Diesel heaters are becoming increasingly popular among vanlifers, especially as gas becomes more difficult to come by and costs more. Diesel heaters for campervans are usually made by Eperspacher or Webasto, two of the most common brands. These types of motorhome heating systems are reliable but can be costly to install, so make sure you’ll use your van a lot before you purchase one. You can find cheaper models on Amazon and eBay, often from the Far East, but since the names are constantly changing, it’s impossible to determine whether they’re reliable. You should choose a broker with a good reputation. Poorly built heating systems can leak carbon monoxide, which can kill you in your sleep.
What is the power requirement for diesel heating?
Typically, motorhome diesel heaters produce two kilowatts, five kilowatts, or eight kilowatts of power. In motorhomes, caravans, and campervans, which are smaller in space, the 5kw model is usually installed; this is more than enough to provide you with great heat output from your heater. The second option is to get a system with a diesel tank which ensures that you won’t accidentally empty the fuel tank of your vehicle. Alternatively, you can get a system that will feed directly from the main fuel tank of your vehicle, which will allow you to save weight and space.
Is it possible to use an electric heater in a campervan?
Yeah. Electric heating is commonly found in vans. There are different kinds of heaters, some are blown air, which is very efficient, and some are freestanding electric heaters you plug into the wall socket. Several freestanding heaters are oil-filled radiators, which are effective at maintaining an ambient temperature in a room. They served us well on the boat for many years. If you’re driving all day and stopping late at night, they may not be suitable since they don’t heat up the space quickly. In addition to draining a lot of electricity, they are also quite energy-intensive.
