Date:         Sun, 2 Oct 2005 09:25:54 -0600
Reply-To:     jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: Heaters: Propane vs. Gasoline vs. Diesel
In-Reply-To:  <433FC831.5040504@charter.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

I used a webasto HL-18D (diesel) for one season.  The problem I had was that
you had to modify the fuel for high altitude extreme cold use or it put out
very little heat and massive amounts of smelly smoke.

I tried/examined various smaller propane systems and a couple gas heaters.
The newer webasto gas heaters worked the best and are very small and compact
putting out from 6500 to 12000 btu depending on version. but were way to
pricey.

The propex works nicely but didnšt fit my needs.  Then I also went to a
suburban 19k btu LPG unit.  Very miserly on the battery use and with the van
insulated a bit it actually is quite miserly on the fuel as well.

For tucking out of site.. Benzene (gasoline) would be webasto heaters.  Very
efficient.  For LPG the best would be the propex for hiding in small space.
For diesel the webasto is the most commonly found one.  They are basically
the same as the gas ones.

Also for tucking out of site there are "water" instead of "air" heaters.
Webasto makes some of those. Most are very pricey and is why I am not using
one.  These are used just like the small ones on the old canadian syncro
that came with them or as stand alone units with their own dedicated coolant
source and heater cores.  These are not too bad on batteries from the fans
but the water pump uses up current as well.  Some of these units are quite
small at the heater/pump end (outside the vehicle using gas or diesel)
usually less than 12 inches long and about 10 inches around.  And in the
vehicle usually only one or two small heater cores with fans on them.  Even
single heater core setups of 30k btu are possible.  Some of the big boy RVs
use these systems rather than propane central furnaces.  Much quieter.(much
pricier)

On 10/2/05 5:44 AM, "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> 
> I am curious what the list thinks is the best heating arrangement in a
> vangon/westy - propane/LP type heaters or the gasoline  types that tuck
> neatly out of sight somewhere in the van.
> 
> Would appreciate hearing it, guys and gals!
> 
> Regards,
> 
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver