Diesel heater on Wirral.

[Romolo]

Can anyone point me to where I can get one and installed please?

I asked a other post and looks like this is option to go especially for wild camping.

Many thanks

R

 

[RubyOptics]

Hi, I just finished reading your battery thread!! The type of thing you are looking for is something like this. You can supply fuel from either a small, separate tank or from your vehicles fuel tank (as long as it's diesel of course!!) They use very little fuel once up to temp, so as long as you don't pull up for the night with only fumes in the tank you should be fine running it overnight. There are plenty of fitting videos available on you-tube.

 

[Romolo]

I know... That's why I started a new one.... It went on... Thanks everyone for sticking with me

 

[Romolo]

Oh I thought I would need to get a professional as it's fuel and need to be signed off.
Really... So easy to do.... Additional tank or main tank.. what's people's preference?

Thanks

 

[Romolo]

Oh I see with its own tank seems easy.

What about fitting to main diesel tank?
Anyone do this and if someone is needed as it's main fuel... Anyone best North West Wirral? Thanks

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[bigwood]

I have seen diesel heaters fitted with the fuel feed off the main tank. This is not an easy job involving dropping the tank in most cases.
Don’t be tempted to take the feed off a fuel line out of the tank. A friend of mine did this with his self build. He had nothing but trouble with the fuel system afterwards.
The kits with a separate fuel tank seem a good idea. I would prefer the tank mounted out of the living area. Spilt diesel pongs for ever if it gets in any of the fabrics or wood.
An extra silencer for the exhaust would be welcome by other site users. The last one we were next to sounded like a 747 and was running all night.

 

[DBK]

We've got a diesel heater (Webasto) and it's brilliant but it does use more electrical power than a gas heater. This might have been mentioned in your other thread if not just ensure you have plenty of solar.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I’ve only ever had, factory fit or retrofit webasto or eberspacher units.

mare these Chinese ones a bit questionable if using on a Van you will be sleeping in ?

 

[RubyOptics]

If you are going to run it from the main fuel tank you will need to drop the tank in order to fit the fuel line. I remember seeing a video regarding the draw that one of the Chinese units has on the battery, but to be honest I can't remember the results. TeeMyob I see no evidence or reason to suggest that the Chinese units are in any way a risk Compared to a Webasto or any other brand. Do you know otherwise? If so, would you mind sharing your source as I'm considering fitting one into my double-floor area for use when snow-boarding.

 

[EuroTrotters]

If you are going to run it from the main fuel tank you will need to drop the tank in order to fit the fuel line. I remember seeing a video regarding the draw that one of the Chinese units has on the battery, but to be honest I can't remember the results. TeeMyob I see no evidence or reason to suggest that the Chinese units are in any way a risk Compared to a Webasto or any other brand. Do you know otherwise? If so, would you mind sharing your source as I'm considering fitting one into my double-floor area for use when snow-boarding.

Hi just seem very cheap. 1/10th at least the price of the others.

move no evidence , but I will be Looking forward to peoples experiences.

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[Henry Walpole]

I had a diesel heater installed by these guys, they were very good:

PF Jones - Reviews

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Romolo]

Thanks everyone.
Gas heater head been mentioned again. I got the impression diesel is the best for price, efficiency and output.

Do we all agree?
I am super green to campervan so not got anything to base off. They certainly seem very good.

Would prefer to go main tank but looks like second tank is much much easier.

So best option?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Unless your going camping in mid winter you probably won't use it much. We're out during the day and when you have the oven on (or hob) for dinner the van is toasty warm. It can be a bit chilly in the mornings when getting up, but again by the time the gas kettle is boiled the van is warm. We go away between April and September and rarely use the heating.

I've heard diesel heaters use a lot of power on start up... like glow plug amounts of power

Anyway, just some thoughts from me

 

[Scotch mist]

Anybody got a link for the cheap ones , it’s for a friend who’s converting a van , thanks KD

 

[RubyOptics]

Anybody got a link for the cheap ones , it’s for a friend who’s converting a van , thanks KD

Check the link in my first reply

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[Peter and Julie]

Oh I see with its own tank seems easy.

What about fitting to main diesel tank?
Anyone do this and if someone is needed as it's main fuel... Anyone best North West Wirral? Thanks

I'm getting one fitted by plannar in Frodsham, second week in September. I bought a cheapo Chinese heater but thought I'm not risking my van if it goes wrong. Its also eu certified and guaranteed for 2 years.

 

[Peter and Julie]

www.autoterm.store

Diesel heaters for boats - Lorries - Campervans - 4x4 - Welfare Vehicles

planarheaters.co.uk

 

[chaser]

Unless your going camping in mid winter you probably won't use it much. We're out during the day and when you have the oven on (or hob) for dinner the van is toasty warm. It can be a bit chilly in the mornings when getting up, but again by the time the gas kettle is boiled the van is warm. We go away between April and September and rarely use the heating.

I've heard diesel heaters use a lot of power on start up... like glow plug amounts of power

Anyway, just some thoughts from me

Agree with this fully, we have a diesel heater In our ambulance conversion, it was in when we bought it, never use it, not been in extreme low temperature but have done a couple of Xmas markets trips, and just never found the need for it.
Plus the times we have tried it, you couldn't hear yourself speak, wouldn't dare kick it up on a crowded Aire.

 

[Peter and Julie]

If you are going to run it from the main fuel tank you will need to drop the tank in order to fit the fuel line. I remember seeing a video regarding the draw that one of the Chinese units has on the battery, but to be honest I can't remember the results. TeeMyob I see no evidence or reason to suggest that the Chinese units are in any way a risk Compared to a Webasto or any other brand. Do you know otherwise? If so, would you mind sharing your source as I'm considering fitting one into my double-floor area for use when snow-boarding.

