Diesel Heater?

  • HTML tutorial

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
I ordered a 5KW diesel heater that uses a 12V power source to use as a camp/tent heater. I’m seeing good reviews. I know there are smaller units, but I could not find one that was 2KW and is self contained in a box with a fuel tank. The one I ordered also comes with a key fob remote and the heat output can be split in 4 different directions to allow upto 4 different areas to be heated. I’m thinking the rtt, it’s annex tent, and awning room and a spare vent for another tent or two vents in any combination of the set up.

The concept of a non-condensation creating heat source that exhausts outside and away from our sleeping area is very appealing for cold weather camping/hunting, etc

The unit is also transportable in its own case. Many of the diesel heater setups I’ve seen previously advertised needed to be permanently mounted and had separate fuel tanks and associated fuel lines to contend with.

Im looking forward to receiving the unit. I ordered it off of Walmart.com. At only $120, it’s not cost prohibitive and will potentially extend my camping season well into the fall and winter season.

Has anyone had experience with these units?
 

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
I'm interested to see your evaluation of this unit.

I've thought of doing something similar, but the idea hasn't gone any further than that; a thought...
Thanks and I will post some feed back once I get a chance to test and use it. I have high hopes, as these types of heaters were designed for RVs and travel trailers.
 

Tundracamper

Rank VI
Launch Member

Influencer I

3,068
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
First Name
Steve
Last Name
Shepard
Member #

22670

I guess for sleeping out in the woods, I really don’t see the need for a heater - never needed one hiking. However, I do see the appeal of warming up the car or tent on a cold morning before getting out of bed. I just got a Jackery and am going to try electric heat on the next winter trip - if it ever decides to cool off. I figure I can run the heater for an hour and still have half a battery left. I totally agree that dry heat is the way to go - no condensation issues. That’s why electric appeals to me. I’ll be curious to hear how this unit works. The price is definitely appealing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shahn

John Bishop

Rank V
Launch Member

Advocate I

1,451
Harpers Ferry, WV, USA
First Name
John
Last Name
Bishop
Member #

17942

I guess for sleeping out in the woods, I really don’t see the need for a heater - never needed one hiking. However, I do see the appeal of warming up the car or tent on a cold morning before getting out of bed. I just got a Jackery and am going to try electric heat on the next winter trip - if it ever decides to cool off. I figure I can run the heater for an hour and still have half a battery left. I totally agree that dry heat is the way to go - no condensation issues. That’s why electric appeals to me. I’ll be curious to hear how this unit works. The price is definitely appealing.
Gotta keep momma happy.

You know what they say, if momma aint happy, nobody’s happy. If daddy aint happy, nobody cares.
 

DRAX

Rank V
Member

Advocate I

1,451
Monticello, IL
First Name
Hogan
Last Name
Whittall
Member #

28590

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W9DRX
The main desire for a proper heater while camping, for me, is to prevent condensation and help dry or keep things dry. This is also the main reason why we haven't done winter camping with the RTT, no way to get it properly dry once back home and I care for my gear so I'd rather miss out on some trips than trash something that cost a bit of money. The heater is also nice to take the edge off when it's really cold. We have 0F bags, self-inflating pads with decent R-values on top of the included mattress, etc, so it's not a matter of being unable to stay warm. Of course, it's also unpleasant if you happen to get startled awake by a drop of condensation landing on your face in the middle of the night... :D
 

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
The main desire for a proper heater while camping, for me, is to prevent condensation and help dry or keep things dry. This is also the main reason why we haven't done winter camping with the RTT, no way to get it properly dry once back home and I care for my gear so I'd rather miss out on some trips than trash something that cost a bit of money. The heater is also nice to take the edge off when it's really cold. We have 0F bags, self-inflating pads with decent R-values on top of the included mattress, etc, so it's not a matter of being unable to stay warm. Of course, it's also unpleasant if you happen to get startled awake by a drop of condensation landing on your face in the middle of the night... :D
Agreed, and I second your sentiment on expensive gear maintenance. I am holding some high performance expectations for this heater. Like others have iterated, I hope to ensure comfort for the Mrs. as well as myself. A warm, dry heat source will hopefully go a long way towards ensuring a comfortable camp/hunt/sight-seeing experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shahn

SJ.Overland

Rank VII
Member

Trail Blazer I

6,140
Beavercreek, OH, USA
First Name
Shaun
Last Name
Johannes
Member #

15310

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KE8TDZ
I'm interested to hear how this works for you @lhoffm4. Do you have a link to the product? Currently I use propane heat (I use it as little as possible because of condensation). Like @DRAX I like to take care of my gear and I have to let my stuff dry out in the garage after any cold weather trips. If I can switch to a diesel heater I would get much more utility out of that rather than the propane one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shahn and lhoffm4

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
I'm interested to hear how this works for you @lhoffm4. Do you have a link to the product? Currently I use propane heat (I use it as little as possible because of condensation). Like @DRAX I like to take care of my gear and I have to let my stuff dry out in the garage after any cold weather trips. If I can switch to a diesel heater I would get much more utility out of that rather than the propane one.
Here is the link to the one I ordered, straight from Walmart.com. I chose this model because the heat output splits the heat into 4 potentially different directions that would allow me to heat different tent spaces like the tent, annex, an awning tent area and another space if desired. For the same price, you can get the same model with one large output for heated air if you wanted one large space, such as an RV or large family tent or what ever.
 

