TheSamba.com :: View topic - Propex heater install locations Pros and Cons

Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:46 am

Gents

soon will be putting in Karls Propex

location choices:

1) under my new fridge

2) cabinet between fridge and rear seat

3) bottom of closet

4) under rear seat

i am leaning toward under fridge to keep my space impact low

thoughts??

first hand experiance??

thanx in advance

Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:26 am

under the fridge would be pretty cool if it fits there... the intake/exhaust go straight down a few inches so make sure they aren't blocked by the propane tank.

What kinda fridge did you get?

Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:43 am

tsombrero1 wrote: under the fridge would be pretty cool if it fits there... the intake/exhaust go straight down a few inches so make sure they aren't blocked by the propane tank.

What kinda fridge did you get?

per Karl, it fits, tight, but fits

Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:45 am

I would put it in a place in which it was easy to get back out. Under the fridge may mean you have to take the fridge out in order to get the furnace out for service. I have mine under the rear seat and have no problem with the space lost.

Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:45 am

Rodknock wrote: I would put it in a place in which it was easy to get back out. Under the fridge may mean you have to take the fridge out in order to get the furnace out for service. I have mine under the rear seat and have no problem with the space lost.

good point
how much service you doing on it?
had it a long time?
how many hours/days before service?
in fact, what kind of service??

Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:30 am

I would be concerned that heat might effect refer performance. I built a five inch box behind passenger seat and put propex in there. Since I always have an ice chest in that location I dont loose any floor spaceand the heat blows back at me as it should. Dave

Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:56 am

DLJ wrote: I would be concerned that heat might effect refer performance. I built a five inch box behind passenger seat and put propex in there. Since I always have an ice chest in that location I dont loose any floor spaceand the heat blows back at me as it should. Dave

i agree with the heat deal under the fridge

i personally dont want to put another box on the floor
for me, a primary reason to have the new fridge is to eliminate
ice chest and gain floor space

i have a dog crate that eats up that space.......

Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:01 am

I've been considering a Propex heater too. I've done some research here and think I narrowed it down to 1) inside the rear bench as my first option for ease of access, service, and installation, and 2) bottom of the water tank cabinet

Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:04 am

madspaniard wrote: I've been considering a Propex heater too. I've done some research here and think I narrowed it down to 1) inside the rear bench as my first option for ease of access, service, and installation, and 2) bottom of the water tank cabinet

as i go thru this with you Ladies, i think the propex and my batteries will live under my rear seat, keeping the orginal heater also

once i get it all dialed in, i may move any or all, but i gotta get it up and running first

i just dont want to HAVE to use a freaking cargo box on the Yakimas

over

Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:13 pm

DLJ wrote: I would be concerned that heat might effect refer performance.

FWIW, the Propex only gets slightly warm to the touch, not too bad.

I'm happy with mine under the rear seat, blowing out the vent where the rear heater used to be.

Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:54 pm

Question, since you removed the rear heater (and live in Seattle, just like me :-)

1 - How do you deal with not having the rear heater ? Meaning, any mechanical impact ?
2 - Do you preheat the van using the Propex before driving out ?
3 - Can you run the heater while the van is in movement ?
4 - Have you ever missed not having the rear heater (in winter time)?

Reason I'm asking is that it woul dbe nice not to use twice the space under the bench (for the Propex and the rear heater), but I have two kids that want to enjoy the van, even in the winter :-)

Cheers!

Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:24 pm

pnwkayaker wrote: Question, since you removed the rear heater (and live in Seattle, just like me :-)

1 - How do you deal with not having the rear heater ? Meaning, any mechanical impact ?
2 - Do you preheat the van using the Propex before driving out ?
3 - Can you run the heater while the van is in movement ?
4 - Have you ever missed not having the rear heater (in winter time)?

Reason I'm asking is that it woul dbe nice not to use twice the space under the bench (for the Propex and the rear heater), but I have two kids that want to enjoy the van, even in the winter :-)

Cheers!

