The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy th-cam.com/users/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
A very well researched and presented video, I like that you kept it very impartial to your own preference so anyone can make their own mind up. Well done, I have subbed 👍🏼😃
For the wood stove, it won't keep you warm at night, unless you use wood pellets with an automatic feeding system, but it is very noisy when they drop. The strong smell of smoke gets on everything, it will follow you outside the van on your clothes.
I'm all up for wood stove, I live in Canada so getting wood is no prblem( most of the time ) I use a buddy heater and I have used it at night, but I'm always a bit worried about getting my blanked caught on fire. I live in a motorhome so I'm cramped for space. I can get a nice wood stove, but it would be to big, unfortunately the one that would the best fit is out of my price range. The buddy heater runs on LPG gas with the ability to hook up a 20 liter propane tank or the 1 pound camp stove tank. Electric heaters are not an option for me.
I have one of the small portable gas heaters with cartridge As I seen in a few videos of people using them in America , si I got one and tried it out in my van for 3 hours with a co2 alarm installed, but it didn't set the alarm off as I had the front window open an inch or so But I still wouldn't trust it for overnight as I've seen people in the states do
I have a gas Carver 1800 and when hooked up I have a 1-2 kw fan heater and little 700w oil rad at night - I use a small USB fan to circulate the air so there are no cold spots - and a 50w heated blanket if its well cold at night
An important con to consider for many of the options listed is the massive damage to the environment using gas, propane, or even wood causes. No matter how one individual may feel about the ethics, many people do see this as a major problem, myself included. At the very least it should have been mentioned as something to consider. Apart from that this was a very informative video. Thanks.
Yes a fair point, but unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a viable alternative for those living in a temperate environment off grid, I suppose a positive spin would be that with the space being heated likely to be significantly smaller than a house, in comparison the fuel use would be lower and therefore more environmentally friendly. Glad you found it useful.
Yep, lots of people seem to be getting on well with them. There does seem to be a slight lottery with some coming with missing parts, challenging instructions and I have heard about a few being dead on arrival, but it's difficult to fault the value for money. Availability of parts is probably questionable but for the cost you could probably replace the whole thing for not much more than most parts.
you forgot to mention hydronic heating. you can use engine heat, diesel/gas burner and electric in the same setup, you get engine preheating, radiant flor heating, hot water and air heating all in one.
I feel a heatpump is missing. Also i a caravan you can always hook up 230v from your electric car. Or if you have an electric capervan why not use the heatpump in the var itself.
Hi and thanks for the sub! Fair point - though I wouldn't limit it to Wood burners - if installed and maintained correctly I wouldn't have thought there was any higher risk of CO than with other options (except Electric of course!). I do have a future video coming up looking at "Essentials" which will include CO & Smoke Alarm, Fire Blanket & Fire Extinguisher. Cheers Mike
Ta. I'm not against wood burners (they're very nice!) but you mentioned the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and oxygen depletion for open flame heaters, etc. Wood burners aren't room sealed, so can releasing carbon monoxide into the van under the wrong conditions (blocked ventilation, bad wind direction, etc.), and they also require the fitting of permanent ventilation. There have been several deaths on narrow-boats caused by CO from wood burning stoves under this sort of scenario. Room sealed heaters (such as the Propex LPG, Diesel, Truma LPG, etc.) avoid these risks completely. A CO alarm is cheap insurance under all circumstances! :)
@@Mister_G Ah, I see your point. Though I do feel the CO risk from portable gas heaters is significantly more, with them not being flued at all, which is why I wanted to make it clear that there were no circumstances I personally would consider using one in a van. Compared to wood burners, which given the right installation and use circumstances I would use. However, I do agree it's wise to highlight that there is always a risk, as better to be safe than sorry and I have added a paragraph on CO, Smoke alarm and fire fighting equipment to the notes. Cheers.
I have gotta change the best video to put on and play and then continuously then continuously listen to it this guy makes sense it's one video that I can watch but is watch but listen to Anne Carrie on with really what I have to do to make some money thanks man I love your show
Glad it was useful - look out for a video coming out in the next few weeks where we are trying out an electric Infra Red panel, which could be an addition to the list!
I cant see the last one on the star chart as the captions are in front of it! helpful video tho, clear and to the point, not unnecessary chatter... thank you
Thanks Wendy, glad it’s useful. If you go to 6 mins 22 secs there is a clear view of the chart. But if you still have problems let me know and I’ll send you on a pic.
That would give you some reasonable heat in an emergency. A gas hob is about 1 to 2 kW depending on the size. However, due to oxygen depletion and Carbon Monoxide I personally couldn’t suggest it for regular use. Make sure to have plenty of ventilation and a Carbon Monoxide alarm if you do consider it.
