Keeping warm - not easy in our Autotrail last week

[Ian Bosman]

We got a Gaslow fitted after a cold autumn in Spain. Its worth the cost. We also had huge drafts coming through the fridge area and blocked these up - being careful of course not to block off vents.
We're usually on electric and keep it on low all night and all day when we're out if it's very cold. Luckily we haven't been on metered elec yet! Then just put on the gas before we get up. If you can keep it warmish it's half the battle when you're staying somewher for a few days. Survived -5 at Roses like that. The water taps outside had huge icicles but we were toasty,
Might sound like a funny question but have you got carpets? We met a couple who didn't have carpets and their can was much colder than ours.
Also. Sleep on a duvet as well as having one and a blanket above.

I do not understand the draught issue around the fridges mentioned by a number of people. Having looked just now there is no way that draughts are coming past my fridge as it is completely enclosed top, bottom and sides. This is a Dometic 3 way power what i would call standard size not the larger ones as not fitted in many - not that there is room for such a large one anyway.

 

[Gellyneck]

I think there is a vent in the cab passenger side footwell that can be blocked - it certainly exists on the x250 (watch the frenchies on YouTube - Mike shows you where it is and the part number needed for the cover). As others have said - front external screen/additional heating.

I think you need to be carefull blocking vents up, they're usually there for a reason .

I wouldn’t block any vents up including those designed for ventilation.

I did that a few years back with a caravan. I didn’t block the gas vents but I still got mould and condensation all over it.

If the draft is coming from the bottom of the "B" pillar between the cab and the hab body it'll be from here (passenger side on RHD).

You can buy pukka covers from FIAT (and guess the other Sevel partners) that fit over them but take your bank manager with you! Can't remember what they said they were as I was in shock for months after.

Anyway, the alternative solution is just tape them up with duct tape.

The reason they're there, allegedly, is to permit air pressure escape when the doors are being closed in an enclosed cab van.

 

[Ian Bosman]

Incidentally, mention of lack of carpets will help on. as singleton's floor van but with mine being double floors the heat is underneath as well so the floor is relatively warm. I dislike carpets in vans as they are much more difficult to clean in wet, muddy weather even after taking precautions. As our last caravan was a non carpeted Burstner as is the EuraMobil moho we presently have you are welcome to them.

 

[funflair]

I do not understand the draught issue around the fridges mentioned by a number of people. Having looked just now there is no way that draughts are coming past my fridge as it is completely enclosed top, bottom and sides. This is a Dometic 3 way power what i would call standard size not the larger ones as not fitted in many - not that there is room for such a large one anyway.

It's all down to how well the manufacturer installed the fridge some do a proper job but not all.

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you're not on hook up you'd be better off using an electric blanket over night rather than leaving a heater running.
70w compared to 500+ Watts.
70w will be about 7 amps via inverter.

You can get 12v blankets but I don't know if they are decent quality.

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[Rapido925M]

7A x 8h = 56Ah: that's probably half the capability of most single-battery installations, leaving nothing for other things such as lamps, radio, TV which you've used since you last put juice into the cells..

You might wake up in the morning and discover that you have a dead battery = £100?

Gordon

 

[Richard n Ann]

7A x 8h = 56Ah: that's probably half the capability of most single-battery installations, leaving nothing for other things such as lamps, radio, TV which you've used since you last put juice into the cells..

You might wake up in the morning and discover that you have a dead battery = £100?

Gordon

Yeah, I wouldn't do it, we've only got 80ah to start with

 

[Rapido925M]

Yeah, I wouldn't do it, we've only got 80ah to start with

So did you mean "if you ARE on EHU"? Rather than "NOT on EHU"?

Gordon

 

[Coolcats]

Just back from Cornwall where we spent a lovely dry four days in our 2019 Autotrail Tracker. However, at night we struggled to keep the van warm enough. I’m reluctant to use gas for space heating as it’s still hard to get replacement cylinders at times so we just had the electric on full. We noted on the windy last night that the hab door is very draughty - the seal is in place but clearly doesn’t work very well. Add to that the gale blowing in from behind the fridge and elsewhere and SWMBO was not a happy bunny.
I’m going to have to see what I can do to improve things as we want to use the moho at all times of year. Any tips or advice welcome.

