Diesel Heater
- Thread starter Y100
- Start date
In short, I’d say yes and yes.
If you’re camping in anything less than high summer, south of Dover, I’d consider it a necessity.This is my view from the van as we speak. The Webasto is on, & I’m sat here in a Tshirt.
Totally agree. I’ve had a Webasto fitted and we used it a few times in the summer evenings too, but have been using the van all winter and it just makes winter camping possible/more pleasant!
With the Webby timer, it’s possible to make it defrost the van in time for your commute too, and when it’s really cold I run it for 15 mins while I drive to supplement the van heater.
With the Webby timer, it’s possible to make it defrost the van in time for your commute too, and when it’s really cold I run it for 15 mins while I drive to supplement the van heater.
Heater is a real bonus. Took the family to Glentress at the weekend for some mountain biking. Mrs Donkey called it a day long before Donkey junior and I did. So she sat in the toasty van, reclined on the rock and roll bed, reading her book. Coming back to a warm van and getting changed, rather freezing your nads off is spot on. Everybody happy.
My start times at work vary but proper early morning rises are made less of a chore by having the van warm when you get in it. The Thermocall for the Webasto ain't cheap, but it's worth it for little luxury at my age.
My start times at work vary but proper early morning rises are made less of a chore by having the van warm when you get in it. The Thermocall for the Webasto ain't cheap, but it's worth it for little luxury at my age.
@Y100 just as a balanced view, I don't have a diesel heater, I have a space reserved for one and a vent space allocated in my camper....
As a DofE instructor I often camp in hiking tents in January so am fairly hardy to cold conditions.
However when it comes to the camper in winter I am usually on a campsite either in the UK or French Alps. Therefore I will have electric hook up, so I use a small oil filled electric radiator, this I can leave on 24/7 at no extra cost to me (no diesel consumption). Pick one up at Dunelm or similar for £20-30.
Heats the van lovely and keeps it warm all the time. Obviously it has a downside in that it can only be used when on mains. That's why I have left the option for a diesel heater later, but at the moment I'm living very comfortablely without one.
On the odd time I wintercamp off grid I just take a down filled sleeping bag and I'm normally toasty in the van.
Just giving you an alternative view, the diesel heaters are great, but I have to justify the £900 against £30 and a £5 charge for the electric. Either way, just get out in it this time of year, I'm watching @Salty Spuds post and very jeleous of him out in the snow.
As a DofE instructor I often camp in hiking tents in January so am fairly hardy to cold conditions.
However when it comes to the camper in winter I am usually on a campsite either in the UK or French Alps. Therefore I will have electric hook up, so I use a small oil filled electric radiator, this I can leave on 24/7 at no extra cost to me (no diesel consumption). Pick one up at Dunelm or similar for £20-30.
Heats the van lovely and keeps it warm all the time. Obviously it has a downside in that it can only be used when on mains. That's why I have left the option for a diesel heater later, but at the moment I'm living very comfortablely without one.
On the odd time I wintercamp off grid I just take a down filled sleeping bag and I'm normally toasty in the van.
Just giving you an alternative view, the diesel heaters are great, but I have to justify the £900 against £30 and a £5 charge for the electric. Either way, just get out in it this time of year, I'm watching @Salty Spuds post and very jeleous of him out in the snow.
D of E. Blimey, that takes me back a bit.
You make some valid points @$immo. If you have a drive, nothing to stop you rigging up an electric hook up, a time switch and a heater to get that pre warming effect, post early morning commute.
I think the advantage of the diesel heater is you can be completely off grid with it. If you like outdoor activities, kayaking, walking or in our case cycling and snow boarding, it's a real bonus where a hook up isn't available. But where it is, the oil heater is handy, cheap and silent.
You make some valid points @$immo. If you have a drive, nothing to stop you rigging up an electric hook up, a time switch and a heater to get that pre warming effect, post early morning commute.
I think the advantage of the diesel heater is you can be completely off grid with it. If you like outdoor activities, kayaking, walking or in our case cycling and snow boarding, it's a real bonus where a hook up isn't available. But where it is, the oil heater is handy, cheap and silent.
Daylight robbery!
I paid around a grand including the smart controller & TC4 remote. Over £2k is taking the piss.
Smart controller is available cheaper than the standard rheostat, just looks pretty. Suppliers try to make it a selling point and rack up the price.
Thermocall and Telestart are pricey though.
Thermocall and Telestart are pricey though.
Y100
New Member
Thank you for all the positive comments, I’m very pleased I asked, it just goes to show the benefits of a forum like this. My problem was resolved for me; although we were considering buying a T6 from a West Country conversion company we found a second van, manufactured by the same company on sale locally which came complete with a diesel heater. Thank you.
Talk to Exploria. They fitted mine - cost was roughly £1500 IIRC last April.
