Heating Your Campervan During The Winter
When the weather is great, we all love living and traveling in our campervans. But when the season turns frigid, van life becomes more uncomfortable and inconvenient without any sort of campervan heater. In fact, many of us stop traveling altogether during the winter months. Wouldn’t it be nice to simply push a button and heat your campervan?
It’s possible! In this article we will discuss the prevalent campervan heating solutions on the market today. We will also detail which van life heating option we went with and our thoughts on our decision.
(Spoiler alert: We LOVE our diesel heater.)
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Campervan Heater Categories
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Simple Propane Heaters
What Are They?
These propane heaters are simple, convenient, and heat your van quickly. They are stand alone devices and work by inserting a common 1lb (green) propane canister and simply turning on the heater.
Pros
- Low Entry Cost
Starting at ~$60, these propane camping heaters are affordable to most in the campervan community.
- No Installation Necessary
No need to drill holes or connect any wires. A stand alone product that you can store and take out when needed. Very convenient.
- Easy To Use
Simply connect your heater to a propane supply tank and you’re good to go.
Cons
- Burn Through Propane Quickly
A single 1lb propane tank sells for ~$6-8 but only lasts about 3-6 hours. Propane costs can quickly add up here.
- Low Cost
In the propane combustion process, oxygen is consumed and carbon monoxide is produced and released INSIDE the vehicle. This leads to potential suffocation & carbon monoxide poisoning if the heater is operated incorrectly.
- Fire Hazard
Fire deaths caused by a tipped over heater are, sadly, not unheard of.
Best Option
Mr. Heater (Buddy)
- Auto shut off if low oxygen
- Auto shut off if tipped
- 3-6 hours useage per 1lb of propane
- Portable & easy to use
- Easy storage when not in use
- 4,000- to 9,000-BTU radiant heater for spaces up to 225 square feet. Approved for outdoor use;...
- When operating the heater at altitudes over 7,000 FT above sea level the heater may shut off.
- Auto shut-off if tipped over, if pilot light goes out, or if detects low oxygen levels
Do We Recommend?
Unfortunately, these simple propane heaters are a NO from us. And unless budget is a serious concern, we don’t think these are the best solution for heating your campervan.
Despite the plethora of positive reasons for these simple propane heaters, the serious safety concerns related to oxygen depletion, carbon monoxide poisoning, and fire hazard is enough for us to take a pass on these types of heaters.
According to Propane101.com, almost 25% of all propane-related deaths are attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Yikes!
Plus, we want to preserve our propane for cooking and don’t want to constantly look for propane centers to fill up.
Electric Space Heaters
What Are They?
You see these electric space heaters everywhere in homes and offices. You plug them in to any standard 120v socket and simply turn them on. No messy fuel required, just electricity.
But getting electric heaters to work in your campervan requires a robust electrical system and a considerable investment in batteries and an inverter.
Pros
- Low Entry Cost
Starting at ~$20, these electric heaters have the cheapest entry price of any campervan heating solution.
- No Installation Necessary
Similar to simple propane heaters, there is no installation necessary. Store it away and take it out when needed.
- Easy To Use
Take the heater out, plug it in, and turn it on. Incredibly simple.
- No Fuel Needed
No propane or diesel required. Just electricity.
Cons
- Expensive Inverter Required
An electric heater may be cheap, but it will require a sizable inverter to power it, which will cost money.
- Large Battery Bank Required
These heaters draw anywhere from 800-1500 watts. So you will also need a sizable battery bank to power an electric heater for any substantial amount of time.
- Electricity Dependent = Unreliable
If you’re batteries are drained you can quickly find yourself stranded in the cold without heat.
Best Option
Lasko Electric Heater
- Low cost
- Built In Thermostat
- Portable & easy to use
- Easy storage when not in use
- Overheating protection
- ✅【3 QUIET SETTINGS】Including high heat, low heat, and fan only make this electric space heater...
- ✅【ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT】Allows you to adjust the heater's 1500 watt ceramic heating element....
- ✅【CONVENIENT CARRY HANDLE】The built-in handle makes it easy to move the space heater. Thanks...
Do We Recommend?
Because of their high electricity demand, we would never rely on an electric space heater as the PRIMARY heating solution for any campervan.
