Let's Talk About Heating our Trailers.

[R_Lefebvre]

I've got a line a used Webasto gasoline fired water heater for a rediculously low price. I'm thinking about purchasing it, and setting it up to pump water into a heat exchanger which would be placed in the tent. I'm thinking the water intermediary will eliminate any chance of CO poisoning.

Anybody have thoughts on this?

 

[Martyn]

I've got a line a used Webasto gasoline fired water heater for a rediculously low price. I'm thinking about purchasing it, and setting it up to pump water into a heat exchanger which would be placed in the tent. I'm thinking the water intermediary will eliminate any chance of CO poisoning.

Anybody have thoughts on this?

Rob

So long as you have the air intake and exhaust located on the exterior in good airflow 0.5 meter or more apart any of these systems with a separate combustion from heating sides work great.

I just finished doing CO testing on our Propex heaters and I was surprised to see that during regular combustion there was zero CO on the exhaust side during the heating cycle.

The numbers did climb to 27 ppm as the furnace initially kicked in and then went through it's shut off cycle. If I unplugged the unit before the shut down cycle was complete the CO went up to 240 ppm on the exhaust.

The reading on the hot air side was zero.

I'd suggest if you are buying a used unit you test it for CO prior to installing it.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, the thinking is the unit would be installed somewhere in the bowels of my trailer, with warm water piped up to the living quarters. I actually wish it was propane, since the rest of the trailer will be rigged for propane but... This thing is $50, so what the heck.

I've thought about doing a similar setup with a propane fired hot water heater, but I just don't know how well one of those things would operate long-term used for heating in this way.

I really wasn't concerning myself with the CO from the exhaust, since it would be hard to find it's way into a living area. Is that folly?

Worst case, maybe I'll set this thing up on my truck. Would be nice to have an aux heat source.

 

[WMac]

:wings:Well, After alot of research, and looking for a good solution I settled on a propex HS 2000 from Martin. I will be doing a "portable" install simular to the unit Martin builds, only i will be constructing it myself.

Instead of building it into the Conquest, I went the portable way. As a Search and Rescuer, I will also be able to deploy the heater in our SAR communications trailer as well, when needed.

 

[gasman]

I've got a line a used Webasto gasoline fired water heater for a rediculously low price. I'm thinking about purchasing it, and setting it up to pump water into a heat exchanger which would be placed in the tent. I'm thinking the water intermediary will eliminate any chance of CO poisoning.

Anybody have thoughts on this?

Rob. we use tankless water heaters equiped with an air handler ( water to air heat exchanger) sized properly this will heat your house.. i have been thinking along this line for a tent heater myself . i was thinkin like an ecco temp. with a pump and a couple of rads would work . i was thinking also that maybe i would build somthing more along the lines of in floor heating , only in this case it would be under the matress... it can be done for sure i just havnt figured out the fine details yet ..

i dont think i would put that gasoline heater in your trailer .. dont your kids sleep in the trailer part? i wouldnt risk it . if the heater was outside the trailer it would be better

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I ended up missing out on that gasoline fired heater. Oh well. I am now considering the knock-off propane camping hot water heater at Canadian Tire. Not the Coleman, but the other one. I just don't know if the burner would really hold up to being on long-term. Would it carbon up, etc? What do you think?

So, where are you using tankless heaters for heating? Interesting.

My trailer is compartmentalized, so the heater would be in a seperate area, but yeah... I'm definitely adding a smoke detector at the least, and am looking for an affordable battery powered CO detector.

 

[deerslayer]

When I go hunting in northern Ontario, I pull the quads in a 17x7 enclosed cargo trailer. When we get to the destination we unload the gear, setup cots and sleep in it. I did A LOT of research on how to heat it. Something that would run all night and BE SAFE. Catalytic type heaters out of the question when you are sleeping, not so much for the CO but but that they consume alot of oxygen. Sure they have a low oxygen cutoff but I wouldn't trust my life with it.
Next How about a propane furnace? Besides the hassle of dealing with batteries, and other electrical circuitry, making them not 100% reliable. They consume A LOT of propane. I would have to bring 100# just for heating plus whatever I need for cooking.
Gotta be something better.
How about a wood stove. Tried that. The heat out of it the best kind (radiant) and dries anything out quickly. BUT. You gotta have good wood and a big heavy stove to last all night. Where I go hunting its all softwood. Not the best and then it produces a lot of creosote Which is dangerous. Plus waking up 3 times a night to stoke it or add wood is not fun either.
Theres gotta be something better.
Then I found:

http://www.pioneerspaceheaters.com/trekker.html

I bought one. Now they are not the cheapest but I couldn't be happier. One week of heating on 25L of diesel. Extremely good radiant heat. No electricity no pumps just gravity fed. All the advantages of a wood stove but all you gotta do is giver diesel. And its small, really small. I only have to wake up to turn it down cause it gets hot in there. Very reliable and simple Its so basic it will last a lifetime. The brains are its special gas valve which is made in Germany so it must be good lol. This is the type stuff they use in the arctic when they are looking for diamonds or oil lol.

