Can this Work with a Camper? My Parking Heater Experiment: Part One
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- While many people use parking heaters for their trucks or vans, I was looking for a temporary heating source in my trailer when my propane heater was not adequate. This video is the first of two parts showing my attempts to use a 5kw Chinese diesel heater as an auxiliary heating source for my fiberglass eggshell camper.
Disclaimer: This is beyond the intended use of this heater, and is not recommended for safety reasons. It is merely an experiment and should only be viewed for entertainment purposes.
Part 2 is here: • Can this Work with a C...
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NOTE FROM SLIM: I released BOTH Part 1 and Part 2 the same morning, so please make sure you watch both to understand the full story. Part 1 is NOT the same as the one taken down. Thanks! SP
Excited for these videos , thanks slim !
Not sure if anyone else had this happen but I got the notice for part 2 first. Watched it thinking it was a continuation from your previous part 1 that you removed. Then I watched your new improved part 1. The order didn't matter to me. I enjoyed them both.
Hey Slim???? Check out my last message brother? It may work?🤔
@@Tom-In-Ga Same thing happened to me but, glad he released them and forget those damn Trolls
Thanks for telling us this. I had just skipped Part 1` because I thought I'd already seen it.
I have my Diesel heater in a cockpit locker, also on the outside. I have been using it with outside air too, no circulation. It gives out nice dry heat, with relative humidity levels of 30%. Totally unheard of in a boat in the wet Netherlands. I really like it!! It is worth the effort to get it bug free. I would look for vacuum leaks in the fuel line before the pump, and use hard nylon line after the fuel pump. Also the Diesel needs to be of winter quality, add 1/4 of Kerosene to prevent it from clogging in low temperature if unsure. My heater will not go below 1.8Hz btw. At the lower settings you risk flame out. Well, those are my 2 cents, happy puzzling! (I do realize that part 2 is already in the making and you solved it weeks ago. Sorry but I have this Compulsive Fixing Other Peoples Problems Disorder :-)
I have also heard/read that you need to run the heater at max temp for about 30 minutes periodically. It allows the heater to burn off the carbon deposits that build up when you use it at a lower temp setting.
I installed one in my old camper and used it for a week. It works great. Yes, I can hear it but it doesn't bother me. I'm very happy with it.
I haven't even watched yet, just had to say: Yay, a Slim video!
Whoo hoo!
I’m smiling ear to ear. I love your videos. I try to figure out what’s going on, in my head as you are trying to problem solve. For 22 minutes and 36 seconds not a problem in the world. Thank you sir!
You have such a great attitude about learning through adversity.
SLIM, thanks for the uplifting videos!
1) I'd point the exhaust away from the fresh air intake.
2) Why don't you bring the thermostat unit into the trailer?
3) These are meant to re-heat inside air just like your propane heater does, not heat -6C air.
4) Did you open any vents to allow air out as you pump air into the trailer? These units shut down when they overheat due to lack of air flow.
5) Can't wait to see the final outcome!
7) Watch Part 2 right now . It will answer many of your questions. SP
Some of the other videos I have watched on these parking heaters had problems at low sets that the heater doesnt burn all the diesel in the heater chamber and it gets clogged up but once you figured out it was the jackery turning off. You are an excellent diagnoser keep on trying slim really enjoy all your videos
I tell you what Slim, you are going to fall in love with that click click sound, cause that sound indicates heat, and with heat, you won't be miserable in the freezing temperatures. Of course a higher end name brand heater will be far better quality. But it will be interesting to see how you make out with this heater in part 2.
Some people get good deals on these... but I didn't. Totally made me chuckle 😄
My first one was 400$, my second one was 150$.
For safety’s sake, I’d position the air intake as far away as possible from the exhaust.
See Part 2
You’re amazing. The MacGyver of camping.
