Portable Camping Gas or Diesel heaters for my hardfloor camper.
Bicyclecamper said
10:06 PM Nov 7, 2021
Now I am pretty sure nobody here has one, and I don't know yet if they are waterproof, but am wondering whether something like this would be okay as a heater in our camper for cold weather. We do have a portable sit on bottle gas heater ring, and we used it recently, but with 2 windows open. It did keep us quite warm, albeit with a cool breeze coming in the windows. Our CO monitor did not go off with it, so we were safe. These portable heaters sit outside of your tent/camper/igloo/whatever you use, and has the fuel tank all included within the unit, but you can run externals, and has air heating hose running into your tent. They are about $300, so not dear at all. I have an Truma heater given to me and was hoping to fit it to any camper I bought, but this camper has no place to put it at all. Does anybody think these portable heaters are worth buying and using as a dedicated winter heating source?
Possum3 said
10:33 PM Nov 7, 2021
Ric, I bought one of the butane canister heaters for use outside when a fire wasn't an option - less than useless at a distance of over 300mm - wouldn't be game/silly enough to use one in an enclosed area.
Best option is cheap Chinese Diesel heater - heat a massive van in moments.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Sunday 7th of November 2021 10:36:17 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:44 PM Nov 7, 2021
Do NOT use a gas heater inside unless it is designed for such use, and flued to the outside.
You may have gotten away with using one, but if the wind blows the wrong way or some other inconsistency occurs, you are DEAD. It happens often.
A cheap diesel heater can be installed properly so it is both safe, effective and low cost.
Cheers,
Peter
Bicyclecamper said
11:23 PM Nov 7, 2021
Peter, I have an 1980 model Campomatic hardfloor camper, the mattress, takes up all of the floor space of the bed floor, so their is no place to either fit the heater or the heating ducting. No space at all. These portable camping heaters sit outside, and are exhausted outside, but you have heating ducting running into the camper. If I could have fitted my Truma heater, I would have but their is no space for it at all. Have been using the on bottle gas heater for 2 years, with windows open. We do have like in last van a CO monitor, and it gives a loud alarm if your oxygen levels drop at all, an it has never done it. Probably will stay with what I have until I can find out enough info about these portable diesel heaters.
oldbloke said
07:29 PM Nov 8, 2021
I'm unclear. Are you saying you used something like this?
If so generally theses should not be used in a poorly ventilated tent or van. They are the same as using a gas stove or oven. ONLY with some flow through ventilation are they safe. With ventilation the CO is moves out into the open air and fresh air is constantly replaced.
What other option are you proposing. Perhaps a pic?
Peter, I have an 1980 model Campomatic hardfloor camper, the mattress, takes up all of the floor space of the bed floor, so their is no place to either fit the heater or the heating ducting. No space at all. These portable camping heaters sit outside, and are exhausted outside, but you have heating ducting running into the camper. If I could have fitted my Truma heater, I would have but their is no space for it at all. Have been using the on bottle gas heater for 2 years, with windows open. We do have like in last van a CO monitor, and it gives a loud alarm if your oxygen levels drop at all, an it has never done it. Probably will stay with what I have until I can find out enough info about these portable diesel heaters.
I do not think that there would be any technical reason not to mount it on the rear , hard wall of the Campomatic ( in a box) directing warm air through the wall ( when set up the heater would be under the camper ) and with exhaust gases directed to the side opposite the door . Fuel line and electrical lines are flexible so would allow for folding of the camper and fuel tank could be mounted on the front. I have owned and used a 1980 Campomatic ( great campers - always been a favourite ) and have also mounted 3 diesel heaters in in 3 different types of vans/campers. They are pretty simple and one of the best additions to a van. KB
Moonraker said
07:01 AM Nov 11, 2021
12v Portable diesel heaters complete with intergrated fuel tank are available for under $200 on ebay. I have seen one in operation located under a caravan with the hot and cold air tubing going through holes drilled into the floor of the van. Owner said it worked great. He had made plugs for the holes when heater is not used. Might be a bit noisy unless mufflers are fitted to the exhaust and air inlet I think.
markf said
10:52 AM Nov 11, 2021
We use a cheap Chinese diesel heater with our forward fold camper and it does a great job. With a muffler it is quiet and we can only just hear it inside the camper. Power requirements are very modest as is diesel consumption. We've had it for a couple of years and the only time we had any trouble with it was when our batteries got a "bit" low - about 11.5V - and the heater wouldn't start.