@@ExploreVanUK Thanks for your response. I'm in a new mobile home with ventilation and a smoke detector. I also have a diffuser for slow cooking which would probably work well with it.
Since this was posted last year, maybe time for an update! The Chinese Diesel heaters have been proven to be very reliable when used and maintained properly! There are several you tubers that have been using them for several years without issue! They would be my choice if I was going to add heat to a camper!
Good point and I do monitor the feedback on the products in the video. I wouldn't go quite as far as "very reliable" there are quite a few examples of failed pump motor bearings, electronic failures on control panels, electrical issues causing continuous fuse blowing and general wear and tear failures within the first 6 - 12 months. However, as you say there are lots of people that have been happy with them for longer. As there is no consistent brand or supplier you don't really know if you're going to get a good one or a crap one and with no real warranty, not a lot you can do about it if it fails. As I said a year ago - they may be worth a punt, but worth joining one of the Chinese diesel heater facebook groups to learn the tricks to try and keep them alive for longer and fix some of the faults that can develop. If you want a heating system that is reliable, has a warranty and needs little preventative maintenance then they aren't a great choice in my opinion. With a wife and kids to keep warm as well as me, I don't currently see them as an option for us. If you're someone that is happy to tinker with stuff to keep it running and accepting that there is a reasonable risk it could fail at any time then it seems good value for money.
Just keep a large cow or other farm animals inside your caravan for extra heat, it’s what our ancestors did in the old days. Economical too, with a low carbon footprint, just requires hay and a shovel.
High, we’ve found them great as background heating when on hook up. But they do take a while to warm a space so in winter if you move around they are best when you have another option to do the initial heating eg a fan heater and then pop the radiator on to maintain the heat. Most provide a Cubic area they are good for so just calculate that roughly for your van and get the one that matches.
@@ExploreVanUK is it good enough as replacement of the gas heater? I was thinking to buy a oil heater remove the gas heater patch the hole in the floor and place the oil heater in its place and then use the fans to blow the hot air from the oil heater around
@@ExploreVanUK after some more searching i found out i got the s5002 which got 4200w equivalent of heating wow so does this mean i need to get 4 of those oil heaters to get the same performance 😮
We’ve tested and used a few of Hcalory ones and found they work and last well. You can see reviews here: th-cam.com/video/NLzXP5chv-Q/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/k2e0yrFKT0s/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/33mUEDA44eg/w-d-xo.html There are some available on Amazon. amzn.to/3UYOB6T
@ExploreVanUK thank you, they're rather cheap too as I was going to purchase the lavaner for £375. Out of the models in the link, is there any particular control which is better than the other? Is there a specific model to go for?
you need heating in winter, you will get less than 1h of full power combined over the full day. if you have realy god insulation, no windows and the temp isent below freezing you can eventual keep the van warm with 200 watt, this ist still 5kw/h of power over a day, but the solar only generates 1.2-1.6kw/h on a day.
Thanks, they’re not as readily available or viable in the U.K. as there are not very many petrol / gasoline vans, the vast majority being diesel, but we can get them. I guess in other countries Gasoline / Petrol vans are more plentiful.
@@ExploreVanUK yeah. In the US, where I popped out, there tend to be more gas vehicles than diesel. Most people here aren't aware they make gasoline versions either. They're more expensive, but still very much worth the up-charge when factoring in comfort & ease of use. I wish they made the dual top in gasoline, I've looked for it but haven't found one.
Yep that’s definitely possible with a calorifier using the cooling feed from the engine. Not something that I’ve ever looked at as we often stay off grid in one place and wouldn’t want to be having to run the engine just to heat up water. But if you plan to move location everyday definitely worth looking at.
@@ExploreVanUK I hear you.. I will put some copper coils around my exhaust pipe too. and ultimately melt wax for heat storage in my camper.. But you can cook with the hot water as it is over 212... Hell you could run your engine with woodgas..
Thats useful thanks! Is that with it heating / running continuously for 24hrs? I guess it would also vary on the outside temperature, how much the thermostat kicks in?
@@ExploreVanUK China ones, yes 24hr best and worst power consumption just something to ponder when choosing batteries and solar to run it. I think at very least a 280ah lifepo4 battery with 20amp Victron mppt with temp sensor for cold protection and a 36v 200w solar panel combined with frugal use and sunny luck would do it at a minimum.
Planer diesel heater is the best and most economical with dry heat a d zero moisture. They are safer because of more quality parts then the really cheap Chinese heaters. I've heard a few bad things like the exhaust can leak on the cheaper made ones. You don't want that.
No experience of it so hard to comment. For me Electric would be out unless you only stay on hook up as you’d need mammoth solar and batteries to run it off grid. I guess with the right gas set up you could fit a wet system, but a bit over complicated for me.
there are some videos on yt. some use electric heating pads, but thy use way to much power. i want to go for a hydronic systems one i get a van. so i can use engine heat, a diesel heater ov if available shore power. i get radiant flor heating, air heating, hot water an even engine preheating.
