Propane vs Diesel Heating Units

[Treefarmer]

Does anyone have any experience with diesel on demand hot water/heating units? We are considering going with a diesel Truma unit rather than the propane Truma (in a travel trailer). Our truck is diesel, so we always have some extra fuel on hand anyway. I assume you have to fill a diesel heating unit tank by hand. If they are efficient, I don't think the diesel usage would be that much. I was also wondering how much more maintenance, if any, the diesel units require. Given how popular they are, they must be as reliable as propane. It seems like Kimberley, for one, favors the diesel units. Thanks!

 

[SBSYNCRO]

If it was me, I'd go diesel and just plumb the fuel line to your existing main fuel tank and never worry about it again. Unless you already deal with propane fills, in which case propane has the advantage of not smelling like burning diesel when operating. Propane probably pulls a little bit less power since there is no glow plug on startup or shut down. I don't know about propane furnaces, but carbon build-up in the diesel heating chamber is something that will require periodic maintenance (seasonal or maybe every other season - check with Trump to see what they recommend). I'm just speaking from my experience with the Webasto and Chinese "canister" style diesel heaters.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Have you looked at those Wallas diesel range heaters?

 

[Treefarmer]

Have you looked at those Wallas diesel range heaters?

Not yet, but I will. That's a new name to us. In the on demand segment for heat and "tankless" hot water, we're familiar with Truma and Aqua Hot. We've used the Aqua Hot propane system for eleven years. It's been reliable nd almost maintenance free. Truma seems to be smaller and more efficient that Aqua Hot.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

The Walles maybe an option mostly for stove aspect but a little extra heat in conjunction with your truma for those cold ID nights (in Aug)

 

[Treefarmer]

The Walles maybe an option mostly for stove aspect but a little extra heat in conjunction with your truma for those cold ID nights (in Aug)

To paraphrase: The coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in Idaho.

 

[NomadNorman]

@Treefarmer What?! You mean you're not installing one of these in your Kingdom like me ?

 

[Treefarmer]

@Treefarmer What?! You mean you're not installing one of these in your Kingdom like me ?

View attachment 755556

We're sticking with propane. But the way the world is going, we won't rule out the wood burner option in the future!?

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

We're sticking with propane. But the way the world is going, we won't rule out the wood burner option in the future!?

What swayed your decision?

 

[firewhite]

I will stick with my propex

 

[Treefarmer]

What swayed your decision?

I think diesel is an interesting choice if you have an RV with a diesel engine. That way, you already have a tank on board, and it's being refreshed on a regular basis. On a trailer like ours, you need to install a diesel fuel system. A propane line is just an easier, less expensive option (even though we already have a diesel tow vehicle). We also aren't using much propane. It's just to run the Truma for on demand hot water and heat. Everything else is electric. Since we'll use so little, the storage longevity of propane vs diesel was also a factor.