Eberspacher heater fitted, mmmm warm camping..

[JED THE SPREAD]

I fitted a hot air blowing Eberspacher Airtronic D2 heater in my mates van yesterday. I realize you probably have a different name for these awesome gadgets in the US etc but I thought it might make an alternative as I see lots of you use a propex.

You can use a separated diesel tank if you run a petrol van and they are cheaper to run than a propex here in the UK. Both Jake and I have them fitted in our Westies they keep the van toasty at high altitude as well as sub zero conditions with out any issues so far. Only draw back is they are a tad more noisy that a Propex.

Just thought I would share the love...

http://campervanculture.com/2011/03/fitting-a-d2-eberspacher-diesel-heater/

jed

 

[Herbie]

I fitted a hot air blowing Eberspacher Airtronic D2 heater in my mates van yesterday. I realize you probably have a different name for these awesome gadgets in the US etc but I thought it might make an alternative as I see lots of you use a propex.

You can use a separated diesel tank if you run a petrol van and they are cheaper to run than a propex here in the UK. Both Jake and I have them fitted in our Westies they keep the van toasty at high altitude as well as sub zero conditions with out any issues so far. Only draw back is they are a tad more noisy that a Propex.

Just thought I would share the love...

http://campervanculture.com/2011/03/fitting-a-d2-eberspacher-diesel-heater/

jed

Thanks for sharing. I've had my eye on the D2 since I saw an install over on the Samba. Looks to be just the ticket for an efficient and easy-to-install furnace system. As you say, I planned to run a small separate diesel tank as those things are ridiculously efficient. (the install I saw on the Samba the guy used a 1 gallon fuel cell from a Jr. Dragster, I think)

The only problem with these in North America is that they are EXPEN$IVE. Still, if it means not having to find a place to mount a propane tank, etc. and I get a proper vented furnace, it sounds like the right tool for the job.

 

[ExpoMike]

Doing some research on the pro/cons of these two systems, the two issues I have really found the diesel heater is the noise (but I guess the new muffler helps a lot) and with the crappy low sulfer diesel in the US, they can cause issues with the burners carboning up and causing problems.

 

[Herbie]

Doing some research on the pro/cons of these two systems, the two issues I have really found the diesel heater is the noise (but I guess the new muffler helps a lot) and with the crappy low sulfer diesel in the US, they can cause issues with the burners carboning up and causing problems.

This is one area where doing the install on a Gas engine is actually a plus - apparently the Samba guys are running these things on straight kerosene which burns super clean. I suppose you could do the same on an existing Diesel, if you can stomach losing the "cool factor" of "my heater runs from this big fuel tank".

I don't find the noise too bad, at least on all the videos I've seen where the guys move the camera/mic from inside the cabin to outside. The muffler seems to do a good job and the sound is exported outside the vehicle just as well as the fumes! The "jet engine whine" isn't supposed to be much above sub-audible if the unit is mounted correctly - for reference one Samba installer said he was getting some noise from the metering fuel pump ticking during operation, and fixed it by using a rubber isolator on the pump mount. If he could hear the pump ticking, I have to wonder how loud the rest of the system could be.

Anyhow, I apparently don't have enough things on my plate right now (or I'm getting too close to "ready" for OvEx11), so I went ahead and put a bid on a used D2 on eBay!