Grandby with a 2kw diesel heater

[superduty]

I installed an HLN 2kw diesel heater in my 22 Grandby. HLN is a mid to high level heater, meaning, it isn't the cheap Chinese version, but it isn't the quite one of the German version. They use some higher quality parts than the sub $150 heaters. I have experimented with numerous heaters including Vevor, Hcalory, Lavaner and now HLN. They are all basically the same. A few higher quality parts like glow plug, makes up the physical difference. Thereafter I think the big difference is in the motherboard and controller and how well it is tuned from factory and how it adjusts for elevation.

I have the thermal pack installed and have also put reflectix between thermal pack and canvas.

Most of my testing was at sea level in temps down to about 38. At those temps and at sea level, the heater would roast you. It was definitely sufficient.

As you go up in altitude these heaters become less "powerful.". So a 2kw at sea level isn't gonna be putting out 2kw at 8500 feet.

The last few days I was up in Mammoth, CA. I'm at elevations between 8300 and 8700 feet. Temps at night got down to around 9F. The heater did a decent job of heating the main area, it was insufficient to warm the bunk area, in particular the area closest to front.

Everyone has their own comfort level. I would like to be able to heat to 72 degrees all over the camper.

I didn't have an issue with the factory furnace. I only used it a couple nights before installing the diesel heater. To be fair, I think I camped only down to 16 degrees with the factory furnace, but I still think it would be fine in these temps.

The way my diesel heater is installed it does not recirculate the interior air. I think there is a chance it will heat sufficiently if it was recirculating.

At this point I'm debating plumbing for recirculation, which will likely add some humidity. Or scrapping the 2kw and trying to fit a 5kw.

 

[Vic Harder]

Thanks for this info! Would love to hear more thoughts about the different brands you have tried.

We have used our camper in conditions that cold out, but have different expectations on warmth. We keep our house around 66* (and even colder at night) so 72 would be really warm. And we keep warmer clothes on inside too.

I just use the bunk for sleeping, so cold up there is actually better. You will hear about people here changing their thermostats out so that they can get the heat down to 35-40* at night. Keeps the condensation down, saves fuel, and makes for more restful sleep (provided you have enough blankets/comforters!).

 

[nikonron]

Don't understand why some think that recirculating the air is going to produce condensation. Cooking and breathing are going to produce condensation. Crack your vent and you'll get very little.

 

[Vic Harder]

I think its a disinformation thing. Lots of the interest in diesel heaters is for CHEAP diesel heaters (CDH) and some of the folks looking to go the CDH route because they are presently using WAVE style catalytic heaters that dump water vapor into the air. So they are comparing ventilation systems, not fuel types. And yes, compared to dumping the water vapor into the camper, a vented furnace (Propex, Atwood, Truma, CDH, etc) not produces a LOT less condensation.

 

[pods8]

You have the stages:
Catalytic adds moisture.

A recirculating heat exchanger based heater doesn’t introduce, usually drier, heated air from the outside inherently creating a positive pressure in the camper pushing out more humid air. But with venting you can get the similar effect, it just takes that extra conscious step to vent out humid air and allow some fresher air in versus it inherently happening.

Heating external air going to displace some internal air automatically so it’s more foolproof.

 

[superduty]

@Vic Harder happy to answer any specific questions you have. I tried to give a general summary above about the differences. I really think the main difference is in the controllers and motherboard. Any of these heaters can be reliable.

I have only tried the HLN in the FWC.

I think my next step is going to be the recirculation. If that doesn't work, then I will see if I can fit the 5kw in the space I have allotted.

FWIW, last night I had a water bottle next to most forward part of the bunk area (next to canvas) and it partially froze. (I forgot to include that in my initial post). So, while part of the camper is getting to a decent temp, the most forward part of bunk is not. I am not sure if that can be remedied with a small fan to send warm air over there? Tonight I will place the couch cushions in front of that most forward part. Of note that most forward part doesn't have any reflectix, it is kind of difficult bc of the lifting boards.

 

[pods8]

Moving the air around in the camper will certainly help.

How does this one compare to the lavaner?

 

[nikonron]

A small fan helps to move and circulate the heat up into the bunk area.

 

[Vic Harder]

I also have a small USB powered fan for moving air around vs just pulling it in our pushing it out with the ceiling fans.

 

[superduty]

Moving the air around in the camper will certainly help.

How does this one compare to the lavaner?

The Lavaner has a crappy tune from the factory. The HLN was good. I didn't have the lavaner with altitude compensation, so I needed to tune at elevation. They now have a 2kw with altitude compensation.

The HLN has altitude compensation, makes things easier. However, the one thing I'm not thrilled with is the 2kw HLN above 7500 only runs on high. Their testing was such that at lower speeds it will soot up. The HLN is available with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi control which is a very nice feature.

