Show me your diesel heater installs

[pete_d]

I’m sure this has been covered a few times, but I’m trying to gather some ideas in one place.

I’m in the middle of installing a diesel heater install on my T6 and trying to work out the best place to bring the heater pipe out.

Constraint-wise:

I’ve got a leisure battery under the driver’s seat

The seat swivels, so space is tight and I’m not convinced a standard under-seat exit will work


I’m weighing up options like:

Through the floor under the van (somewhere offset from the seat base)

Somewhere further back?

Would be really helpful to see what others have done — especially:

Pipe routing

Lessons learned (what you’d do differently)

Photos would be massively appreciated

 

[SussexT6]

A common conundrum,
I had the same issue as you and have moved mine further back.
It now comes out at the back of the furniture unit before the R&R bed. Perfect placing only thing I had to do was construct a false floor in the cupboard under the sink

 

[Squiz]

Hiya if you follow the autoterm install video on yt he talks through a few options, I brought mine up where he said just behind b pillar near where the factory outlet would be..I then boxed the pipe in. Hopefully have added a couple of pics to give you an idea, my install works with a swivel seat.

 

[ben5560]

OEM position under the van, with the B Pillar entrance, using OEM VW ducting:






With the control panel mounted above in the centre console:

 

[pete_d]

I'm interested in the b pillar. Bit do not fancy buying all the OEM parts. Just out of my budget unfortunately. Has any one tried this with the round duct end / vent the comes with the heaters?

 

[ben5560]

I'm interested in the b pillar. Bit do not fancy buying all the OEM parts. Just out of my budget unfortunately. Has any one tried this with the round duct end / vent the comes with the heaters?

You mean have the circular vent on the b pillar? Not enough space due to the seatbelt mechanism. Etc etc and lower down is curved so the vent wouldn't sit flush.

I got all the ducting as a kit here in Germany for 130 euros

 

[T5_Kombi_Rob]

I had thr same conundrum, but didn't fancy bringing it through the floor behind the seat as its a kombi. Reconfigured the leisure battery so that there is space for the heater duct to come out under the drivers seat. Tight, but works well for us

 

[pete_d]

I had thr same conundrum, but didn't fancy bringing it through the floor behind the seat as its a kombi. Reconfigured the leisure battery so that there is space for the heater duct to come out under the drivers seat. Tight, but works well for us

Love to see a photo of that. Especially the duct hole location is possible

 

[Phil1]

Hi, I don’t suppose anyone has any photos of their twin slider heater location please? I’d like it under the van but not sure where to place the duct away from the door? Thanks

 

[Chrishall888]

I contemplated a few routes but being a combi/ day van: this was best for me.

 

[ben5560]

Why not the OEM route through the B Pillar, it looks the neatest and keeps the driver seat base free

 

[Chrishall888]

Why not the OEM route through the B Pillar, it looks the neatest and keeps the driver seat base free

I thought that, however the factory vans have a reinforcing plate welded in, presumably because of the seat belt mounting.
I didn’t want to start welding the van so soon.

 

[ben5560]

I thought that, however the factory vans have a reinforcing plate welded in, presumably because of the seat belt mounting.
I didn’t want to start welding the van so soon.

Where do you mean? I cut mine out and didnt see a reinforcing plate?

 

[ben5560]

 

[Chrishall888]

There is a surround fitted from vw to the vans with the factory outlet, where you cut yours.
Presume this is to provide some additional strength around the area.

The other benefit of coming up and using round ducting is that your can tailor it a little more for your situation.
We have added an outlet that blows forward too, separating the flow of air under the seat. You can also add a length of pipe to send up to the poptop if required

 

[ben5560]

There is a surround fitted from vw to the vans with the factory outlet, where you cut yours.
Presume this is to provide some additional strength around the area.

The other benefit of coming up and using round ducting is that your can tailor it a little more for your situation.
We have added an outlet that blows forward too, separating the flow of air under the seat. You can also add a length of pipe to send up to the poptop if required

Ah yeah ok I've seen photos of that, not sure how much it's really going to do though, it's all pretty solid there anyway.

Good point on the round ducting, I just wanted to keep the driver's seat base empty for the battery and electronics

 

[rippelep]

I have the standard install in the b pillar. But additionally made a split of the output and have a well isolated electrical switchable second line which goes backwards and then upwards into the car to warm my water compartment and bed in very cold conditions if needed.