Cabin Heater

[Toolman]

I found this heater and I'm wondering if anyone has one installed in there rig and how it works ?

http://www.northstarflameless.com/new/rec-main.html

If not this one what are you guys using ?

 

[dwh]

Looks basically the same as an Olympian Wave:

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/olympian-wave-catalytic-safety-heaters/1630

http://www.google.com/search?q=cata...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Pretty popular heaters. Catalytic type that burn propane with no exhaust, but they do consume oxygen and create condensation so you need to leave a window open a bit.

One reason they are popular is that they use no electricity.

 

[BigAl]

Is there any danger of carbon monoxide with these?

 

[BaseCamp]

I installed the suburban nt-16se in my van, thats what I've used for every camper I've had, first thing I replace. That one tends to work the best, safest, barely uses any propane. I don't really trust those catalytic heaters, the propane or whatever chemical thats being emitted has to go somewhere. I know some people use them and swear by them, but if you have to ability to have a forced air furnace with an exhaust go for it, heats better and is safer, how I look at it.

 

[BaseCamp]

They've got a 12k btu heater as well if you think the 16k is a little overkill, nt-12se.

 

[dsw4x4]

Catalytic heaters are a open flame in a closed space. Everyone says to crack a window to vent the space you are heating. This is to replenish the oxygen that is being used. The bottom line is that, when using any air/fuel burning device in an RV, sufficient ventilation must be provided to replace that which is used up and to allow for the release of the deadly gaseous byproducts that are produced. So how much is enough fresh air? If you have ever known or talked to anyone that has brush with death from carbon monoxide poisoning it WILL be more than enough to convince you to never burn a open flame in an enclosed space while your sleeping. Carbon Monoxide is the silent killer because it is tasteless, odorless, colorless. It is the number one cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the world. What happens if you are sleeping in a infected area you will feel sick with a head ache and nausea if you are lucky enough to wake up you will not figure out what is going on unless someone else sees the occupants condition and does something about it. My friends were lucky enough to live they were on a boat on a dock and someone was walking by while they were stumbling around in a daze trying to figure out why everyone was sick. If you really want to use a catalytic us a gas detector or two. I do not mean to sound like someones dad but dead is dead and spending a extra one or two hundred dollars so i can sleep sound at night and never have to worry about waking up in the morning is worth it to me. If you do not plan on using a cat to sleep it would be a different story. If everyone is awake and you use it heat it up in the am and before you go to bed in the pm, I would think that would greatly reduce your chances of having problems. I know there are people that will post on here and say they have been using them for years with out any problem at all. And I am sure they are right but it only takes once. This why you will never see an RV builder install a cat type heater, they do not want the liability.
Derek

 

[Toolman]

As usual... that's why I love this site.... information is priceless.. last night I was wondering about air pressurized water tank instead of a water pump... well I found a thread and it proved to me that while it's possible it's easier to just run a sure flo... I'll look into the forced air unit.

I will probably only use the heater to warm up the van at night before bed and in the morning.. I don't like the heater on in my house at night any way.

 

[1leglance]

I had the crap scared out of me while camping this weekend.
Sportsmobile uses the Espar diesel air heaters and they rock, they can cook you right out of your rig with the amount of heat that is produced on a trickle of diesel.
And there is no combustion gases in the rig, so there should be no CO worries right?

Well SMB still puts a CO detector in the vehicle and I always kind of blew it off, except that I had not completely shut the back doors of the van and just as I drifted off to sleep in my warm and toasty van (had the timer set to shut off in 10 more mins) I get the HONK HONK HONK loud CO alarm.

Turns out that I didn't really smell much or think much of it but there was enough fumes through the cracked back door to be bad.

Luckily I was able to use the Fanastic Fan in the roof and open the door to knock out all the fumes. Close up everything tight and then restart the heater.
No more alarms but I gotta say I was freaked out for a bit.

No matter what heater you have in your rig it is worth the few bucks to have the CO detector and I will be thanking SMB in person very soon.

 

[BaseCamp]

dsw, what are you using in your van?
lance, I met your friend here in Telluride, actually in sawpit, he drives some landrover, I know he is on here as well, I think he mentioned that you two had seen my van in Moab. My friend kirk just got himself a Chevy Van AWD and has it outfitted for him and his wheelchair, I'm sure he'd like to check out your rig, so would I, if you make it back to moab this next off season(april/may) let me know cause I pretty much just park my van there for the entire time.

 

[SWbySWesty]

I use a Mr. Heater buddy heater. I don't run it while sleeping; just before bed and before getting up or if I wake up cold.
A good alternative that maybe some van guys should be aware of are the Propex Heaters. They are the heater of choice for the Westfalia people on theSamba. Carries a big price tag though ~600-800 + installation. If I had the real need for a heater more than two or three times a year I'd get one.