Which heater for my pop up truck camper
- Thread starter Roktman
- Start date
I’ll be getting a hiatus hard sided pop up camper in march for my gmc at4 2500 8 foot bed , I want to do a minimal build out inside ie:, 8 foot couch on one side ,storage under , low cabinets on other side with one full height section around 30 inches wide to cook and prep when it’s raining , I’ll have 2 x 200 watt solar panels up top to a large portable anker solar generator , so powers no problem , I just want to go simple on the heat ,also don’t want to hassle with it to much , so who has experience with these, I’m leaning toward the like the bourgerv suitcase diesel , I like the idea of it outside , I’m not afraid to spend some money if one is super excellent, so what do you guys know , thanks much
Bergger
Explorer
I'm a fan of the Truma Vario heater. Takes up very little space, super efficient, quiet and pumps out the heat. I've been using one for over 3 years in our AT summit topper and it's been great. It's never not worked and has needed zero maintenance. We always have a small propane tank with us for our lava box so having a propane heater that shares the same fuel is convenient. Don't have to deal with taking diesel fuel along. There are many good options out there whether propane or diesel. But I would recommend having some type of direct vent heater mounted permanently to the camper so you don't have to bother with set up, break down and storage of a portable heater.
Thanks for the reply, where are you venting it ?
Where do you vent it? For exhaust
Bergger
Explorer
It is vented right out the side of the topper. A hole is cut in the side of the composite/aluminum wall and the intake/exhaust is run right out the wall. The propane hookup is also run through the wall so the tank is outside. I just have mine sitting on the ground but you can also attach a mount on the topper and have the tank mounted there as well. In this picture you can see the round vent and also the propane connection.
dstefan
Well-known member
Like @Bergger I’m a fan of the Truma with some reservations. I agree with all he’s said, but here’s a few more pros and some cons to fill out the picture:
Pros:
1) Fairly compact, fairly light and can be mounted in nearly any orientation. The mounting was a big deal for me as it was an add on after the interior was built, and Propex or Webasto just wouldn’t work anywhere else. I did not want the hassles of diesel.
2) Quiet on the night mode, very powerful and quick to heat on the auto mode
3) Very fuel and power efficient
4) The Vario comfort model will definitely keep a poptop warm. Bergger lives in Leadville, CO so he knows!
5) The controller is good and easy to work with, once you get how it works. There’s an internal temperature sensor, that can be positioned where you want it on install, up to a point.
6) Clean burning no odor inside or out. In fact I measured the CO production at the exhaust with a very sensitive CO monitor, and it didn’t get above 25 ppm.
7) The external air intake is integrated in the exhaust duct, which means just one duct, one hole, and the air coming into the combustion chamber is pre-warmed by the exhaust and therefore more energy efficient
8) A number of RV places are dealers
Cons:
1) Can only be dealer installed in the US unless you somehow source one from Europe. Got mine from AT Overland, same as Bergger
2) Quite expensive. And I think inflation and tariffs can’t have helped.
3) Truma sells just about nothing in the US for DIY. I had a really hard time sourcing the interior ducting I wanted to add under the sink in the picture. Couldn’t buy it on line or directly from Truma CS. Not the standard size for diesel heaters, etc (it’s 80mm). Even a Camping World here I talked to couldn’t source it in the US for some reason, and they are an official Truma dealer. Mario at AT took pity on me a sold me a meter.
4) Truma has sort of pulled back in the US. They did have a mobile technician network, but laid them off recently (got this from Truma CS and one of the laid off techs).
5). I personally think the Truma Vario Heat Comfort that I have is overkill in a small rig. We find that sometimes it will cut off and flash an error code saying it’s over temp. The fan mode will kick on very high and noisy to cool it down. It will turn itself back on later. This is a feature, not a bug, and may be related to our not using it in really cold temps (Southwest) and may be due to where it’s mounted and airflow (hence the added duct). If I did it again, I’d opt for the Truma Vario Eco, which is two speeds, not three and lower BTU’s. IIRC, the Comfort goes up to 11,000 BTUs. But I get why Bergger loves it in the frozen north!
6) Minor, and not a Truma fault per se, but it often won’t start right up when first newly connected to propane (eg, just in camp and reconnecting). It’s due to the stupid new OPD propane valves and the insane German engineering precision. Once you learn the trick it’s generally fine. Ask Bergger or me if you get one and we can tell you how to do it.
7) A niggle, but I don’t understand why the damn controller doesn’t have ambient temperature display. Seems really stupid. It does have an offset you can program to try to match to your internal temps, but you need a separate internal thermometer if you want to know the temp inside. Or, did you find one hidden somewhere @Bergger?
If you want to take advantage of the pros, and don’t mind the cons (which I don’t think are deal breakers for a really high quality, robust unit) and want to spend the $$$ they are great heaters.
Pros:
1) Fairly compact, fairly light and can be mounted in nearly any orientation. The mounting was a big deal for me as it was an add on after the interior was built, and Propex or Webasto just wouldn’t work anywhere else. I did not want the hassles of diesel.
