More diesel heater questions - ATC

[graytrekker]

Hello, I am new to this forum but looking forward to learning a lot from others here.

I have a new ATC Ocelot on my '05 Tundra. I will be cross posting this on the FWC forum, too, as I didn't not find how to make one post to both.

I got the shell version and am building it out myself. One item I definitely want to include is a diesel heater for the fall months. I have read what I could find here, as well as watched my youtubes. Mostly these are for van conversions, not slide in campers.

I had thought about mounting one outside under the cantilever forward of the wheel well, where there is space. However, it is pretty tight between the the bottom of the cantilever and the top of the bed rail. Additionally, I have a very tight fit around the tailgate, so porting out that way doesn't seem to offer much opportunity.

Lately there have been watching reviews on some new "toolbox" versions of these heaters where everything is self contained. This seems pretty convenient and no real installation work, but would mean putting the heater outside when in use and finding a place to port in the warm air - which I think I have.

So my questions:

1). Is anyone here doing anything like this?
2). How should I protect the unit from weather, like rain and snow?
3). How much heat do I need - 2KW, 5 KW or 8KW? In my old camper (Roamin Chariot) I had no heat, except for a small propane catalytic thingy. I slept without heat with no issue as I have good sleeping bags.

Thanks in Advance for your help!

Warmest holiday wishes

Doug

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Hi Doug, Welcome to WTW! Congratulations on the new ATC, they’re great campers from a great team!

I think there may be a few members who are using diesel heaters, so hopefully they will chime in with their experience and expertise.

 

[tundrasaurus]

I have a diesel heater installed on an ocelot with a 2005 Tundra, we winter camp in Alaska with it. I will take some photos tomorrow and try to upload it to this site, it is a very tight fit. It is one of the cheap heaters from Amazon, but it has worked for a couple years now. We also built a "toolbox" version, that we thought might be a nice little backup, but don't really use it.

 

[tundrasaurus]

We wrapped the exhaust with design engineering pipe wrap from AutoZone, and put aluminized heat barrier on the camper. I thought I had a better photo of it when it was off the truck, but I think I accidentally deleted it. I just took a few outside photos (it clearly needs a wash) and attached some photos of when we were installing it. We have the diesel can mounted on the jack bracket.

 

[enzob]

This is how I did it.

View attachment 565490

 

[graytrekker]

Interesting. A perfect match - Ocelot on an '05 Tundra

I am assuming, being Alaska, that you have a 5 or 8 KW heater? Am I interpreting you photos correctly that you have the unit mounted inside and run the exhaust out and along the side a bit and out the back?

I have the physically smaller 2 KW unit. I was a bit perplexed as to where to put it and where to port the exhaust. I noticed that Tundra beds have pop out plugs on either side at the head of the bed. I was wondering if there would be space to mount it outside (driver's side) between the lower wall and the cantilever that hangs out over the bed rail. The nearest thing I've seen to this is when these Aussies put one in their FWD camper on a Land Rover Defender: Obviously not quite the same conversion

I could then run the exhaust down through one of these pop out plugs. I would have a little access through the opening for tightening the turnbuckle there to attach the exhaust once the camper is on the truck

When it warms up and I can get back to this, I'll have to make some careful measurements to see if there's clearance when sliding it in, or will I need a larger access panel to mount it after the camper is on the truck. I won't need the heater through the summer, so there's time to figure it out.

Thanks again for your post and photos!

Cheers
Doug

 

[Fly Fisherman]

This is how I did it. View attachment 565491View attachment 565490

I like the exhaust pass thru. I used one on the right side floor pack. Maybe should have done it like yours.

 

[graytrekker]

where did you get the Pass through?
I haven't done mine yet - was just thinking that might be a way to go - keep it all outside

 

[tundrasaurus]

I went with the 5K heater; it is more than enough to keep us warm when the temps dip below zero. I found a photo when we were installing it, attached. I chose my install method for a few reasons:

1. All fuel stays outside the camper. The rubber components of the fuel line occasionally dry out and crack, and the fuel filter occasionally fails and starts leaking.
2. When I remove the camper from the truck, I don't have to mess with the heating system.
3. Having the heater body inside the camper, means the camper will heat up faster and stay warmer because the air in the camper can recirculate.
   

 

[graytrekker]

Thanks so much for your photos and infortmmation. However, I m a bit confused - and hoping you can sort this out for me.

You show 2 different heaters - one black and gray, the other black and red. Also, you have photos of two different exhausts (I think) -
this one, where the exhaust is port straight out the back on the outside

and this one, which looks like its exiting from the inside via a pass through:

Are these two different installs?

Thanks

Doug

 

[tundrasaurus]

Yes, they are two different installs. Mine is the one with the exhaust on the outside and the heater is black and gray.

The heater install with the black and red heater and exhaust through an internal passthrough looks to belong to the username, "enzob".

 

[graytrekker]

Ah - thanks for straightening that out - must have missed that these were two different replies - hence the confusion.

 

[graytrekker]

This is how I did it. View attachment 565491View attachment 565490

Thanks for posting this - much appreciated
Doug