Diesel tent heater install

Being mechanically impared myself I always marvel at people who can do stuff like this. My hat is off to the OP, this is a very cool set-up. I can also understand his need for it since I lived about 40 min out Route 15 from him (Johnson) for about 10 years, so I am very familiar with the weather where he is. I would solve this problem differently though: 1) Move to Florida (which I did); 2) Call Hilton and make a reservation

 

Appreciate it! It’s honestly an easy project for anyone as long as you take your time and do some prior planning. Hopefully I’ll be able to help others out if they choose to go this route.

I see myself being a snow bird in the near future…

 

Really enjoying your work and attention to detail. Sure hope it all works better than expected for you.
Way to be innovative. Keep an open mind with suggestions from others; there are a lot of real craftsmen out there.

"When you hear hoof beats, think Zebras!"

Got to ask... '56 Studebaker?
(I've got a '46 M-5. Grandad bought new - went to my dad - then to me. Was my daily driver for over 6 years.)

 

I’ve learned an incredible amount from people on here!

55 E5 pickup! Family vehicle. It was my Aunts brothers truck when she was growing up. Got passed along to my Aunt and Uncle and now to me. Original body, flathead 6, 3 speed with push button overdrive.

 

Very cool! And being kept in the family makes it all the better.
1955. I was close.

Mine's a pick-up too and has the flat 6, L-head, w/ a 3 spd --- but no overdrive. (In 1st, I can get out and walk beside it.) I found out in 1984 that it actually had the Weasel engine installed in it.
Bit 'o trivia: Studebaker was the only car company to make a vehicle for the U.S. military from the Civil War through to the Vietnam War. (They started by making wagons first and transitioned to automobiles. Civil war vehicles were wagons, obviously.)
Also, they made aircraft engines (in addition to 6x6s and Weasels) during WW2. My dad flew B-24s & B-17s then and said that if a new bird came to the squadron with Stude built engines - the crews would race to be the first to claim ownership. The Stude engines didn't leak oil like the Wright or Ford built engines did.

Take good care of yours. (Didn't mean to highjack the Heater thread!)

 

No problem at all! That’s good stuff it’s definitely a cool truck and an absolutely blast to drive.

 

Post on YouTube and paste here.

 

I’ve never posted on YouTube, guess it’s time to give it a shot

 

99% finished, works perfect. Everything packs up nice and neat in the case also. Filter, ducts, tools and controller. Only things left to do are get some hose clamps for the travel caps (custom ) and wire in the cigarette plug tomorrow so I can run it off the Jackery. The test run yesterday exceeded my expectations. 12 hour run time on the highest setting. Used 1 gallon of fuel and only took the battery voltage from 12.33 to 12.03 (still hard wired until I install the cig plug). At least I know I can run this overnight off the vehicle and have no worries

 

Sounds like it's time for some winter camping!

 

Headed out the 18th for 24 days, west coast and back. Can’t wait!

In the next month or two (when the ice is more than thick enough) I’ll be using it for the annual ice fishing trip.

 

Those are meant for big warehouses or industrial style shops with ventilation. Probably way too much heat for a RTT, but an interesting idea.

Did not realize you got a name brand Eberspacher. All fancy I see haha

 

It’s a small one. Meant to be portable. I had it on low last night and while it’s hot. I bet it could be manageable. I really need to test it in the tent. ASAP lol

 

Most of the diesel heaters like the ones in this thread are in the range of 5-8 kW. Mine is 5 kW and will warm my tent up very quickly on high. That Dewalt on its lowest setting is roughly equal to an 8 kW diesel heater on high.

Also you will be exposed to the exhaust gases from that unit. Whereas the diesels have a separate exhaust pipe.

Not saying it wont work for you, but keep a decent carbon monoxide detector on hand

 

I did, I like buying stuff that will last a long long time. I can’t stand how much disposable shit we buy nowadays

 

This one is rated at 2.2, curious to see how long it takes to warm the annex and tent up.

I need to get up to main one of these days…

 

If you die, make sure to come back and let us know. We will worry about you if you don't!

 

Will do!
wait.

Die!? Well that escalated quickly.

 

Propane heater (or any combustion) in a closed space is not a good idea. Perfect combustion of propane results in water and CO2 as products (Not to mention, propane is denser than air so any leak will collect near the lowest surface of an enclosure and be a risk for hypoxia, plus the explosion hazard). You could vent the top of the tent like many are designed, but without the hot combustion product being separate from the heated air, I don't think it will ventilate the harmful gasses without ventilating all of the hot air. Besides, ventilating a tent is probably not going to result in it warming up much.

 

What's the total cost to make a rig like this?