See comments below. For our usage would require far too many batteries and not enough sun in the winter (when we need heat the most) for us to keep it going.
How much would you pay for a heating system that runs on relatively small amount of very cheap (often free-of-charge) fuel, and generates enough heating power for around minimum 12 hours straight, intended particularly for off-gridders, van-lifers, tent campers, etc.?
Interesting question, van specific heating ranges in cost from around £150 (Chinese diesel heater) to £1000 (Truma heating system.) For me the price I would pay would depend on various factors. Fuel type / efficiency, heat output, convenience, safety approval, ease / cost of installation, availability of spares, ease of use / flexibility.
@@ExploreVanUK Thank you for your reply. Actually, I have been working on such a system as I shortly described in my question for 2 years now. I don't want to reveal the details for the time being, but the fuel is quite easy to find and very cheap (often free-of-charge); efficiency is quite acceptable, but may need some improvements due to the type of fuel chosen, but I chose this fuel for availability, affordability, and particularly for long burn-time with less amount of fuel for portability. Despite that fact, heat output is quite acceptable, much higher than you would expect. No formal safety approvals for the time being for it is currently in development process, but I believe it is one of the safest systems of this kind; there are no safety issues that may be attributed to oxygen depletion, or CO, CO2, other noxious gases, for the system operates out of the confined spaces like tent, van, etc. The fuel is not a type that could start a fire so easily, like gasoline, kerosene, etc. It can be installed by the user quite easily, and there are almost no installation costs. Availability of spares may not be an issue, for there are not many complicated parts and components, and many of them can be easily found in the market, and some parts can be made by owners with some DIY capabilities. Ease of use may need some improvements, but I believe it won't be an issue, if you consider the benefits. So, how much would you be willing to pay for such a system?
I’d suggest you would need to share a bit more info around it and have some sort of proven track record to be able to compete with the big boys like Truma / Webasto etc at £400+. But off the bat you may be able to compete with Chinese diesel heater at around the £150 - £200 mark. Once you’ve established the brand and the technology with plenty of happy customers you could may be go to market at higher price point.
@@ExploreVanUK By the way, we haven't decided to do so yet, but would you be interested in testing a working prototype and share your experiences, opinions, and recommendations with us some time in the future?
Afraid that’s not my area of expertise. I imagine you’d need to look at the environmental impact of the production of the fuel and the emissions of the heater when used to make a judgement on that.
@@totallyjonesin but it does release CO2 and we're currently putting between 10,000-140,000 species of animals a year into extinction, just fyi and planting a new tree doesn't really make up for the destruction of existing rainforests etc.
Wood fires also produce vast quantities of particulate matter, tiny fragments of soot like those emitted by diesel cars. These contribute to climate change but can also cause breathing problems or even cancer in humans. In urban areas particularly, wood-burning stoves are not necessarily the greenest choice.
"but it does release CO2" So does everything else we burn. "10,000-140,000 species of animals a year into extinction" If this were true there would be no more animals by now.There is fossil proof of more prehistoric animals that are now extinct than we have here today, "we" didn't do it. Extinction is the rule not the exception. "planting a new tree doesn't really make up for the destruction of existing rainforests" Tens of thousands of new trees are planted on thousands of acres of private land managed by the forestry industry each year. Follow the sailing channels and check out their drone videos of the tropics, solid jungle.
Not sure how you mean? By can’t go wrong, I mean they have few moving parts and therefore very little risk of breaking down Vs a mechanical or electrical heater. My experience of wood burners is that when installed and used correctly they work well within their limitations. Would I recommend using one in a vehicle? Personally no they are not for me. But lots of people do successfully. Thanks for taking the time to comment and if you have any more specifics on your experience with wood burners in vehicles please do share so that others can benefit.
Yes, a good option, but you are never really sure what you may get as they tend not to be branded, some have questionable reliability, especially if not regularly serviced / cleaned and parts may or may not be available. If bought knowing what you are getting into then could be a good choice. If you have a brand that you have had a good experience with, pease do feel free to share so others can consider it. Cheers
@@ExploreVanUK I took my chinese diesel heater and unscrewed it after one year of constant use and it was so clean inside that when i rubbed interior with my finger, my finger was clean. It cost about £130 and will run longer than your car. If for some reason it go bust you just buy another one because it's cheap.
Sounds like you got a good one, as there are quite a few examples of failure in first year - do feel free to share a link to the specific one as it could be useful. It's often a question of what's important, personally as we use the van year round knowing the heater is going to work and not fail is important to us. With the proven designs, knowing who has produced it / parts available for servicing etc it is worth spending that bit more for us, as a family in mid winter with no heating is not a happy one :-D But definitely down to individual choice and definitely see the market for Chinese diesel heaters. The competition for the big boys isn't a bad thing either.
