Propex Heater Install Under Water Tank

[BayCreamPuff]

After much Samba searching and measurement taking I’ve decided to mount my Propex heater in the space below the water tank in my '79 Campmobile. I'm lucky to have a LOT of help from my dad the carpenter for this project.

I had a few goals:

- Lose as little precious storage space as possible
- Gas line should be easy to access for annual inspections
- Do as little (noticeable) damage to the bus as possible
- The gas, intake and combustion lines under the bus should be up as tight to the floor of the bus as possible.

Here it is in place. To make our work easier we needed to take out the shelf that the water tank sits on. Unfortunately it's the only shelf that uses tongue and groove, so we had to use an oscillating multi-tool to cut it out. We'll need to add supports when we put it back in.

Air for recirculating will come into the space through the existing vent under the fridge. To do this we drilled a hole at the back of the cabinet into the small space under the fridge. We shoved a small length of the supplied corrugated tubing into the hole and routed it toward the opening below the fridge.

Wait, what about the water pump and drain?

In order for the the Propex to be seated properly with the gas line easily accessible it required us to move the pump and drain into the enclosure next door in the space under the sink. This allows the Propex intake and exhaust lines to clear the frame below and leaves the gas line easily accessible at the front of the cabinet.

More to come...
_________________
Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile

Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia

Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper

[philbur]

Great idea! I'm doing the same (adding gas heat), but thought of getting the external unit and mounting under the bus. What water tank are you using? I was thinking of finding a different shape one to save space etc.

[BayCreamPuff]

We finished the install this morning and I couldn't be happier with the location. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it.

We're using the original 7 gallon water tank.

Elbow fittings rerouting the pump and drain lines

New location for the pump and drain under the sink

Drain line going through its new hole

Hot air outlet

Exhaust and combustion intake

Thermostat goes above the coat closet

_________________
Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile

Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia

Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper

[Busstom]

Slick. I will be stealing some of your ideas. Where did you source the corrugated stainless for the exhaust?

[BayCreamPuff]

[aeromech]

Please come back and give us feedback on how well the heater works for you. The one I installed seemed to fog up the interior big time.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Busstom]

Yes...better yet, come down to the Kelley Park meet in April, so I can hear it in action You're only 40 minutes away.

After doing more homework, I now see that the Espar gasoline unit is waaaay more expensive than I realized, and so the Propex is looking more appealing to me now.

[chabanais]

[aeromech]

[SGKent]

[Busstom]

BayCreamPuff: have you had a chance to try your new heat in this sloppy weather we've been having? Curious to hear your thoughts.

I've been reading over in the Vanagon forums, there are quite a few people running Propexes over there.

[Sprink1es]

Very cool!

I have to say though, if I did copy you, I'd probably mount the unit in the middle cabinet (on the floor under the sink), route the hot air outlet hose up the drain, then over the water tank, so I could have the final vent higher up above the bed.

Spot is fine to pre-heat the bus, but I feel like if I ever needed it while sleeping I'd rather not have the vent under the z-bed?

Either way, awesome install for a permanent solution. I'm still stuck with my Mr Heater big buddy to pre-heat before I go to bed lol

[BayCreamPuff]

[BayCreamPuff]

[vwwestyman]

I like it, but I too wondered about the outlet placement.

The other night, my boys wanted to "camp" in the bus. The low was about zero overnight!

So I took my large forced air propane heater out and preheated the bus and got the mattress and stuff warmed up, then switched to a large electric space heater and told them to take all their blankets. They said that they stayed pretty warm overnight. I guess that's not too related other than the part about preheating the bus...!
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[ROCKOROD71]

Saving up for a propex myself? Do you run it off of the stock propane tank under the sliding door?
_________________
1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[BayCreamPuff]

[BayCreamPuff]

I ran the heat a bit tonight and IT IS HOT. The bus got nice and toasty in about 5 minutes. It's such a small space to heat that it doesn't really seem to matter where the hot air outlet is. In fact the hot air blows so hard that I wouldn't want it pointing anywhere near me while sleeping.
_________________
Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile

Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia

Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper

[Tcash]

[ROCKOROD71]

Thank you for responding. I had been reading some conflicting threads about using the stock tank and there not being enough pressure or something. I plan on putting mine under the back seat/z bed and running the hot air to the already existing ducts that run to under the bed and below the fridge (I have a 77), then I will run a new duct running all the heat from the heater boxes up front to the defrost/foot vents. My new-to-me OG heater boxes kick out decent heat but a lot of it diverts to the rear vents and is lost along the way.
\Been driving the bus all winter thus far and the heat is leaving much to be desired.
_________________
1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI