Dickinson Marine Heater in a camper?

[uriedog]

I posted this on RV net, but did not really get the answer I was looking for. Maybe a bigger audience here.

Anybody using a Dickinson (or other eg tiny tot) type propane or solid fuel heater?

I am thinking of putting one in my Bigfoot, but would like to here some real world numbers of how they work In cold temps. I use it for skiing, probably spend 20 nights a winter in it. I live in Alberta Canada so temps as low as -30'c over night (don't really go out if its supposed to be colder then that)

I have a forced air furnace now (don't really like it... loud, don't want to depend on batteries) I have a spare gravity heater but there are some big install complications.

The Dickinson has a nice flexible chimney which may make installation easier.

 

[fluffyprinceton]

5500 btu's for the biggest propane model...a web searched Bigfoot has a 30,000 btu's furnace in it...

So...not enough heat for the conditions you describe. They have diesel models @16,500 btu's which is more like it but you'd still want some sort of fan set up to move the heat around. They are quiet & pleasant to live with...Moe

 

[pugslyyy]

I posted this on RV net, but did not really get the answer I was looking for. Maybe a bigger audience here.

Anybody using a Dickinson (or other eg tiny tot) type propane or solid fuel heater?

I am thinking of putting one in my Bigfoot, but would like to here some real world numbers of how they work In cold temps. I use it for skiing, probably spend 20 nights a winter in it. I live in Alberta Canada so temps as low as -30'c over night (don't really go out if its supposed to be colder then that)

I have a forced air furnace now (don't really like it... loud, don't want to depend on batteries) I have a spare gravity heater but there are some big install complications.

The Dickinson has a nice flexible chimney which may make installation easier.

I've seen older campers with either a closet or the toilet pulled out and a little solid fuel stove put in its place. I like the idea, just can't figure out how to do it - I don't have the space/clearances required and don't want to rip anything out.

 

[uriedog]

Thought of that. But I kinda like the toilet

 

[pugslyyy]

Thought of that. But I kinda like the toilet

If I could figure out how to fit a little woodstove in my Bigfoot it would already be there.

 

[dwh]

Drop a PM to a user here on ExPo named Shachagra.

He put a fireplace like that (diesel I'm sure) in the truck he built for him and his family to live in for a year touring Europe. He should be able to give you some reliable feedback.


I doubt 5500 BTU will be enough at the temps you are describing. For propane, I would probably go with a couple of catalytic heaters. They are lower profile and it shouldn't be too much trouble to find a couple of flat spots to mount them.

Olympian Wave comes in 3k, 6k and 8k BTU, but they are adjustable so you can cut their output by around half by turning them down. They aren't vented though, so you'll need to leave a window cracked to allow fresh air in or they'll burn up all the oxygen in the space:

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-57351-O...id=1417289627&sr=1-1&keywords=olympian+wave+8


There are also vented catalytic heaters, like the PlatCat:

http://ventedcatheater.com/2.html


You also might drop a PM to user Carlyle here on ExPo who has a vented catalytic heater in his Alaskan camper, which he and the wife use a lot and in the snow. I don't recall offhand who made the heater he has. I remember he posted about having to replace the fan motor (under warranty) on his.

His build thread is here, but it's many pages:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...r-Build-Up?highlight=catalytic+heater+alaskan




Just FYI: Propane contains 91,000 BTU per gallon, so if you run 9k BTU of heating, you'll get around 10 hours burn time per gallon.

 

[dwh]

Forgot to mention:

Best bet would probably be the Propex. One Propex dealer, who is well-known and respected here on ExPo is AT Overland:

http://store.adventuretrailers.com/categories/HEATER/

 

[mspeters]

I like the Dickson's for a charming vew of the fire, they warm up boats well, but it's not a 30K BTU blast then a thermostat control propane. Another pricier option is a Wallas diesel marine stove top / heater combo. The top props up for a heater. May have more saftey concerns in a camper that a boat. Too easy to set something on the top when in heat mode.

 

[mallthus]

Quite a lot of folks in the Tiny House scene report using these with great success. One big difference is that their spaces, although similarly sized to your trailer, are usually MUCH better insulated than typical RVs. Can't speak to the particulars of the Bigfoot.

 

[Doc Foster]

I have read about people using them to hear Airstream trailers, which are much bigger:
http://www.airstreamfever.com/?p=313
http://bluemoonairstream.blogspot.com/2013/10/let-there-be-heat.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427/dickinson-propane-heater-placement-118538.html

 

[uriedog]

Yes I have also heard that. Maybe a cruise of the airstream forum to see what sort of weather they are using them in.

My camper has been gutted and remodeled somewhat inside. I do have room for a solid fuel heater, or gas gravity heater in the center of the camper. Its the venting that is the issue.

Maybe I should look at building a small solid fuel stove, similar to a tiny tot. I can do plenty of testing on my own before I go install it in the camper. Don't need to buy install then find out it won't give enough heat then.

hmmmmm.....

 

[Arclight]

This guy has a Kimberly woodstove in a small Toyota RV that he lives in year-round in Alaska:

http://timmystoyota.blogspot.com/

Arclight

 

[ersatzknarf]

I posted this on RV net, but did not really get the answer I was looking for. Maybe a bigger audience here.

Anybody using a Dickinson (or other eg tiny tot) type propane or solid fuel heater?

I am thinking of putting one in my Bigfoot, but would like to here some real world numbers of how they work In cold temps. I use it for skiing, probably spend 20 nights a winter in it. I live in Alberta Canada so temps as low as -30'c over night (don't really go out if its supposed to be colder then that)

I have a forced air furnace now (don't really like it... loud, don't want to depend on batteries) I have a spare gravity heater but there are some big install complications.

The Dickinson has a nice flexible chimney which may make installation easier.

Here's the most recent thread I could find on the Dickinson heaters...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-of-this-FWC-custom-build?p=686230#post686230

There is an older thread on a custom build that Stan posted photos of, but I cannot seem to reach it...

 

[uriedog]

So after much research i decided to go with the Fatsco Tiny Tot. Small round cast iron. Only one issue, can't get one here before late January. Not soon enough, as our entire Christmas holiday is based on the camper being operational.

So given the fact that I am a fabricator for a living, I will just build my own. 6 x 6x 1/4" HSS 12" tall will give more volume then the Tiny Tot in the same amount of space. I can improve on their design by adding a vent to pull combustion air from outside instead of from the interior. And I can add a baffle inside to retain more heat also help keep the flue from getting too hot. Doors will be made from 1/4" plate so no warping there.

We plan to install it in the center of the camper, so it should be easy to distribute warm air around with a couple small computer fans

Starting tonight as I have only one week to build, test and install it in the camper.

I'll post some build pics on my OLC build thread.

 

[Josh_G]

that is fantastic. Would like to see a kimberly stove in action sometime.

This guy has a Kimberly woodstove in a small Toyota RV that he lives in year-round in Alaska:

http://timmystoyota.blogspot.com/

Arclight