Inside heating for CV's

whiteman · Senior Member

Inside heating for CV's

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi all,

I am just wondering what you use for heating on cold nights and mornings if not hooked up to 240V power. I really feel the cold.

You all know my big rig, if not look at my AV. I have a 5 bar Oil Column Heater I use when in CV Parks hooked up to 240V but I have been thinking of and looking for some sort of heating when not.

I always have a window open a couple of inches for fresh air so I can't see why a small gas heater wouldn't work on low however, I wouldn't know if it didn't work as I would have cashed in my knife and fork and would be leaving my big rig horizontally and very cold.

I look forward to any feedback.

biggles · Senior Member

Hi Doug ..

Our mode of transport may differ .. I have a motorhome and after freezing my butt off in central NSW a while back, I elected to have a diesel heater fitted .. suits me fine .. but you would have to consider a special tank to carry the fuel .. I just connected into my fuel line ..

I believe that there are now gas heaters approved and available these days .. All depending on the "pennies" , you never know .. it might be suitable ..

Very much a personal choice, I think !

Jon

Beth54 · Guru

My solution Doug? Don't go camping when it's cold!

Although, I must admit it was damned cold at Jondaryan on the first weekend of September. And a little cold at Cobb & Co in May.

But both of those times, I was only cold outside in the evening. Once I was inside I was warm enough. And I close windows when it starts to cool down.

BobnBev · Senior Member

Hi Guys,
A diesel heater is the go duggy, and they are not that pricey now if you shop at EEbay.. Just fitted my second one to our (new) to us van.. Easy to do if you are a handy man ...And cheeep to run, I made the tank out of a old 10 lt SS fire extinguisher from the scrap guy $5. had a filler fitted and made the thred with the welder and the cap is from a fuel tank from the outboard motor, just the right lenth. all up $30 and it located on the front a frame just under and back from the gas bottles. easy to fill from the bowzzer. All you have to do is use your noodle dont pay full price...
Picked up the heater for $850 posted, (new)
Bob n Bev.......

Brenda and Alan · Guru

We are getting a diesel heater fitted in the next few weeks. Cost is around $3,000 fitted, with programmable control, so we can have it come on before we arrive back at the van. It has a safety cutoff in case something falls over the bit where the heat comes out. Can't wait because I hate the cold. Brenda.

dazren · Guru

smile Good thread Doug, I have been considering the new lpg heaters, bit expensive I know, but what price do you put on comfort?? I will follow the answers you get on this topic with interest.

Duh · Guru

Doug,

In the really cold weather we wear a track suit, thick socks and beanie to bed, also have long sleeve/leg thermal underwear from Anaconda if we want to put that on too but find thats too hot.

We also have a doona under our sheets as well as on top, sleep like logs!

Very rarely if on power we use a small electric heater before going to bed and early in the morning when we get up, but don't use that too often either. If sitting, a lap rug keeps the legs warm if no heater on.....works for us!

-- Edited by Duh on Monday 17th of September 2012 03:05:26 AM

Dunmowin · Guru

Having jusst spent winter in South Australia, would not be without our diesel heater when free camping.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

If you boil water on your gas stove it will warm your little a-van Doug, then drink a nice hot cuppa and put the rest of the boiling water into a hot-water bottle and take it to bed with you!!! If in a powered site, plug in a little fan heater... cost about $20 or even less. Too warm after a very short time, cant leave it on overnight, you'd cook. I dream of a Lpg heater!

Dougwe · Chief one feather

As usual great help from all of you, thankyou.

I will keep checking so feel free for more ideas/suggestions. The Diesel heater sounds great and I have seen and looked at those but the cost is out of my ball park and I don't want to spend much in case I decide to upgrade to a slightly larger rig once out in the playground more often, I don't think so but you never know. I think the safe LPG heater is a similar set up and cost but have not seen those.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The clear message is DO NOT use ANY unflued gas heater in a van, tent or MH.
Don't kid yourself that it will be OK because you are smart enough to use them sensibly with enough ventilation.
The number of deaths make this self evident.

Cheers,
Peter

Max · Newbie

Hi all, this is my first reply on The Grey Nomads Forum, we have gas heating in our van and would recommend it highly. Happy and safe travelling to all. Hope to join you soon. Max.

Drew · Member

I just run a 3000w inverter and a 2000w oil heater the batteries last through the night if set on about 24 deg.

But depends on your set up..

I didnt have the money to install a lpg heater.

Ellice · Senior Member

With our van we run a little fan heater through an inverter which does nothing to our batteries and it heats our 26ft van up fast. We are also like you and leave our window open a little and all is fine..

sandsmere · Guru

We have a Truma E2400 gas heater . Heats the 21ft van with no worries .

Total cost fitted was $1700 . They are much quieter than diesel heaters , and certainly just as efficient .

We have been in Orange NSW for a week and while the outside temp. is around the minus 2 mark , inside the van is 20 degrees .

Mary · Senior Member

I am wondering what Wattage inverter you are using and what is yourbattery capacity?

Thanks,

Mary

Esmeralda · Guru

Doug, my van is also small and I use a $20 fan heater I bought at Target when I was in Canberra last year. Works very well and the van is soon very warm. I have a hot water bottle but haven't had to use it yet - just put a patchwork quilt on top of the doona when I go to bed and am warm as toast. cheers Helen

sandsmere · Guru

Mary , the Truma gas heater is 12 volt and uses very little battery power . The only thing the batteries run is the small fan to disperse the heat .

no other electric power is needed .

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

a couple of post here talk about leaving a window open, Mrs W used to leave a window slightly open until one morning at about 0100 there was a loud noise we both got up and had a look around found nothing, went outside to find the slightly open window had been broken by somebody trying to get in, our windows are no longer left open, oh did I mention we were in a caravan park in Victoria.

In regards to your question Dougwe I use Mrs W for keeping warm in bed, she's hot stuff biggrin biggrin