Jump to content

Does anyone make a heater suitable for a tiny van conversion?


will-t

Recommended Posts

I've converted a RAM Promaster City van into the moral equivalent of a "self-propelled teardrop trailer". In other words, it is tiny inside. The total interior space amounts to about 170 cubic feet (4'x5'x8.5').

I am interested in adding a small heater. I've insulated the vehicle very well, and with so little cubic footage -- and considering the body-heat output of two sleepers -- the BTU requirement should be very minimal.

At the same time, a heater would have to be zero-emission in such a small space. So I am looking for something that uses electric power. (Which is OK - the rig is wired for shore power, and in cold weather I won't be camping in places where there is no shore power available.)

Moreover, the bed platform sits about 16" above the van floor, and covers nearly all the available square footage (apart from the driver/passenger cabin), meaning the heater would have to sit beneath it.  Thus, a tiny form-factor and fail-safe against overheating are both requirements.

Does anyone know of a product that would fit the bill?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Propex has a heater marketed to the VW van crowd. Webasto has their AirTop heaters. Neither of these are electric, but they are intended for use in vehicles, such as yours. as far as electric heaters, any Walmart heater will work, as they have do-over switches, overheat switches, and other safety designs. 

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet
2007 32.5' Fleetwood Quantum


Please e-mail us here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a tiny space heater at Walmart to use in my van. Details are here:

https://sandcastle.sandsys.org/2013/01/space-heater/

Although I appear to have not saved the name of the heater itself.

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I put a Suburban RV furnace in my self build van. I am very happy. But, it is propane. You can only get about 1500 watts of energy from an electric heater unless you have 220 volts. Almost any commercially available space heater will be fine. The one posted by Linda is like the one I have in the SB bathroom. Heats the space, does a fine job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An electric space heater makes little sense for a boondocker, since it would require a 2500 watt or larger generator.  A van can't hold enough solar, batteries and inverter to power such a heater.

2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Fulltimer July 2003 to October 2018, Parttimer now.
Travels through much of 2013 - http://www.sacnoth.com - Bill, Diane and Evita (the cat)
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Sehc said:

will-t stated they will not be staying anyplace without shore power. That is no boondocking.

I wanted it clear that since this topic was in the Boondocking forum, it was not a suitable choice for a boondocker.

2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Fulltimer July 2003 to October 2018, Parttimer now.
Travels through much of 2013 - http://www.sacnoth.com - Bill, Diane and Evita (the cat)
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 12/21/2019 at 12:58 PM, Darryl&Rita said:

Propex has a heater marketed to the VW van crowd. Webasto has their AirTop heaters. Neither of these are electric, but they are intended for use in vehicles, such as yours. as far as electric heaters, any Walmart heater will work, as they have do-over switches, overheat switches, and other safety designs. 

The Propex 2800 I installed in our 35' trailer works great. At  32-34F it slowly brings the heat up in our 35' trailer but it is worth it because it uses 50% less power than the Suburban furnaces does.  Using the Propex at -10F we loose 1-2 degree/ hour depending on wind chill and it is not set up to heat the basement.   I thought removing the Suburban and installing another Propex but I think that's a project for the next trailer.

 

2011 Cameo 34SB3

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/27/2019 at 11:34 AM, Bill Joyce said:

I wanted it clear that since this topic was in the Boondocking forum, it was not a suitable choice for a boondocker.

Good catch!

Assuming this van is gas-powered, the diesel fuel-powered Webasto and other brands are out of the equation.

What would work is something similar to the old VW bug gas heater for the interior.

Edited by Ray,IN

 

2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.  John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
RVers Online University

campgroundviews.com

RV Destinations

Find out more or sign up for Escapees RV'ers Bootcamp.

Advertise your product or service here.

The Rvers- Now Streaming

RVTravel.com Logo



×
×
  • Create New...