kimbo4444
Guest
hi to all im new i wanted to no if there is a simple way to heat the back of the van in winter when i am driving many thanks to all
scotsy
Guest
I agree, i have just installed a Webasto diesel powered heater in the back of my sprinter conversion and it has inlet and exhaust pipes underneath the van so is in effect 'room sealed' so none of the air in the vehicle is a part of the combustion process even though the burner/blower unit is inside the van under the seat in the back. I see no reason this couldn't be used 'on the move' but await more knowledgeable people's answers?
They are not however cheap to buy (even second hand they fetch £300 easily) so could you not run a small 12v blow heater utilising the alternators 'overcharge' from a cig socket from the cab (vehicle battery)
Ian
Northerner
Guest
I'm sorry that you've not yet had any useful replies, apart from the one above. I also suspect that you have no idea what an Eber or Propex is, and I doubt that you have one fitted. There is no easy way, as free-standing heaters powered by gas cylinders are obviously dangerous in the event of a crash and diverting heat from the cab simply means that you'll be cold when driving.
The best way is to ensure that as little heat as possible escapes. Insulate any roof lights using pieces of closed-cell foam (see below). Draw the blinds on any windows not needed for vision and try to block any draughts around fridges etc. When you park up and start cooking you must ensure that there is adequate ventilation though. If the back of the 'van is well insulated and draught proof, the heat that percolates through from the cab will help. Direct the vents towards the back and put the fan on high!
Closed-cell-foam mats are available from any camping shop for a few pounds. They have incredible insulation values and you can sleep on them on snow and be warm. Cut them a couple of inches larger than the aperture and they'll just hold themselves in. And of course you can then slide the roof light's cover shut to be certain.
The best way is to ensure that as little heat as possible escapes. Insulate any roof lights using pieces of closed-cell foam (see below). Draw the blinds on any windows not needed for vision and try to block any draughts around fridges etc. When you park up and start cooking you must ensure that there is adequate ventilation though. If the back of the 'van is well insulated and draught proof, the heat that percolates through from the cab will help. Direct the vents towards the back and put the fan on high!
Closed-cell-foam mats are available from any camping shop for a few pounds. They have incredible insulation values and you can sleep on them on snow and be warm. Cut them a couple of inches larger than the aperture and they'll just hold themselves in. And of course you can then slide the roof light's cover shut to be certain.
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Firefox
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You could use a Webasto or Eber (diesel heater). However the original poster asked for a simple way. Webasto/Eber would require considerable investment and installation.
It's not advisable to have a Propex (gas heater) on while running. If you have an accident, open gas lines could lead to a break and an explosion. Though, many people will tell you they have done it for years without problem and therefore little risk etc etc. Your call on that one, I'm just letting you know
A propex heater also requires quite a bit of an investment.
I'd still maintain my original solution of taking some ducting from the cab heating system and ducting it to a passenger seat behind the can (I assume that's what you need it for) would be the simplest. This would however be subject to routing and travel length, but if you put your cab fan on you should be able to blast the air through. It may not be the most efficient but it will work, combined with Northerners suggestion to insulate the back area. 12V heater may also work though can be a fair load on the alternator used continuously.
It's not advisable to have a Propex (gas heater) on while running. If you have an accident, open gas lines could lead to a break and an explosion. Though, many people will tell you they have done it for years without problem and therefore little risk etc etc. Your call on that one, I'm just letting you know
A propex heater also requires quite a bit of an investment.I'd still maintain my original solution of taking some ducting from the cab heating system and ducting it to a passenger seat behind the can (I assume that's what you need it for) would be the simplest. This would however be subject to routing and travel length, but if you put your cab fan on you should be able to blast the air through. It may not be the most efficient but it will work, combined with Northerners suggestion to insulate the back area. 12V heater may also work though can be a fair load on the alternator used continuously.
Guernsey Donkey
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Hi Kimbo and :welcome: to the site.
kimbowbill
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Hi Kimbo, you nearly have the same name as me, thats another useless bit of information that will annoy one member :wacko:
Northerner
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Doesn't annoy, me but I do wonder what makes people answer posts with:
I can't help you myself but I'm sure that someone will be along soon who will.
Very strange!
David & Ann
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That's what makes the world go around, rich and poor, loud people and quiet ones, clever and foolish, handsome and ugly....etc...etc. Myself, I am older and wiser and take things in my stride.
kimbowbill
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Did i mention your name? think your a bit paranoid Northerner, i dont know where is says, "this will annoy Northerner", can anyone else see this?????. And yes people are strange, you've just prooved that.:dance:
caspar
Guest
May sound stupid, but if people in the back of ours are cold, they wrap coats, sleeping bags, blankets etc... round them.
scampa
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Sorry Northerner, can't help with that query, but I'm sure someone will be able to answer it shortly for you?
At a guess though, I'd say that because this section is for new members to introduce themselves, some existing members take the chance to say Hello and welcome them to the site, even though they can't help with their question at the time.
And don't worry Kimbo, there are several thousand members on this site, and every one of them will be happy to help you if they can. There's only a very small handful who pretend to be grumpy, or seem to look for things to complain about, but it doesn't last long as they soon grow out of it!
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kimbowbill
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Northerner
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Even stranger! Where did I say that I thought you meant me? You mentioned that one member may be annoyed by fatuous posts. I happened to mentioned that fatuous post don't annoy me but I do find them strange. If you were to mention that there is one member who enjoys flogging himself with a wet copy of Practical Motorhome and I were to post that this practice doesn't appeal to me, but I find it strange, would you assume that I also actually flog myself with a wet magazine occasionally?
I hope that no one posts that there is a member on this site who sleeps with his dogs. I'll be scared to death of commenting in case you think that I also sleep with dogs! Whatever happened to free speech? As I said, there are some strange posts on here occasionally!
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Northerner
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Sorry, somehow managed to post the same response twice!
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Northerner
Guest
And you may notice that I was one of the ones who actually helped, as opposed to just posting a fatuous comment. And in many cases they don't actually welcome them! It's as though they feel a need to comment even though they've nothing to say. If someone joins a forum and asks a sensible question I try to give them a sensible answer. If you look at some of the responses to this one you'll realise why this person may well just give up and join Motorhome Facts!
As for this site having thousands of members, not even hundreds I'm afraid, not that it's important. I would estimate fewer than 100 paying members and just a few hundred in total. This theory applies to all the motorhome forums. Fun boasts that 14,000 people have joined but, when there was a poll recently on which is the best forum, despite it urging all its members to vote over several weeks, it could only drum up about 300 votes. Yes, 14,000 people have joined Fun, but 13,500 have left! There were similar voting numbers for most of the other forums. I can't remember the number for this one but it was very low compared to the others. Not that this is important as this is a more specialised forum but we should at least keep things in perspective.
Finally, I wish certain people would stop sniping at others purely because they may not like them. It's like being stalked. BigPieEater has gone for a while thank God and he was one who'd have a go even if you weren't in the thread! It would be nice if certain people could treat each thread separately and forget the personalities.
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David & Ann
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Never mind Northerner, you are forgiven. that is what makes the world go around☺☺☺☺☺ I have done it myself☺☺☺ quite often infact☺☺☺
John H
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And I think this demonstrates why you have upset people. I too have frequently wondered why people post "I can't help but I'm sure someone else will" comments but I don't berate them for doing so. If that is their way of saying hello then what on earth is there to get hot under the collar about? On the other hand, people who say - as you have above - "my comment helped; yours was ridiculous" and say it in the aggressive way you sometimes do are people who provoke me to write a comment. Relax.