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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10248 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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Thanks. More input on the Big Buddy's heating capacity is that it can also be used outside the van pointing at a couple people in camp chairs and has the effect of a fire. So the massive output has a side bennie. On low it keeps the van very warm, and on high it brings it from stone cold pretty quickly though you have to pay attention to what it's pointed at as anything within 3 feet will get very warm. I hang it off the passenger's headrest pointing rearward, using a pair of those very secure bendy quick tie things made by Nite Ize.
Looks like a good unit in form factor etc. Interested in hearing more. Tx _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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pdm777 Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012 Posts: 348 Location: Clovis, CA
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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I will update my original Samba post:
-Plug & Play- Super Easy Forced Air Heater for Westy ~$200
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730792&a...highlight=
- Revised the exhaust with two inline mufflers. And a handy thumb clamp.
I can now remove the entire exhaust in 30 seconds, or less !
shorter is better for exhaust. 2 mufflers solved the jet turbine noise.
- The power cord was tossed-too thin. New power cord is 10ga
to my AGM house batt, with anderson connector for quick dissconnect.
- The hot air outlet was originally four holes. I bought a one-hole
outlet and 3" aluminum flexi tubing, exiting the original heater outlet,
and added a nice looking vent fixture.
Will post photos and details soon.
With the fires, it's too smokey and hot right now.
FOR NOW, here's a photo of the latest dual exhaust setup
_________________ 1990 Westy Full Camper |
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erste Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013 Posts: 1110 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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pdm777 wrote: |
FOR NOW, here's a photo of the latest dual exhaust setup |
hahahaha that's pretty cool! Can you run an intake silencer on the all-in-one unit? |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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they really aren't that loud.. it's the corrugated tubing that makes the extra noise..
I hear my brother snoring inside his van louder than the heater when I walk by. |
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alaskadan Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013 Posts: 1857 Location: anchor pt. alaska
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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Looking at the link posted of this heater I noticed they have the same size unit 5kw in a tall skinny unit as well. Might fit well in a different cabinet than the bench seat. For these prices I might just have to pick one up. Edit, not really that much narrower. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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I think it was a Dave in here who mounted a tall thin behind the pass seat as a 'removable' unit. only installed when needed/wanted.
could do similiar with the squatty one and retain swivel functions..
do note that the small tanks in the 'portable' units is likely one day of fuel for any particularly cold day/night. so plan carrying additional fuel accordingly.
plus you need to have an Aux battery in event of heavy cold weather use.
there are compromises in nearly all of these options.. |
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pdm777 Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012 Posts: 348 Location: Clovis, CA
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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Compromises.
Every heater solution has compromises.
Minimizing compromises is the goal.
there has never been more choices,
affordable solutions for Westy owners.
keep warm. _________________ 1990 Westy Full Camper |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3796 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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I'm close to finishing my 4 gallon aux diesel tank and my 150aH lifepo4 install. Really excited to have EASY diesel refilling and also days of heat with my 2k CDH. _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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offthewallace Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2008 Posts: 21 Location: On the Road...
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pdm777 Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012 Posts: 348 Location: Clovis, CA
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:44 am Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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Yep, The chinese stole the design,
It's just a copy of the expensive Euro heaters.
Now the $800-$1200 diesel heaters
are less than $200. _________________ 1990 Westy Full Camper |
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OldSpice Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2015 Posts: 178 Location: 87 syncro westfalia Subaru ez30
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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I used to have a budget yes, ironically now I do not but these cheap kinds have hit thee market since, apparently. Still trying to find out what mountable ** unit to get and where to mount it - I want to max storage space especially in bench seat so I cant mount there. trying to figure out if the units get hot?? (any of them)
as a side note/ pro tip for the personal propane Buddy heaters- I use a USB Fan to move air around and heat the van more efficiently https://www.amazon.com/DECVO-USB-Flexible-PC-Compu...B003XN24GY
i plug mine into a portable battery like this https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Ultra-Compa...amp;sr=8-2 |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7756 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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^^^ FWIW: Behind passenger seat was my compromise...
Granted, I'm only one season in so far, but after running this rig about 20 days/nights I've had no issues at all
with heater cabinet touching either the seat pedestal <or> the Dometic 12v fridge I strap right up next to it...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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markswagen Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018 Posts: 1029 Location: san diego
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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i've done a fair bit of cold weather camping, and have ever owned a heater.
i make sure to have more warm bedding than i need, for the cold morning.
i have a kettle of water on the stove ready to light, and boil, usually by the time the kettle has boiled, the inside of the van is warm enough to get up and get dressed.
wife feels the cold more than i do, i guess i'm her hairy hot water bottle. _________________ markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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fxr Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014 Posts: 2321 Location: Bay area CA
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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markswagen wrote: |
i've done a fair bit of cold weather camping, and have ever owned a heater.
i make sure to have more warm bedding than i need, for the cold morning.
i have a kettle of water on the stove ready to light, and boil, usually by the time the kettle has boiled, the inside of the van is warm enough to get up and get dressed.
wife feels the cold more than i do, i guess i'm her hairy hot water bottle. |
If the water in the kettle stayed liquid, that's not the coldest camping we've done... _________________ Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3092 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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fxr wrote: |
markswagen wrote: |
i've done a fair bit of cold weather camping, and have ever owned a heater.
i make sure to have more warm bedding than i need, for the cold morning.
i have a kettle of water on the stove ready to light, and boil, usually by the time the kettle has boiled, the inside of the van is warm enough to get up and get dressed.
wife feels the cold more than i do, i guess i'm her hairy hot water bottle. |
If the water in the kettle stayed liquid, that's not the coldest camping we've done... |
Guess that's the difference between starting in San Diego vs Bay area _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10248 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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Oldspice,
You may know this about the Buddy heaters, but for others, the Big Buddy not only has a built in fan with a couple D cell batteries, but the heater can run 11 hours on the low/50% setting using the two built in propane bottles. Which would overcome even 0 degree outside temps and lets you sleep in very late before someone has to swap fresh bottles. The fan could be more powerful but I think they were going for "no draft" air movement out of a long grille slot vs swirling it around the room.
For swirling, we use a Caframo marine grade rubber bladed fan. Great product that seems pricy. However, after 25 years of multi day constant on, falling all the time on the boat, and tearing up 3 rubber blades from various mishaps, it still runs like a champ. We bought a 2nd one for the Vanagon last week. Spare blades are $3 and we always keep one on hand now. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2060 Location: Plano, TX USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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dhaavers wrote: |
^^^ FWIW: Behind passenger seat was my compromise...
Granted, I'm only one season in so far, but after running this rig about 20 days/nights I've had no issues at all
with heater cabinet touching either the seat pedestal <or> the Dometic 12v fridge I strap right up next to it...
- Dave |
How did you route the intake and exhaust? |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7466 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: heater ideas for cold weather sleeping |
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^^^ My question too. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7756 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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