Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:56:17 -0700
Reply-To: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Chinese Diesel Heater for Vanagons
In-Reply-To: <B8DE2C56-35CF-43D3-985C-58E9EB9589CD@Comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I have an Espar and only run Kerosene in mine. Supposed to burn
cleaner and leave less residue. Kerosene is ungodly expensive, but so was
the the unit.
Stacy ,
On Sun, Apr 12, 2020 at 9:50 PM OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
> Richard
>
> Where can more info be found on the "hanging off passenger window"
> approach ~
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
>
>
> On 12 Apr , 2020, at 7:48 PM, Richard Koerner wrote:
>
> > Great info and update, Bob. Very glad you are pleased with performance,
> let's see how they go after a few years. The Kerosene is a nice idea.
> Sooting up seems to be the main issue with these units. Other issues are
> the "thump-thump-thump" of fuel pump....but there are plenty of ideas to
> solve that as well. It is kinda why I liked the "hanging off passenger
> window" approach; no fuel pump noise, no diesel fuel spill on interior,
> just use it for winter months and not take up all that space for the rest
> of the year, easy exhaust of burnt gas out to exterior with little chance
> of mixing with interior cold air to unit. I think these units have a lot
> of possibilities. If I lived in a colder place, I would go for it, as
> opposed to Mr Buddy.
> >
> > Rich
> >
> > San Diego
> >
> > On Sunday, April 12, 2020, 5:57:53 PM PDT, mccullough bob <
> mbob1950@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I installed a 5kw Chinese diesel unit into my Syncro camper in jan. this
> year. Cost was ~$100 and installation took some time and thought but worked
> out well.
> > Put the heater under the back seat just in front of the ecu on the far
> left side. 7 passenger converted camper. Hot air duct where the rear heater
> used to be.
> > Combustion exhaust and intake thru floor. Had to be careful cutting due
> to AC hoses and Mortar box storage under the floor on both sides of the van.
> > Intake air is drawn near the drive shaft and exhaust out the side
> attached to my rock rail. I decided to burn Kerosine instead of Diesel
> because it burns clean.
> > A lot of people fail to get the mix right with diesel and have smoking
> problems. Im in Tenn. but like cold weather camping. About a gallon of K1
> lasted for 4 days.
> > I put my tank up on my roof rack and ran the line down thru the left
> engine vent. A grommet hole thru wheel well and forward to pump below where
> the heater is.
> > So far it works great. Heats van in 10 min. and then I run it on minimum
> level and off before crawling in bag. Good investment so far.
> >
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > http://idiopath2020.wordpress.com <http://idiopath2020.wordpress.com/>
> > https://idiopath2019.home.blog <https://idiopath2019.home.blog/>
> > http://idiopath2018.wordpress.com <http://idiopath2018.wordpress.com/>
> > https://idiopath2017.wordpress.com <https://idiopath2017.wordpress.com/>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> On 12, Apr2020, at 5:10 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Not to flip things around "too" much....here is a Vanagon guy who
> installed Chinese Diesel Heater and seems pretty happy with it:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j5qW9kKBLMHe does some rugged winter
> camping....beyond my skill level and appetite for punishment!
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0-aq7PhUNQ&list=TLPQMTIwNDIwMjBCk4mHpPFmBg&index=2
> >>
> >> On Sunday, April 12, 2020, 2:44:19 PM PDT, Roy Nicholl <
> rnicholl@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
> >>
> >> Chris:
> >>
> >> The model you select will be dependant upon the vehicle and the
> application - i.e. the amount of heat to be generated and how the heater
> connects into the system. As an example, we use the D5WSC as the parking
> heater in our work trucks (my Jetta has an older D4 model). In heavy
> equipment and large trucks, 24v models are often used.
> >>
> >> Webasto also makes hydronic heaters, though I have no personal
> experience with them.
> >>
> >> As Dennis pointed out, in an RV, you would likely prefer one of the
> Airtronic furnaces that work like a mini forced-air furnaced ….
> particularly where the T3 campers may already be ducted for one.
> Additionally, the blowers in these units may be more energy efficient than
> those on the heater cores in the T3. That said, I had an old D4W about, so
> when the Webasto furnace packed it in, I installed it. Where we only use
> the Westy three seasons, the ability to pre-warm the engine is not needed.
> A furnace would have been easier to fit - since there was already one on
> the camper (though most of the original duct work is pretty soft).
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> On 12-Apr-2020, at 18:03, christopher@t3technique.com wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Do you have a particular model that you like? I ask because there are
> quite a few different ones to choose from.
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> Roy Nicholl
> >>> Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2020 11:52 AM
> >>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>> Subject: Re: Advice on when to buy propane heater
> >>>
> >>> David:
> >>>
> >>> No, they heat the cabin with the engine off. They also do a better
> job at warming an engine than a block heater.
> >>>
> >>> It is essentially a small (diesel or gas) fired boiler which is fitted
> into the coolant circuit. When the heater runs, it circulates the
> coolant. They are commonly used as parking heaters in diesel trucks and
> heavy equipment, but can also be fitted to just about any water cooled
> engine. I have them both in the LT and in the Jetta wagon.
