Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 09:40:58 -0800
Reply-To: Warren Chapman <warren8@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Warren Chapman <warren8@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Vanagon Heating -Vented Propand Furnaces
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
It's that time of year again and I haven't even yet finished installed the front AC in my Syncro Westy. Time to think of HEAT!.
I have researched this topic also for the last two winters. Here's what I'm currently considering. There are a couple of European gas furnaces (Propex and Truma) but they are extremely expensive and hard to get and they don't seem to put out enough heat for really cold climates.
There are two small vented propane RV furnaces made in the US that seem a good fit (size wise) into a vanagon and they are available from 12,0000 -20000 BTU sizes which should heat a Vanagon quite well. . I have seen a couple of them installed.
One is made by Atwood (aka Hydro-Flame). Model is called the "Everest Star". The sell new for around $425 but you can get one from an RV salvage yard for $200-$250. TIK I think one could be fitted nicely into the little square cabinet area close to the floor, to the left of the Westy fridge.
The other compact furnace is made by Suburban which is well known in the RV world and they also make the furnace that is currently used in the Eurovan Camper. I owned one of these campers for a while and the furnace was the nicest feature of the van.
Suburban makes a model called the "NT" series which is very compact---only about 9.5" square. Seems like it would also fit in the same location mentioned above for the Hydro-Flame. Prices for these are about the same reatial, but there's a dealer that sells them on eBay for about $325.
Both models can be controlled by a thermostat,---just like at home. Wonderful on cold mornings or arriving to a cold campground late at night. Just turn the switch, set your temp and forget it. You may need an extra propane tank for long camping trips though.
Both of these heaters must be installed perpendicular to the outer wall of the van and therefore somewhere on the cabinet side. The vent pipe must go straight to the outside of the van with no bends. They cannot be mounted under the seat like the European heaters with a vent that bends 90 degrees to reach the outside wall of the van.
Here's a useful link with pictures and sizes for both furnaces:
http://www.marksrv.com/furnace.htm
I have not yet installed either of them, but I have seen the Atwood (Hydro-Flame) model installed in a couple of Country Homes (non Westy) camper conversions.
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