Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 11:25:34 +0100
Reply-To: Tony Polson <tp@WHSMITHNET.CO.UK>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tony Polson <tp@WHSMITHNET.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Aftermarket propane heater?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Travers Fenton wrote:
>
> I've just purchased an 84 Westy and was wondering what
> people do for heat when camping? I was considering
> just using a coleman catalytic heater when it dawned
> on me...shouldn't there be a propane heater somewhere
> that you could install. I mean I've got a sink,
> stove, fridge, why not a heater. Sorry to be clueless
> about this but I'd love to know if there was something
> out there that I could just light ( hopefully easier
> than the fridge ) set a thermostat and blissfully fall
> asleep, even in winter ;)
Hi Travers,
Although I live in the UK I think we have basically the same
choices. There is a very good propane heater made by the UK
firm Propex. And there is an excellent Diesel-fuelled
heater made by the German firm Eberspacher.
Here in the UK the Eberspacher costs about twice as much as
the Propex. It is smaller, quieter and significantly
cheaper to run because it burns very, very little fuel. The
Eberspacher also has a superb reputation for reliability and
longevity. The downside is that, unless your van is a
Diesel, you will need to provide a fuel tank.
Last week I chose to buy a (little-)used Eberspacher for
about 25% less than the cost of a new Propex. I also
ordered a small steel fuel tank designed for use with small
boats. This will fit neatly into the engine compartment
void to the left (US - driver's side) of the engine. A fuel
line will run through the left (US - driver's side) panel to
the heater which will be mounted under the rear seat with
inlet and exhaust pipes passing through one inch diameter
holes in the floor.
My total Eberspacher cost will be about the price of a new
Propex heater. However, if my choice had been between a new
Propex and a new Eberspacher at twice the price, I would
have chosen Propex. One big advantage of the Propex is that
it can share its fuel source with your other gas powered
gear - cooker and refrigerator.
I recently read a message posted to this List from or about
a US vendor of Propex heaters. Their prices seemed to be
reasonable compared to Propex prices in the UK. No doubt a
search of the archives would find that message.
Good luck!