Personally electric wouldn’t be my personal choice, unless on mains hook up. But if you are in a part of the world with long days, guaranteed sun and are happy to spend on Lithium batteries and lots of solar or run a generator then it may suit you.
@@ExploreVanUK I probably wouldn't use solar at first. I might do that later on but it's not that bad if you don't have a panel. Lithium is cheaper than a lot of other types of batteries now including deep cycle lead acid. The reason people are shy to lithium and get into lithium alternatives nowadays is because it's hard to setup. But if your willing to do it, you could save a lot of money, have a very capable system, and not have to pay for gas or wood. I feel like it's the best for any setup.
May be it’s different where you are by here in the U.K. a 100Ah LiFePO4 leisure battery is £750 (900 USD) so still a lot more expensive than an equivalent 200 Ah of AGM batteries which can be got for around £250. They are getting cheaper but not quite there yet for me. And to be confident of having heating for any length of time in any cooler climate you’d be looking at have a van load of batteries.
@@ExploreVanUK Yeah that's exactly what I mean. That battery is in my US market under the battle born brand name. That's a lithium alternative. It's not just a lithium battery, it's designed to be easier to install than plain lithium batteries, for people that don't want to learn how to install real lipo batteries. No lie it's pretty complex but it's more than worth it. All that extra cost is because you're paying for a conversion system and hardly any lithium. I don't like those batteries because they discourage people from trying to make battery setups themselves, and make people think that lithium isn't all that good when that's not even a real lithium battery. The cost is insane and I can't figure why anyone would buy them much less make all these videos about them unless of course there getting something for doing so $$. The worst part of it is that lithium it's actually cheaper than lead acid, and AGM. It's lighter, smaller, more power, lasts longer, for less money. Battle born is a brilliant company because they saw that they were hard to install and capitalized on people that don't have basic handyman or mechanical skills.
Vince Abednego building setups from Lithium cells is not something I’ve got the confidence or time to do and I’d never be able to make a recommendation to someone to do it. But if you’re happy to I hope it works out. A Battleborn 100Ah battery is 949 USD. Not exactly sure where you’re coming from.
I'll just add it to another list of videos that gave zero actual good information, these are not the methods people are looking for when in Van life, something a little more practical on the market you could let us know about, that's strictly electricity.
Hi John, sorry to hear you didn’t find the video useful, I’m afraid in my experience, when not on a site plugged in, heating by electric is just not practical. The amount of batteries you would need and the amount of solar to keep them charged just isn’t currently feasible for regular use. Hopefully in the future with new battery technologies this may change but at the moment for me it’s not an option.
from my research, a strictly electric option is a terrible idea for most van lifers unless you only want to stay at campsites with hookups (which is not the point of van life for many). I think this video gave lots of great information and I really appreciate it, thanks for sharing!
The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy th-cam.com/users/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
A very well researched and presented video, I like that you kept it very impartial to your own preference so anyone can make their own mind up. Well done, I have subbed 👍🏼😃
Thanks Greg, big fan of your channel has been very helpful in the past! Cheers for the sub!
sadly no mention on hydronic heating systems.
For the wood stove, it won't keep you warm at night, unless you use wood pellets with an automatic feeding system, but it is very noisy when they drop. The strong smell of smoke gets on everything, it will follow you outside the van on your clothes.
I'm all up for wood stove, I live in Canada so getting wood is no prblem( most of the time )
I use a buddy heater and I have used it at night, but I'm always a bit worried about getting my blanked caught on fire.
I live in a motorhome so I'm cramped for space.
I can get a nice wood stove, but it would be to big, unfortunately the one that would the best fit is out of my price range.
The buddy heater runs on LPG gas with the ability to hook up a 20 liter propane tank or the 1 pound camp stove tank.
Electric heaters are not an option for me.
I have one of the small portable gas heaters with cartridge
As I seen in a few videos of people using them in America , si I got one and tried it out in my van for 3 hours with a co2 alarm installed, but it didn't set the alarm off as I had the front window open an inch or so
But I still wouldn't trust it for overnight as I've seen people in the states do
Excellent graphics and explanation. Well done. I really like the Webasto using the main fuel tank. Gas or Diesel.
I have a gas Carver 1800 and when hooked up I have a 1-2 kw fan heater and little 700w oil rad at night - I use a small USB fan to circulate the air so there are no cold spots - and a 50w heated blanket if its well cold at night
An important con to consider for many of the options listed is the massive damage to the environment using gas, propane, or even wood causes. No matter how one individual may feel about the ethics, many people do see this as a major problem, myself included. At the very least it should have been mentioned as something to consider. Apart from that this was a very informative video. Thanks.
