Portable Heater Options for Camper Van
Published 10/19/2021
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Question:
copy thanks, We still have a solar panel from our 5th wheel days so that could help on the recharge and how well will a battery tender maintainer work in this application? Guessing it will draw the AC / Heater is defineately a phase 3 of the build just looking for something economical that will work that we can get in a week and use this fall and in the Spring.
asked by: Poppy
Expert Reply:
It's always a good idea to think ahead. The Flex-a-lite Mojave Vehicle Heater # FLX640 is more of a permanent installation so if you plan on moving the heater frequently we'll want to look at something else like part # RA3501 that uses a bolt-on installation, but it's small enough that you should be able to move it around and secure it to a variety of locations.
I'm attaching a link to our selection of heaters that are normally used for camper applications. Some of them use 12V power while others operate using propane, so you can choose one based off of that. Be sure to keep in mind the power source as well. If you're going to be drawing power off of the battery in your Transit all night for the heater then you could very well wake up the next day with a dead vehicle.
Another thing to consider is how hot a heater can get within an enclosed space. You will probably want to turn the heater on and off at regular intervals so that the vehicle doesn't get too cold or too hot at any given time.
Your best solution would be to have a battery bank that can be recharged throughout the day and then you can install an AC kit like part # ACM135CH. This installs on your roof so you wouldn't have to move it, plus it comes with a heat strip and a thermostat so you can get cold or hot air and not have to get up in the middle of the night to turn the heater on or off. Obviously this is a bigger investment and requires a much larger power draw so I would just keep this in mind for the future of your build.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Flex-a-lite Mojave Vehicle Heater - 6 Amp
- Vehicle Heaters
- Interior Vehicle Heater
- Flex-a-lite
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Poppy
10/19/2021
copy thanks, We still have a solar panel from our 5th wheel days so that could help on the recharge and how well will a battery tender maintainer work in this application? Guessing it will draw the AC / Heater is defineately a phase 3 of the build just looking for something economical that will work that we can get in a week and use this fall and in the Spring.