The 5 Best Diesel Heaters for Van Life
If you don’t want van life to end when the temperatures drop, you might want to consider a diesel heater. For van lovers, this can mean camping in four seasons while staying warm. Today we’ll share how a diesel heater for your van can be a game-changer for when and where you camp! Let’s dive in!
Why Choose a Diesel Heater for a Campervan?
As with most things van-related, everyone has an opinion about what makes the best heater for van life. If you’re driving a diesel camper van, though, using a diesel air heater is almost a no-brainer. Let’s look at the three main reasons why you might want to consider installing a diesel heater in your van.
No Need For Extra Tanks
There are lots of good reasons to use a propane heater in your van, but the main downside to using propane is having to use external storage tanks. If you own a diesel van like a Sprinter, you can run a diesel heater directly from your vehicle’s main fuel tank. Although drilling into your fuel tank might sound scary, a professional will be able to do the job in no time. Plus, most Sprinters have an auxiliary tap on the fuel tank, so no drilling is necessary!
Diesel Is A Cheaper Fuel Source
If you’re using a propane heater all winter, you’ll end up spending a lot of money on fuel. Diesel is affordable and readily available, which makes it an attractive proposition. Plus, diesel heaters for camper vans are so small and efficient that you’ll hardly notice them using any fuel.
Diesel Heaters Produce “Dry Heat”
Condensation buildup is every van dweller’s worst nightmare. When it’s cold outside, the last thing you want is damp sheets, clothes, and windows. Unlike propane heaters, which produce “wet heat,” diesel heaters vent externally, so the heat they produce is drier and helps to combat condensation. Carbon monoxide buildup is less of a worry, too, although you should always have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your van.
What to Look for When Buying a Diesel Heater
One of the most important aspects to look for when buying a diesel heater is the size of the unit. You want to ensure that the heater can warm your van but is not too big for a tiny space. If you buy too big or too small, you will waste money either way.
It’s also worth noting that diesel heaters make a lot of noise. The larger the unit, the less it will need to work, but the louder it will be. This means if you sleep lightly, get the appropriately sized diesel heater for your van. You don’t want to lose sleep to stay warm.
Also, consider the maintenance costs involved with a diesel heater. Diesel burns much dirtier than other fuel sources but works more efficiently. Look at the recommended maintenance schedules and expenses involved. You want a heater you can rely on that won’t cost you a fortune to maintain.
Heat Output
This is probably the most important factor to consider before buying a diesel heater. It’s really important to install the appropriate size of heater for your van.
An oversized heater is basically a waste of money — you’ll rarely need to run the unit on full power, so more carbon will build up inside and you’ll need to clean it more often. Plus, the heater will end up cycling more often, resulting in a needless amount of noise and power consumption.
On the other hand, if you install a heater that’s too small for the amount of space you have, it’ll need to run on the highest setting all the time. You’ll use more fuel this way, and the fan constantly running will end up being a power drain.
Put simply, a 2kW diesel heater should be powerful enough for a small campervan, while a 5kW heater will work most efficiently in larger vans.
Altitude Settings
This is a big consideration if you plan on spending a lot of time at higher altitudes. Using diesel heaters above around 5,000 feet above sea level can be problematic — the air is thinner making it harder to burn the fuel.
More expensive diesel heaters from Webasto and Eberspacher feature nifty altitude adjustment settings that automatically change the mix of fuel and air. These are definitely the best diesel heaters to buy if your winter van life dreams involve skiing and hiking in the mountains. That said, you can manually adjust some diesel heaters so they work at higher elevations, but it involves quite a bit of tinkering with no strict guarantees of success.
Power Consumption
Diesel heaters use a 12-volt power supply and draw power from your batteries to get started. They also use power to run the fuel pump and the fan. The initial surge can be quite sizable — up to 15 amps from a cold start — so this is something you’ll have to bear in mind. Make sure your power supply can handle this surge and don’t connect the heater to your coach battery. After a few seconds, the power draw drops to around 4 amps for a few minutes. Once the heater is warm, it’ll only be using around 1 amp per hour.
Noise
Diesel heaters can be quite noisy, and this is a major downside for some folks. Light sleepers might have a hard time when some diesel heaters are starting up or shutting down, especially when they’re operating on the highest settings.