Yes a fair point, but unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a viable alternative for those living in a temperate environment off grid, I suppose a positive spin would be that with the space being heated likely to be significantly smaller than a house, in comparison the fuel use would be lower and therefore more environmentally friendly.
Glad you found it useful.
Well diesel isn't going to win any awards for being a "clean" fuel either, gas is absolutely a cleaner fuel to use
Seems like those chinese diesel heaters are working out to be pretty good, if noise insulated. CO meter is a must.
Yep, lots of people seem to be getting on well with them. There does seem to be a slight lottery with some coming with missing parts, challenging instructions and I have heard about a few being dead on arrival, but it's difficult to fault the value for money. Availability of parts is probably questionable but for the cost you could probably replace the whole thing for not much more than most parts.
sadly i have not fond a cheap hydronic heater yet.
I'm guessing because this is an older video it doesn't mention the dickinson marine heater, pretty expensive but seems worth it.
Looks interesting, but, as you say, on the more expensive side. Thanks for sharing.
you forgot to mention hydronic heating. you can use engine heat, diesel/gas burner and electric in the same setup, you get engine preheating, radiant flor heating, hot water and air heating all in one.
Brilliant video, very informative and professional 👍🏻
Thanks Claire, glad you like it and hope it’s useful!
I feel a heatpump is missing. Also i a caravan you can always hook up 230v from your electric car. Or if you have an electric capervan why not use the heatpump in the var itself.
very informative. thanks
Excellent video amen...
Petrol heater option wasn’t mentioned, Webasto and Makuni etc. Ideal for petrol powered van.
Great point - not something we have looked at as our vans are all diesel, but an option for those that have Petrol fuel vans
Great Video! Thanks a lot for your help
thank you very much very well explained video
Nice summary. I think you should mention the carbon monoxide risk with wood burners though.
Subbed.
Hi and thanks for the sub! Fair point - though I wouldn't limit it to Wood burners - if installed and maintained correctly I wouldn't have thought there was any higher risk of CO than with other options (except Electric of course!). I do have a future video coming up looking at "Essentials" which will include CO & Smoke Alarm, Fire Blanket & Fire Extinguisher. Cheers Mike
Ta. I'm not against wood burners (they're very nice!) but you mentioned the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and oxygen depletion for open flame heaters, etc. Wood burners aren't room sealed, so can releasing carbon monoxide into the van under the wrong conditions (blocked ventilation, bad wind direction, etc.), and they also require the fitting of permanent ventilation. There have been several deaths on narrow-boats caused by CO from wood burning stoves under this sort of scenario.
Room sealed heaters (such as the Propex LPG, Diesel, Truma LPG, etc.) avoid these risks completely.
A CO alarm is cheap insurance under all circumstances! :)
@@Mister_G Ah, I see your point. Though I do feel the CO risk from portable gas heaters is significantly more, with them not being flued at all, which is why I wanted to make it clear that there were no circumstances I personally would consider using one in a van. Compared to wood burners, which given the right installation and use circumstances I would use. However, I do agree it's wise to highlight that there is always a risk, as better to be safe than sorry and I have added a paragraph on CO, Smoke alarm and fire fighting equipment to the notes. Cheers.
I have gotta change the best video to put on and play and then continuously then continuously listen to it this guy makes sense it's one video that I can watch but is watch but listen to Anne Carrie on with really what I have to do to make some money thanks man I love your show
Great video…thanks!
Glad it was useful - look out for a video coming out in the next few weeks where we are trying out an electric Infra Red panel, which could be an addition to the list!
@@ExploreVanUK Cool! We were just talking about experimenting with types of heat they use in saunas. Subscribed
I cant see the last one on the star chart as the captions are in front of it! helpful video tho, clear and to the point, not unnecessary chatter... thank you
Thanks Wendy, glad it’s useful. If you go to 6 mins 22 secs there is a clear view of the chart. But if you still have problems let me know and I’ll send you on a pic.
Thanks, what about a terracotta pot over the gas burner?
That would give you some reasonable heat in an emergency.
A gas hob is about 1 to 2 kW depending on the size.
However, due to oxygen depletion and Carbon Monoxide I personally couldn’t suggest it for regular use. Make sure to have plenty of ventilation and a Carbon Monoxide alarm if you do consider it.
@@ExploreVanUK Thanks for your response. I'm in a new mobile home with ventilation and a smoke detector. I also have a diffuser for slow cooking which would probably work well with it.
Since this was posted last year, maybe time for an update! The Chinese Diesel heaters have been proven to be very reliable when used and maintained properly! There are several you tubers that have been using them for several years without issue! They would be my choice if I was going to add heat to a camper!
