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Wed May 18, 2005 6:57 am

I have a 1990 Weekender and I want to add a propane heater for winter camping. Anybody know of a good system? I do not need it for a stove, or fridge, only for heat. Thanks. Tom

Wed May 18, 2005 7:26 am

How much you want to spend?

Wed May 18, 2005 7:53 am

Haven't researched it much yet, but I would want something new, not used, and I wouldn't be afraid to spend a few more bucks on my baby, which is now approaching $20K in restoration and modification; rebuilt locking diff transaxle with Weddle gears and hub, High Perf. TIICO engine, new paint, steering rack, SS water pipes, stereo, tinted windows, and on and on. What do you know? Must be some companies out there which specialize in propane furnaces for campers and/or VW Westys. I would want something that can be filled under the car, and which vents properly so I won't die or get too high from fumes...

Wed May 18, 2005 8:29 am

This is what I have for chilly nights, works good with pop-top open:
http://www.mrheater.com/productdetail.asp?id=678
About 70.00 the only drawback I see is the 1lb propane cans only last 4 hours.
I've seen these mounted in Westys, I've seen it put in the cabinet by the electric outlets:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Brow...+0/c-10107
I guess it's plumbed into the tank under the van. Since you don't have a propane tank, you're going to need a whole system.
I'd check RV dealers and RV websites for something.
If you really want to go crazy you can go with a gas heater like the old BA6 in the aircooled Vanagon. Here is what 25 years of technology will get you, may roast you out, I have no Idea. It looks like a fun toy. :D
http://www.espar.com/htm/Specs/D5LCspec.htm

Wed May 18, 2005 4:41 pm

I am looking for one of these also as I live in Michigan and would like to camp more in the fall. I called GoWesty and they sell vented propane furnaces ~ $500 - U install. Not sure where they buy them.

Wed May 18, 2005 5:41 pm

i got a mr heater buddy for my van and love it. it was about 35 degrees outside, but got it up to 70 or so inside. it also gives off a small amount of light that you can play cards by. the 1lb tanks last 3-6 hours, but you can get a hose and run a large propane tank off it. i am putting some bolts behind the passenger seat so i can mount it there.

Thu May 19, 2005 9:06 am

...just ordered a mr. heater buddy heater, myself. got it on ebay for $65 (shipped). i never knew that they were so common within the westy community. i've owned my westy for about a year - the PO spliced into one of the LP lines running to the stove, installed an on/off valve and mounted a hose from it that's about 3-4 ft long. (this can all be accessed on the top level of the main cabinet.

i wasn't sure what it was there for (assumed it was for some sort of heating device) until i looked at the safety label on it. it's a mr. heater extension hose kit!

...should be nice to have the versatility to run off the main LP tank opposed to the small 1lb canisters.

QUESTION FOR MR. HEATER BUDDY USERS:
-where do you usually place the heater in the van to warm it up?
-where do you store the heater?
-ever experienced any ventilation issues???

Thu May 19, 2005 11:49 am

I just read the ad for the Mr. Buddy Heater and noticed that it's not designed for use above 7000 feet. Heck, I live at 7000 feet and living in the 4 corners area much of my camping is well above that. I've been using a $20 Coleman Catalytic heater that screws onto a small green canister. The box cautions that, if used in an enclosed space, a 6" x 6" vent must be opened to allow for oxygen. I usually open a window a few inches and unless it's really cold out the heater keeps the interior comfortably warm. Being an unusually paranoid individual I won't let it run all night. I just use it to stay comfortable on cold nights and then I turn it off and pile on the blankets (3 cheers for down comforters) when it's time to go to bed. I'd hate to deplete all the oxygen in the van and wake up dead :wink: . This actually happened to a couple in central AZ this past winter. They were using a propane heater in a truck camper and didn't think to keep a window open. They were staying on the property of a friend who found their dead bodies inside the next day. Be careful with propane heaters.

Thu May 19, 2005 3:41 pm

I push the driver seat all the way forward and put my Mr Buddy (everyone needs a Buddy, according to the box) between the seat and the sink cabinet in my Westy. We camp with a baby, so we might have different space needs than most people. It fits perfectly in the closet for storage.

I feel safer using the propane bottles than plumbing into the tank. Is that irrational?

Thu May 19, 2005 7:57 pm

FYI I have been checking out the Mr. Buddy heater, and apparantly it has a safety feature that shuts the unit down in the event of low oxygen. So, you only wake up cold and groggy, not cold and stiff...

Fri May 20, 2005 4:55 am

Anyone have a butane heater? Although it uses oxygen like propane there is apparently not the same exhaust issues as propane.
Propane is to be used in well ventilated areas, butane can be used indoors.

Fri May 20, 2005 5:27 am

A hater using butane would be no different than one using propane, in terms of consuming oxygen. No device that consumes oxygen is completely safe to use in an enclosed space, although the catalytic heaters are a lot better than combustion heaters.

Fri May 20, 2005 8:37 am

Propex makes the proper propane heater for vehicles. I prefer gasoline, due to the fact that the propane tank on a Westy is only a few gallons, and is more trouble to have refilled during the winter months.

Fri May 20, 2005 9:01 am

I use the heater buddy with the pop-top open, we open the screen a small bit for piece of mind , but you lose so much air from it that you couldn't die. If you used it with the top closed the stock polyester curtains hold in the heat with the sliders open some, or the front windows rolled down. Works good in Texas. I think I'd get an artic kit for the pop-top, and something built in If I was doing some serious winter camping.

I like the Idea of plumbing the heater buddy into the existing system.
I need to go through and redo mine anyway. The biggest beef I have with it is getting up at 5:00am when the propane runs out to put on a new can.

Fri May 20, 2005 10:25 am

how strange they took down my heater buddy pictures twice, odd what's wrong with the heater buddy? Is there a limit to the number of photo's you can post?

Fri May 20, 2005 5:02 pm

art, let me know if you'd like to see some pics of the what the PO did. looks like a really simple project...

Tue May 24, 2005 6:57 am

Sorry Portebrown must have missed this, sure post some pictures. I was kind of thinking about "modifying" one of the kits they sell, for using the 20lb. bottle.

Tue May 24, 2005 10:09 am

I've got some kind of catalytic heater that works off my propane tank- I think it's a Mr. Heater- I will have to check tonight. I love it, it's mounted behing the passenger seat, fits just perfect. It keeps the van really warm, althought I never use it when sleeping, just to warm the van up in the mornings and it does the trick- even pulled me and my girlfriend out of hypothermia in 5 mintues!

Does anyone know if these are safe to use without venting? (I always do)

Tue May 24, 2005 2:33 pm

If it's PlatCat it would have a vent through the floor so you wouldn't have to open any windows, theoretically.