Diesel tent heater install

I was just talking to my friend about this last night. I think I have about $1600 in it total.

If you went with one of the Chinese versions you could shave 1k off of that easy.

If you didn’t use a pelican case (I had it laying around not being used but factored that in the build price), probably shave another 100 off.

Rotopax setup was around $100, Chinese versions come with one.

I bet you could get in to one for 250-300

Zack? @SR-71A

 

250-300 really isn't a bad price tag to have heat like that for camping. Too bad I don't trust myself to rig something like this together, lol.

 

Yeah, I would estimate $300-500 to do a build with a Chinese knock-off. Depending on how you build it and what you build it in.

 

Damn! That’s more than I thought but thanks for sharing the insight.

 

It’s easier than you think! Plenty of help here also should you need it

 

(Re-found this link. Had it back in 2011.)
This has to be one of the neatest web sites whether you have gasoline in your veins or not.
The web-site features the original factory brochure for nearly every American car.
Pick the manufacturer, the year, and the model.
Enjoy!

Click here: American Cars by Hans Tore Tangerud

 

So I have been going back and forth on buying an all in one unit or making my own similar to yours. The only thing really pushing me to the all in one unit is not having to prime it each time I set it up, but I don't like that it is not water resistant in the least bit. It seems like priming over and over causes excess soot and the potential to throw codes, typically from flooding. With your setup do you have to re-prime the unit each time you disconnect from the fuel source and then reconnect? or is there enough left in the hose you dont have to? I thought I read from someone that as long as your fule line is under a certain length there would be no need to re-prime. Thanks!

 

I assume you only will have it mounted in winter? If so great idea on Rotopax. My main grip on them is the summer performance as they swell up big time but not a problem with winter

 

Just a note on these "Diesel burners".

Kerosene works so much better when it's COLD.

Slightly less heat output (might be a feature" ;-) but Kero flows when Diesel gels.

Mixing the two fuels works fine as well.

 

I’m not a diesel guy but I believe you can get additives that prevent the gel problem. Also this is only my opinion but I would be extremely careful mixing fuels.

 

mixing diesel and kerosene is a time proven "thing" All winter for my tractors, and the Home Heating Fuel delivery is automatic when the temps run -10f ;-)

Besides, Kerosene is also known as "JET A", and who wouldn't want to boast that they run JET A in their TENT! ;-)

Anyone got a link to a vendor for that Airtronic S2 at "the best price"? seems like $11 hundie is the ticket for entry. https://thermokingmichigan.com/products/espar-air-heaters/

eta

Nota Bene!

The Chynah knock offs have aluminum internals, the Airtronic /Webasto etc. have stainless steel innards

 

I don’t disconnect the fuel line when I refill the rotopax tank. I put an inline shut off to make changing the fuel filter a less messy process. When I initially fired it up, I had to go through 4 cycles to get it primed. I wouldn’t want to drain it and re prime it every time I turned it on!

 

Yeah it’s only for the winter

 

Landed in Laguna beach Christmas Eve, spent a week camping in 18-30 degree nights along the way. This thing absolutely cranks!

Because I have it powered off my vehicle battery, the first thing I do when we get to a spot is fire up the heater so it goes through the glow plug cycle before I shut the truck off. I put it on infinity run time and 100 degrees so it won’t cycle on and off through the night. Glow plug cycling is what uses the most power, and it heats up the GP every time it shuts down also to help keep the system clean. I also start the truck in the morning before I shut it down.

100 sounds hot but it’s been perfect. We leave the windows open and it creates a positive pressure in the tent. Only used the annex on the first night because of the rain/ice but it kept everything warm then also. Couldn’t be happier with this setup!

I’ll eventually install a dual battery setup and run it off the aux.

 

Luckily I haven't had an issue yet (haven't quite broken the -10*F mark that I know of). That being said kero will be go-to if I do ever have issues. Not to mention Im sure it would be way easier to buy a jug of kero rather than trying to fill a tiny 1.5 gal plastic tank at a diesel pump


I put mine to work the week before Christmas. 2nd shortest day of the year, just over 8.5 hrs of daylight.. Didnt find a campsite until well after dark and the temps were falling fast. It was nice to be able to fire that thing up and keep the tent warm while setting up camp and eating.

 

I gotta make it up to the north woods

That’s been awesome to have everything warm up while we’re getting everything else set up and eating. Not to mention the complete lack of condensation in the morning, I still look up just to make sure my head won’t get soaked!

 

been on sailboats forever…it’s all good.

 

So what size heater is that?

 

Eberspacher D2

 

This doesn't seem like a good idea