Thank you so much for thinking outside the box and giving us your informed opinions. 👍
Slim, I really do enjoy your videos. I find these "review" videos interesting and educational. Being an engineering myself, I would love to know what your career was before you become a traveler. The way you approach and document is excellent!! Thanks for what you do. Greetings from Nashville, Tenneessee.
I have the same heater with blue controller outside of my truck shell camper sitting on the tail gate. Easier setup that works out great on the truck shell and doubles as a shop heater. Good video - Thanks for all the work and sharing information.
Hi Keith, great to hear from someone who understands the concept. Too many get hung-up on permanent van installs and can't think beyond this. Thanks! SP
Nice to see you back in action slim glad you didn't take the pc comments to heart looking forward to the next vid happy new year greatings from ireland ☺
Our old camper caravan has a propane stove and we could choose not to run the fan on it, to save on power. It would be heating, but not circulating hot air, so we never used it much without the fan running. We had a lead acid battery and it held enough power for a few lights and that fan, during a day and night, but I usually had to connect my car and run the engine to charge it up while driving. It worked great for us, although we never winter camped. Just during the spring, summer and autumn and mostly when it was raining and a bit chilly. We never ran it while we were sleeping. I have too much respect, being a firefighter, to be careless with such things.
Loved, loved loved the video. I enjoy seeing your trouble shooting and figuring out how to rework things to make them work for you. You are always very clear your solutions are what works for you. Others might need to do something different. I trust your solving issues far more than I would reviews on an online listing. Good luck with your problem solving!!!
It boggles my mind that people still wonder if these diesel heaters will work well for their rv, van, camper, bus. Lots and lots of people have been using them for years now. In the commercial industry, semi trucks have been using them for 10-15 years or more.
Slim, i am lucky to have access to webasto and eberspacher heaters for very low prices. But same difference. I have a 1983 dodge van. Ive been living in it for over 2 years. I have a webasto. Just simply hooked to 1 battery. Works great. I can have it 80F with window s open when its -10F outside. Van isnt insulated. I don't ever smell diesel.
I have a Webasto as well and it is simply superb. The fan noise could be a little better but I have no complaints in terms of heating performance or with regards to the amount of Amps it uses.
@@Daz555Daz neat
I love ingenious persons...and share your thought
SO glad to see you dude!
The Jackery turned off, if not drawing enough power... it turns itself off... the heater doesn't draw enough power on the lowest setting for the timer in the jackery.
but if that happens the heater's mother boards gets damaged. sudden power loss is not good for them
Lol. Slim. You got alot of new subscribers so those are the ones who dont understand. But uts good to see you buddy. And as usual you come up with great ideas and the way you do things always inspire.
It sure is fun to follow you along on your adventures. This is what you call "real world education & learning". In a time of standardized testing, we need more real world problem solving like in your videos. Now let's say goodbye to 2020 and looking forward to a much better 2021 and all your new adventures to come!
When you shut down, turn it on high to burn the carbon then shut down
The click is the pump. I've noticed that other rv dwellers suspend the pump so that it's not directly attached to a surface. They say it reduces the clucking noise. However, yours is an all in one.
I wonder that if the pump is mounted with screws or nuts and bolts if you could add some rubber/silicone washers to dampen the vibration and soften the noise. or if the pump doesn't get hot if you could put some sound dampener like kilmat or noico on it
I have one of these without the metal cabinet. I don't have the noise problem from the pump. I think the metal cabinet may be acting like the box around a musical instrument 🎸 which amplifies the level of the sound. I suggest that you open up the box and wrap the pump in something like foam rubber to insulate the sound from the cabinet.
I like this entire idea. Get all the diesel and the clicking and whirring outdoors. It even has a remote! Hope the problems can be overcome...on to part 2!
Slim, you may want to use diesel anti-gel additive in winter because diesel will turn to gell in fridgid weather. A real advance over their predecessors, gasoline powered heaters. I know of people using kerosene or vegetable oil instead of diesel.