SJ.Overland

Rank VII
Member

Trail Blazer I

6,140
Beavercreek, OH, USA
First Name
Shaun
Last Name
Johannes
Member #

15310

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KE8TDZ
Thanks! yeah this would make more sense as I have multiple possilbilities I could heat, and I plan on getting a small offroad trailer eventually. When you get it let me know how difficult it is to run. I've seen some odd reviews on these cheaper units regarding the controls and owners manual.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shahn and lhoffm4

Truckee

Rank IV

Enthusiast III

1,135
Bay Area, CA
I had a diesel Webasto Airtop 2000 and it was great. I would say it was not terribly loud but I certainly wouldn't want anything louder. I would go quieter if I could.
 

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
I had a diesel Webasto Airtop 2000 and it was great. I would say it was not terribly loud but I certainly wouldn't want anything louder. I would go quieter if I could.
These come with what looks like a tiny muffler, but the vids I’m watching seem to indicate the ticking of the fuel pump is the loudest and part that most users are noticing. I also see that some folks are choosing to upgrade the fuel pump with aftermarket pumps that appear to be much quieter?

In most of these cases the vids are showing installations in RVs and hard shell campers. The few I’ve found where folks are setting them up for tents and Etta, the unit is outside and and upto a few feet away. Even those vids say all they hear is the ticking made by the pump. All said it was like white noise. Im hoping that is a good thing. When I go camping, I usually wake too easily when leaves rustle or birds and chipmunks scurry around. Between that and my dog,the first night of camping is restless. Maybe a constant soft ticking noise will not be as bad?
 

Truckee

Rank IV

Enthusiast III

1,135
Bay Area, CA
Mine was installed in an off-road tent trailer. So, the noise was mostly fan noise when inside the trailer. The fuel pump and exhaust (underneath my sleeping area) could be heard when walking by or outside the trailer. So friends camping with me but in tents might choose a spot further from me. It's not a constant hum because it cycles. If you are a light sleeper, it might bother you.
 

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
Ok, so there is a slight learning curve to these Chinese diesel heaters. Mostly learning to use the controller. The chinglish manual they come with is almost useless and hard to understand, unless you are bi-lingual and read Chinese. Fortunately there are YouTube’s and a great Facebook forum where lots of smart folks have contributed experience to include easy to understand instructions, data charts that review everything from controller set up to advance settings, how to set clocks, thermostats, altitude settings, etc. There are also great troubleshooting guides for renters, boaters, RVers, garages, etc. My learning curve has been steep! I am still anticipating great potential for 4-season comfortable camping...
 

ProtonDecay

Rank V
Member

Influencer II

1,777
In my mind I am always at a remote high-elevation lake surrounded by snowcapped peaks.
First Name
Derek
Last Name
Riehl
Member #

28397

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KN6NUI
Very interested to hear of your experience :-)

We have a diesel heater in our trailer - I love it because it is so efficient - wife not so much because it sounds like a jet engine outside once warmed up and the variable clicking of the fuel pump as the thermostat adjusts rides on her nerves. So, YMMV.

These things just sip on fuel compared to a propane unit. Ours uses about 0.1 liters per hour once warmed up (unsure of output rating, but it definitely warms up our HQ15, no problem). There is a bit of diesel smell as the unit is warming up, but then no smell or maybe a slight deep fry oil odor the rest of the time. The heated air coming out can get really hot, hot enough to burn my leg and probably melt most plastics - so maybe take that into account when routing duct lines. We have a Shiftpod on order for camping with larger groups and a heater like this would be way better than worrying about somone kicking over a propane heater inside the tent.

+1 on understanding the interface - was totally lost until someone posted an English translation for our unit onto fb. That said, once I got the thermostat set I haven't had to touch it other than to turn the unit on and off - probably a manual affair for keeping the unit outside and routing the air into a tent.

Best of luck!
 

Billiebob

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,835
earth
First Name
Bill
Last Name
William
Member #

18893

I like the free standing concept but my experience with diesel heaters is excessive maintenance and any fuel oil heater is painfully dirty to maintain, clean.
Curious how this one performs with a months straight running.

I'd love to see one propane powered.
 

lhoffm4

Rank III

Advocate I

778
Boise, Idaho
First Name
Lee
Last Name
Hoffman
Service Branch
US Navy
I like the free standing concept but my experience with diesel heaters is excessive maintenance and any fuel oil heater is painfully dirty to maintain, clean.
Curious how this one performs with a months straight running.

I'd love to see one propane powered.
while my first hand experience is limited to two weeks, if you search “diesel heater Facebook” that is forum with a LOT of reviews, data, mods, etc. I’ve been plucking away there trying to find out real world experiences. Gotta say, it may not be German made, but they seem to be pretty reliable. Reports of low incidents of failure, interchangeable parts with higher end brands, I’ve found lots of affordable components online. The hot air ducting seems to be the most expensive aftermarket piece. Unless you are heating one open space that is close to where the heater is installed, the duct work will be the toughest to source. It took a minute but found some silicone reinforced flex hose ducting on eBay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Billiebob