Chinese heaters are OK IF you fit yourself, however no professional fitter will fit them! Don't know why?

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Some vans have an auxiliary feed from the fuel tank.
Plenty of YouTube videos of people dissecting Chinese heaters, there are no obvious safety issues.
I would buy two Chinese heaters, install one and have the other for spares. Not because I think it's going to kill me, but glo plugs do fail, the controller might give up, plus you will have additional pipes and fittings.

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[Romolo]

Hmmm... again lots of useful comments thank you.

Just not sure what to do as my wife and I are so new the campervans and really do want to be wild camping or at least getting on to sites without EHU as the others are rammed. To be honest.. that is the dream.. just pull up.

I don't even know whats available to me. I do have a warm air blow heater as part of the van but only works on EHU.

Sounds like electric blow... battery killer.
Diesel Heaters - big startup on power and noisy... or too noisy to really deal with it.. some youtube videos look like livable solutions... but hey... who knows which was is quiet and not.. so I get that.
Gas Heaters... Not heard much about this apart from a reference to it.

Maybe this thread has run its course as my Battery one became War and Peace... TOTALLY through me .... Thank you for all the comments everyone as it really helped me hit the learning curve quickly.

Any comments on Gas heaters??

When camping and static we used Halogen Heaters... but I imagine these are juice monsters.

Gas heaters... any comments?

Many thanks in advance.

R

 

[Peter and Julie]

I used to drive hgv. The heater once up to the internal temp you want are virtually silent.

 

[Romolo]

Do you mean on of the Chinese Diesel Heaters?

Thanks

R

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our van has got a whale gas or electric heater. When we went to Scotland when the van was new it used a 6kg bottle in a week.

3 electric heat levels, fan only and gas setting at the bottom

 

[Two on Tour]

I have fitted one of the Chinese diesel heaters to our van and it's a great bit of kit.
The factory fitted Whale gas and fan heater was a nightmare. The Whale heater is noisy and burns gas at an alarming rate with very little heat, where as the Chinese diesel heater is quite, economical and toasty warm.

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[Peter and Julie]

Do you mean on of the Chinese Diesel Heaters?

Thanks

R

Not too sure about the Chinese. All sound noisy initially.

 

[Romolo]

Oh you fitted yours actually under the van and not in a housing of some description... ok fair enough. That must keep the noise down.
So I guess you just bring the heat pipe in for warmth and prob just run all elec under the van to your battery.
Where did you put your diesel tank? Or did you tap into your existing tank?
Thanks

 

[Two on Tour]

Oh you fitted yours actually under the van and not in a housing of some description... ok fair enough. That must keep the noise down.
So I guess you just bring the heat pipe in for warmth and prob just run all elec under the van to your battery.
Where did you put your diesel tank? Or did you tap into your existing tank?
Thanks

The heater unit is mounted under our van on a "L" bracket which is bolted to the rear nearside chassis extension with anti vibration rubber rivnuts.
As it is mounted externally, I have fitted a foam air filter to stop dust and bugs being sucked through the fan unit into the van.

I have made an adaptor for the burner air inlet from copper pipe fittings to step it up from 24mm to 38mm so the burner can get as much air as it needs for a clean burn and have fitted a foam air filter again to stop dust and bugs being sucked in.

To cut down the clicking noise from the fuel pump, I have hung the fuel pump from cable ties which are in turn tied around a piece of foam insulation.

As there was nowhere to practically put the fuel tank that came with the kit, I used a plastic 10 litre jerry can and made a bracket to mount it under the rear of the van on the offside chassis extension and fitted a marine type fuel filler in the rear panel of the van. I also fitted a sight tube so I could see what the fuel level in the tank is.

NOTE: I'm in the process of having an aluminium tank made to replace the plastic jerry can which will give me more fuel capacity, plus I'm using a Mopeka bluetooth LPG tank level sensor to measure the diesel fuel level. The new tank will fit in the same place and space that the jerry can did.

To get the lovely warm air from the heater into the van to heat both the hab area and the bathroom, I bought the ducting up through the van floor by the shower as this bit of wall backs onto the hab area.
I made a plenum chamber from 6mm ply to go over the ducting coming up through the floor so I could mount an outlet vent in the bathroom and drill through the wall from the hab area to mount an outlet vent to the hab area.

The control panel for the heater was then mounted on the wall above the telly along with an on/off switch.

I have to say it is a brilliant bit of kit and the fuel consumption is minimal, so it will take over as our primary source of heating which will make our gas last longer.
To make it even cheaper to run, I will be running it on red diesel.

 

[Romolo]

Brilliant post.. Thank you for going to trouble of photographs and recording. Really helps me to see the possibilities I can do with my Ford Transit... hmm.. ideas are flowing.

Thank you so much

R

 

[gus-lopez]

mare these Chinese ones a bit questionable if using on a Van you will be sleeping in ?

I fitted one.I haven't died yet ? I don't think? & it is quiet ,Far quieter than I expected it to be ,to the extent i have to put hand under exhaust to check it is working.

As it is mounted externally, I have fitted a foam air filter to stop dust and bugs being sucked through the fan unit into the van.

That was my intention how to fit ours but when I was forced to improvise & fit it in the UK last year I installed it inside the van-
If it was under the van surely you would be better with the air inlet drawing air from the air inside the van? Otherwise you are continually heating cold air & also additional air in the van has to be got rid of somewhere.?

Reminds me of my brother buying a house with central heating & wondering why gas & water use was so high? Until we found that it was installed with the water connected to boiler , went all around radiators & then straight down the drain!!

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