Good point and I do monitor the feedback on the products in the video. I wouldn't go quite as far as "very reliable" there are quite a few examples of failed pump motor bearings, electronic failures on control panels, electrical issues causing continuous fuse blowing and general wear and tear failures within the first 6 - 12 months. However, as you say there are lots of people that have been happy with them for longer. As there is no consistent brand or supplier you don't really know if you're going to get a good one or a crap one and with no real warranty, not a lot you can do about it if it fails. As I said a year ago - they may be worth a punt, but worth joining one of the Chinese diesel heater facebook groups to learn the tricks to try and keep them alive for longer and fix some of the faults that can develop.
If you want a heating system that is reliable, has a warranty and needs little preventative maintenance then they aren't a great choice in my opinion. With a wife and kids to keep warm as well as me, I don't currently see them as an option for us. If you're someone that is happy to tinker with stuff to keep it running and accepting that there is a reasonable risk it could fail at any time then it seems good value for money.
there are several videos about hydronic vasn heating to.
Brilliant video, very informative and professional, could you do the same for water heaters please?
Thanks! Funnily enough a water heater one is in the pipeline! Probably will be released early May.
Thank you!
Very useful
Just keep a large cow or other farm animals inside your caravan for extra heat, it’s what our ancestors did in the old days. Economical too, with a low carbon footprint, just requires hay and a shovel.
😂😂😂
Are oil radiators good how much watt do i need for a 7mtr long caravan?
High, we’ve found them great as background heating when on hook up.
But they do take a while to warm a space so in winter if you move around they are best when you have another option to do the initial heating eg a fan heater and then pop the radiator on to maintain the heat.
Most provide a Cubic area they are good for so just calculate that roughly for your van and get the one that matches.
@@ExploreVanUK is it good enough as replacement of the gas heater? I was thinking to buy a oil heater remove the gas heater patch the hole in the floor and place the oil heater in its place and then use the fans to blow the hot air from the oil heater around
It won’t heat up as fast as your gas heater, but if you size it the same output as your gas heater once up to temperature it will do the job.
@@ExploreVanUK the oil heater is 1200w the gas heater doesnt say how much watt it is
@@ExploreVanUK after some more searching i found out i got the s5002 which got 4200w equivalent of heating wow so does this mean i need to get 4 of those oil heaters to get the same performance 😮
Great video. Good luck with the channel. Subbed.
Donegal Overlanding Thanks! Subbed you back too! Looks like you’ve got some good stuff on your channel!
Anyone have a link for good quality night heaters for camper vans?
We’ve tested and used a few of Hcalory ones and found they work and last well.
You can see reviews here:
th-cam.com/video/NLzXP5chv-Q/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/k2e0yrFKT0s/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/33mUEDA44eg/w-d-xo.html
There are some available on Amazon.
amzn.to/3UYOB6T
@ExploreVanUK thank you, they're rather cheap too as I was going to purchase the lavaner for £375.
Out of the models in the link, is there any particular control which is better than the other? Is there a specific model to go for?
I know it sounds dumb but what if you have 1200-1600 watt solar panels for the electric ones? 😖
How many and what type of batteries? In what part of the world and what season?
you need heating in winter, you will get less than 1h of full power combined over the full day. if you have realy god insulation, no windows and the temp isent below freezing you can eventual keep the van warm with 200 watt, this ist still 5kw/h of power over a day, but the solar only generates 1.2-1.6kw/h on a day.
The "diesel heater" is also available in gasoline
Thanks, they’re not as readily available or viable in the U.K. as there are not very many petrol / gasoline vans, the vast majority being diesel, but we can get them. I guess in other countries Gasoline / Petrol vans are more plentiful.
@@ExploreVanUK yeah. In the US, where I popped out, there tend to be more gas vehicles than diesel. Most people here aren't aware they make gasoline versions either. They're more expensive, but still very much worth the up-charge when factoring in comfort & ease of use. I wish they made the dual top in gasoline, I've looked for it but haven't found one.
What about hot water from your engine????
Yep that’s definitely possible with a calorifier using the cooling feed from the engine. Not something that I’ve ever looked at as we often stay off grid in one place and wouldn’t want to be having to run the engine just to heat up water. But if you plan to move location everyday definitely worth looking at.
@@ExploreVanUK I hear you.. I will put some copper coils around my exhaust pipe too. and ultimately melt wax for heat storage in my camper.. But you can cook with the hot water as it is over 212... Hell you could run your engine with woodgas..
seahr vor hydronic heating, there are several van build on youtube
Diesel heater use about 20ah per 24 hr on low and about 100ah on high
Thats useful thanks! Is that with it heating / running continuously for 24hrs? I guess it would also vary on the outside temperature, how much the thermostat kicks in?
@@ExploreVanUK China ones, yes 24hr best and worst power consumption just something to ponder when choosing batteries and solar to run it.
I think at very least a 280ah lifepo4 battery with 20amp Victron mppt with temp sensor for cold protection and a 36v 200w solar panel combined with frugal use and sunny luck would do it at a minimum.