Smaller versions of these heaters are ideal for use in vintage Volkswagens for driving in northern climes. The optional gasoline heaters for VWs are very rare, very expensive, big, and very complicated to maintain.
Your creativity amazes me again. I would love to know what you did for a living,I hope it wasn’t a boring job.
Thank you hope you get it all worked out it’s always a pleasure watching your videos do you have a very comforting voice
Good Morning Slim! Thanks for sharing! Happy Camping....
Slim Great video No need to explain anything. I am glad that you are experimenting and doing things outside of the box. Keep it up. Always love all of your videos. Safe Travels
Great to see you. Have a happy new year Slim.
I have had my diesel heater for about 2 years now and went through all the same learning curves as you did. We heat a rooftop tent and this is way too much heater for our needs. We have good sleeping gear and blankets etc. so we heat our tent for about 1/2 an hour and all the bedding is about 80F (26C), shut it down and we use it when it gets super cold or when we get up in the morning via the remote. end ofOctober we camped in Upper Minnesota and it got down to 23F (-5C).
I saw a review of this one and a Webasto, and its clear that you get what you pay for.
That saying means nothing unfortunately. If I spent $1000 more would it be better? Or, I would just be out more money? It depends on the purpose, not the price. SP
@@SlimPotatohead It would be objectively "better", but for your use case it is impossible to say as every case is different. There is little doubt however that Webasto makes a premium product - but they charge you for it! Still, mine is 21 years old now (same as my camper) and still working like it was brand new. Sadly I don't work quite as well as I did 21 years ago!
@@SlimPotatohead The video I was talking about was named $200 Knock-Off Diesel Heater VS $1500 Webasto Airtop Heater. There you see why there is a difference between costly heaters and cheap chinese ones. I love you videos and I understand what you are doing. But on a thing this important, its worth the cost.
Awesome... always love a challenge. Amazing amount of heat it put out. Top off the coffee cup and on to Part Two..😀
Ha that is a cool place to run your heater hose. I built mine on a box, keeps the annex, and Rooftop tent perfect at -26’C. Keep mine running at about 75% working. Have fun, never give up. 🇨🇦🏍
Ye I give up my diesel type heater,(didn't like having to carry diesel fuel and the heater just something else taking up space) ,and went to a Mr" heater double heater the big buddy,,it got a small battery blower, runs of propane. Found it works better then my onboard unit..Kept the videos coming, very enjoyable
You must have a lot of moisture issues with the Mr Heater, unless you aren't cold camping. The amount of water they produce is crazy. Thanks! SP
Another interesting vid Slim
Hope you and your family had a great Christmas, Slim!
thanks Slim for your continued improvements for off grid winter camping
Merry belated Christmas Slim and have a happy new year! Thank you for all the content you give us. I’m a big fan of the channel
Have a Happy New Year From Michigan.
The scamp is looking great !
It's an Outback by Trillium actually, but thanks! SP
It's good to see you again SP. I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Great job,I'm headed to part two
Happy New Year, Slim. Stay well and safe travels.
I’m eager to watch the next installment so I can see what you come up with. Thanks Slim!
Slim's here! Slim's here! I'm so glad to see you this morning, Slim. Not so your diesel heater. Sorry, but it's not my cup of tea. What I do like is your study to find feasible ways to live off-grid when the sun is as low as the temperature. I would imagine someone in Arizona is trying to find a way to live off-grid when the sun is as high as the temperature -- or maybe that will be your program next summer??? Hope you had a very merry Christmas and soon will have a very happy new year. Slim's here! Slim's here!
I've got a 2KW unit in my camper. I think your unit is going to run full bore unless you move the controller into the camper. It has the temperature sensor in it. I started with video 2 and your complaint about it being too hot was the first cue. My initial installation was a hot mess, because the fuel line was touching the exhaust hose, which wasn't apparent at first. Glad to see a new video! Hope you had a good Christmas.
I'm glad to see that you reposted this "one", getting rid of the "other" comments...
