Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All
We're going away in November to a place that doesn't have an electric hook up, what do people normally use for heating in an evening? We have a fan heater for when we've got 240v plugged in but we are new to not having to plug in

Most people either have a propex gas heater or a eberspacher/webasto fuel heater

I use an oil filled radiator on the rare occasion that I go camping in the cold. It makes the van toastie without tripping cut out switches on camp sites. Remember to turn off or to lowest setting overnight otherwise you will wake up feeling dehydrated. Happy camping.

Patrick

Vernon wrote:Hi All
We're going away in November to a place that doesn't have an electric hook up

Ralf85 wrote:I use an oil filled radiator on the rare occasion that I go camping in the cold.

What does you're oil filled radiator run on? Is it powered by magic? If so where can I get one?

As said above. The only practical and safe way is to use an externally venting heater such as a Propex, Webasto or Eberspacher but they don't come cheap. Especially at this time of year. You would be very lucky if you can find a second hand one under £300.

My Webasto Airtop2000 Diesel heaters usually sell for £250 - £300.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:My Webasto Airtop2000 Diesel heaters usually sell for £250 - £300.

Bargain!

I must admit when we are winter camping the evenings are spent huddled around a solitary candle.....
On an exceptionaly cold night I will sometimes even light it!!!

Them there heaters are expensive, didn't expect that. Maybe I'll stick to my beer jacket this year and upgrade next

fire pit? I've got a tilly lamp which chucks out a decent background heat as well as a lovely light but it burns fuel and oxygen same as us so you would need to be careful of that and make sure the van was vented. Them there canister cataytic heaters are cheap and warm but have the same problem as the tilly in that they use the same stuff to burn fuel as we do and will compete for it very unfairly in a none vented van and they will win and you will be warm but cooling and dead.

I have to say that we spent years avoiding forking out for a Propex, but now having got one I wish someone had told me this ="If you can possibly afford it, just do it, even if it means getting your credit card out" because it is just so good to have heat in the van and it opens up so many other opportunities to go camping that you would not have done without it. Plus it makes for SOooo much a nicer experience.

Imagine sitting around outside at night with no fire = not much fun, then remember how a fire makes sitting around till the early hours, drinking and yacking, so much fun. The difference is like chalk and cheese, same with heat in the van !

I understand that Eberspachers, like Mr Oldiebut goodie (above ^^^) does are cheaper to run than Propex (but unless I am mistaken, are a bit noisier ?)

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I understand that Eberspachers, like Mr Oldiebut goodie (above ^^^) does are cheaper to run than Propex (but unless I am mistaken, are a bit noisier ?)[/quote]

Absolutely correct. My diesel D1LC was much more fuel efficient than my current Propex gas heater but as you say, much noisier. Also worth mentioning though that it did a much better job of heating the van than the propex does, but cost me about 100 quid more to buy. So horses for courses. Personally I'd trade my propex in for another diesel Eberspacher any day.

Your vehicle's massive though Martin. A 1600 Watt (red) Propex is ample for a t25 and Propex even do a 2000 Watt (blue) version

I suppose an inverter to supply a fan heater would drain the battery too quick.

1664 wrote:Your vehicle's massive though Martin. A 1600 Watt (red) Propex is ample for a t25 and Propex even do a 2000 Watt (blue) version

My Movano (where the propex is) is not far off the size of a T25. Takes ages to warm the van up though. The Eber only took a couple of minutes and the van was red hot. Probably because the Eber kicked out 2200w as opposed to the propex 1600w.

My Propex HS2000 heats the van up in no time. Are you sure yours was switched on?