Planer diesel heater is the best and most economical with dry heat a d zero moisture. They are safer because of more quality parts then the really cheap Chinese heaters. I've heard a few bad things like the exhaust can leak on the cheaper made ones. You don't want that.
Hi thanks for your insight! Keep a look out for our next video where we put one of Chinese Diesel Heaters through some basic economy and safety tests
What about underfloor heating?
No experience of it so hard to comment. For me Electric would be out unless you only stay on hook up as you’d need mammoth solar and batteries to run it off grid. I guess with the right gas set up you could fit a wet system, but a bit over complicated for me.
there are some videos on yt. some use electric heating pads, but thy use way to much power.
i want to go for a hydronic systems one i get a van. so i can use engine heat, a diesel heater ov if available shore power. i get radiant flor heating, air heating, hot water an even engine preheating.
how about under floor 12v heater film
See comments below.
For our usage would require far too many batteries and not enough sun in the winter (when we need heat the most) for us to keep it going.
they use way to much power. have a look at hydronic heating.
How about radiant floor heater?
See comments below.
electric or hydronic?
How much would you pay for a heating system that runs on relatively small amount of very cheap (often free-of-charge) fuel, and generates enough heating power for around minimum 12 hours straight, intended particularly for off-gridders, van-lifers, tent campers, etc.?
Interesting question, van specific heating ranges in cost from around £150 (Chinese diesel heater) to £1000 (Truma heating system.) For me the price I would pay would depend on various factors. Fuel type / efficiency, heat output, convenience, safety approval, ease / cost of installation, availability of spares, ease of use / flexibility.
@@ExploreVanUK Thank you for your reply. Actually, I have been working on such a system as I shortly described in my question for 2 years now. I don't want to reveal the details for the time being, but the fuel is quite easy to find and very cheap (often free-of-charge); efficiency is quite acceptable, but may need some improvements due to the type of fuel chosen, but I chose this fuel for availability, affordability, and particularly for long burn-time with less amount of fuel for portability. Despite that fact, heat output is quite acceptable, much higher than you would expect. No formal safety approvals for the time being for it is currently in development process, but I believe it is one of the safest systems of this kind; there are no safety issues that may be attributed to oxygen depletion, or CO, CO2, other noxious gases, for the system operates out of the confined spaces like tent, van, etc. The fuel is not a type that could start a fire so easily, like gasoline, kerosene, etc. It can be installed by the user quite easily, and there are almost no installation costs. Availability of spares may not be an issue, for there are not many complicated parts and components, and many of them can be easily found in the market, and some parts can be made by owners with some DIY capabilities. Ease of use may need some improvements, but I believe it won't be an issue, if you consider the benefits. So, how much would you be willing to pay for such a system?
I’d suggest you would need to share a bit more info around it and have some sort of proven track record to be able to compete with the big boys like Truma / Webasto etc at £400+. But off the bat you may be able to compete with Chinese diesel heater at around the £150 - £200 mark. Once you’ve established the brand and the technology with plenty of happy customers you could may be go to market at higher price point.
@@ExploreVanUK I appreciate your kind replies sir. All the best!
@@ExploreVanUK By the way, we haven't decided to do so yet, but would you be interested in testing a working prototype and share your experiences, opinions, and recommendations with us some time in the future?
What is the most environmentally friendly option?
Afraid that’s not my area of expertise. I imagine you’d need to look at the environmental impact of the production of the fuel and the emissions of the heater when used to make a judgement on that.
Wood. It's renewable & pulls no electricity. We've have massive forest fires for thousands of years and us and lots of animals are still here.
@@totallyjonesin but it does release CO2 and we're currently putting between 10,000-140,000 species of animals a year into extinction, just fyi and planting a new tree doesn't really make up for the destruction of existing rainforests etc.
Wood fires also produce vast quantities of particulate matter, tiny fragments of soot like those emitted by diesel cars. These contribute to climate change but can also cause breathing problems or even cancer in humans. In urban areas particularly, wood-burning stoves are not necessarily the greenest choice.
"but it does release CO2"
So does everything else we burn.
"10,000-140,000 species of animals a year into extinction"
If this were true there would be no more animals by now.There is fossil proof of more prehistoric animals that are now extinct than we have here today, "we" didn't do it. Extinction is the rule not the exception.
"planting a new tree doesn't really make up for the destruction of existing rainforests"
Tens of thousands of new trees are planted on thousands of acres of private land managed by the forestry industry each year. Follow the sailing channels and check out their drone videos of the tropics, solid jungle.
Wood burner : Can't go wrong. Inside a vehicle. You havent used a lot of wood burners in your life have you? XD
Not sure how you mean? By can’t go wrong, I mean they have few moving parts and therefore very little risk of breaking down Vs a mechanical or electrical heater.
