Practical items for camping—a diesel heater

[HarperWking]

If you’re into camping like I am, you need to try a diesel heater. When the temperature drops, it can help you keep out the cold.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first. I thought it would be noisy, smelly, or just too complicated. But I think the diesel heater will be fine as long as it is installed correctly
After using it once—I was sold.
On freezing nights, when it’s well below zero outside, I just turn it on, and within minutes, my tent feels like a cozy cabin.Super comfortable.
It’s way quieter than I expected, and I barely notice it’s running. The best part? I don’t have to constantly feed it fuel or babysit it. That means I can focus on making dinner, taking photos, or just sitting back and watching the snow fall. But dont forget to choose fuel-efficient and quiet ones, which can reduce trouble.

 

[Robmac]

Although we are primarily a motorhome/campervan site all are welcome.

Many of us have Diesel heaters fitted in our vans in fact I have just had one fitted - obviously I've not had a chance to use it yet due to the weather but I'm confident it will be effective.

A quick Google search tells me that you have joined other groups today with the same intro - do I feel a sell coming on?

Forgive me if I'm wrong but it happens a lot.

 

[Geek]

The issue with diesel heaters is their 12v power needs. They draw about 1.0 to 1.5A when running, which is OK. The problem is that they draw about 10A for five to ten minutes when starting and when stopping.
If they detect a low voltage whilst starting, they throw a tantrum and an error code. So you need a good battery!

 

[wildebus]

Although we are primarily a motorhome/campervan site all are welcome.

Many of us have Diesel heaters fitted in our vans in fact I have just had one fitted - obviously I've not had a chance to use it yet due to the weather but I'm confident it will be effective.

A quick Google search tells me that you have joined other groups today with the same intro - do I feel a sell coming on?

You are so cynical! When a link to a eBay listing just happens to come next I am sure you will be dying to get one
(Most forums don't allow a link on the first or second post for some strange reason )

Forgive me if I'm wrong but it happens a lot.

 

[trevexess]

Had a diesel heater fitted (Webasto) about 3 years ago, best item we have ever put in our van, which is now 14 years old. It is super efficient, instant heat, never had any battery problems when starting or using....

 

[myvanwy]

Ill keep watching for the punch line.
Joined at 3.15 am? Light sleeper.

 

[Livotlout]

West Coast USA is eight hours behind us.

 

[Fazerloz]

Although we are primarily a motorhome/campervan site all are welcome.

Many of us have Diesel heaters fitted in our vans in fact I have just had one fitted - obviously I've not had a chance to use it yet due to the weather but I'm confident it will be effective.

A quick Google search tells me that you have joined other groups today with the same intro - do I feel a sell coming on?

Forgive me if I'm wrong but it happens a lot.

Just for you Rob.

2kw 4kw 6kw Hybrid Diesel Water And Air Combi Heater Rv Heater Diesel Gasoline Methane Liquefied Natural Gas - Buy For Truma Combi Heater for Jp Combi Heater for Nf Combi Heater Product on Alibaba.com

2kw 4kw 6kw Hybrid Diesel Water And Air Combi Heater Rv Heater Diesel Gasoline Methane Liquefied Natural Gas - Buy For Truma Combi Heater for Jp Combi Heater for Nf Combi Heater Product on Alibaba.com

www.alibaba.com

 

[Geek]

Had a diesel heater fitted (Webasto) about 3 years ago, best item we have ever put in our van, which is now 14 years old. It is super efficient, instant heat, never had any battery problems when starting or using....

Webasto and Eberspacher are the best ones, but the Chinese ones are simply cheaper clones to the same design.
Some of them are a tenth of the price, so some corners have been cut.
The good thing is that the parts are mostly interchangeable.

 

[Fazerloz]

Webasto and Eberspacher are the best ones, but the Chinese ones are simply cheaper clones to the same design.
Some of them are a tenth of the price, so some corners have been cut.
The good thing is that the parts are mostly interchangeable.

The biggest corner that has been cut is how much they make on them. Plus no price fixing like Webasto and Eber

 

[Robmac]

The one I bought was made in China and upgraded in the UK. Glow plug, pipes and exhaust replaced, 3rd party controller, remote and software and it came to £625.

That included him driving here and fitting it on my drive - including plumbing it into the main tank. I was quite happy with that.

 

[Nabsim]

The one I bought was made in China and upgraded in the UK. Glow plug, pipes and exhaust replaced, 3rd party controller, remote and software and it came to £625.

That included him driving here and fitting it on my drive - including plumbing it into the main tank. I was quite happy with that.

an Eberspacher glow plug costs more than a lot of the Chinese heaters lol

 

[wildebus]

took me 3 goes to get a working chinese heater! first one I only got a partial refund for the POS. the second one I insisted on a full refund immediately it didn't work prefectly on the bench before testing.

£625 for a fully fitted heater is not bad, but can't deny if I were paying for a heater to be fitted, I would be inclined to pay a bit more and go for a pukka Eberspacher one installed, where you wouldn't need to replace brand new stuff just be have it working to start with.

 

[Robmac]

took me 3 goes to get a working chinese heater! first one I only got a partial refund for the POS. the second one I insisted on a full refund immediately it didn't work prefectly on the bench before testing.

£625 for a fully fitted heater is not bad, but can't deny if I were paying for a heater to be fitted, I would be inclined to pay a bit more and go for a pukka Eberspacher one installed, where you wouldn't need to replace brand new stuff just be have it working to start with.

I must admit that I was looking for an Eberspacher or Webasto originally, but I saw the fitted price on this one, read the reviews and thought I'd give it a go. The one I chose also came with a 24month warranty.

The reviews were mainly on the VW forums so seemed genuine and most people referred to the fitter as a hard working and genuinely nice young man which I couldn't agree more with.

