Date:         Wed, 18 Oct 2000 03:24:28 GMT
Reply-To:     Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Winter Camping Advise....
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

This thread got me to thinking about a really nice heater I saw on a '58
Westy at the WetWesties campout earlier this month.

The other solutions I have seen are either -

Expensive, like the Carver - or

Take up a fair bit of space, like the Plat Cats that have to go on the wall
of the closet or behind the passenger seat - or

Have to be set up before use, like the various portable solutions.

The one I saw on the '58 was below the floor on the passenger side, with the
heat rising through a vent in the floor, like a lot of heaters in houses.
The owner said the pilot light was enough to keep them warm on chilly
nights, and there was quite a bit of reserve heat for cold nights.

Sure, you have something else under the van that would be exposed to road
damage, but with proper placement, and perhaps a little reinforcing, that
shouldn't be a problem.  It can easily bring in outside air for combustion,
and you don't lose any space inside the van.  Also, heat rises naturally, so
you don't need a fan to wear down your battery.

Must be too good an idea.  I asked the two RV and heating dealers in the
area, and neither of them have seen such a thing.

Have any of you seen a modern version of a heater like that? It's getting
pretty chilly at night around here!

- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho
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