Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 19:39:24 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Heaters: Propane vs. Gasoline vs. Diesel
In-Reply-To: <AIEFIGCNNANNIHLNFBPEKELBBAAB.mailinglist@fastforward.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
David,
A friend in Alaska had an old school bus - a smaller version - that he
made into a camper. For heat when camping, he installed a radiator of
some sort - heat exchanger - mounted a fan to it, and a couple of
insulated copper pipes. The pipes were stubbed out of the side of the
vehicle with quick disconnects - the type that hold water. He built a
propane fired heater with hot water coils in it that connected to the
stubout for the plumbing inside the van. He kept this heater tucked away
when on the road, and would drag it out when parked and plug it in. The
system has a low power circulating pump to circulate the heated water
into the bus. Made one hell of a heating system and did a good job. No
fumes inside, no noise but the low hum of the fan. I think he had
antifreeze in the water, because Alaska is COLD in winter.
Some variation of this might work for you.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
David Marshall wrote:
>In my Hightop Syncro Westfalia Camper there is a factory installed
>Eberspeacher B2L heater. It is a gasoline fired, forced air heater that is
>mounted under the sliding door and the heat comes in through a vent under
>the rear seat. There is a thermostat on the passenger side of the vehicle
>next to the rear seat.
>
>You can hear the heater from the inside of the van, but it is not as loud as
>the gas heaters of the early 80s North American Vanagons.
>
>My camper, with the insulated hightop, insulated windows (dual layer
>plastic) and insulated walls stays pretty warm inside. With four of us
>sleeping and the outside temperature around 0C and the fridge running on LPG
>the inside is nice enough that a sleeping bag and fleece blanket will keep
>you warm. This is without running the furnace.
>
>This upcoming weekend I will be camping in it by myself and will be seeing
>temps in the -3C range so I will probably be turning on the furnace.
>
>My issue is that I will be turning this van into a Diesel over the winter so
>I need a way of converting it to LPG or to Diesel or do I make a small 5L
>tank and use that only when it is cold?
>
>David Marshall
>
>Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
>4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
>Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
>
>http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
>Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
>
>- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
>- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
>- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models
>
>
>Due to the large volume of email we receive, PLEASE include previous
>emails when responding. This will allow us to read the complete dialogue
>in one message and will result in quicker and more accurate responses.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
>Of Keith Ovregaard
>Sent: October 2, 2005 11:44 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Heaters: Propane vs. Gasoline vs. Diesel
>
>
>I put a Platinum Cat catalytic heater in my 84 westy behind the pass.
>seat. The thermostat is mounted to the left of the fridge cabinet. It
>is very efficient, quiet and makes cold weather camping very
>comfortable. We've had temps in the low 20's and it would have been
>pretty miserable without it. Feels like a fireplace (a small one) since
>it produces infrared heat. You have to be close to it to feel the heat.
>Because of the exhaust hose had to put through the body (mine goes thru
>the floor behind the right wheel well), the LP lines plumbed and the
>thermo wires run, it was a pain to install. No regrets though.
>
>The 84 also has a factory gas fired heater that we have used only to
>warm up the van in the morning for a few minutes. It uses a lot of
>battery power and the exhaust stinks of gas fumes outside. It is also
>loud. But it heats up the whole van very quickly. Good for only about
>15 minutes using the timer when the engine is off. Will run
>continuously while under way, although I have never used it that way.
>If you are considering installing one of these in you van, forget about
>it! Way too complicated and probably not worth the effort even if you
>got it for free. Just cutting the three vent holes in the body is
>reason enough not to do it.
>
>My Syncro westy does not have a heater yet, so I am very interested in
>other listers feedback on Propex heaters and other heaters that are
>efficient, quiet and small.
>
>
>Keith Ovregaard
>84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper
>90 Westy Syncro (No name yet for the pastel white box)
>
>
>
>
| 