I personally think just about any diesel heater will work similarly if it's tuned and installed correctly.

 

[pods8]

The Lavaner has a crappy tune from the factory. The HLN was good. I didn't have the lavaner with altitude compensation, so I needed to tune at elevation. They now have a 2kw with altitude compensation.

The HLN has altitude compensation, makes things easier. However, the one thing I'm not thrilled with is the 2kw HLN above 7500 only runs on high. Their testing was such that at lower speeds it will soot up. The HLN is available with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi control which is a very nice feature.

I personally think just about any diesel heater will work similarly if it's tuned and installed correctly.

My high level impression was it was always about tune and controls. I knew lavaner had an altitude version and was curious how well it worked but you didn't have that one.

With the HLN you have always running on high at atltitude how often is it cycling on/off and how loud? That was the main complaint/benefit claimed by folks with these diesel heaters is they can run low/slow to be quitter and even temp but that sounds like its out the window at altitude?

My build I already have an atwood 8012 II in the box so I'm sticking with it for now but I keep paying attention to the diesel heaters in case I need to make a change and/or I also have considered adding a diesel heater to my trailer which when out in the cold will chew through ~10-15lb of propane in 24hrs or so.

 

[superduty]

@pods8 I am considering installing a 4kw HLN which apparently maintains multiple speeds above 7500 feet. However, I also plan on doing a few insulation modifications to the FWC. With the insulation mods I think a 2kw will definitely be good down to 5 degrees ambient.

The propane heater worked fine for me, though I had very limited usage of it before I installed the diesel heater. I didn't like how much propane it used and the fact it is harder to find propane compared to diesel.

I really want a wifi able controller for the diesel heater. I think the only two options right now are the Afterburner controller or the HLN. Getting the afterburner to work on wifi is a bit daunting for me (computers are not my thing), but I still may try it. If I can figure that out, I can then install the Vevor or maybe install the Lavaner, if I can get it tuned better.

How loud is it on high? Probably about the same as the factory propane heater. The sound doesn't bother me all that much, but running it on low is definitely quieter and I would like that ability.

 

[Wyo4Life]

Superduty, did you install a diesel heater because you were not happy with your standard heater or did you just want to test diesel heaters? Just curious is all.
My 2024 Hawk front dinette model has the new Truma instant hot water heater and furnace and I am very happy with it over the previous heaters FWC and the rest of the industry have used for the past 50+ years. IMHO, FWC changing over to Truma was a complete game changer for me and why I waited to get a FWC over my previous hard sided Northern Lite.
I will crack one of my turn buckle access doors and crack the vent above the bed or sometimes crack the window on the side of the bunk where my head is at night.

 

[superduty]

@Wyo4Life


The factory heater (2022 FWC) worked well for me. I only used it about 5 nights. The part I didn't like was the propane and how much it consumed when it was in the 30s outside. This was important since I use the camper for snowboarding trips and I would be in temps down to 0 at times.

I also got rid of the factory stove in the camper. I cook outside 90% of time and the other 10%, I can use my Cook Partner inside with a 1lb propane canister. Getting rid of the Stove and heater meant I could go without large propane tanks. That freed up the propane compartment. I now have a 6 gallon diesel tank in there. I could easily pull out the diesel tank in summer and use that compartment for extra storage, if I know for certain I won't need the heater on a trip.

Having to find and possibly refill propane when camping off grid was not something I wanted to deal with.

I think a properly installed and tuned diesel heater will work well. I'm having some fun and challenges getting to that point. I'm confident I will get there.

 

[Wyo4Life]

@Wyo4Life


The factory heater (2022 FWC) worked well for me. I only used it about 5 nights. The part I didn't like was the propane and how much it consumed when it was in the 30s outside. This was important since I use the camper for snowboarding trips and I would be in temps down to 0 at times.

I also got rid of the factory stove in the camper. I cook outside 90% of time and the other 10%, I can use my Cook Partner inside with a 1lb propane canister. Getting rid of the Stove and heater meant I could go without large propane tanks. That freed up the propane compartment. I now have a 6 gallon diesel tank in there. I could easily pull out the diesel tank in summer and use that compartment for extra storage, if I know for certain I won't need the heater on a trip.

Having to find and possibly refill propane when camping off grid was not something I wanted to deal with.

I think a properly installed and tuned diesel heater will work well. I'm having some fun and challenges getting to that point. I'm confident I will get there.

@superduty

Great explanation and for your use case, that makes a lot of sense. I don't ski any more (never did snowboard) so for me, the coldest I camp in is during hunting season. It can get cold and snowy then but I would not be out in in for longer that 4-5 days at a time.
Would love to see pictures of your install some time on this thread if you have them.
Thanks a lot!