Date:         Sat, 30 Sep 2000 10:56:16 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Heaters in Vanagons
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I had a '68 Bus in Alaska that I drove for a lot of years. Gave good
service,
handled well in the snow, always started on coldest days....but for the
very coldest I had a good block heater....actually a type of oil pan
heater. At the time they were really good element
heaters and were available to install at the oil screen. The nuts
holding the
screen in place also held the heater. If I forgot to plug it in at
night...she would not start, but if I plugged it in not a problem. So
far
as "Cabin Heat" was concerned I found the heater system off the engine
to
be woefully inadequate. Even those few people I knew that had gas
heaters
had problems with heating, mainly because in our kind of winters the
heaters were twitchy and prone to not lighting off. I solved my problem
of heat by installing a propane tank that fit under the van, like a
Westy
tank, and putting a Suburban propane heater in the van on the floor
behind the drivers seat. The combustion air intake and exhaust was
through the side of the van. It was a 30,000 btu unit, had electric
ignition, and the thermostat was mounted on the door post slightly above

ear level behind the drivers seat. I used the type that had an OFF
position. That way the thing could be shut completely down. Yet be ready

to go on a moments notice. I often would pull into a place and stop,
turn
the thermostat to off, and get out and go about my business. The flame
would be out, but the fan would continue to run for a few minutes to
cool
down and clear out unburned fumes and fuel. Then it would shut off. That

heater was wonderful. In ten minutes on the coldest days you could begin

to melt the snow off the van....from the inside. I put a bench over the
heart on the floor just to protect it and have a place to sit or put
things. I had no middle seat to worry with. I had often thought about
putting a timer on it to turn it on 15 to twenty minutes before I would
begin a drive, like before going to work in the morning, or just before
getting off work in the evening.

I had an 85GL for a number of years in Alaska after the '68 Bus. The
newer oil pan heaters were worthless on the Vanagon. Simply didn't fit
right. I had one, and it did some good, but on really cold days it was
marginal at best. And there were a few days when I simply gave up and
stayed home...to cold to start.

So far as interior heat was concerned, though I never used one, there
were times when it would have been really nice to have had  the Suburban

heater installed. The extra heat would have made travel a bit more
pleseant. Especially if it was a day to be in the cold or
snow......snowshowing or X-country Skiing. Getting back into the van
with
the Suburban running would have been especially nice.

I now drive an 88GL. It's plenty adequate here in the soulth in winter,
but if I decide to go back north, I will install a Suburban on the floor

before I go. And put a tank heater into the cooling system somewhere.

One thing about having the propane heater....in winter, if you have a
problem and have to spend the night out somewhere...the propane heater
could be a lifesaver. For example, there are stretches of hiway in
Alaska between towns where there is absolutely nothing but wilderness
for miles and miles and miles. Break down or get caught by weather and
you are in deep Do-Do!!

A couple of years ago there were many avalanches along the the Seward
Highway between Anchorage and Seward...very mountainous. They trapped
several cars in one area. Someone had a VW Bus.....with gas and propane
heat, and everyone got very cozy  with the owner of the van before they
were rescued two or three days later. I guess all the bodies in the van
combind to reduce the fuel demand on the heaters so they got extra days
from the fuel supply. It seems to prove the old theory....two in a
sleeping bag can sleep warmer than one alone. Keep that in mind on your
next winter camping trip  Boy's and Girl's!!

One more thing, if you ever go the route I did and install a Suburban or

similiar like I did, you need to install a deep cycle auxillary
battery....marine type...to provide power for more than just a few
hours.
The draw on the standard car battery will pull it down in just about 2
hours to the point it won't work well, then it may shut off. A deep
cycle
will allow it to run until next day. I never did do it. But will for
sure
next time around.

John Rodgers
88GL Driver In Birmingham, AL where for a couple of days I have for a
bit
had to have the heater on in the early morning driving hours.