Cost of diesel heater

[Tumerc]

I am thinking about having a diesel heater fitted to our coach built motorhome does anyone know the likely cost of a quality heater and installation fed from main fuel tank, any advice appreciated thanks.

 

[Gromett]

Sorry that is one of those how long is a piece of string questions. Sometimes the job is dead easy and should only take an hour. Other times the job is an absolute pain and can take almost a full day.
I have had a couple of each. I would hazard a guess at somewhere between £100 - £300 depending on the vehicle. That is just labour. The cost of the heater and spares depends on which one you get.

Find a decent installer and ask them to give you a quote.

Sorry can't be more specific.

 

[Gromett]

Oh it may well be more if they have to drop the fuel tank which you have to do on some vehicles.

 

[Two on Tour]

I am thinking about having a diesel heater fitted to our coach built motorhome does anyone know the likely cost of a quality heater and installation fed from main fuel tank, any advice appreciated thanks.

If your idea of a "quality heater" is not a Chinese or Russian made heater, then you are looking at a starting price for the heater alone of about £1000 plus the installers fitting cost, which without knowing your van and its layout is as Gromett says, how long is a piece of string question.

 

[Rockpool]

Here is an idea of cost.

Hot Air Heating

Challenger, Eberspacher, Webasto, diesel heating specialists for sales and repairs.

aclsretail.com

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[n8ess]

I had a Planar heater with a comformatic controller fitted 2 years ago, without doubt one the best investments I have made. I go a lot off grid, it's cheaper to use than gas and is fed directly from the tank so I don't have to worry about running out. Usage wise, if I remember is something like 0.1 litres per hr. In the coldest weather I set mine for 20mins by which time it's nice & toasty. I paid £1000 fitted including the controller.

 

[ivorantony]

I fitted an Espacher D2 a few years back to my A class, using the space blanked off in the drivers footwell, the actual fitting was straight forward but removing seats and side body trim to get access was time consuming, fuel feed was taken from the top of the fuel filter so I didn’t need to drop the tank,
As had been said they are a great piece of kit, I jump out of bed hit the button and in five minutes it’s warm enough to get up for real, I wish I had fitted the controller nearer the bed
The controller does have a timer function but have never used it, just as easy to use it on demand,

 

[Lofty1]

In a ducato the fuel tank top is between the seats under a cover, you need to remove the sender an fit the pick up fuel pipe, (you do need special tools for this about £10) If it is a diy job i will post them to you. the fitting of the heater is a matter of planning as you only get one chance to position it correctly so plan and measure before starting. I fitted a Chinese one to my van about five years ago and it has always worked well ( i did buy A spare heater kit just in case but it now gathers dust in my shed)

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

In a ducato the fuel tank top is between the seats under a cover, you need to remove the sender an fit the pick up fuel pipe, (you do need special tools for this about £10) If it is a diy job i will post them to you. the fitting of the heater is a matter of planning as you only get one chance to position it correctly so plan and measure before starting. I fitted a Chinese one to my van about five years ago and it has always worked well ( i did buy A spare heater kit just in case but it now gathers dust in my shed)

I fitted my fuel take off on the breather pipe elbow ( pulled out the elbow and drilled and fitted the fuel pipe , then fitted it back without disturbing the sender etc.)but replaced the fuel pipe for a better one . My logic there was that the elbow is easily replaced rather than trying to plug a hole in the top of the tank.

 

[Soycd]

As Grommet said, how long is a piece of string? I've got a cheap diesel heater in my shed that cost £60, but I would not contemplate it anywhere near the new van.
If you are after a specific motorhome heater then Eberspacher, Webasto and Truma seem to be the ones that folk might head towards if they had a new vehicle. Have a look at the link below, will give you some ideas. I may contemplate taking the Truma Combi 4E thing out of the new van and replacing it with the Truma D4E. That way I can use the existing ducting and get hot water from diesel as well.

Diesel Heater Fitting | Supply & Install by Motorhome Workshop

Diesel heater installation for your motorhome, campervan, or van conversion. All prices include heater and professional fitting. Check out Motorhome Workshop.

www.motorhomeworkshop.co.uk

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[ontheroadagain]

If you already have gas heating and have a refillable system (Gaslow), is there any advantage in fitting a diesel heater?
I understand it would cost less to run but is there a big difference considering gas is cheaper than diesel (per L)?

 

[PeterCarole29]

If you already have gas heating and have a refillable system (Gaslow), is there any advantage in fitting a diesel heater?
I understand it would cost less to run but is there a big difference considering gas is cheaper than diesel (per L)?

convience of getting diesel in volume

 

[robnchris]

After reading Grometts write up on his diesel heater I bought this model for my workshop "MaXpeedingrods Diesel Heater 5KW LCD Bluetooth Mobile APP" and can say it has performed perfectly well impressed, I can turn it on with my mobile app from the house, have a cuppa and then out to a toasty warm workshop.

 

[Pausim]

If you already have gas heating and have a refillable system (Gaslow), is there any advantage in fitting a diesel heater?
I understand it would cost less to run but is there a big difference considering gas is cheaper than diesel (per L)?

There are 10kWh of heat in 1 litre of diesel and 7kWh of heat in 1 litre of LPG (propane) so the price per litre is not a straight comparison. At £1.50 per litre diesel costs 15p/kWh and at £0.90 per litre LPG is 12.9 p/kWh. LPG wins using my local Morrisons price. However if Morrisons stop selling LPG, which is a sad possibility, the next 2 nearest suppliers are now charging £1.10 and £1.20 per litre by which point diesel is cheaper. The break even point with diesel at £1.50/l is LPG at £1.05/l.

