Installing deisel tank for heater

Ditta n Don · Newbie

Installing deisel tank for heater

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

On the A frame would be perfect.
Diesel is safer than gas.
Cheers,
Peter

rgren2 · Guru

I dont have a front boot, mine is mounted on the front of the caravan on the same side as the fuel cap on my patrol. I manufactured an aluminium checker plate cover for it and had it dipped the same colour as where its mounted. Fill the Patrol then fill the heater tank, no transferring fuel.

BaldEd · Veteran Member

Our 16' Jayco doesn't have a front boot, so I had your problem. With no room on the A-frame to mount anything, I initially planned to mount on the back 'bumper' but was concerned about crash damage and whether such an installation would pass NZ's annual Warrant of Fitness requirements, so I looked for another option. The one I eventually chose was to install a 5 litre gas tank (Mitre10) in a lidded battery box and strap that down just inside the tunnel. There is a 2m length of fuel hose attached to the tank - that enables me to remove the battery box/tank and place it on the ground for refueling without disconnecting anything. The 5 litre tank of diesel lasts quite a number of days as the 2.2kw heater really doesn't use much fuel per night. The system has worked just fine these past 3 winters. I had worried about diesel smell getting into the van - the tank is mounted directly under one of the wardrobes - but that hasn't been a problem. No smell inside the van at all, but then I have always been meticulous when refueling to ensure nothing is spilt. I carry a spare 5 litre tank in the SUV and decant from that to refuel.

The local Jayco dealer mounts a boaties tote tank in a similar location and manner. I didn't go the boaties tote tank way because the size of the tank would taken up valuable room in the tunnel.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Hey Don, If you install a gas heater you dont have to have a diesel tank. biggrin biggrin

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Carrying extra gas is MUCH heavier and MUCH more expensive than diesel to run and requires a qualified installer. Diesel is DIY.
If you don't need extra gas, then you are already carrying too much.
Cheers,
Peter

Hylife · Guru

here's ours on drawbar

Mike Harding · Guru

Just did a 9kg gas bottle swap yesterday; $35 in country Victoria - glad I'm not running a heater from it.

If you put the tank on the drawbar or similar be aware of UV degradation, it's a certain bet the Chinese diesel heater tanks will not be UV stable.

Delta18 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Just did a 9kg gas bottle swap yesterday; $35 in country Victoria - glad I'm not running a heater from it.
If you put the tank on the drawbar or similar be aware of UV degradation, it's a certain bet the Chinese diesel heater tanks will not be UV stable.

We paid $55 for a refill in Karratha a few years ago.

markmack · Veteran Member

Hello Don.. My 10 ltr fuel tank is located at the rear of the van in behind the spare wheel and have plenty of room to get to the filler neck. The heater is located under the seating area alongside the wheelwell, an area that was not being used. The instructions explained that it is good to have the tank higher than the pump and the pump lower than the heater.. The fuel tank being higher than the pump will let the fuel siphon down to the pump, removing any chance of an air bubble The pump then pumps the fuel under pressure into the injector of the heater.. The distance between the pump and the heater should not be much more than a metre and the pump below the level of the heater by approx 100 mm. This is so the pump is actually pushing uphill and measuring the amount of fuel delivered. The fuel line has been threaded through some plastic tubing to help shield it from cold and stones and then some silastic too keep it all in place... I placed the heater unit down in the "living" area of the van as the air will move throughout the van in all areas including the shower. Mine is a 3kw unit and has been in the van for a few years now. Great ! The pump down the other end from the sleeping area was the best. outside and insulated and not connected to metal. The length of the line is not so important as to the location of pump to unit.. I set mine up in the shed and ran it, then moved it into the van. The hot air out tube can get quite hot so be prepared to wrap some insulation around it if it's under your bed, with the wines. Have fun, that's what it's all about..

elliemike · Guru

I also have mine mounted like Markmack. Behind the "Spare Wheel". I could have mounted it behind the gas bottles but it was a long run for the fuel line. That tank was installed about 2012 I think

I have two friends who asked (about a year ago) advice from me about mounting them on their vans. My advice was to mount externally if they could, front or rear.

Mainly because I had spoken to someone a while back who had mounted the tank in the boot and subsequently had developed a diesel smell inside the van.

Both my friends went ahead mounted their tanks inside the boot of their vans.

Both now are having to take measures to eliminate the Diesel smell that has developed inside their van living areas.

One of them unfortunately added something/fitting on the tank screw cap, to eliminate the smell. So he having now blocked the BREATHER hole for the tank, the tank then Collapsed/sucked in and split, seeping in under the compartment wall into the front of the van.

The other friend is trying to run a breather outside to see if that will control the faint smell. Even though he reckons he has never had any spillage or dribble in the boot.

-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 5th of May 2020 07:02:02 PM

iana · Guru

I have installed the diesel tank for the heater in the front boot. The tank is mounted on draw slides, and pulls out via the side door for filling, any spills go on the ground. It is vented to underneath the van, with a Stihl fuel filter as a filter to stop dust. The only fumes we have had coming in the van, was a leaking hose at the fuel pump, mounted outside. Fitting in the boot is possible.

-- Edited by iana on Tuesday 5th of May 2020 08:00:27 PM

woofta and precious · Senior Member

I've just mounted my small 5 litre tank to the front tool box, and then made a checker plate shield for protection. Heater is mounted under the bed, so the fuel line is pretty short.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Not an issue with diesel powered motorhome .

Stuss · Member

Hi Ive fitted a diesel heater to our old van and it worked great. Weve brought a jayco silverline and no easy place to fit the heater
Im seriously thinking of mounting it in a vented stainless box and bolt it under front of van near a frame then feed air pipe up and into van . Anyone done this ?

iana · Guru

I have installed our heater under our Silverline. PM me for more info.

Plain Truth · Guru

Mounted our 10 lt. diesel tank behind caravan spare wheel.It has a quick release connection, if it needs filling when we are set up camping,just press the button and disconnect.

Take in town when next shopping or out sightseeing,pop it back in when we return. No need for a screwdriver or spanner to disconnect.