When choosing a place to install your diesel heater, shoot for a spot that’s as far from your bed as possible. You can also use noise-deadening insulation around the unit. Manufacturers like Webasto are constantly improving their heaters in an effort to reduce noise, but choosing the appropriate size and managing the thermostat properly can go a long way to keeping things quieter.
Fuel Efficiency
This isn’t really an issue, as long as your diesel heater is the right size for your van. All diesel heaters are remarkably fuel-efficient, usually using around 0.1 – 0.5 liters of fuel per hour. Don’t worry about the heater draining your fuel tank, either: diesel heaters shut off automatically when the tank is around three-quarters empty.
Cost
As we’ve already seen, van life diesel heaters fall into two distinct categories: expensive European heaters and cheap Chinese and Russian heaters. As with most things, it’s really a case of “you get what you pay for.” A Webasto heater, for example, is made from the highest quality materials, offers a multitude of features and functions, and is highly rated by users. Purchasing a cheap Chinese diesel heater is a bit more of a gamble — you’ll spend way less money, and you won’t be buying with as much confidence.
Warranty
If you’re planning on buying a Webasto or Espar heater, you’ll be happy to hear they both come with very good warranties. After all, these diesel heaters represent a substantial financial investment, so you’d expect to be well taken care of. Both companies have a good network of service centers throughout North America, so if a problem arises there’s a place to go.
It’s a completely different story with a budget Chinese diesel heater. If you do get a warranty, it isn’t going to be worth much. That said, these heaters are a fraction of the cost of the German models, so there isn’t really much to complain about on that front!
5 Best Diesel Heaters for Van Campers
Now that you understand what a diesel heater is and why we think you need one, let’s look at a handful of options. These are some of the five best diesel heaters for van campers. Let’s get started!
1. Webasto STC 2000
The Webasto STC 2000 is one of Webasto’s most popular items. This diesel heater can produce 7,000 BTUs and uses one gallon of fuel in 22 hours. It comes in both gasoline and diesel, but we think you’ll love the efficiency of the diesel version.
The low-maintenance design means more time using your van camper and less time sitting in the shop. It has multiple modes, such as recirculation and fresh air. This powerful diesel heater will do an incredible job keeping your space warm.
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2. Webasto Air Top Evo 40
Webasto’s EVO 40 is a whisper-quiet diesel heater. Webasto has heard the noise complaints from those camping in their vans and improved the fuel dosing pump to make this heater run incredibly quiet. While other diesel heaters will struggle at higher elevations, the EVO 40 has an automatic altitude compensation for up to 7,218 feet.
You won’t have to worry about using a ton of fuel either, with the low setting using 0.07 gallons per hour and the high setting using 0.15 gallons per hour. This means if you run the heater for 12 hours, you’ll use slightly less than two gallons of diesel. You can stay warm, and it won’t cost you a fortune in fuel.
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3. Espar Airtronic S2 D2
The Espar Airtronic D2 is a forced air heater that offers 7,500 BTU output and four different heat levels. The central unit relies on an internal temperature sensor to turn on and off. You can also get the recommended external temperature sensor to help control location-specific climates.
This heater can operate effectively at 7,200 feet elevation, but an additional high altitude kit will let you take it even higher. This heater can run for 24 hours on a single gallon of diesel fuel.
The Espar Airtronic S2 has 7,500 BTU of heating power and an automatic altitude adjustment. It can keep your van warm at just over 9,800 feet in elevation. The step-less motor and silent fuel pump make it easy to get a good night’s rest. You won’t wake in the middle of the night each time your heater kicks on.
The Airtronic S2 uses a more reliable brushless motor that lasts longer and works more efficiently. This environmentally friendly motor has a lifespan of 5,000 hours. It’s a formidable contender for the best diesel heater available.
4. maXpeedingrod 5KW 12V Air Diesel Heater
The MaXpeendingrods 5kW diesel air heater is definitely one of the best low-cost Chinese diesel heaters out there for a camper van. The company is relatively new, and although it has an unfathomably strange name, it’s already known for manufacturing reliable and efficient diesel air heaters. That said, this heater hasn’t been around long enough for us to know how it performs in the long term.