I know you know that the world is a big place Slim and not everybody is going to be nice... everybody is struggling one way or the other and sometimes people have to be MEAN because it reflects their own REGRETS on their own WASTED lives and dreams... 😪😩 they want other people to feel bad because it makes them feel better about themselves in a twisted sort of way... and of course everybody has opinions, you know what they say about those LOL 😕😕
it's a struggle everyday just to keep your chin up, you can't ever lose that HOPE and FAITH in your HEART.
Keep doing what you're doing, living your dream doing what you LOVE ❤ try not to let people get to you... because if you let them, they will...😒😪
This was an EXCELLENT video and I LOVE the way you take the time to "set up" the camera and do your thing and then off camera you have to go back and get it... the effect is amazing and I appreciate everything you do...
Take care of yourself, be well and if you ever want to post a video you can always turn the comments off, I know you know that.
Happy New Year Slim, BEST WISHES and LOVE and AWESOME, SAFE Journeys in 2021 and beyond... hopefully we will leave this covid-19 behind FOREVER
or at least get it under control.
A Slim Potatohead video. Not one, but two! I am so excited and not even watched the video yet.
Great to get the next Slim P installment. Love watching your experiments. Thanks
Love watching your videos, wishing you all the best for the New Year 2021.
Keep safe.
Yupp this is why you always have a back up plan when trying out new items. Great video.
Thank youuuu. Your projects are so inspiring
I don't understand what the controversy could have possibly been with his last video (the one he took down). Are people that offended by something as benign as a heater install?
A lot of people in the camping community are nuts
I don't think it was that people were offended, it's more so they didn't get what Slim was trying to do with these videos and were offering help. He made a video explaining why he deleted the video originally.
@@SovietRipper A lot of people outside the camping community are also nuts.
Slim I've been following you for a long time it's the first time I've ever commented on any of your videos which by the way I think are fantastic.... the outside air vent that that you modified you should flip it upside down so the lid is shrouding the hose just in case you have inclement weather you're not going to get that little compartment with a heater hose from the outside goes in, filled with water
See Part 2. It's out!
if you watch Bob Wells, he uses a one burner coalmen stove with a 3 thin metal wall around about six inches high or so, with multiple layers of aluminum on top. it sounds like it wood fit your needs, the walls fold up flat on top with the aluminum on the stove easy to put a way too.
Bob Wells lives in the hot southern desert. This is Canada! SP
Hi Slim great to see ya. Happy New Year 🎆👍👍😊
You may wish to locate the exhaust muffler further away from the heater " Cabin Air Intake ", that's why the exhaust port on the heater aims downwards. Just a thought
See Part 2!
@@SlimPotatohead Bingo
Thanks you my friend happy New Years
Awesome, thanks for releasing both parts Slim!
We hope you get your heating situation solved.
Not sure why there is a problem. He has a propane heater that works perfect. Why reinvent the wheel.
You missed one point William: The propane furnace is a power pig. Wheel needed re-inventing! SP
Awesome review.
Your placing the entire unit outside & connecting the hot air hose to the wall vent is something I didn't see coming. Genius move, dude!
I wonder if wrapping the hot air hose with an insulating wrap would increase the efficiency at all?
19:35 Beautiful sunrise!!
Yiiiay, I found someone else that can't stand the smell of diesel , great video as always, happy new year
Slim, once sorted out you will have a good multi purpose unit. Weather to heat your house during a power failure or to heat up your engine block while off grid. Just a thought......
wauwwww thats a loud diesel heater, And really nice to see your are back 😎😎😎
Slim went home and got his shine box to support the heater outside the camper. ;-)
I got a quad treat today... Not only 2 Slim vids but both contained snow. I gotta do something to keep cool as it's gonna be 29c today with high humidity lol. As always thanks Slim.
Well done!
Diesel is not a fan of sub--zero temperatures my friend, so good on you for your experiments and long may they continue!!
