Anybody Know Anything About Small Diesel Heaters for RV?

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I'm converting my enclosed trailer to a toy hauler. Building a removable partition so the living space will be about 10' by 8' and will be insulated. I have a Buddy propane heater but they use a lot of propane and produce moisture and well a CO fumes. I see a lot of people using these diesel heaters so would like to get one but it seems there are a lot of different ones made. Here are some on Amazon but I have no idea if any one is better than another.

Anybody have any experience with these? It will be permanently mounted so I don't need portable. Not concerned about price either and would rather spend more for quality than save a buck.

Amazon.com : diesel heater

Ideally, I'd like to mount it outside the trailer in its own box and duct the output to the inside of the trailer.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I'm converting my enclosed trailer to a toy hauler. Building a removable partition so the living space will be about 10' by 8' and will be insulated. I have a Buddy propane heater but they use a lot of propane and produce moisture and well a CO fumes. I see a lot of people using these diesel heaters so would like to get one but it seems there are a lot of different ones made. Here are some on Amazon but I have no idea if any one is better than another.

Anybody have any experience with these? It will be permanently mounted so I don't need portable. Not concerned about price either and would rather spend more for quality than save a buck. Ideally, I'd like to mount it outside the trailer in its own box and duct the output inside.

Amazon.com : diesel heater

I have one. It really works well, but I modified mine because the exhaust pipe scared me. I wrapped it in header wrap, because it gets really hot and I was afraid of fire. Mine is not mounted, we keep it portable and duct where we need it. Much better than a Buddy propane heater, we have that as well. No condensation with the Diesel heater.

I'm considering one for my truck, they make one that will preheat the coolant off the diesel fuel.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I have no experience with them yet. Looking to build out a sleeper bunk though on a truck, and thought these would be an option. The "van life" crowd had some info on different sites when I was looking, and so did some hunting sites. Of course I didn't bookmark any of them...that would be too easy

 

[jeteater1]

I put a 8kw in our 35 foot 5th wheel. I put it in the front storage box by the hitch , since there are two doors .The 12 volt battery is right there , that you need for power.

I ducted the exhaust out the door with a fitting from Amazon. Then bought 3 inch flex aluminum duct and installed the fitting they give you in the stairs to the upper level , so it blow to the main area. The heater has a remote and the fuel tank last 3 nights on low. You hear the fuel pump click , but get used to it. Sorry I don't have any pictures. PS it get so hot you run on low once it heats up.

 

[Racey]

I'm converting my enclosed trailer to a toy hauler. Building a removable partition so the living space will be about 10' by 8' and will be insulated. I have a Buddy propane heater but they use a lot of propane and produce moisture and well a CO fumes. I see a lot of people using these diesel heaters so would like to get one but it seems there are a lot of different ones made. Here are some on Amazon but I have no idea if any one is better than another.

Anybody have any experience with these? It will be permanently mounted so I don't need portable. Not concerned about price either and would rather spend more for quality than save a buck.

Amazon.com : diesel heater

Ideally, I'd like to mount it outside the trailer in its own box and duct the output to the inside of the trailer.

A lot of sailboaters use them, they are Hydronic systems where you essentially have the combustion unit that is a small boiler, it ingests fresh air from outside and burns diesel which it then exhausts to the outside, the heat is captured in boiler tubes carrying antifreeze which pump to radiators wherever you want to place them, these usually have fans on them to force air across the radiators and blow it where you want.

They work extremely well and are very efficient.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I put a 8kw in our 35 foot 5th wheel. I put it in the front storage box by the hitch , since there are two doors .The 12 volt battery is right there , that you need for power. I ducted the exhaust out the door with a fitting from Amazon. Then bought 3 inch flex aluminum duct and installed the fitting they give you in the stairs to the upper level , so it blow to the main area. The heater has a remote and the fuel tank last 3 nights on low. You hear the fuel pump click , but get used to it. Sorry I don't have any pictures. PS it get so hot you run on low once it heats up. View attachment 1455715

I was looking at this model. For under a hundred bucks, I guess it's worth a try. Thanks.

 

[Dana757]

I have a 5k and have to open some windows in the van even in the 20’s.

 

[whiteworks]

When I built out my sprinter van I installed one. The good ones are German called espar. There is also a cheap knockoff on Amazon.

The term you want to use in searching is “sleeper cab heater.” The espar is the go to for commercial drivers and you can get parts at truck stops. There is an annual service that needs to be completed. There is a small fuel filter and really fins screen that will clog up and prevent the heater from working. You also need to exercise the unit once a month to prevent the fine screen from clogging up.

Mine burns 1 gallon of fuel every 24 hours and runs on my aux battery’s.

 

[Cdog]

S bar heaters for diesel trucks list for about $1500-2k.

Might Louggle S bar heaters