Diesel heater for caravan

Fairgoguy · Newbie

Diesel heater for caravan

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang John, enjoy here and out in the playground.

If you click on 'Search' in the thick blue line above and type in 'diesel heaters' there is heaps and heaps of info that will help you out.

I have a Gas heater fitted to my aluminium teepee and love it.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Magnarc · Guru

I second Dougwe's remarks John Welcome to the forum. Yep gas is the go mate, no smell, no exhaust to clean, no glow plug problems, no fuel tank to install, no filters to clean and instant heat!!!!!!

Wanda · Guru

"You require advise and assistance", well lets try this, "look both ways when you cross the road".

Maybe you could be just a little bit more specific on actually "what" you require.
regards
Ian

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Couldn't agree more with Magnarc, forget Diesel.

There is a Facebook page devoted to curing the hundreds of problems that arise every week with cheap Chinese diesel heaters. If you get a good one you can thank your lucky stars. However you can buy quality diesel heaters with good performance at a higher cost.

Cheers

Chris.

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 12:09:33 PM

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 02:59:09 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Chris and Sharyn,

Have another read of Magnarc's comment. I think you misread it.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The OP was asking about diesel.
Diesel is a fraction of the cost of gas to run and a fraction of the weight to store and there are plenty who run either cheap diesel heaters or name German ones with total satisfaction.
Cheers,
Peter

yobarr · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
The OP was asking about diesel.
Diesel is a fraction of the cost of gas to run and a fraction of the weight to store and there are plenty who run either cheap diesel heaters or name German ones with total satisfaction.
Cheers,Peter

Absolutely agree on all points,Peter.My diesel heater heats 20 feet van no worries,uses very little fuel,gives 60 degree hot water in 20 minutes,and diesel is easily obtained anywhere I wish to travel.No gas appliances in my van,as everything,including A/C, is run off batteries.Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 03:42:35 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Most of these cold mornings, shortly after arising, I am on my knees chanting "Blessed be the Diesel Heater" :)

The Chinese diesel heaters work surprisingly well. On average mine (5kW) uses 125ml diesel per hour.

A guy on Youtube has done an excellent series of videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwmU_CcmGI

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
G'day Chris and Sharyn,

Have another read of Magnarc's comment. I think you misread it.

Thanks Doug, one word changed the intent!!

Bicyclecamper · Guru

I like my new system, old design. I have a 15 kilo river rock, and cook it on an outside fire, for a couple of hours, then use welding gloves to pick it up and set it downon my Dutch oven on a ceramic tile on the floor. It keeps the caravan warm for at least 5 hours.

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 03:31:32 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Another plus for diesel. After a couple of hours "study" any half competent DIYer can install their own.
A gas heater requires a licensed gas fitter and a gas certificate.
Cheers,
Peter

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another plus for diesel. After a couple of hours "study" any half competent DIYer can install their own.
A gas heater requires a licensed gas fitter and a gas certificate.
Cheers,
Peter

So the gas install would therefore be much safer as it has been certified as such.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another plus for diesel. After a couple of hours "study" any half competent DIYer can install their own.
A gas heater requires a licensed gas fitter and a gas certificate.
Cheers,
Peter
So the gas install would therefore be much safer as it has been certified as such.

Not at all.

Gas is inherently much more dangerous to start with. Diesel is inherently safe.

Cheers,

Peter

Mike Harding · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another plus for diesel. After a couple of hours "study" any half competent DIYer can install their own.
A gas heater requires a licensed gas fitter and a gas certificate.
So the gas install would therefore be much safer as it has been certified as such.
Not at all.
Gas is inherently much more dangerous to start with. Diesel is inherently safe.

Pay no attention Dillberry - keep on trying to justify your choice.

I need a good laugh.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another plus for diesel. After a couple of hours "study" any half competent DIYer can install their own.
A gas heater requires a licensed gas fitter and a gas certificate.
Cheers,
Peter
So the gas install would therefore be much safer as it has been certified as such.
Not at all.
Gas is inherently much more dangerous to start with. Diesel is inherently safe.
Cheers,
Peter

I was referring to the actual Install, pretty obvious Gas is more dangerous. Plenty of shoddy installs of Diesel heaters you can view.

Anyway I'm sure the others and myself were just trying to point Fairgoguy in a direction he would be pleased with. Maybe he doesnt even have Gas in the Van.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
The OP was asking about diesel.
Diesel is a fraction of the cost of gas to run and a fraction of the weight to store and there are plenty who run either cheap diesel heaters or name German ones with total satisfaction.
Cheers,
Peter

Add to the above, if you are handy you can install and repair diesel heaters yourself, so repairs and maintenance costs are minimal.