Neither is propane for that matter! SP
@@SlimPotatohead Slim it's all a function of the ideal gas law - PV = nRT - no bias on molecule types
hey Slim as always great info I would never be able to know about this without you
Love the videos ! I was researching those diesel heaters . the ticking is the fuel pump , I'm sure you already know that .
if there is room inside to hang the pump from some zap straps .
cover the heater in sound deadening to quiet it down
You are slightly restricting the exhaust output by having the 90 degree piece directly from the main exhaust output of the unit. That could potentially cause problems. I would try to let the exhaust come straight out of the bottom for at least a foot or more, before it hits the 90 degree elbow. Maybe cut a hole in the top and along the bottom side of the box that the unit is sitting on? I just think that restricting the exhaust flow like that (even though it's slightly restricted) can cause problems down the road and potentially damage your unit. Just a thought Slim! I love your videos! Your voice over work and editing are exemplary! Good stuff!
HVAC dealers will have vents for high velocity furnace ducts. Matel ones are available
Great job. Interested to see how it turns out. Thank you.
For a guy that wasn't going to cut a hole in your camper looks like you had no problem cutting a hole in your camper! LOL!
Good morning!
Looking forward in seeing how it turns out! 😊👍👍
You can see right now. Part 2 is out!
I would have put a super large flange on the end of the heater supply air hose which was matched to one of the existing windows on the camper. Blow it right through the window screen.
No more holes in the hull!
Great review look forward to your next challenges. Thanks for sharing your video with us.
You are so interesting the way you come across. Whiskey 👍👍👍
I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing all you do!
Slim you shouldn’t have the exhaust facing in a direction that the intake air could pull exhaust gas inside your trailer...
Edit: I watched 2 and you corrected the issue. Thanks. I was worried...
I think you’ve made good progress with this heater and I hope you get it to where you’re comfortable using it for your primary heat source.
Please watch part 2
Excellent video, looking forward to the follow up.
It's out right now! SP
Having the pump on the lowest setting might have caused it to soot up. I use an 8 kw in my 27 foot camper and love it, plus i have the heated air recirculating, and mine is hard mounted in trailer. Looks like you were within a couple of miles from where i live.
How are you recirculating the heated air?
Good set up slim!
I wondered if the heater shut off in the middle of the night because its INTERNAL temperature got too high or if, say, a vapor lock in the fuel line/pump developed (assuming that can happen with diesel fuel), even an electrical short somewhere (I know, I'm just guessing now). Another thought, I know you like to experiment but have you considered adding another or larger battery? Looking forward to further efforts!
Welcome to 2021 slim! - I have one in my RV and one of these in my shed - love them both and for 80 bucks well worth it! If you get the Bolivian water kit you can have hot water from that too ;)
Not that simple.... those “Salemen of UA-cam” are getting paid , to get us all to buy. I appreciate your honest objectivity. And sweat equity figuring it out for us others
Yay for road trips!!! Happy New Year!!!
😎 wonderful images, videos and stories, Thankyou for your inspiration, best wishes for 2021 from Mount Mellum Queensland Australia
Thanks Slim you’re the best! 🤩👍👍👍💯💯💯🎄🎄🎄
Slim
About your diesel heater you may need to install the inlet tube inside the vehicle and the controller to regulate the temperature it may be overheating the by it shutting off
Best of luck
Potato head ingenuity here. Watched review the other day. The diesel heater wasn't a knockoff, but he had the same complaints. He liked the propane one better. He was heating a rooftop tent. Glad you worked out the bugs. No woodstove?
Good Morning Slim. Happy New Year.
A veces los cambios son pausa para encontrar y recuperar un sueño y llevarlo de la mano hasta lo real de la vida, y cuando el puzle del destino muestra las piezas de toda una existencia, uno sabe que lo mejor aún está por vivir.
Happy New Year Slim, saludos desde Puenteareas.