Craft‘A’Camper - Mobile Diesel Heater Fitting

Just wanted to give a thumbs up to Josh at Craft A Camper for fitting my diesel heater yesterday. Josh does mobile diesel heater installations at the comfort of your home. second time I've used him and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone on here. https://www.craftacamper.com/

www.t6forum.com

Loved his van as well. His electrics make most look puny - 2 x 628AH Fogstars and a 5KW inverter!

 

[mistericeman]

The biggest corner that has been cut is how much they make on them. Plus no price fixing like Webasto and Eber

Biggest corners cut are initial research and design costs
Along with material quality
And component testing
Component compliance

I've been directly involved with, service and repair of eberspacher units for 40 years plus....

I'm not saying that ALL Chinese heaters are junk...
Far from it....

BUT blaming cost differences between Chinese clones and genuine eberspacher on profit alone is frankly a very simplistic view....

Hundreds of thousands of eberspacher units running pretty much 24/7 on wagons/fire engines/utility vehicles without much in the way of intervention....

And page after page of moaning about the cheap Chinese diesel heaters either not firing up OR needing new boards/fan motors, out of the box....

There is a place in life for both BUT frankly there is a reason for the price difference AND it's NOT just profit

 

[Nabsim]

I wanted a backup to my eberspacher after that started giving problems. Bought the Maxpeedingrods bluetooth heater which I started using a year ago January when the Eber packed up on top of Cairngorm mountain. I could have got cheaper but was thinking the QC would be better on a more expensive one. So far so good good

 

[Fazerloz]

Biggest corners cut are initial research and design costs
Along with material quality
And component testing
Component compliance

I've been directly involved with, service and repair of eberspacher units for 40 years plus....

I'm not saying that ALL Chinese heaters are junk...
Far from it....

BUT blaming cost differences between Chinese clones and genuine eberspacher on profit alone is frankly a very simplistic view....

Hundreds of thousands of eberspacher units running pretty much 24/7 on wagons/fire engines/utility vehicles without much in the way of intervention....

And page after page of moaning about the cheap Chinese diesel heaters either not firing up OR needing new boards/fan motors, out of the box....

There is a place in life for both BUT frankly there is a reason for the price difference AND it's NOT just profit

Nobody will ever know what the true price that ebers and webasto should have been due to years of price fixing. R&D costs would have been covered years ago with the grossly inflated fixed prices .

Eberspacher and Webasto, both German automotive parts producers, were fined by the European Commission for price fixing and customer allocation regarding parking heaters and auxiliary heaters. The Commission found they had breached EU antitrust rules. Eberspacher was fined €68 million, though this was reduced due to their cooperation with the investigation and a settlement agreement. Webasto received immunity for revealing the cartel to the Commission and was not fined.

The investigation revealed that the two companies coordinated prices and divided customers in the European market for fuel-operated parking heaters (used to heat parked vehicles) and auxiliary heaters (used to support the heating system of a running vehicle). The Commission's decision was finalized on June 17, 2015, after a settlement procedure involving both companies. Eberspacher's fine was further reduced by 10% as part of the settlement agreement.

The 68 million fine in europe is just a drop in the ocean compared with the claims from USA and Canada

If you choose to support and defend companies that use such practises of deliberately ripping the arse out of people then fair enough.
The Chinese have only done the same by ripping them off.

 

[mistericeman]

Nobody will ever know what the true price that ebers and webasto should have been due to years of price fixing. R&D costs would have been covered years ago with the grossly inflated fixed prices .

Eberspacher and Webasto, both German automotive parts producers, were fined by the European Commission for price fixing and customer allocation regarding parking heaters and auxiliary heaters. The Commission found they had breached EU antitrust rules. Eberspacher was fined €68 million, though this was reduced due to their cooperation with the investigation and a settlement agreement. Webasto received immunity for revealing the cartel to the Commission and was not fined.

The investigation revealed that the two companies coordinated prices and divided customers in the European market for fuel-operated parking heaters (used to heat parked vehicles) and auxiliary heaters (used to support the heating system of a running vehicle). The Commission's decision was finalized on June 17, 2015, after a settlement procedure involving both companies. Eberspacher's fine was further reduced by 10% as part of the settlement agreement.

The 68 million fine in europe is just a drop in the ocean compared with the claims from USA and Canada

If you choose to support and defend companies that use such practises of deliberately ripping the arse out of people then fair enough.
The Chinese have only done the same by ripping them off.

And you seriously don't think that goes, on across pretty much every single item you buy....

From the motorhome/campervan to the Blue box bits that we install....

All I'm saying is you view is blinkered somewhat IF you insist that a £100 Chinese diesel heater is made to the same standard as a eberspacher unit....

Or a ebay MPPT controller compared to, a Victron MPPT.

It's really not that simple....

Fortunately we the consumers have choice.... And no one is currently holding guns against, out heads to buy one over another.

 

[trevskoda]

And you seriously don't think that goes, on across pretty much every single item you buy....

From the motorhome/campervan to the Blue box bits that we install....

All I'm saying is you view is blinkered somewhat IF you insist that a £100 Chinese diesel heater is made to the same standard as a eberspacher unit....

Or a ebay MPPT controller compared to, a Victron MPPT.

It's really not that simple....

Fortunately we the consumers have choice.... And no one is currently holding guns against, out heads to buy one over another.

Half that price these days.

 

[edina]

I have both, a cheap one in my workshop and an ex BT van eber in the camper. The cheap one has a remote which I find useful for the workshop, but wouldn’t use in a van. The eber came with a better quality exhaust, but I had to fit a multi pin plug and socket to the controller cable because it had been cut to make removal easier and I had to change the cut off time.
The cheapo has run virtually every day during the last 3 winters with no problems and the eber in the camper has performed as expected.