Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Tue, 19 Nov 2002 20:06:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Suburban heater verses Plat Cat?
Comments: To: John Carpenter <Trvlr2001@aol.com>
In-Reply-To:  <178.1209a5eb.2b0c44cc@aol.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

It is the most popular RV heater on the market today and it is made by the Suburban heater company. Call your local RV supply shop for prices or do some internet searching. New prices are between $450 and $700 for a 12,000 BTU unit (the smallest they make). These are the heaters that come in the winnebagos. It is a forced air propane heater. Electric draw is around 7 amps so it must have its own battery. Ive only seen one installed in a vanagon. It was mounted under the rear bench with the exhaust with the exhuast exiting out the side panel (gasp!). Im sure you could cut a hole in the floor too for the exhaust. The owner also drilled lots of large 1" holes in the plywood in the front of the bench area (gasp again) for ventilation.

I have the plat cat heater and its strong points are that its very efficent, takes little modifications to install (only needed to drill one hole in the floor), its quiet, safe, etc. THe only drawback is its only 5200 btu and i could use a little more heat especially when i want to use the poptop while camping. I think the radiant thing is overrated. Radiant heaters like the plat cat have the disadvantage that the areas in front of the heater get really warm and the rear stays cold. I put a little fan above mine to try to minimize this. With forced air there is better distribution of heat.

When I get rid of my POS vanagon this spring and build my own camper van with a newer american van and westfalia interior i will install a suburban heater.

Andrew Fox 86 Westy

On Tue, 19 Nov 2002, John Carpenter wrote:

> Hi Vanagang, > What is this Suburban Heater that I heard mentioned on the list, a while ago? > Is it a regular forced air, RV furnace? > If so, I would assume its vented? > Who handles it? > Thanks, > John C... >


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