Camping heat, gas or diesel????

KevinR · Oct 13, 2024

As we like to use our van early and late in the season and as much as possible, we are going to fit / have fitted heating over the winter. Despite everyone seemingly advising to fit a diesel heater and most say Chinese are ok and value. Two things I can’t get my head to come to terms with - 1) China and 2) the thought of having a tank of diesel in our living space. I am thinking of paying more and having a Propex connected running off our gas bottle. As we use her as much as we can, the best solution trumps saving (unless monstrous difference!) - Help !?

PS yes we have thick duvet, blankets, hot water bottles and socks etc etc !

sparkywig · Oct 13, 2024

I used to have a Propex under the Westy bed in the old bus, gas connection to the cooker unit behind the driver's seat. It was nice and warm, but very noisy.
As I've made the decision not to have gas in the deluxe, I've now gone to a Chinese 2kW diesel heater under the cab seat, which is physically smaller and much quieter. I didn't want a diesel tank inside the "living area" either, so have had a custom 5l tank made to fit in the engine bay under the spare wheel well.

Gabs · Oct 13, 2024

I gone same way with Chinese diesel heater 4kw as 2kw was hard to get. Added a tank inside my kitchen cupboard “since upgraded to stainless steal version” no diesel smells at all. heater in the lower cupboard space as well. I used a turret plate as felt it helped keep things safe. Been running near 3 years with only a sensor fault in that time.

KevinR · Oct 13, 2024

sparkywig said:
I used to have a Propex under the Westy bed in the old bus, gas connection to the cooker unit behind the driver's seat. It was nice and warm, but very noisy.
As I've made the decision not to have gas in the deluxe, I've now gone to a Chinese 2kW diesel heater under the cab seat, which is physically smaller and much quieter. I didn't want a diesel tank inside the "living area" either, so have had a custom 5l tank made to fit in the engine bay under the spare wheel well.

Thanks for the reply. Did you have to modify the cab seat or is there enough room under it as is? That sounds interesting, had never thought of that. Unfortunately I have our leisure battery in the engine bay below the wheel well, I will have to look at other locations, who do you get to make a tank??

KevinR · Oct 13, 2024

Gabs said:
I gone same way with Chinese diesel heater 4kw as 2kw was hard to get. Added a tank inside my kitchen cupboard “since upgraded to stainless steal version” no diesel smells at all. heater in the lower cupboard space as well. I used a turret plate as felt it helped keep things safe. Been running near 3 years with only a sensor fault in that time.

Yes I am looking for tucked away locations, as ever space is a premium, glad to hear no Diesel smells if we go that route.

thejinx · Oct 13, 2024

Love to see photos of these set ups please. Do you need a carbon monoxide detector in the van?

sparkywig · Oct 13, 2024

KevinR said:
Thanks for the reply. Did you have to modify the cab seat or is there enough room under it as is? That sounds interesting, had never thought of that. Unfortunately I have our leisure battery in the engine bay below the wheel well, I will have to look at other locations, who do you get to make a tank??

Have a look at the neptune blue deluxe gallery thread in my signature.
In the end I went for a company in Norfolk to make it, got let down by people in the "scene".

gas1man · Oct 13, 2024

thejinx said:
Love to see photos of these set ups please. Do you need a carbon monoxide detector in the van?

Always!!

J & P

W1K1 · Oct 14, 2024

Lots of ideas here for the diesel . https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727273&highlight=diesel+heater

Mine is in a thin cabinet behind the pass seat, and I used the old sink drain hole for intake/exhaust on the floor, and the intake is behind the front wheel, exhaust is towards the back jack point on the belly pans

pgtips · Oct 14, 2024

I was lucky enough to get hold of an eberspacher b1lc, the b = benzine ( petrol), it's quite compact and sits under the passenger seat. Petrol via a t from the tank to engine fuel line.
Been running it for years and it's been great.
Pg

creationblue · Oct 14, 2024

I've got a Propex which I fitted around 15years ago, barely ever use it, when we camp early in the season as we did Easter this year when we had snow, I booked electric hook-up and used a small oil filled radiator that is silent and did the job perfectly, Can count on one hand the number of times I've put the propex on over the years. If I was building my interior again it would be another thing that I wouldn't bother with in all honesty. As Wig said the fan is noisy but they do kick the heat out very quickly, and if you have a gas bottle for cooking then it makes sense to utilise it in my mind.

Sausage · Oct 29, 2024

We have a Chinese 2kw heater, its great in the Spring/Autumn. The heater itself doesnt take much space and i have the tank behind the passenger seat next to the bulkhead. No smells. Its a game changer for colder camping and not that expensive/hard to fit.

T2 Brinky · Oct 29, 2024

I have a propex and the noise it makes is horrendous.
For that reason I would go for the diesel type with tank behind seats or in engine bay.

creationblue · Oct 30, 2024

T2 Brinky said:
I have a propex and the noise it makes is horrendous.
For that reason I would go for the diesel type with tank behind seats or in engine bay.

Obviously don't drink enough cider

bigherb · Oct 30, 2024

I changed from a Propex to a Lavaner Pro 2kW Chinese heater. The propex worked well but the cost of LPG was extravagant. Wasn't to keen on the freeze and burn operation of the heater either. Can now just set the Diesel heater on a constant low output to keep an even temperature. The other bonus is they can run on Kerosene heating oil, currently I pay £0.80p a litre.

milfredo · Nov 1, 2024

Does anyone route the heating through the original vents? It seems like a missed opportunity to keep it stock. Also, screen demist would be a bonus

matty74 · Nov 1, 2024

Yes, my diesel heater is plumbed underneath to the totem pole and it works a treat. I’ve even utilised the redundant red levers to operate the up / down flap

milfredo · Nov 3, 2024

matty74 said:
Yes, my diesel heater is plumbed underneath to the totem pole and it works a treat. I’ve even utilised the redundant red levers to operate the up / down flap

Where is it located?

matty74 · Nov 3, 2024

The diesel heater is mounted underneath the van beneath the buddy seat / portaloo cabinet at the sliding door. I’ve never had a centre pipe in the mid section so the flexi hose from heater output joins the totem pole under the cab floor. The cold air is drawn in from under the rock n roll bed inside the van. Rotary temp controller is mounted underneath the fuse box. There are some pics of the set up somewhere on my gallery thread

W1K1 · Nov 4, 2024

milfredo said:
Does anyone route the heating through the original vents? It seems like a missed opportunity to keep it stock. Also, screen demist would be a bonus

I have a heater core under the front tube in the splash pan for my front defrost/heat so I would say it might be possible to use a diesel heater under there. Putting it too far back down the tube would lower the temperature of course.

Camping heat, gas or diesel????

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