Sorry for the long post. I didnt read the entire thread. I ran across this forum and saw this thread and I joined just to share this. Hope it helps someone.
CHEERS,
Ian

EDIT: Never knew how small your trailers are. I guess a really good sleeping bag would help.

 

[gasman]

So, where are you using tankless heaters for heating? Interesting.

.

rob this is becoming more and more popular in the new home market.. especiallly in the town home/ condo situation but now even some of the larger homes are doin it.. the rinnia is pretty versatile .. not only will it give endless hot water you can add an air handler or in floor heating , they work very well if set up properly..

thats kida what got me thinkin bout a undermatress system for the trailer , that would be really cool..

 

[FotoValpen]

Has anyone else here tried one of these? http://www.polarn-innovation.se/engelska/polarn.htm

I have the military version of the "Compact 8000" under Compactheater or you can see the military version here: http://terrangbil11.blogspot.com/2009/09/varmluftsaggregat-11a.html

It works on diesel or kerosene 12 or 24v without making any changes or adjustments. I don't have any good pictures of how it is mounted in the truck though. It came how ever with a vehicle mounting kit. The kit allows it to be easily mounted and removed AND with a quick fitting so that both the intake air and exhaust enter and exit the truck through one single double hose. Thus giving me no dangerous gases in the truck.

On the highest effect it delivers 300F in hot air!!! This I use to warm the engine block on cold Swedish winter mornings. After only 30 minutes I have a engine water temp of 120F. http://gallery.me.com/teddsoost#100497

In the one pic you can see I have a T-fitting. If I open this I can split the dispersion of the warm air. Last winter I was at an off-road meet. It was -2F outside and with the lowest effect level on the heater I had 68F inside. I slept like a baby in shorts and t-shirt on top of my sleeping bag while everyone sleeping in their tents froze. :ylsmoke:

As far as energy consumption that night I had it running for 8,5 hrs before it kicked off at 7.30 am. It turns off automatically when the battery gets low. But it does this long before the battery it too weak to be able to start the truck again. It was running off of 2 Yellow Optimas.

 

[smokymt]

If anyone wants to know. I contacted Zodi and they are guesstimating mid-Decmeber 2009 that the hot vent will return.

Response below:

We apologize for the inconvenience. The tent heaters are still not available we are hoping to have them out in mid Dec(2009). At this time we have not had any updates please check back with Zodi in December. We should have more information then if you have any questions please respond to this email.

Thank you,
Customer Service
Zodi Outback Gear

Anyone heard any updates on the Zodi?

 

[Romer]

Anyone heard any updates on the Zodi?

I contacted them and they said maybe August. Earlier it was suppose to be spring.

I was fortunate enough to find a new unused unit on ebay. I'll be trying it out soon

 

[socaljeeper]

I wonder why it is taken so long, seems like I have been seeing different dates for at least two years now. I already have one and it works well, but I am curious about the changes they are doing.

I contacted them and they said maybe August. Earlier it was suppose to be spring.

I was fortunate enough to find a new unused unit on ebay. I'll be trying it out soon

 

[Romer]

I wonder why it is taken so long, seems like I have been seeing different dates for at least two years now. I already have one and it works well, but I am curious about the changes they are doing.

I am glad you said that, I haven't used mine yet. I have been using a Mr Buddy with a seperate CO Monitor up to now and that worked pretty good so far

 

[socaljeeper]

To make your experience a little more enjoyable, the zodi heater suggests to put both intake and output hoses inside the tent. The blower is a little loud, so buy another hose and attach it to the other end of the blower and keep it outside the tent. It does not work well in the wind either, I am thinking about putting some kind of shroud around it. Also, I put a cig lighter adapter instead of the supplied battery clips.

I am glad you said that, I haven't used mine yet. I have been using a Mr Buddy with a seperate CO Monitor up to now and that worked pretty good so far

 

[Rezarf <><]

But im still looking for, and to share ideas on how to do "real tent heater" for lack of a better discription. in our trailers.

No.


No.

Yes. Even here in Colorado there are only a few occassions where we need a heater so efficiency is not very high on my list. Cost and effectiveness are most important to me.

I agree, give me something to take the chill off the tent in the evening/morning (I do have a Mr. Buddy that I run for a few minutes) without getting out of the tent to get it fired up and I'd be all over it.

I am not running for weeks on end so if it eats a little gas to do the job and sucks some of the battery... I'd be up for a cheaper buy in point.