wife and I can go 4 days (maybe 5 if we plan ahead) on 45 gals of fresh water. We also carry another 18 gals of fresh water in jugs that we can pour in if we want/need another day or we have somehow used more that we expected. I know some folks are much better at water conservation than we are. I don't think you will find a hole in the floor.
Wife helping install an extra vent to the living area, here the walls still in place. I wish I could sit in the basement like that, who am I kidding I can't sit anywhere like that.
Here is the heater in my KZ, not sure you can see it but one of the vent ducts is smaller, that vent exits under the floor, behind the wall in the basement. The heat stays primarily behind the wall and at the back of the water heater. View Attachment View Attachment
All done, more heat to the living area
So there is an open duct on the furnace that exits into the basement? We are going to look/pick up the trailer on the 9th. We are both very excited about it. Also I tried getting ahold of kz and no one has returned my calls. Darn them lol. |
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 16, 2023 23:16:21 GMT -5
They build the 5W from the frame up so the coroplast is put on first while the frames upside down and suspensions installed. Flipped up and the add insulation & the water piping, the the floor. So the waters just under the flooring above the insulation, the heater has a single duct open into the belly you need to remove the wall to see the heater etc. I recommend you do that as soon as you get your RV and before the basements full. It will give you a chance to look behind it and see just whats where, how it's put together etc. I found a heat duct off from the factory and I'm not the only one.
I also found some small water leaks that I was able to repair before any damage was done, I carry a PEX tool and clamps along with a number of small hose clamps. If you'll be a weekender and vacations then you may not need the tools, we travel and it seems I find these thing miles from home and need to fix them now.
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Post by nvguy on Feb 17, 2023 0:26:22 GMT -5
Edd is 100% right, remove the basement walls and look around, you might even find a leak at the back of the water heater like I did. Much easier to fix at home than in a campground. You can also tape up any furnace ducting and reroute the flexible ducting for better flow. Plus, it allows you to learn where things are- like your water pump.
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Post by keeblerelf89 on Mar 1, 2023 9:40:29 GMT -5
They build the 5W from the frame up so the coroplast is put on first while the frames upside down and suspensions installed. Flipped up and the add insulation & the water piping, the the floor. So the waters just under the flooring above the insulation, the heater has a single duct open into the belly you need to remove the wall to see the heater etc. I recommend you do that as soon as you get your RV and before the basements full. It will give you a chance to look behind it and see just whats where, how it's put together etc. I found a heat duct off from the factory and I'm not the only one. I also found some small water leaks that I was able to repair before any damage was done, I carry a PEX tool and clamps along with a number of small hose clamps. If you'll be a weekender and vacations then you may not need the tools, we travel and it seems I find these thing miles from home and need to fix them now. OK I can do that. Where is the basement wall located? We are going up on the 10th to look at it and if we like it we will buy it. We are getting very very excited about it. I assume that we need water running though it to check for leaks? |
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Post by Edd505 on Mar 1, 2023 16:04:04 GMT -5
OK I can do that. Where is the basement wall located? We are going up on the 10th to look at it and if we like it we will buy it. We are getting very very excited about it. I assume that we need water running though it to check for leaks? They are in the basement storage area, obvious when you look under.
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