Small Side-Mounted Diesel Heater Recommendations?
Posted by BirdDogBeanDog@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 8 comments
I have a Land Rover LR3 with a roof top tent and I am thinking about trying to install a diesel heater on my molle panel so I can heat up the tent at night or during winter months. I've seen some all-in-one units online and the toolbox style ones too, just curious if anyone has any suggestions for the best and smallest option out there. I dont want it to stick out too much since it is on the side of my vehicle. I don't need a ton of heat either since it is just heating a small tent. In a perfect world I dont want to have to take the heater on and off all the time either, so just curious what people have already done and what you suggest! Thanks :D
Adventurous_Fall2952@reddit
I have the Hcalory suitcase with remote and hang it from the Rhino rack platform that the tent is mounted on. Works well.
The heater has a thermostat function where is uses the remotes location for temp. The temp range is big at 6 over/ under but workable.
Cruisn06@reddit
I cut mine into my rear door with a custom made ally box. Works a treat. All permanent and only need to hook up the heater hot air line when the tent is open. Tent is hard wired with thermostat for the heater operation.
ttn333@reddit
hcalory.com/collections/heater/products/tb2s-diesel-heater-toolbox-2s-plus-6l-wireless-remote-upgraded?variant=43043859005483
Ozatopcascades@reddit
Just bought the compact Rokkit all-in-one for similar reasons for this fall. Mounting over the bed-rail with the exhaust port out the bottom of the side pod.
MercedesAutoX@reddit
Built mine into a pelican case that fits on the TrailRax rack on my Jeep. I already have a WaterPort that I use in the summer for showers so I ordered another water port rack and used it on the diesel heater. If it’s cold enough to need diesel heater it’s too cold for a bush shower. They share the same mount on the rig. It’s literally lift off and you’re done. Not exactly small but easy enough, and it’s all in one. I can run the heater while still mounted
BirdDogBeanDog@reddit (OP)
That is so sick, how hard was it to build/what did it cost?
MercedesAutoX@reddit
I used an actual pelican case, that was the majority of the cost. I think these days there are other more economical options like the Harbor Freight Apache cases that would do you well. The heater kit itself was like $89 on amazon, and I have some bulkheads and hard line in there. I didn’t add it all up at the time but if I had to guess I’m probably under $400 all in. Half of that being an authentic Pelican case.
MercedesAutoX@reddit
Also just to note, if you build one, pay attention to your fresh air intake in relation to your combustion loop exhaust. My heater is designed to fit on the passenger side of my rig. The fresh air intake is top left (large hose behind the control panel) that air flows through the heater and out to the top right bulkhead and up to the tent. The black port in the middle on the right side is just a bulkhead to allow fresh air in for the combustion loop, and the combustion exhaust is obviously the chrome tube that runs through the muffler before exiting lower right. This is to keep the exhaust as far from the fresh air intake as possible to avoid breathing fumes and CO. If I use the heater on the drivers side (like you show in your photo assuming you’re left hand drive) the hot air vent would exit toward the rear of the vehicle and up to the tent. If that doesn’t work for your application you’ll need to reconfigure the heater, just keep in mind the locations of your combustion exhaust and fresh air intake.