Truma Gas Heaters for van

Macka- · Member

Truma Gas Heaters for van

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Welcome to the forum Macka!
We have seen how efficient the diesel heater is (Thanks Ron and Shirley! smile

), and since the gas heater works on the same principle it aught to be good. And theres the advantage of using the gas bottles already installed, and not needing to carry an extra diesel container. I think they are similarly priced?
Havent installed a heater yet except for the one in the air-con which is only good for caravan parks, so look forward to replies.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Macka
We were in the same situation back in mid 2006. Van was being built and the Diesel Heater had just come on the market. We were unsure so waited until reports from those that had them installed, then retrofitted one, and it is "the best thing since sliced bread" for those cold nights and mornings.

These gas heaters have recently come on the market and there is not a lot of first hand experience as yet. A few threads on the Caravaners Forum in recent times are just like the early ones for the Diesel heater back in 2006 and are very positive.

http://caravanersforum.com/viewforum.php?f=2 and type Truma Gas Heaters into the search box.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Friday 15th of October 2010 11:19:46 AM

Covert Operation · Member

Truma $1 hour operating cost. Dont want to be changing 9kg bottle every week. Webasto diesel 25c hour operating cost.

Covert Operation · Member

Ron and Shirley wrote:
We were in the same situation back in mid 2006. Van was being built and the Diesel Heater had just come on the market.

Diesel heaters have been available in Aus for 40 years. Dad had one in his m/h when we were kids at the snow fields. Our 1st van had a diesel heater in 1980. When we go snow skiing the diesel heaters run 24/7. Need to prevent water tanks freezing. New m/h on order will have Webasto diesel water heating and air heating.

-- Edited by Covert Operation on Friday 15th of October 2010 01:06:31 PM

Technomad · Senior Member

We have one in our Concept, came with the van and survived before replacement 4 years. We chose gas and electric as you can run both at same time, always on 240 and boosted with gas 15 minutes before shower. Short shower at 15 litres but siuted the wife. I preferred the ammenities block. Ours began to leak out of the condensation tube outside but worked still. Eventually pulled it out and investigated. Corroded stainless tank at seam. Bought a new one, around $850 and was very easy to relace. Pulls out from inside and seeing I didn't read the preventative maintenance instructions, considered 4 years was a good run, for it was never turned off. Lived in our van full time. No sacrifical annode to worry about like the Suburban which is also a good unit if serviced regularly. At 22 litres a bit bigger too and a little more expensive for gas and electric.
Happy choosing.

BobnBev · Senior Member

Hi Macka ,Just fitted a deisel one and it works just fine, with a muffler, Anyhow have a look here for the info you need..
www.caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?=2&t=9519
hope this helps Bob

Macka- · Member

Thanks to everyone for their comments/contributions. We have decided to order the Truma Gas for our Trakmaster. Hopefully it turns out to be a Truma not a Trauma. wink

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Lets know how well (or not) it works Macka?

Alan · Member

Hi Guys & Gals
My 1st email, it's 16/12/2018 & wondering how the Truma Gas Heaters are going?

I'm looking at the new Vario Eco Model , anybody had experience with Truma gas heaters? & this Model?

Cheers

Al

yobarr · Guru

Covert Operation wrote:
Truma $1 hour operating cost. Dont want to be changing 9kg bottle every week. Webasto diesel 25c hour operating cost.

And that about sums it up! Stories I have heard....unconfirmed....are that,out in the bush,a 9kg gas bottle can be up to $70. The diesel heater runs off the smell of an oily rag,and mine can heat the van too! Cheers

Derrrrr.....just woke up that this is a 2010 thread!

-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 16th of December 2018 06:08:10 PM

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Alan wrote:
Hi Guys & Gals
My 1st email, it's 16/12/2018 & wondering how the Truma Gas Heaters are going?

I'm looking at the new Vario Eco Model , anybody had experience with Truma gas heaters? & this Model?

Cheers

Al

Hi Al,

I have just finished installing my Truma Vario Eco AU Model. All done except the gas man has to connect.

Ran it today on fan only and on low/night setting can't hear it (under the bed), have to wait n see what its like with the burner going.

By my estimates this model (2.8kw maximum) will only need to be run at half load to heat our van (18ft van). At that setting the gas consumption will be 90 grams/hour.

So a 9kg bottle of gas, with heater running 24/7 will last around 94hours and cost me 22cents/hour.

The advantages of a gas heater for me were:- No diesel pump, no diesel tank, gas line is directly below the heater (cheap/easy connection), and cheap to run.

Checked the fan electrical load today and on low/night setting is drawing 1.1 Amps. On Flat chat 3.8amps. Can slow the fan even more if necessary.

Gas man can't connect till new year so I will have to be patient n wait for the full commissioning.

Hope this helps your decision making,

Cheers, Chris.

Alan · Member

Thanks for your reply Chris

I just answered your reply ( thanks for that) & it seems to have disappeared, so this version No2

yep l think the gas is a better way to go because you don't have to cart any extra stuff, (tanks, fuel,)

Cheers

Al

Santa · Guru

Macka- wrote:
Hi all,

Has anyone had any experience with the Truma Gas heater and can advise on their efficiency etc? We are thinking of having one installed in our new Trakmaster.

Cheers,

Macka-

Morning Macka.

We have a 14 litre Truma 240 volt/gas model, 11 years old now, great unit, gas usage not an issue, when not connected to 240 we run it for about 30 minutes morning and evening, always have hot water, certainly doesn't use excessive amounts of gas, we only have 3.5/4 kg bottles, they seem to last for ages. smile

Sarge9 · Senior Member

I realise this was started in 2010, but would have liked and answer when I was searching back in 2017, can now give first hand experience for a Truma E2400. Chosen because I didnt like the noise and ticking of my BIL new diesel heater. I added a 2nd gas bottle to give me 2 x 9kg. 5 weeks wandering around Tassie september/november this year, lots of no power camps in pop top van, GAS heater met every expectation, lovely and warm. Self installed, plumber certified. I considered the not insignificant cost difference, still not enough to make me change to diesel. If I bought another van,it would get a new gas heater.

cant comment on the hot water/heat exchange heaters, didnt take my fancy. I like the instant heating both gas and diesel provide when stopping for smoko or what ever. Dealt with hot water a different way.

just sayin'

Sarge.

Alan · Member

Thanks Sarge
My thoughts exactly Sarge, l bought Vario Eco have fitted with gas approved plumber, l don't like having to handle extra fuel, (diesel) i have 2 x 9 kg gas bottles on our van, havent used it yet.
I had ecotherm but wast of money. suburban hot water service not hot enough, when weather got cold by time hot water got through to ecotherm lucky to blow luk warm air out of heater.
The price of the Vario Eco has come down a lot, Check out the web.
cheers
Al