> >>>
> >>> The control units work on a timer or via a remote. When it’s -30C
> here in the winter, I set the heater in the truck to start about 20-minutes
> before I leave in the morning. It first warms the engine block (so when
> you start the diesel, it’s as warm as if it’s been running for an hour),
> then it switches the blowers on in the cab and warms the cab. We also use
> it to warm the cab during lunch at a jobsite.
> >>>
> >>> Eberspächer also makes diesel and gas furnaces which will heat the
> cabin space … these have been fitted to many VW Type-2 T1/T2/T3 buses over
> the generations … though the Webasto was more commonly found on the T3’s
> bound for North America.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> On 12-Apr-2020, at 14:13, David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Hmmm.... . I'm not familiar with these heaters, but from your brief
> >>>> description, they sound like they would only work for heating the
> >>>> cabin while the engine is running. The heaters the other folks are
> >>>> interested in are for heating the camper when it is parked.
> >>>>
> >>>> On Sun, Apr 12, 2020 at 10:07 AM Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@nbnet.nb.ca>
> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> My preference is still for the Eberspächer hydronic heaters. Just
> >>>>> hook them-up in the coolant run and they’ll warm both the engine and
> >>>>> the inside of the vehicle (using the existing heaters and blowers).
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On 11-Apr-2020, at 20:57, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Lots of guys are migrating to the Chinese Diesel Heaters. Lots of
> >>>>> options with these. Permanent install inside Vanagon; or, hang off
> >>>>> passenger side window seasonally (which mostly appeals to me). Some
> >>>>> are sorta self-contained....like a box. Others are in pieces...that
> >>>>> you sorta put together as you see fit. A myriad of pluses and
> minuses of course.
> >>>>> But, pretty cheap, typically well under $200. Just type into Amazon!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Heat output seems to be good, and it is dry heat. I thought about
> >>>>>> them,
> >>>>> and I'm on the Facebook Chinese Diesel Heater site mostly out of
> >>>>> curiosity. Based on my camping style, which means in winter I
> mostly
> >>>>> go out to the low humidity desert east of San Diego and the Colorado
> >>>>> River and Arizona lowlands, for me the Mr Buddy propane heater works
> >>>>> just fine and has never let me down. I mostly need something to
> just
> >>>>> take the chill off a little during dinner time.
> >>>>>> But, worth looking into. Best determined by your locale, your
> >>>>>> winter
> >>>>> camping style, your wallet thickness. Explore the reviews...there
> >>>>> are ample.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Rich
> >>>>>> San Diego
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On Friday, April 10, 2020, 8:59:29 PM PDT, Dennis Haynes <
> >>>>> d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Karl,
> >>>>>> Thank you for the response and update. Most installs I have done are
> >>>>> purchased by others and then I get the job when they give up or it
> >>>>> doesn’t work. For some part the RV world still uses the Suburban or
> >>>>> Atwood heaters as the industry standard for propane heat. Not as
> >>>>> eloquent, compact, quiet or efficient. They just have the market.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Dennis
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>>> From: Karl [mailto:tdiguru@westyventures.com]
> >>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 11:34 PM
> >>>>>> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>; Harry Hoffman <
> >>>>> hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET>; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>>>>> Subject: Re: Advice on when to buy propane heater
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Thanks for pinging me on this conversation, Dennis, however I am no
> >>>>> longer the US representative for Propex. That whole business has
> >>>>> moved to Van Cafe / Rocky Mountain Westy as of mid-February. The
> >>>>> sources are not what I would call 'limited' as I established the
> >>>>> distribution in the US 17 years ago, and there are multiple dealers
> around the country selling them.
> >>>>> In fact, the US market is there largest now! Van Cafe is the go-to
> >>>>> company for parts, service, warranty, and market price.
> >>>>>> Pricing normally stays the same, the only lower amount might be if
> >>>>>> you
> >>>>> find a used one.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> That all said, for milder climates the 2000 or 2211 are fine (both
> >>>>>> 6500
> >>>>> btu). The 2800 for colder temps, say below 20 F., if we are speaking
> >>>>> of a Vanagon installation.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Karl
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On 4/10/2020 7:20 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> >>>>>>> What size is your new Van? The Propex may not be the ideal choice.
> >>>>>>> Now
> >>>>> may be a good time to negotiate. There are limited sources as the
> >>>>> Manufacture does not really sell them for the US market. Karl is
> the
> >>>>> master for these and I would go to him first for information. There
> >>>>> are a few different models now including some that completely
> install underneath.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> If you want to do some experimenting to see what size heater you
> >>>>>>> think
> >>>>> you need try using a plug in electric heater as a trial. A 1,500
> watt
> >>>>> heater yields about over 5,200 Btu/hr. The HS 2000 is 2.1KW in,
> >>>>> 1.9kw out or about 6,500 btu/hr. The math is 3,142Btu/KW.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Dennis
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> >>>>>>> Behalf Of Harry Hoffman
> >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 9:12 PM
> >>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>>>>>> Subject: Advice on when to buy propane heater
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Hi Volks,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I’m thinking of buying a propex for my new van. Since they are
> >>>>>>> pretty
> >>>>> expensive I’m hoping to find out if anyone know of regular sales or
> >>>>> other advantageous times to buy?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Cheers,
> >>>>>>> Harry
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
>
--
1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
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