Parking heater install experience.

[dbhosttexas]

Notice I said parking heater instead of Diesel heater... because mine is gasoline to match my van, so here goes.

Last Novemer I ordered a gasoline Parking heater, a Velit 4000P, basically yet another Webasto knockoff, but with some differences, higher quality components than the cheap knockoffs, and even better than Webasto, for the most part. Better balancing, quieter pump etc...

If your budget allows, get a heater to match your vehicle fuel type, and plumb it to your fuel tank, only one fuel to worry about at that point, any added tanks are just spare fuel you are carrying for your trip. Which is why I went wioth a gasser instead of Diesel.... But if you have a diesel van, your options are cheaper and MUCH more plentiful.

Use a heat resistant silicone sleeve over your fuel tube wherever it gets close to the exhaust tubing. No need to have the potential for melting a fuel line and causing a fire.

Using a turret mount for installation radically simplifies dealing with the corrugated floor on a van even with insulation and decking.

If you go with a cheap heater, get a quiet, notice I did NOT say silent fuel pump. The regular pumps are obnoxious, Inside my van I can hear the pump, sort of, like a super quiet randfather clock ticking...

You are going to need plenty of air flow to do that. My cabinet has added
vents to accomodate this.

Keep your heater maintained properly, hopefully the MFG gives you good documentation, but basically run it on high for about 15 minutes before cool down / shut off to keep it from carboning up and causing problems.

No thermostat mode on your heater? Or it has one but only kicks it on low when it reaches temp so the temp keeps climbing? I found keeping the penthouse window in the front open allows plenty of airflow, lets the heat out and maintains privacy.

Most of these ship with pitifully short exhaust. Invest in a good tube if yours isn't long enough, you want to get your exhaust out from under your van.,

These don't use a lot of fuel, but it adds up over time.

[howard]

Can you share some pics? My Velit showed up recently and planning on installing in my '03 v10 soon.

[SteelheadJones]

Regarding thermostats, I spied this at about the 3:53 mark in a video on Chuck Cassady's YT schoolie channel. I haven’t used one yet, but Chuck is super happy with his. I’ve emailed back and forth with the owner. He’s very knowledgeable and personable.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by SteelheadJones

Regarding thermostats, I spied this at about the 3:53 mark in a video on Chuck Cassady's YT schoolie channel. I haven’t used one yet, but Chuck is super happy with his. I’ve emailed back and forth with the owner. He’s very knowledgeable and personable.

There is another model of these available that's been around a good while called the Afterburner. Not sure how it compares on price or specs.

https://www.mrjones.id.au/afterburner/

[howard]

I like the possibility of monitoring and controlling outside of Bluetooth range.

[dbhosttexas]

[Big_ern_101]

I am an Afterburner bro, its one of the coolest things I have ever bought.
-Real display in English, configurable to C and F units and 12/24 Hr Time.
-Easy scheduling from your phone or the controller
-Connect via bluetooth, dedicated web access point, or anywhere with an internet connection if it is on your network
-Adjustable and configurable thermostat. If you can dream it, you can adjust/configure it.
-Real time tuning from any of the above connection methods
-Beyond excellent support
-Silly cheap for what it is.

But...It only works with Chinese Diesel Heaters (no Espacher or Webasto), and it requires a certain control board.

Compared to the Bureck its night and day. The Bureck hijacks your original CDH remote control which means a few things:
-You are still stuck with the crappy CDH main controller
-Your heater only goes on/off, it cant idle in thermostat mode. Hard on your batteries and glow plug.
-Bureck needs its little batteries charged (its basically just a fancy remote) or needs a constant USB feed.
-Bureck has no web or bluetooth or html access.

[86Scotty]

Great info Big Ern, thanks for sharing. I need to order an Afterburner. Last time I inquired he was out of black cases and had only white. No bueno.

This was a year or more ago though. Surely he's ramped up his operation due to the huge number of people running CDH's.

[Youngster]

THIS, exactly

Originally Posted by Big_ern_101

I am an Afterburner bro, its one of the coolest things I have ever bought.
-Real display in English, configurable to C and F units and 12/24 Hr Time.
-Easy scheduling from your phone or the controller
-Connect via bluetooth, dedicated web access point, or anywhere with an internet connection if it is on your network
-Adjustable and configurable thermostat. If you can dream it, you can adjust/configure it.
-Real time tuning from any of the above connection methods
-Beyond excellent support
-Silly cheap for what it is.

[SteelheadJones]

Well Big Ern, you’ve made me an Afterburner convert before I even bought a Bureck.