Date:         Wed, 8 Mar 2006 18:36:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Suburban heaters
In-Reply-To:  <20060309011342.C3C9B8B3F1@mx12.Colorado.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Dennis wrote:
> The SF-30 at 30,000 BTU's is way too big for the Westy. Most RV
> manufactures use this size up 35 feet if no slide out rooms. Something
> around 12,000 BTU is more appropriate. I tend to prefer something like
> the Propex even if it is only around 6,000 btu due to the small size and
> low battery draw.

I agree that 30K BTU is way too much.  If you camp in cool weather,
then the Propex 1800 is fine.  If you camp in cold weather, go
for the Propex 2800--it puts out 9500 BTU.  AND, the installation
is much easier in terms of cutting (big) holes in your van.
The 1800 fits beside the rear heater.  The 2800 is a little
bigger and would take more space, which is why I haven't installed
my to replace the Carver (= 1800 in size.)

The Propex "facts" plus enough info to figure out how long a
Suburban would run on a 2.5 gal tank are on the page I put up
the other day:
http://jones.colorado.edu/jones/PropaneFacts.html

I had a surplus Army SW heater (6V) in my '61 splitty and we
used to joke that you could cook a chicken in front of the outlet.
It was about 20K BTU.  In less than five minutes it would melt
the snow and ice off the windows; no scraping, ever.  Of course,
it used gas and plenty of electricity so it could only run when
the engine was running.  Anyway, I know what 20K BTU is like in
a van....

                                Richard A Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado