Alternative Heating for My T25

[mellymarz]

Hi
We are in the process of having my Aircooled T25 restored, and she currently doesn't have any heat exchangers. From what I have been told they are quite troublesome, so does anyone have any information with regards to alternative heating for our camper? Am trying to decide whether worth buying new heat exchangers or not. Camper will be used as much as possible in all weathers, by me and my young family, so heating at night is a must, but not too sure about the eberspacher heaters(excuse my spelling!), and I take it that heat exchangers will only be good when running the engine (sorry new to this!). Any ideas and information very gratefully received, thankyou!

[ermie571]

Hi,
with the air cooled yes heatexchangers are expensive, and yes, only good when engine is running.

as you are doing the resto, may be worth replacing the heatexchangers with j pipes, and plumbing in a propex gas heater. Not the cheapest bit of kit (£400 new), but new heat exchangers were £130 a side when I had my Aircooled bus 3 years ago!! Propex can be used while you are running, can be programmed to come on and off, and can also use a thermostat. Its quieter and smaller than either the petrol or diesel eberspacher. If you are really wanting to do the full resto and run it as a virtual daily, then I would get it converted to run on LPG by Gasure (google them) so that running costs are halved (60p a litre), and get a tank that has dual take-offs - one for the fuel and one for your internal cooking and heating. That way you have cheap cooking and heating too, as LPG is much cheaper than calor gas. (just need to keep an eye on the guage!)


Lots to think about there

Em
x

[pocolow]

You have two options for night heating 1) Propex heaters (Run of gas) or 2) eberspacher heaters which can run of petrol or diesel. Both these two types have thermostats/timers to keep you toasty and they could also be used when driving..But I would still fit heat exchangers as well...as that heat is free Mark

[Cafnod]

I dont know the heat exchanger setup on the T25 but my experience of them on Type IIs was problemical, I had an old splitty crewcab in the 70's, an ex Belgian police van and that had a drip feed petrol heater so obviously they have always been an issue, though no doubt posts coming soon to tell me how wonderful they are.
If you are going to go for a propex and it looks a good option, especially with the advise of gassing the engine, then you could put some inline booster fans in and trunk heating up to the distribution vents at the front, perhaps fabricate a diverter flap for cab/van body, to either cut off back/front hot air supply or bias it slightly depending on whats required, a simple tube with a rotating flap would do it.
HTH
Richard

[Strawhead]

We went with both standard heat exchangers and also a diesel Eber.

The standard system is ok up to a point (now our exchangers are not new and are a bit leaky). it will demist the front screen in about ten minutes of running whatever the weather and will take the chill off the cab you still need to wear a jumper. I am gradually going through the whole system and have just about insulated all external pipes. but i think what it really needs is a supplemental blower in the system just to get the warmth up to the cab quicker so that less heat dissipates unused in the system.

the Eber is great if you are stationary, reasonably noisy i suppose and is ok when travelling but we are still not talking roastie toastie in the cab by any means!!

personally i like the idea of using the engines heat, and if you go through the system, insulate everything, renew what needs renewing you should have a system that functions well I am just not quite there yet!!

[Oldiebut goodie]

You have two options for night heating 1) Propex heaters (Run of gas) or 2) eberspacher heaters which can run of petrol or diesel. Both these two types have thermostats/timers to keep you toasty and they could also be used when driving..But I would still fit heat exchangers as well...as that heat is free Mark

Do not restrict yourself to just these.
There are Webastos and Mikunis that you could consider also.

[Cafnod]

Hi OBG
Do you get small webastos. I have one here from a coach and I reckon you would have to take the engine out if a T25 to fit it. Probably more tinwork than an Aircooled goes with it.

[horns]

I just bought one of these...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 151371.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cafnod]

Going to run it off an inverter whilst driving?

[mellymarz]

Hi
Many thanks for all your replies! Given me much food for thought, especially with regards the LPG, was going to go to gasure re converting to this in the future, want to be cleaner and cheaper!
Many thanks again Melissa

[jason k]

if the stock heat exchangers and pipework etc are in place and not leaky then they work very very well.

mine was hot enough to warp cds and cause cans of pop to explode if left by the outlets!!

[Oldiebut goodie]

Hi OBG
Do you get small webastos. I have one here from a coach and I reckon you would have to take the engine out if a T25 to fit it. Probably more tinwork than an Aircooled goes with it.

Smallest modern one is the Airtop 2000 ones at 2kw - there is an older one, the hl18 which is 1.8kw. You have most probably got a School bus heater which is a coolant heater rated at 13.1kw.

[Cafnod]

Yes thats the one, do you want to buy it?

[Oldiebut goodie]

I would have done if I hadn't already installed a Webasto in my Mercedes ex-17 seater bus!

[72BUG]

I just bought one of these...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 151371.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

y

Going to run it off an inverter whilst driving?

Fine if you're parked and have a 240v hook up. Run it through an inverter and even the best leisure battery will last about 5 minutes.