I need to fit a heater in my van before the Pandy meet otherwise if Mrs Hubbells first camper van experience is a cold one I doubt she will go again! So I've been planning on installing a 2kw gas heater but what I'm worried about is condenstaion build up inside the van during the night? Also with the pop top up I'm wondering if 2kw will be enough to heat the upper eschelons of van? So the other alternative is taking out the wardrobe and fitting a wood burner? Allthough with that I'm not sure where I will vent it out and also when the back seats are folded down the burner will be right next to one of our heads when we're in bed. Could anyone else with experience of either one of these two options please add your two pence to this thread?
I think 2kw will be more than enough. We've used a small fan heater (1kw I think) in Bonnie and it only needs to be on half to keep things toasty - and Bonnie's a big coach built.
If you've got a hook up why not try that instead
It's true Panky you can pick 2kw fan heaters up for about 12 quid down at Argos. And to be honest if I don't have the money in time for the S.Wales meet that will be a temporary solution but I want to remain off grid as much a possible in my energy design as I want to just pitch up wherever we decide and still have comforts without relying on 240V electric. That's why the wood stove appeals to me but at the same time I don't want to butcher the dormobile interior if I can help it.
A wood burner would be lovely but apart from the issue of a flue you've got the problem of once it's lit you're stuck, unless you want to drive around with a stove full of hot ashes over the petrol tank:I
I've often wondered if one of those petrol fuelled Eberspacher night heaters would be any good - expensive though:I
There's a stove called a Kimberly wood burner over in the USA which look really solid and unlikely to open when you go over a speed bumb but there isn't a UK distributor as far as I'm aware. The only other option with the wood burner is to remove the fridge but then I won't have a fridge... I will probably go with Propext gas heater, I've read a bit more and they don't produce condensation as I thought and then I can keep all of the original furniture.
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I've often wondered if one of those petrol fuelled Eberspacher night heaters would be any good - expensive though:I
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So have I, Panky. Lots. I mean, these petrol (or diesel) run parking heaters are expensive but brilliant. We have them in a lot of new Opels, as parking heaters and that sort of thing is a pretty normal accessory on new cars over here nowadays. But I've always thought that they're built for heating up your car before driving, so not really in use once you get going. So I'm wondering if it would be suitable for a camper installation, where you would run it for many times longer than you would do if using it as intended in a regular car. But it would be worth a try, and I hope to test this solution out one day. There is also the Whale heaters, and I should think that they would be equally good, maybe even better as they're built with boats and caravans in mind.
That "Night heater" you mention there, is that a specific model meant for longer operation then?
1965 Commer (1592ccm) series IIa Bluebird Highwayman
I think there are two types, are the ones you mentioned connected up to the engine cooling system to keep it warm? The ones I'm on about are actually small space heaters, they fit them to trucks with sleeper cabs - and boats and motorhomes too
We have 3 options. The first is a plug in fan heater. Great if you have mains heating. Our second option is a heater that works off the gas bottle and leisure battery. These are popular with the darksiders but are not cheap, at 400 quid we were lucky that our van came with one fitted. Our favourite option is a tilley storm lantern. It runs off paraffin and chucks out some heat and light and is a great way of providing both whilst saving your battery.
We get our van nice and toasty, then if it is really cold we drop the roof to make the space smaller and get in to bed, turning the heaters off. We have invested in a posh goosedown duvet that was £90 quid but it is both very warm and also packs away to nothing. This and a warm hat is all we need. ..even when it is frosty outside.
Should have mentioned that our heater is a propex heater and unless you can sleep through the roar of a jet taking off, you wont sleep with one of these running.
last time we were out the guy's thought I had propex fitted
quote: Originally posted by nickclubman
Should have mentioned that our heater is a propex heater and unless you can sleep through the roar of a jet taking off, you wont sleep with one of these running.
