Heating

mickle · Veteran Member

Heating

Brownie2 · Senior Member

Definitely not gas heating. Not a good thing in a van. If you plan to use caravan parks in the main, an electric fan heated will do the job, but our last two vans have had diesel heaters. A bit expensive to buy but they are the "bees knees", and very economical to run. Our new van has reverse cycle air conditioning but we haven't used the heating cycle yet, apart from taking the chill off the air in the morning, so don't know how good it would be in really cold temps. Once again, really only good if you are in CP's which we avoid as much as possible.

Yuglamron · Guru

Personally I have found our reverse cycle aircon not that great when in very low temps.

I can't give specific temps but when the temp is really low minus centigrade stuff they can only raise the temp through a certain amount. You will never get a toasty warm van. They will warm you up and take the chill off but not as well as a diesel heater can.

Delta18 · Guru

If you are talking of a properly installed gas heater like a Truma for instance they are excellent. a bit pricey at around $2200 fitted.

Personally I went with a diesel heater which was around $1000 and I fitted it myself which a DIYer cannot do with gas for compliance.

We free camp a lot and the diesel is just so economical. Recently it was so cold where we were staying the heater was on 24 hours a day for 4 days and uses about 2 litres of diesel.

Lpg bottles can be very expensive to refill some places (upwards of $45).

Cheers Neil

Phil C · Guru

Gday

We have what I consider a simple solution to keeping warm and cool.

Low wattage electric blanket in the bed, that will run from the inverter at free camps. AND of course the Ibis 3 aircon which runs well from our genny.

On hot nights we open up the windows and run our fans. If its VERY hot the genny and Ibis are called in, or we go to a caravan park where 240V is available.

Cheers

ants_oz · Veteran Member

We live in what is considered a cold climate for Australia - Tasmania.

We have a gas heater - a Truma ducted unit. It is quiet, efficient, and I would not swap it for another style (particularly not a diesel, which is a fuel source I am not a fan of).

The reverse cycle aircon is okay, and tolerable when connected to mains power. But when off-grid it's of no use whatsoever. Plus, the gas heater is virtually silent (and we have a quiet r/c aircon - an Ibis 3) whereas various forums have regularly recurring threads about people needing to install intake and exhaust mufflers on their diesel heaters. To each his own of course - I'll take a quality product from a major manufacturer over a Chinese job with questionable follow-up support in years to come any day.

To each their own, but a ducted gas heater will be installed in every van we buy in the future. I like the simplicity of carrying only one fuel source for the van.

-- Edited by ants_oz on Sunday 20th of November 2016 02:21:04 PM

gazza018 · Member

G day mickle I have just put a 2 outlet Truma gas heater in my van 21 foot silverline its great. I have read that they are much quieter than the diesel. also if you are close to someone else free camping the fumes from a diesel heater tend to annoy them this is what I have read and heard. diesel are easier to fit your self and probably just as warm so the choice is there cheers gazza

Delta18 · Guru

gazza018 wrote:
G day mickle I have just put a 2 outlet Truma gas heater in my van 21 foot silverline its great. I have read that they are much quieter than the diesel. also if you are close to someone else free camping the fumes from a diesel heater tend to annoy them this is what I have read and heard. diesel are easier to fit your self and probably just as warm so the choice is there cheers gazza

Don't listen to all you read gazza, we have a diesel heater and there are NO fumes once it is running and even at Start Up it is no smellier than a diesel car running nearby.

There is negligible difference in noise either, in fact a gas HWS is probably noisier than either system.

It really is a Holden/Ford thing with the bonus for diesel it is a DIY project.

Cheers Neil

jonathan · Member

Hi folks ..

I had a diesel heater in the motorhome and it functioned most admirably .. Then when I purchased my caravan, the choice of a Truma Gas heater has proven just right for me.

While I believe the diesel heater was more economical, it was also at times noticeably noisier than I enjoyed. On numerous occasions there was also a burnt diesel odour that could often be detected externally by nearby campers. My Truma is very quiet and will heat up the inside much quicker than did the diesel. As to the safety of having a gas heater inside a caravan or MH, well a lot of that falls to who installs it and what sort of protection and safety protocols have been set up to satisfy your concerns .. I was initially concerned that I would need to carry another Gas Bottle to overcome a greater rate of consumption over the colder months when free-camping. I need not have bothered. I found that I simply don't need to run it for long periods at all .. (naturally I wasn't able to compare that with a test it in a MH)

My intention is not to persuade anyone for or against either unit .. these are my findings that just suit my needs .. You only need to satisfy your own as well ..

cheers

sandsmere · Guru

Truma gas heater ===== fantastic.

Moonraker · Senior Member

They are both fantastic especially if 240v power is not available

Diesel - has more options on suppliers, and can be installed by DIY. Leaves all your gas supplly for cooking etc. especially if free camping.

Gas - quieter at start up, nil maintenance claimed.

We thought we wouldnt need heating in our van but after the third trip I installed a 2 outlet diesel heater, best addition we have made to our van. Either gas or diesel would be a great addition to most vans.

C00P · Senior Member

Never experienced a diesel heater. Our reverse cycle (Fujitsu) inverter aircon keeps us warm even when there is ice on the windscreen in the morning. We use our generator if we are away from 240 power. I guess a diesel heater has the advantage of being quieter, but it can't keep you cool in summer.
On the other hand, a split system isn't really a DIY installation.
If you are going to be in very cold areas (ice and snow) the heater is probably the way to go.

Cheers

C00P

iana · Guru

I think one of the main differences between the gas and the diesel heater units, is the way the hot air outlet, and the cold air inlet ports are arranged. This makes a difference with the location and install. Exhaust outlets are also different. I have read that noise and smell can be upsetting to nearby campers with the diesel units. Plus the having to mount a fuel tank some where on the van.
The gas units produce carbon monoxide, so the exhaust outlet has to be positioned carefully. But there are gas lines running about under the van to tap into, so the fuel requirements are simpler. The gas units apparently cleaner and quieter.

Macca1953 · Newbie

I am considering installing a diesel heater in my 21' van. I can't use gas due to not having anywhere to install the unit with the exhaust on the off side wall. We have recliners in the café style seating setup with no cupboards underneath. I can however install a diesel either under the island bed or in a box on the floor behind one of the recliners as the exhaust can be under the van floor. It's out of site mostly and convenient to battery and clear under van for piping etc. I do intend to install the unit myself.

My dilemma is the brand of heater to purchase. I note that I can purchase either an eberspacher (Dometic) or a Webasto from caravan dealers at around $1800 - $2200 aprox. or on ebay at a reduced cost.
I note that on ebay there are units which seem identical to the 2 already mentioned but are much lower in price. I can purchase a TUIT model 2.2Kw unit with a complete kit to install including tank for $860 delivered. From Pinnacle - RV Direct.
Does anyone have any thoughts on these cheaper units before I decide which way to go.

Many thank.......Macca

meetoo · Guru

Hi Macca I would go with the Tuit. I have the smaller 2kw from pinnacle and it works brilliantly.

Easy to install yourself.

Cheers, John.

Delta18 · Guru

Macca1953 wrote:

I note that on ebay there are units which seem identical to the 2 already mentioned but are much lower in price. I can purchase a TUIT model 2.2Kw unit with a complete kit to install including tank for $860 delivered. From Pinnacle - RV Direct.
Does anyone have any thoughts on these cheaper units before I decide which way to go.
Many thank.......Macca

http://www.dieselheat.com.au/rv-recreational-vehicles-cabin-heating/

I have bought 2 kits for 2 successive caravans for myself and 1 for a friend from here. Excellent after sales service.