2) Quiet on the night mode, very powerful and quick to heat on the auto mode
3) Very fuel and power efficient
4) The Vario comfort model will definitely keep a poptop warm. Bergger lives in Leadville, CO so he knows!
5) The controller is good and easy to work with, once you get how it works. There’s an internal temperature sensor, that can be positioned where you want it on install, up to a point.
6) Clean burning no odor inside or out. In fact I measured the CO production at the exhaust with a very sensitive CO monitor, and it didn’t get above 25 ppm.
7) The external air intake is integrated in the exhaust duct, which means just one duct, one hole, and the air coming into the combustion chamber is pre-warmed by the exhaust and therefore more energy efficient
8) A number of RV places are dealers
Cons:
1) Can only be dealer installed in the US unless you somehow source one from Europe. Got mine from AT Overland, same as Bergger
2) Quite expensive. And I think inflation and tariffs can’t have helped.
3) Truma sells just about nothing in the US for DIY. I had a really hard time sourcing the interior ducting I wanted to add under the sink in the picture. Couldn’t buy it on line or directly from Truma CS. Not the standard size for diesel heaters, etc (it’s 80mm). Even a Camping World here I talked to couldn’t source it in the US for some reason, and they are an official Truma dealer. Mario at AT took pity on me a sold me a meter.
4) Truma has sort of pulled back in the US. They did have a mobile technician network, but laid them off recently (got this from Truma CS and one of the laid off techs).
5). I personally think the Truma Vario Heat Comfort that I have is overkill in a small rig. We find that sometimes it will cut off and flash an error code saying it’s over temp. The fan mode will kick on very high and noisy to cool it down. It will turn itself back on later. This is a feature, not a bug, and may be related to our not using it in really cold temps (Southwest) and may be due to where it’s mounted and airflow (hence the added duct). If I did it again, I’d opt for the Truma Vario Eco, which is two speeds, not three and lower BTU’s. IIRC, the Comfort goes up to 11,000 BTUs. But I get why Bergger loves it in the frozen north!
6) Minor, and not a Truma fault per se, but it often won’t start right up when first newly connected to propane (eg, just in camp and reconnecting). It’s due to the stupid new OPD propane valves and the insane German engineering precision. Once you learn the trick it’s generally fine. Ask Bergger or me if you get one and we can tell you how to do it.
7) A niggle, but I don’t understand why the damn controller doesn’t have ambient temperature display. Seems really stupid. It does have an offset you can program to try to match to your internal temps, but you need a separate internal thermometer if you want to know the temp inside. Or, did you find one hidden somewhere @Bergger?
If you want to take advantage of the pros, and don’t mind the cons (which I don’t think are deal breakers for a really high quality, robust unit) and want to spend the $$$ they are great heaters.
rruff
Explorer
Do you even need heat? I generally never heat my rig... unless there is some freak cold (in the teens)... and then I use my propane stove. The one I have now can be turned down very low and still have a blue flame.
Anyway, that's a simple and low hassle way to go.
Ya know that’s true, I have a 7x12 cargo trailer I built out really nicely,and just use a buddy heater before bed then in the morning… l don’t know
rruff
Explorer
One issue with Buddy heaters is that they can't be turned down very low. The stove I have now ($20 from the big online place, Cofiyard brand) can be turned down as low as 200 W, which I think is about 1/5th what a Little Buddy consumes. I cook with it and it's great; regulator and braided hose (much nicer than the tilted solid tubes) connects to 1lb bottles, but you'd want to adapt to a 20lb tank if you planned to heat regularly.Ya know that’s true, I have a 7x12 cargo trailer I built out really nicely,and just use a buddy heater before bed then in the morning… l don’t know
Propane that is combusted in your living space creates moisture, but if you don't use it much and are in a dry climate, it should be fine. Of course you need to keep a window cracked as well.
locrwln
Expedition Leader
I like my Velit gasoline heater. Looks just like the Chinese diesel heaters, just uses gasoline. I have it plumbed into my truck’s gas tank. Tested to 10k feet so far and it works great. I originally had it plumbed into a 5 gallon can and used approximately 1.5g over 2.5 weeks using it every day and night.
Jack
Jack
K9LTW
Active member
Another vote here for an interior install and exhausting through whatever you want to drill a hole...camper...or in my case, the truck bed. But I'd say none of the above units and get a gas-fueled one that you can tap into your gas tank for. That is assuming your GMC is a gasser. Otherwise get a diesel and still plumb it. No filling fuel tanks, no running out of fuel, no using a diesel heater when your truck takes gas, necessitating yet another fuel type to carry. I will say make sure you read any manufacturer's literature if you spend any time at altitude. I really regret getting my Webasto and not an Espar unit. The Webasto requires a bit too much care and feeding at even 8k feet. The Espars are good to go for...I forget...but it's over 12k.
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