Gas heaters are just that, "gas heaters", they need to be installed, maintained and repaired by a licensed gas fitter, and added to your caravan gas license to ensure legal conformity.

Running costs are easily calculable, do the math and I think you will agree that diesel wins on this score also. Gas consumption varies between - 90g/h, 190g/h, Diesel consumption varies between 0.010 to 0.28 L/hr. Don't forget cost of gas in remote locations is double city price.

Power usage is basically the same for both heater types when running, diesel uses a little more to heat the glow plug during initial start up, for a few minutes.

Diesel heaters are not rocket science, they are simple devices that require correct installation, set up and operation, then they will reward you with years of trouble free operation.

-- Edited by bomurra on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 07:57:07 PM

Magnarc · Guru

I notice that no one has mentioned the difference between the the two systems with regard to maintenance, cleaning, smell etc: etc:????????

Topics like this are a never ending story, it's a circular discussion which will never convince one side or the other so I say to the poster put " RV Plumber Don Valley" into Google and you will find all that you need to know to help you decide and make your decision accordingly because, ultimately, you are the one who has to be satisfied.

-- Edited by Magnarc on Friday 3rd of July 2020 08:26:56 AM

Wanda · Guru

Your all arguing about nothing the poster has sort!
He actually has not asked anything
With only 2 posts in 5yrs, I suspect he is just a time waster
Still, give ya jaws a good workout
Ian

Wanda · Guru

Your all arguing about nothing the poster has sort!
He actually has not asked anything
With only 2 posts in 5yrs, I suspect he is just a time waster, he has not even commented in 24hrs?
Still, give ya jaws a good workout
Ian

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Magnarc wrote:
I notice that no one has mentioned the difference between the the two systems with regard to maintenance, cleaning, smell etc: etc:????????

Maybe that is because we have never done any of those since our diesel heater was installed some years ago.

Cheers,

Peter

vince56 · Senior Member

5 days in a bush camp, small plastic lightweight tank of diesel, temps down to -2 overnight, used the diesel heater every morning for an hour or so and every night for several hours, used around 2 litres of juice in total. Gas bottles full giving us two fuel sources, gas running the fridge, hot water and cooktop. What's not to like?

yobarr · Guru

Magnarc wrote:
I notice that no one has mentioned the difference between the the two systems with regard to maintenance, cleaning, smell etc: etc:????????
-- Edited by Magnarc on Friday 3rd of July 2020 08:26:56 AM

No maintenance,no cleaning,no smell......and no comparison really.Diesel by a country mile...there is nothing in my van that uses gas,and I can obtain diesel almost anywhere I need to.Cheers

bilbo · Senior Member

What is a "heater"????.....cheers Bilbo

Magnarc · Guru

Hi Fairgoguy, May I suggest that you read a post by Iana on June 26th. Just put Diesel heater problems into the search button.

travelyounger · Guru

In my van all the appliances are LPG,12 volt and 240 volt.I have had van for three years and live in it full time and use the hot water gas heater oven and burners regularly and have no smell ,no maintenance and is available just about every where .I also carry a Honda 2.2 for the odd time we need for backup power

Magnarc · Guru

Topic has gone very quiet.

-- Edited by Magnarc on Friday 3rd of July 2020 11:38:24 AM

markf · Senior Member

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Couldn't agree more with Magnarc, forget Diesel.
There is a Facebook page devoted to curing the hundreds of problems that arise every week with cheap Chinese diesel heaters. If you get a good one you can thank your lucky stars. However you can buy quality diesel heaters with good performance at a higher cost.
Cheers
Chris.

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 12:09:33 PM

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 02:59:09 PM

If it's the group that I think it is, it is an international group which has about 47,000 members and only a small number of people post about problems. A lot of those problems are self inflicted.

There are a LOT of cheap Chinese diesel heaters out there that work flawlessly and have done since day one.

-- Edited by markf on Friday 3rd of July 2020 12:53:11 PM

Monica W · Veteran Member

The LPG heaters are so expensive to repair can be cheaper to buy a complete new unit than buy spares and pay labour to repair. Gas usage at 190gm/h 5 to 7 hours per 1kg makes gas heaters expensive to run. Generally in winter 7 to 8 days for 9kg. In rural areas you will pay up to $47 for 8.5kg swap bottle. Many with gas heaters, gas fridge, gas hot water find it cheaper to go to a caravan park than free camp.
Diesel heaters are ultra reliable provided installed correctly, and fuel tank kept out of the weather.. Low voltage is diesel heater biggest issue along with people that don't listen or accept bad advice and cannot read and follow instructions.