On our last trip some idiot forgot to pack the length of duct that we normally use so I had to make up something using drainage pipe and duct tape...
Markf thankyou very much with the picture of the heater in action. Will probable go ahead with it now.
markf said
12:27 PM Nov 11, 2021
Bicyclecamper wrote:
Markf thankyou very much with the picture of the heater in action. Will probable go ahead with it now.
I should've said that when the heater is going the door is shut and zipped. Seeing as the heater exhaust points away from the cold air intake there is no problem with exhaust gasses getting into the camper.
oldbloke said
01:50 PM Nov 14, 2021
And exhaust will need to be about 600mm or more from a window or other opening.
Now I am pretty sure nobody here has one, and I don't know yet if they are waterproof, but am wondering whether something like this would be okay as a heater in our camper for cold weather. We do have a portable sit on bottle gas heater ring, and we used it recently, but with 2 windows open. It did keep us quite warm, albeit with a cool breeze coming in the windows. Our CO monitor did not go off with it, so we were safe. These portable heaters sit outside of your tent/camper/igloo/whatever you use, and has the fuel tank all included within the unit, but you can run externals, and has air heating hose running into your tent. They are about $300, so not dear at all. I have an Truma heater given to me and was hoping to fit it to any camper I bought, but this camper has no place to put it at all. Does anybody think these portable heaters are worth buying and using as a dedicated winter heating source?
Ric, I bought one of the butane canister heaters for use outside when a fire wasn't an option - less than useless at a distance of over 300mm - wouldn't be game/silly enough to use one in an enclosed area.
Best option is cheap Chinese Diesel heater - heat a massive van in moments.
-- Edited by Possum3 on Sunday 7th of November 2021 10:36:17 PM
You may have gotten away with using one, but if the wind blows the wrong way or some other inconsistency occurs, you are DEAD. It happens often.
A cheap diesel heater can be installed properly so it is both safe, effective and low cost.
Cheers,
Peter
I'm unclear.
Are you saying you used something like this?
If so generally theses should not be used in a poorly ventilated tent or van. They are the same as using a gas stove or oven. ONLY with some flow through ventilation are they safe. With ventilation the CO is moves out into the open air and fresh air is constantly replaced.
What other option are you proposing. Perhaps a pic?
I do not think that there would be any technical reason not to mount it on the rear , hard wall of the Campomatic ( in a box) directing warm air through the wall ( when set up the heater would be under the camper ) and with exhaust gases directed to the side opposite the door . Fuel line and electrical lines are flexible so would allow for folding of the camper and fuel tank could be mounted on the front. I have owned and used a 1980 Campomatic ( great campers - always been a favourite ) and have also mounted 3 diesel heaters in in 3 different types of vans/campers. They are pretty simple and one of the best additions to a van. KB
We use a cheap Chinese diesel heater with our forward fold camper and it does a great job. With a muffler it is quiet and we can only just hear it inside the camper. Power requirements are very modest as is diesel consumption. We've had it for a couple of years and the only time we had any trouble with it was when our batteries got a "bit" low - about 11.5V - and the heater wouldn't start.
On our last trip some idiot forgot to pack the length of duct that we normally use so I had to make up something using drainage pipe and duct tape...
I should've said that when the heater is going the door is shut and zipped. Seeing as the heater exhaust points away from the cold air intake there is no problem with exhaust gasses getting into the camper.