With such a low price tag, you’d be forgiven for expecting a poorly made product. Nothing could be further from the truth, though. The MaXpeedingrods diesel heater is made from high-quality materials and is reported to work surprisingly well. The 5kW model has a capacity of up to 17,000 BTUs per hour, making it ideal for heating a large campervan. Plus, it comes with a nifty LCD control panel that’s easy to use and works just great.
As you might expect from such an affordable diesel heating system, the MaXpeedingrods heater doesn’t feature an automatic adjustment for higher altitudes. However, you can reduce the fuel pump rate using the digital controller, which will allow the heater to function when you’re in your camper van up in the mountains.
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5. Happytbuy 2KW Diesel Heater
You don’t need to spend much time researching diesel heaters on van life community forums to realize that the Happybuy 2kW diesel heater is one of the most popular options around. This is another affordable Chinese diesel air heater that’s convinced many a van lifer that they don’t have to spend big bucks on a diesel heater.
The Happybuy heater features sturdy aluminum construction, and its compact size makes it easy to install inside your camper van. The main downside to a cheap diesel heater is that it isn’t going to be as quiet as an Espar or Webasto. That said, the noise really isn’t that bad — when the heater is cycling it just makes a steady clunking noise that you’ll quickly get used to.
The Happybuy diesel heater comes with a digital LCD monitor and features two automatic and manual temperature control modes. Probably the best thing about this heater is its low fuel consumption — the Happybuy will only use 0.1 – 0.3 liters of fuel per hour.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While a few different types of fuels heat van campers, a diesel heater is considered the best. These heaters can use very little power and a minimal amount of fuel to heat a van.
These efficient heaters make camping in cold climates not only tolerable but quite comfortable. If your van camper runs on diesel fuel, you can tie your diesel heater directly to your main fuel tank. This system means you won’t need to carry additional fuel, and as long as you have diesel for your van, you’ll stay warm.
Because diesel heaters are so compact, they take up very little space inside your camper van. Not only that, they’re extremely efficient, so it doesn’t take much to keep things nice and cozy during cold weather.
Diesel heaters draw fuel directly from the vehicle’s diesel fuel tank to burn it. They include a fan to blow out the exhaust and draw in exterior air. This burn cycle takes place in a separate chamber from the inside camper air.
The air inside the camper is drawn in a separate chamber that exchanges heat with the burning diesel fuel to heat the van.
It doesn’t take much for these compact van campers to heat up. These efficient diesel heaters use very little space and fuel to keep vans nice and toasty.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is no joke, and if this gas accumulates in a small space it can be deadly. That’s why it’s a really good idea to install a carbon monoxide detector in your camper van, especially if you’re using propane for cooking and heating.
That said, the best diesel heater is much safer than a propane heater, as long as you install it correctly. Not only do diesel heaters produce minimal carbon monoxide, they also expel gasses safely outside. Plus, the air that’s being heated and blown into your living space comes from inside the van. Lastly, the best diesel heaters have safety shutoff features that’ll kick in if a problem is detected.
Because diesel heaters produce dry heat, they actually help to prevent the buildup of moisture inside your van by lowering the relative humidity. Using a propane heater actually creates moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew, even if you have a vent fan installed. This type of environment can be pretty bad for your health.
Until quite recently, buying the best diesel heater for your van meant investing a substantial chunk of money in a Webasto, Espar, or equivalent European model. That’s all changed, though. In the last few years, Chinese diesel heaters have flooded the market, and a quick search on Amazon brings up dozens of affordable unbranded and private label heaters. These Chinese heaters cost a fraction of what you’ll pay for an Espar or Webasto, but are they too good to be true? Well, yes and no.
German diesel heaters have been around for a long time. These manufacturers have a proven track record when it comes to producing heaters that people trust to work well. They use high-quality materials and their diesel heaters come with features like automatic altitude adjustment and noise reduction.
The van life community was understandably hesitant to embrace Chinese diesel heaters when they first started showing up. However, as more and more budget-conscious van dwellers have bought and installed a Chinese diesel heater, the general consensus has turned in their favor.
Because van diesel air heaters are fairly compact, finding a place to install one shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s best to shoot for a location that’s protected and enclosed, such as a storage cabinet.
One of the most popular spots is under the passenger seat. There’s plenty of space under there, it’s nicely enclosed, and it’s away from the van’s sleeping area in most cases.