My experience of wood burners is that when installed and used correctly they work well within their limitations.
Would I recommend using one in a vehicle? Personally no they are not for me. But lots of people do successfully.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and if you have any more specifics on your experience with wood burners in vehicles please do share so that others can benefit.
Chinese diesel heater is the one and only way.
Yes, a good option, but you are never really sure what you may get as they tend not to be branded, some have questionable reliability, especially if not regularly serviced / cleaned and parts may or may not be available.
If bought knowing what you are getting into then could be a good choice.
If you have a brand that you have had a good experience with, pease do feel free to share so others can consider it.
Cheers
@@ExploreVanUK I took my chinese diesel heater and unscrewed it after one year of constant use and it was so clean inside that when i rubbed interior with my finger, my finger was clean. It cost about £130 and will run longer than your car. If for some reason it go bust you just buy another one because it's cheap.
Sounds like you got a good one, as there are quite a few examples of failure in first year - do feel free to share a link to the specific one as it could be useful.
It's often a question of what's important, personally as we use the van year round knowing the heater is going to work and not fail is important to us. With the proven designs, knowing who has produced it / parts available for servicing etc it is worth spending that bit more for us, as a family in mid winter with no heating is not a happy one :-D
But definitely down to individual choice and definitely see the market for Chinese diesel heaters. The competition for the big boys isn't a bad thing either.
@@iknowbest5034 which one did you buy?
@@parisagh9208 Buy 8kw. They are all the same. The size is only difference. Fuel consumption is the same so buy the biggest.
Yeah I'd say electric is best for heating. Just have enough and the right kind of batteries. Solar helps but only fro three seasons.
Personally electric wouldn’t be my personal choice, unless on mains hook up. But if you are in a part of the world with long days, guaranteed sun and are happy to spend on Lithium batteries and lots of solar or run a generator then it may suit you.
@@ExploreVanUK I probably wouldn't use solar at first. I might do that later on but it's not that bad if you don't have a panel. Lithium is cheaper than a lot of other types of batteries now including deep cycle lead acid. The reason people are shy to lithium and get into lithium alternatives nowadays is because it's hard to setup. But if your willing to do it, you could save a lot of money, have a very capable system, and not have to pay for gas or wood. I feel like it's the best for any setup.
May be it’s different where you are by here in the U.K. a 100Ah LiFePO4 leisure battery is £750 (900 USD) so still a lot more expensive than an equivalent 200 Ah of AGM batteries which can be got for around £250. They are getting cheaper but not quite there yet for me. And to be confident of having heating for any length of time in any cooler climate you’d be looking at have a van load of batteries.
@@ExploreVanUK Yeah that's exactly what I mean. That battery is in my US market under the battle born brand name. That's a lithium alternative. It's not just a lithium battery, it's designed to be easier to install than plain lithium batteries, for people that don't want to learn how to install real lipo batteries. No lie it's pretty complex but it's more than worth it. All that extra cost is because you're paying for a conversion system and hardly any lithium. I don't like those batteries because they discourage people from trying to make battery setups themselves, and make people think that lithium isn't all that good when that's not even a real lithium battery. The cost is insane and I can't figure why anyone would buy them much less make all these videos about them unless of course there getting something for doing so $$. The worst part of it is that lithium it's actually cheaper than lead acid, and AGM. It's lighter, smaller, more power, lasts longer, for less money. Battle born is a brilliant company because they saw that they were hard to install and capitalized on people that don't have basic handyman or mechanical skills.
Vince Abednego building setups from Lithium cells is not something I’ve got the confidence or time to do and I’d never be able to make a recommendation to someone to do it. But if you’re happy to I hope it works out. A Battleborn 100Ah battery is 949 USD. Not exactly sure where you’re coming from.
forget the 1st choice,your van will be a house of smoke
If you go with cheap burner and don’t fit the flue properly may be. But with a quality burner and a properly fitted flue that is not an issue.
I'll just add it to another list of videos that gave zero actual good information, these are not the methods people are looking for when in Van life, something a little more practical on the market you could let us know about, that's strictly electricity.
Hi John, sorry to hear you didn’t find the video useful, I’m afraid in my experience, when not on a site plugged in, heating by electric is just not practical. The amount of batteries you would need and the amount of solar to keep them charged just isn’t currently feasible for regular use. Hopefully in the future with new battery technologies this may change but at the moment for me it’s not an option.
@@ExploreVanUK just subscribed I was looking at some videos on your Channel.
from my research, a strictly electric option is a terrible idea for most van lifers unless you only want to stay at campsites with hookups (which is not the point of van life for many). I think this video gave lots of great information and I really appreciate it, thanks for sharing!
@@Mona_Leah this information was useless
@@johnhekel9038 🤣🤣🤡🤡