However, a small electric space heater, as a SECONDARY solution, makes sense if you plan to park your campervan in an area with access to shore power (i.e. RV park or driveways). With access to unlimited electricity, these electric heaters become much more practical.
Fuel Operated Heaters
What Are They?
These heaters are designed specifically for campers, boats, and any other type of mobile home.
Depending on the type, these heaters can operate on a variety of fuels, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and propane.
Because installation is required, it’s best to plan ahead and figure out where this heater will be installed during your camper van build.
Read Also : The Best Solution to Comfortable Van Life - Proper Insulation
Pros
- Low Cost For Fuel
Our diesel heater can run for 40+ hours on a 2.5 gallon tank. That’s roughly 5 hours of heat for every $1 of diesel.
- Combustion Pollution Exits Outside
Unlike the simple propane heaters above, the pollution from the combustion process remains outside the vehicle. Meaning no chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Convenient Control System
Many of these heaters come with convenient control systems that allow you to set your desired temperature and timer.
Cons
- High Entry Price
The original, higher-end models start at roughly $1,000 per unit. Made in China models can be purchased starting at ~$130.
- Installation & Assembly Required
Substantial installation and assembly is required. You will also need to drill multiple ~1″ holes in the floor of your vehicle. Assembly instructions will also be limited, from our experience.
- Elevation Restriction
Depending on the make and model, diesel and gas heaters are rated for use only up to 2,000-3,500m in elevation. (See more below)
Altitude Concerns
Diesel and gasoline heaters are only rated up to a certain altitude. This is generally between 2,000m-3,500m above sea level.
This is because the higher the elevation, the less oxygen there is in the air for the heater to burn cleanly. Using the heater at extreme altitudes for extended periods of time puts the heater at risk of clogging the heating element and, ultimately, breaking the device.
Our first diesel heater was a cheap China made diesel heater that quickly malfunctioned after use above 2,000 meters.
We replaced the broken heater with the more expensive Espar D2 diesel heater (that comes with an auto-altitude adjuster up to 3,500m) and it has been working great since.
Best Overall Option
Espar D2 Diesel Heater
- Extremely fuel efficient
- Rated for up to 3,500m altitude
- Works at higher elevations for short periods of time
- Awesome user control panel
- Expensive: $1,200
- Diesel fired air heater with 2.2 kW 7500BTU heating power.
- Automatic altitude adjustment - up to 3000m above sea level. No additional altitude kit required.
- Get a better nights sleep, with the new stepless motor and silent fuel pump.
Best Budget Option
Espar Knock-Off
- Extremely fuel efficient
- Simple temperature control system
- "Rated" for up to 3,500m in altitude
- More Affordable: $130
- Flexible Mounting - The heater can be mounted on either side at a 90° tilt, meaning it can be fixed...
- Smarter - Download the "Parking Electric" App, available for iOS and Android devices, which enables...
- Automatic Altitude Compensation - In plateau mode, the heater can work at altitudes of up to 16,000...
Do We Recommend?
Installation was a challenge and our heater wasn’t cheap, but we LOVE our Espar D2 diesel heater. It keeps our van interior warm and toasty in the early mornings and in the evenings.
We highly, highly recommend these fuel operated heaters as THE primary solution for heating your campervan during the winter months.
Even during the winter months, we’ve been able to comfortably live and travel in our campervan, which is the biggest reason to invest in a heater like this.
We want to make clear that the cheaper Chinese-made model that we purchased earlier worked great for our needs, but only up to about 2,000m above sea level. If you don’t think you will be spending much, if any, time at that altitude, then these cheaper heaters will absolutely meet your needs, too.
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Building a camper van? Download our free e-Books with intuitive electrical, solar, and plumbing diagrams.
Best Van Life Heaters For Heating Your Campervan
In conclusion, based on your needs, budget, and situation, different van life heating options exist to heat your campervan during those chilly winter months.
Van life during the winter can still be fun and enjoyable!
Whichever heating solution you choose for your van, remember that the most important aspect is keeping yourself safe.
If you have a simple propane heater, remember to have proper air ventilation to allow fresh oxygen to enter your campervan.
If you have any personal experience you’d like to add with your heater, please let us know in the comments below!
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