21 replies to this topic

[Josh22richards]

That's crazy!

When I started out with the van, I used a large gas heater with an enormous gas cannister. This heater had a cut out switch on it when the oxygen levels were getting low. It used to operate for about half an hour, to an hour before it cut out. I would then turn it on again, and it would cut off in about half an hour again.

I decided to try the parrafin heater after I saw it in a French bricolage outlet. I had seen one in operation in a campervan when the blowers were on, and it produced a lot of heat (in a bigger space than I had in my van). Getting the air flow in and out of the van without electricity and noise is an engineering dilemma. Definately wind can suck air out by using a cowel type spinning thing, and so new air would come in from the extraction vent if you had a condensing boiler flue. I decided to ditch the weight of the gas cannister and the danger of a rear crash, by putting the parrafin heater with removeable parrafin cartridge. More safe when driving if there was an accident.

Also checked some reviews and prices for a new woodburner it's sick..The issue with woodburners and coal fires I find is that you have to be there while it is on. You really should not put some wood on, (which allegedly might last all night), and then go off for a walk. There could be a chimney fire, or all sorts of other issues like blocked flue. When you have a controllable heat, you turn it off when you leave the van. You turn it on when you get in the van. You are able to watch it and control it. A wood burner continues to burn when you leave the van, although I would dispute the all night burning scenario.

[ben.g.gibson]

Hey guys, sorry, I posted this and then kinda forgot about it.  My bad...

 

Anyways, thanks for all the responses!  It's nice to get some feedback.  Most have probably forgotten by now, but for the benefit of future readers I'll try to answer some of the questions:

 

Vic – “Is this a pellet type stove?  How long will it burn without feeding it?”

Hey Vic - no, it's a wood stove.  Depending on the wood, I can get 4-5 hours of slow burn before I have to feed it.  Just enough to not last all night...

 

Oilbrnr – “Cool solution with the scissor lift! So is the stove and everything bolted down in that spot so you can travel with it there?”

Hey Ooilbrnr - thanks!  Yeah, the scissor lift is thru-bolted to the camper, and the four legs of the stove are bolted to the scissor lift.  I've since added a strap over the whole thing to really snug it down.  The scissor lift allowed a little more play than I liked for the big bumps.

 

PaulT – “Where do you store the ashcan?  Hot embers in the ash could be an issue for CO and starting fires if stored outside the camper.”

Hey PaulT - Good point.  Luckily, it seems like I only have to remove ash once every 10-20 burns, and I only do it when it's cold.  Usually just part of my prep for a trip...

 

Wallowa – “Cascades or RM or?  Can't place the terrain.”

Hey Wallowa - That last photo is actually in Alaska, where I was living for work the past few years.  But I'm back in Washington now.

 

12valve – “It looks like you covered the roof on your FWC with a aftermarket product. What did you use? Thanks.”

Hey 12valve - yeah, I had a friend recommend Flex-Seal (yes, the Billy Mays stuff...).  I was skeptical at first, but it's held up for years now (through two AK winters even).