Portable diesel heater from Total Composites

[Victorian]

The only one? For what territory?

Or one of many?

Please post your company and some contact info.

So all the "Made in China" Planar products are counterfeit?

We are on online retailer for Planar in North America. There are a few exceptions where we can't sell. Planar heaters are NOT made in China. Any offerings you see online coming from China claiming to be Planar are FAKE!
Please follow the link in my signature below to find our website.
Disclaimer: I'm not here to sell... I only saw the thread and wanted to provide proper information.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

I used similar unit to heat my RTT, a gasoline-powered Webasto. It works awesome and used it to -6*C so far. Looks like they've made a version that mounts in a Pelican style case with it's own tank. I've seen similar stand-alone units for sale by other companies. If you wanted to go the propane route, as mentioned there's the Propex heater.

 

[john61ct]

I used similar unit to heat my RTT, a gasoline-powered Webasto. It works awesome and used it to -6*C so far. Looks like they've made a version that mounts in a Pelican style case with it's own tank.

Cool! Link?

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Cool! Link?

Indeed! I've got a build thread in here. Here's the link, starting on page 6 for the Webasto.

https://www.expeditionportal.com/fo...ff-road-trailer-the-frontrailer.135876/page-6

 

[bbaker22]

Hi there,
We are the dealer for Planar Diesel heaters. They are 100% designed and manufactured in Russia, NOT China! Fully complient with North American laws. Planar offers a superb customer service, 2 year warranty and spare part support, the chinese not so much...
The reason we became a dealer for them was the fact that the russians are famous for building automotive components that either last forever or can be fixed with basic tools. For example: the european heaters need a code reader and service tech if they stop working. With the Planar you need some basic tools and be able to read the "code" from the LED blinking light. They are very easy to trouble shoot.
The second big point was the price... At half of the competition it's a pretty good deal.
Altitude compensation:
Usually these type of heaters need a pricey and complicated accessory kit to compensate for high altitudes. The planar works perfect in 10.000ft elevation as I tested first hand for several weeks this spring. You could further increase that number by using kerosene as fuel. This would give you more efficiency and a cleaner burn.

In any case, thanks to the original poster for starting this conversation.

Hi Victorian. I'm interested in the portable diesel heater. Use will be tent, truck topper, and off-grid cabin. 7400-10,000 ft of elevation. What is the size of the tank that comes packaged w/ the portable heater?

I've been debating between this and the AT portable heater. Big differences being diesel vs propane. I don't run diesel for anything else, but it seems quite a bit more efficient than propane.

Thanks,
baker

 

[dreadlocks]

diesel heaters are not optimal for high altitude use, when running lean unburnt propane wont quickly buildup unburnt fuel inside like diesel will.. there's lots of hacks like using 2 fuel pumps and selecting high/low altitude, oxygen sensors and electronic fuel injection (ie, expensive) but even with all that, they still would be behind propane in efficiency and reliability at high altitude.

 

[bbaker22]

Thanks Dreadlocks. I've heard the same, but was given a little optimism by Victorian's first hand account of usage at altitude:

"Altitude compensation:
Usually these type of heaters need a pricey and complicated accessory kit to compensate for high altitudes. The planar works perfect in 10.000ft elevation as I tested first hand for several weeks this spring. You could further increase that number by using kerosene as fuel. This would give you more efficiency and a cleaner burn."

Anyway, looking more at the pics, it appears the tank is 7 liters.

baker

 

[Victorian]

Hi Victorian. I'm interested in the portable diesel heater. Use will be tent, truck topper, and off-grid cabin. 7400-10,000 ft of elevation. What is the size of the tank that comes packaged w/ the portable heater?

I've been debating between this and the AT portable heater. Big differences being diesel vs propane. I don't run diesel for anything else, but it seems quite a bit more efficient than propane.

Thanks,
baker

We have used ours at 10.000ft for about two weeks. Simply use kerosene instead of diesel and you will be fine. The tank can hold 7liter and should last 3-4 days on medium setting if run 24/7. Cheers!

 

[dreadlocks]

shrug, I camped 4 times last year >10k feet.. thats a pretty low ceiling around these parts, I've got a diesel tow vehicle.. and I'll be putting LP heater in my camper.. mostly because of altitude, but I know the clicking fuel pump would drive me bonkers too.

I'm waiting for the truma varioheat comfort to make it stateside, 12.6k BTU beats most diesel heaters also.. need all i can get to make up for the losses to altitude.

 

[john61ct]

Indeed! I've got a build thread in here. Here's the link, starting on page 6 for the Webasto.

https://www.expeditionportal.com/fo...ff-road-trailer-the-frontrailer.135876/page-6

Well that'll keep me busy for a while

Thanks

 

[NevetsG]

In my little camper, the total cost of ownership for this heater versus a small propane heater (-$100) would require us to live in the camper for a number of years to offset the cost in fuel savings, and that isn't going to happen. Would love to get one, but we can't justify the cost.
Now with that said, it makes a lot of sense if you are going to overland in a cold environment outside of the US, because getting diesel is much easier and cheaper than proprane (easier being the operative word here). Hence, why these are so popular in Europe, and Russia.

Thank you Victorian for the heads up, because I was really considering a $300 Planar on Bangood and Amazon, but you made me look harder at them, and they must be knock offs.

 

[john61ct]

Knockoff of a knockoff

In my little camper, the total cost of ownership for this heater versus a small propane heater (-$100)

Please link to the latter.

 

[luthj]

I don't really think the planar units are a knockoff of the Espar/webasto. They are a similar design, but Webasto/espar priced their units crazy high. In fact, espar/webasto recently settled a price fixing lawsuit in the north america for something like 10 million $$?

 

[john61ct]

hey no problem whatever makes them cheap afaic

but many comparisons report extremely similar

I'm not knocking 'em, people say they're great

 

[dreadlocks]

https://www.truma.com/us/en/products/truma-rv-and-caravan-heater/truma-varioheat-comfort.html

Truma's heater finally appeared on the US site, yay.. contacting em now to see how I can get one.