Propex vs Wabasto Gasoline

[Ducstrom]

I have a gas webasto in my camper. It works great. It'll cook you out of the camper at -20 c
Is the coldest we've used it.
It's nice and simple, I run mine out of a rotopax I've attached to the outside of the camper.
Twist the control knob and the heater does the rest. I put the control knob right above the bed for those midnight heat adjustments

 

[alia176]

Thought that might be an issue. Would rather take a wabasto gasoline version with gas tank. No way I'm carrying diesel too

Just another data point to consider: regardless of the solution you go with, a diesel/gas heater will need its own container. Given that my Espar Airtronic D2 takes an ENTIRE season to burn through a 2.5g Rotopax container full of diesel, I'm not sure you have to actually "carry" a second container of diesel. Furthermore, you can opt to carry a gallon of K1 kerosene with it's own sealed tin container but chances are, one container of diesel will last you the entire trip and beyond. On my previous camper, I ran strictly K1 kerosene for a cleaner combustion chamber but that Espar was going on 20 years old.

BTW, I'm NOT a winter camper so my usage isn't that heavy. I run the heater before going to bed and before getting up. Also, after a shower, it's nice to step inside a toasty camper for my ladies.

My highly subjective opinion: I went with Espar because of service, tech support and warranty. I didn't want to buy a Chinese knock off that people rely on FB and other forums for Dx and repair. My time is better spent elsewhere vs dealing with a copy cat. The Espar was worth 2.5 times the cost to me. Whatever you go with, be sure NOT to oversize it as this style of heater needs to run WOT for reduced carbon buildup in the combustion chamber. I'm sure it's the same with diesel engines that sit and idle all day vs running on the hwy for hours but that's just a conjecture at this point.

Regarding the Propex unit, I've heard they consume a huge amount of propane and folks tend to up their tank size to feed this beast. This is all third party info, as I have zero experience with these units.

 

[86scotty]

Mark, I would reconsider diesel. I have had 3 of these little diesel furnaces, An Espar currently cooking me every cold night year round in my work truck, a Planar in a van build and a Chinese knock off yet to be installed but I've played with it on the bench. I bought it for a pick up wedge camper but not sure if I will bother installing or just sell.

The reason you might want to reconsider is that space saved (by the small footprint of the unit over ANY other heater), efficiency (the diesel heaters will run all night on 12 oz. of diesel) and safety (personally I just can't get my head around a gasoline fired heater while I sleep, regardless of how well made).

Carrying a one gallon can of diesel for your heater and only needing to fill it up every 3-4 days is manageable and the heater itself takes up a fraction of the space you need for a Propex (which I am familiar with and have installed) and it's assorted plumbing, tanks, etc. Yet another consideration is price of fuel. A gallon of diesel will cost you $3. I have no idea how the equivalent propane measures up but I know it's not that cheap.

Compare these two charts and look at how little fuel these use, .15 liters per hour on medium setting for the diesel, twice that for petrol. I used to fill up my 7 liter Planar tank about once every 5 nights because these units don't run constantly, they cycle.

Fuel Operated Heaters

Eberspächer Airtronic and Hydronic guarantee maximum comfort with diesel, gasoline or ethanol operated air and water heaters.

www.eberspacher.com

www.eberspaecher-climate.com

From passenger cars to special-purpose vehicles: Eberspächer is your partner for OEM and retrofit climate control solutions such as air conditioning systems or heaters.

www.eberspacher.com

 

[Tedski]

I know its turning warmer and keeping warm is not going to be a problem for another eight months but I read this thread today and have an issue that nobody addressed. I added a heater last fall and did a whole lot of reading before I made a choice. My final choice was a Planar diesel. Reasons , excellent reliability, diesel which is the safest by far, size and installation, and reasonably priced. I never looked at propane because the huge amount of moisture propane generates. Any comments?

 

[Alloy]

I know its turning warmer and keeping warm is not going to be a problem for another eight months but I read this thread today and have an issue that nobody addressed. I added a heater last fall and did a whole lot of reading before I made a choice. My final choice was a Planar diesel. Reasons , excellent reliability, diesel which is the safest by far, size and installation, and reasonably priced. I never looked at propane because the huge amount of moisture propane generates. Any comments?

If you wouldn't exhaust the gas from the diesel heater inside why would you exhaust gas from a propane heater inside?

 

[PirateMcGee]

A propex heater doesn't produce vapor in the cabin. You're thinking of catalytic heaters which aren't a great idea outside of a fish shack or wall tent.

I went back and forth on this and ended up with the propex in my tear drop and now on my ovrlnd build. I carry propane for cooking and it doesn't spill and make a nasty smell (big deal for me) I can never rid myself of and it works at any elevation which is important when I camp at 12-13k feet for elk hunting. It has it's own limitations and safety concerns but overall it's safe, cheap to supply, and the propex is quite efficient for propane and electric.

Elevation and smell were big things for me so I went propex.

 

[Tedski]

Have no idea what I was thinking. Must of had a brain fart! I realized what I said as soon as I posted. Obviously no moisture issues with any exchange heater. I will say however I like the safety of diesel over propane. My Planar has worked flawlessly and I have the high altitude model that hasn't failed me in the Tetons. The reliability is great when the weather is -15F.