I'll first note I do not have a Propex, but I have removed my rear heater. I too live in the PNW, have children, and use my van as a daily driver. On the coldest days it will take a fair bit longer for the van to heat up while underway. The simplest remedy is to keep a couple blankets in the back for the kids to wrap themselves in. It's not unbearable, and my children have never once complained. I've ridden in back in the cold and do the same, so I know it's not a significant problem. We have two heavy fleece-lined wool blankets that are generally kicked off before our morning 20 minute commute is over.

Now, would I like a Propex? Yes, but who's got that kind of money these days? Besides, it seems to me the Propex is a camping, luxury-type item. My canister-top heater buddy does just fine on those cold mornings for significantly less.

Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:26 pm

I installed my Propex last week beneath the rear seat on the starboard side. Before installation, I removed the stock cooant system heater to recreate the lost storage space. I fabricated a new faceplate for the original heat outlet port and plumbed the Propex hot air duct into it. I also hung a 2nd propane tank up under the passenger side.

Pros:
1. the Propex exhaust tube beneath the vehicle can be kept desirably short (as can the intake flu)
2. the unit can be snugged right into the corner of the under-seat storage bin saving lost space,
3. there are enough air gaps (collectively) around the rear seat bench to allow the Propex to "breath" without installing a dedicated inlet port

Cons:
1. the person who really feels the toastiest heat is the swiveled passenger seat person...not the rear seat folk
2. a sturdy protective cage is necessary to protect the unit and duct work

Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:53 pm

pnwkayaker wrote: Question, since you removed the rear heater (and live in Seattle, just like me :)

1 - How do you deal with not having the rear heater ? Meaning, any mechanical impact ?
2 - Do you preheat the van using the Propex before driving out ?
3 - Can you run the heater while the van is in movement ?
4 - Have you ever missed not having the rear heater (in winter time)?

I think a lot of us live in the PNW :) It always freaks me out when I drive to CA or elsewhere and go for days without seeing another Westy. Where did they all go?

Anyway, I like not having the heater back there. The propex is a little bit smaller and is guaranteed not to leak coolant. I pulled the hoses out completely. I've never missed the stock rear heater, but I rarely have passengers back there. I have the lower-end Propex and it puts out a bit less heat than the stock one. It raises the temp from 35 to 50'F in 20 minutes with the engine off.

I've never had any trouble running it while underway. Just make sure the vents are angled back a bit.

Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:25 pm

tsombrero1 wrote: I think a lot of us live in the PNW :) It always freaks me out when I drive to CA or elsewhere and go for days without seeing another Westy. Where did they all go?

They're all up in the woods already doing that thing. You keep missin' 'em.

Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:41 pm

I put mine under the rear seat facing fore and aft. It gave me some room underneath to store some stuff. Not pictured is a guard that keeps stuff away from the exhaust/intake/propane line and I did remove the factory heater. Very happy with the space savings.

Simple angle iron bracket

Mounted about a 3/4" below bottom of seat

That heater makes winter trips very comfortable.

Steve

Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:48 pm

regis101 wrote: tsombrero1 wrote: I think a lot of us live in the PNW :) It always freaks me out when I drive to CA or elsewhere and go for days without seeing another Westy. Where did they all go?

They're all up in the woods already doing that thing. You keep missin' 'em.

I guess the locals know where the good stuff is huh? Will have to hit you up for tips next time. I have mostly stuck to state parks so far.

Back to the Propex, has anyone figured out how to minimize the "gurgling"? It is a weird noise that sounds a bit like flames fluttering, but amplified through the exhaust tube. I've seen three and so far they all do that. I'm thinking of wrapping it in some kind of heatproof tape or something to dampen it.

SSWesty, that's a nice install. I like that the vent goes straight out to the cabin and not through a bunch of funky ducting.

Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:24 am

I went with the closet I can still hang clothes in there and
I took out the rear heater so I can turn the bench in to a cider chest.
Plus I have the thermostat behind the drivers seat so I can turn it on and
off for the rear passengers. I love that friggin thing.

Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:35 am

Vent location

Put the vent in a good place the first one cooked my feet.

Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:49 am

Hey Bill, have you seen this thread:http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=345545&highlight=propex