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OldSpice Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2015 Posts: 178 Location: 87 syncro westfalia Subaru ez30
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:51 pm Post subject: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Lots of great information shared in the last thread I started https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=674875
But now i have more $ and i cant decide and need to know, if you had no budget limit(performance being priority), what would you do? I read someone say they think the cdh is better than propex?
-I need my bench seat storage so thats not an option
-mounting underneath vehicle seems good as far as saving space but it feels like there could be other drawbacks for that
-would be nice to have something that ties into propane or gas lines- but I could also carry a small can of diesel ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
-I want to maybe install a electric fridge instead of my propane one and wondering if i could then vent it out of the flu vent or if anyone has done that?
-or if anyone has connected it to the air vents above the sliding door
Thanks for helping me avoid frostbite and or mild discomfort this winter |
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charleslabri Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019 Posts: 615 Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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im in the same boat, guy up here is suggesting the webasto diesel heaters.. says that they work amazing for the sprinters he builds.
I measured, and they are small enough to fit in a box in the center console area kicking heat back |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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You'll need to decide on the fuel being used. Gas, propane, or diesel. They all can work well especially if price is no object. Do you want to add another fuel tank to your existing system?
Many of those who went CDH did so because of the extremely low cost and decided that running another fuel tank was worth it vs spending another $1000 or so for a heater that would run on their existing fuel tank(s). _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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CessnaJon Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 677 Location: Senoia,GA
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Love my gasoline Eberspatcher B1LC. Small, quiet, and I only have one fuel source. Love it so much I installed one in my 73 Westy too.
_________________ 1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159 |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2230 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I have a Propex, so am therefore biased. That being said, I would choose either the Webasto gas furnace or the Propex LPG furnace, because I don't want to have to carry a third fuel type on board. _________________ '90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I vote for single fuel. _________________ ☮️ |
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Multiman mv Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2017 Posts: 987 Location: Martha's Vineyard, Ma
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I have a diesel and the best money that ive spent on my van has been the eberspacher d2 diesel heater. They make a gas version and it is so nice to never have to worry about filling up a propane tank or figure out some other form of fuel and heat. It is definitely a luxury and one that you have to pay for but in my opinion it is well worth the cost. The heater takes up very little room, is super safe (regardless, one should still use a carbon monoxide detector) and is very fuel efficient. I dont have to pack an ungodly amount of blankets and sleeping bags when camping in cold weather and everyone sleeps in comfort. If you have the money it is well worth it. many threads on cheap Chinese diesel or gas heaters that dont cost much. run the fuel that your vehicle uses. As long as your car is fueled up, you will never have to think about your heating fuel. _________________ 1991 multivan, FAS 1.9 tdi, Peloquin limited slip
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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Gnarlodious Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013 Posts: 2312 Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Hate to say it but my main source of heat is an electric blanket, with the diesel heater for when it gets too cold. The blanket is “low voltage” made to run on 16 volts AC but I plug it into 12v and it just heats less. It is really gentle heat and can never get hot enough to burn its wires. I use springy clips to layer blankets depending on the temps. The blanket’s controller can’t run on DC so I have it set up with a cheap programmable digital thermostat from eBay. Considering the truble with running the full blown heater in milder weather, its a good compromise. Especially with the high capacity Li batteries coming out. _________________ Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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maco70 Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2011 Posts: 456 Location: Montréal, Québec
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I like the Propex HS 2211 under the van, but I should admit that it is quite noisy. Not that much noisy, but I believe there is furnace more quiet than this one. _________________ Martin from Montréal
1986 Vanagon GL full camper westfalia
(brown/tan interior) |
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dougnlina Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2016 Posts: 241 Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I have a pump-gas powered Webasto, Single fuel set up, it sips so little gas I notice no difference in tank level.MPG when I am using the heater. Unquestionably the best upgrade I have done to the van. _________________ "Olive" a '60 Ragtop Beetle
"Grover" a '87 Syncro Poptop 1.8T |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I can hear my Espar, but I actually sleep better hearing it making heat. _________________ ☮️ |
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OldSpice Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2015 Posts: 178 Location: 87 syncro westfalia Subaru ez30
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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thanks for contributing, all.
I am curious how much gas exactly it really takes a day/week?
anyone have something to say about the flu vent thing? |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I’m sure there are specs, but running the Espar for a 3 day weekend is not detectable on the vans gauge. Battery life is more of an issue than fuel consumption. _________________ ☮️ |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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I have a propex and CDH and Suburban RV furnace in my/family campers.
if $$ were no object I'd travel to warmer places in the colder months
but seriousness I'd go single fuel.
the propex should have a larger propane tank or dual tanks.
the CDH can have it's fuel tank in a variety of places the propane can't.
just takes a little ingenuity and imagination. but many CDH installs lack both. (well mostly the Bay side installs that I've seen) |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5680 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Money no object, I would go with a name brand that uses the same fuel as your van. So I think that means either the Webasto or Espar.
The Espar allows under-van mounting; I'm not sure of the Webasto. (I have an Espar under my Bus.) That is a nice feature simply because it doesn't take up any space inside. I cut in a return hidden in the seat pedestal, and the heat enters the Bus through the old stock heat vents. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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^^^ x2...
Having said that, I'm running a CDH on kerosene & it basically sips fuel, but having
a big 16 gallon supply gas tank would be very easy to deal with. Just sayin...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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candyman Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003 Posts: 2694 Location: Missoula MT
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Im running the CDH for three years now and zero issues. I had propex, it was great. Didnt like the way it cycled on and off all night however. But it heated great. Decided to ditch my under carriage propane tank as the only indoor cooking i do is coffee and maybe a light breakfast. Also mine is a syncro that sees its fair share of off-roading, it always made me nervous about bashing the tank. Not to mention its getting harder to find competent people to fill the stock tank. So i now use refillable 1# cylinders. My fridge is 12v so my propane needs are minimal. My cdh i run on kerosene and a tank (5.5liter) will easily last me a few days To a week in the very cold. And I can see my fuel level and fill it anywhere that sells diesel if needed. As mentioned battery power is the real concern, especially on startup and shut down. Otherwise when Running they are pretty low draw. I also like the fact it doesnt cycle on and off, so its like soft white noise all night which for me is great to sleep to. |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3786 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Just installed 150aH LiFePo4. I have a 2k CDH. Whatever you do - don't put diesel tank inside van. I'm working on building an aux diesel tank where my propane tank went. Like Candyman, I don't use my inside stove much and am using 1lb canisters now.
Oh, also Afterburner controller _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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Gasoline heater. Why add another tank for diesel when you already have 15+ gallons of fuel onboard?
I mounted my Eberspacher behind the passenger seat.
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:54 am Post subject: Re: Help me decide what heater to get, propex, CDH, or other? |
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You can mount the Webasto under the bus. I've done two that way. You need to fashion a splash shield to keep it dry but other than that it is not a big deal. Even the Webasto tech guys say it is OK to mount it that way.
Webasto spec sheet says it consumes 4 - 8 oz per hour of gasoline, depending on demand. _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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