Date:         Sat, 3 Jan 2015 09:23:04 -0600
Reply-To:     ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Heat inside the camper.. No
Comments: To: dhanson928@GMAIL.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I too am a lover of that coffee pot heating the interior of the Westy first thing in the AM.  As a matter of fact, the lovely bride and I usually set up the coffee the night before and whoever loses the buck up in the AM has to jump out of bed and light the burner.  By the time the coffee is ready, the cabin is warm and toasty and we get dressed.  I Love my car.  BUT, we never leave it on longer than it takes to do the job, and the top is open.  I must admit we have, on very limited occasions, heated a couple of kettles to almost boiling point in the bus to fend off the cold, thus allowing a heat source, but one must be very cognizant of O2.  Just being in the vehicle uses it up.  There are better ways to get a headache Than lack of oxygen.

Dave B.


On 01/03/15, Don Hanson wrote:

Over many years and different vans, the majority VW, I've often used my
cook stove for quick heat. I've believed that my vans "leaked" enough
outside air that asphyxiation wasn't going to happen. This is probably
wrong, at least in my tin top camper. Just now, it being around freezing
in the pre-dawn desert SW, I brewed coffee and left both westie stove
burners on high for some heat as I watched the sunrise .... I saw my
burner's flame diminish and get thready. Thought I was out of propane...
But I discovered that a kitchen match, the "strike and light anywhere"
kind, that would not light! No O2 or too much co2....whatever, pretty
scary. I ran back the slider and let some air in, things burn normal again.

So I believe the warning against using the cook top for cabin heat.,..now.
I just saw why.