I have opted for a Truma Diesel Combi 6E in my new van, not because of fuel cost but because of:
i) Ease of purchase, 1 fill up does both heating and road fuel, no need for a separate stop.
ii) Availability of fuel, any forecourt sells diesel.
iii) Weight, 1 x 5kg gas bottle to run a 2 burner hob max weight 8.4kg v 2 x 11kg Alugas bottles to run gas heating max weight 36kg.
iiii) Space, I intend to repurpose most of the gas cylinder locker as a tool cupboard.

 

[dunnah01]

I am thinking about having a diesel heater fitted to our coach built motorhome does anyone know the likely cost of a quality heater and installation fed from main fuel tank, any advice appreciated thanks.

£2000 for a quality pro install or £90 for a DIY version

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[Tumerc]

Wow Thank-you that's great info, we do have gasflow but find lpg hard to find at times and the morrison forecourt selloff has made me think another form of heating will come in handy as we intend to do more rallies ths's etc this year, ps, one of us doesn't do cold and am a believer in that famous saying that all married men know (or should).

 

[Soycd]

There are 10kWh of heat in 1 litre of diesel and 7kWh of heat in 1 litre of LPG (propane) so the price per litre is not a straight comparison. At £1.50 per litre diesel costs 15p/kWh and at £0.90 per litre LPG is 12.9 p/kWh. LPG wins using my local Morrisons price. However if Morrisons stop selling LPG, which is a sad possibility, the next 2 nearest suppliers are now charging £1.10 and £1.20 per litre by which point diesel is cheaper. The break even point with diesel at £1.50/l is LPG at £1.05/l.

I have opted for a Truma Diesel Combi 6E in my new van, not because of fuel cost but because of:
i) Ease of purchase, 1 fill up does both heating and road fuel, no need for a separate stop.
ii) Availability of fuel, any forecourt sells diesel.
iii) Weight, 1 x 5kg gas bottle to run a 2 burner hob max weight 8.4kg v 2 x 11kg Alugas bottles to run gas heating max weight 36kg.
iiii) Space, I intend to repurpose most of the gas cylinder locker as a tool cupboard.

Can I ask about the diesel combi 6E? When you say new van have you opted have it factory fitted, or will this be work after you get the van? Thanks.

 

[Pausim]

Can I ask about the diesel combi 6E? When you say new van have you opted have it factory fitted, or will this be work after you get the van? Thanks.

Malibu Van factory fitted option.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Can I ask about the diesel combi 6E? When you say new van have you opted have it factory fitted, or will this be work after you get the van? Thanks.

It's just more convenient.

 

[Soycd]

Malibu Van factory fitted option.

Thanks. Wish it was with our Adria Twin SLB. Seems to be with the SGX, but we had no option

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[Pausim]

Thanks. Wish it was with our Adria Twin SLB. Seems to be with the SGX, but we had no option

That is a shame, the latest Combi D has the same footprint as the gas version so there shouldn’t be any difficulty offering it as an option. BillandHelen had their gas Combi changed for a diesel one.

I have opted for a Truma Diesel Combi 6E in my new van, not because of fuel cost but because of:
i) Ease of purchase, 1 fill up does both heating and road fuel, no need for a separate stop.
ii) Availability of fuel, any forecourt sells diesel.
iii) Weight, 1 x 5kg gas bottle to run a 2 burner hob max weight 8.4kg v 2 x 11kg Alugas bottles to run gas heating max weight 36kg.
iiii) Space, I intend to repurpose most of the gas cylinder locker as a tool cupboard.

I have just thought of another reason:
v) Refillable cylinders have to be replaced every 10 years the diesel tank should last longer.

 

[Soycd]

That is a shame, the latest Combi D has the same footprint as the gas version so there shouldn’t be any difficulty offering it as an option. BillandHelen had their gas Combi changed for a diesel one.
I have just thought of another reason:
v) Refillable cylinders have to be replaced every 10 years the diesel tank should last longer.

Yes, we found it strange that Adria could/would not swap the gas for diesel version. Maybe it's a production line issue? But then again, why not just put diesel heating in all vans as I think Chausson and Challenger are/were doing. I'll probably go down the route of BillandHelen and swap gas for diesel. We have a local motor home workshop that can do it.

 

[Geistguy]

Wow Thank-you that's great info, we do have gasflow but find lpg hard to find at times and the morrison forecourt selloff has made me think another form of heating will come in handy as we intend to do more rallies ths's etc this year, ps, one of us doesn't do cold and am a believer in that famous saying that all married men know (or should).

"one of us doesn't do cold and am a believer in that famous saying that all married men know (or should)."

Is the phrase "put another jumper on and stop moaning"? Usually followed by me saying - ouch! that hurt.

 

[BillandHelen]

Having used our Truma diesel over the winter now and having been away in Scottish subzero temperatures we are delighted with the unit. We use our induction hob to boil the kettle and have really only used our gas for making the toast in the morning or using the oven for dinner, we have a 40 litre gas tank and have used a minuscule amount over the past 3 months. On diesel usage, I really don’t know, it doesn’t move the gauge enough to register, Mercedes app shows in percentage amount of fuel left and it’s never registered enough to move the dial!
it’s not all positive though, there is a noticeable ticking from the fuel pump even after additional rubber mounts fitted, Helen doesn’t hear it but I do, if you were sensitive to noise it would annoy you! i regard the cost of the switch much like my lithium upgrade, E&P levellers, vb full air etc, absolutely not required but absolutely wanted!