 

[Richard n Ann]

So did you mean "if you ARE on EHU"? Rather than "NOT on EHU"?

Gordon

No. I think it was Raul that was saying earlier he would run a fan heater off his lithium battery, so my comment was aimed at people doing similar. Also I suppose the blanket element won't be on continuously so it might average out at even less than 70w.

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[jongood]

That fine if you are prepared to pay the current going price for a Webasto Air Top at £1300 or a Eberspacher D2 at £2500 rather than the sub £100 for an exact Chinese copy where most of the parts are interchangeable between the Webasto/Eberspacher and the Chinese copies.

I think that you are basing your perceived safety issues on a poor understanding and expect no actual dealing with any Chinese diesel heaters, whereas I have 4 for some time now and have had no issues with any of them and my up-market Chinese Lavaner diesel heater is ECE safety rated the others are CE to be imported into the EU and UK by importers. Whether the legitimacy of the CE certificates in the box that arrives has been approved by the relevant authorities, I can't say.

As with many things in life, it's normally the idiots and chancers fitting the heaters in an unsafe environment and manner that give rise to the belief that a product is either useless or dangerous.

They have no qualms about copying anything else, why would they give cutting and pasting a few bits of paper a moments thought!

 

[Neil S]

Does that mean you'll be back on CT then?

never really left , still used to pop in every week when we were chugging

 

[Gellyneck]

never really left , still used to pop in every week when we were chugging

Used to duck in and out now and again when we moved from tugging to chugging but that dwindled away.

 

[McLouis]

Got mine fitted here and yes you can do it yourself but I just worked a few extra shifts to pay for it and now have peice of mind

AluGas Refillable LPG Cylinders Archives

autogasshop.co.uk

We used Alugas as well. Took about 18 months to pay for itself, easy to fit 2x13kg cylinders.
Last 2 vans had truma combi and never had a problem, set temp to around 19 deg. C during daytime and 10 at night, we go off all year. Never use EHU can't see the point, don't even carry a cable.
We do use long Taylor made screen, doors insulated.... mainly to stop speakers rattling the doors! Also put air control to recycle. Previous van had full length curtain wrap around behind dashboard, I will do that again.
Always sleep toasty, mind you I also hammock camp in well sub zero... Now and again I have to do proper wild camping!

 

[McLouis]

That fine if you are prepared to pay the current going price for a Webasto Air Top at £1300 or a Eberspacher D2 at £2500 rather than the sub £100 for an exact Chinese copy where most of the parts are interchangeable between the Webasto/Eberspacher and the Chinese copies.

I think that you are basing your perceived safety issues on a poor understanding and expect no actual dealing with any Chinese diesel heaters, whereas I have 4 for some time now and have had no issues with any of them and my up-market Chinese Lavaner diesel heater is ECE safety rated the others are CE to be imported into the EU and UK by importers. Whether the legitimacy of the CE certificates in the box that arrives has been approved by the relevant authorities, I can't say.

As with many things in life, it's normally the idiots and chancers fitting the heaters in an unsafe environment and manner that give rise to the belief that a product is either useless or dangerous.

Most Chinese stuff is CE marked, just look proper CE is based with the letters on 2interconnected circles otherwise CE =China Enterprise!

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[MitchandJenny]

Just back from Cornwall where we spent a lovely dry four days in our 2019 Autotrail Tracker. However, at night we struggled to keep the van warm enough. I’m reluctant to use gas for space heating as it’s still hard to get replacement cylinders at times so we just had the electric on full. We noted on the windy last night that the hab door is very draughty - the seal is in place but clearly doesn’t work very well. Add to that the gale blowing in from behind the fridge and elsewhere and SWMBO was not a happy bunny.
I’m going to have to see what I can do to improve things as we want to use the moho at all times of year. Any tips or advice welcome.

Refillable gas bottles !!
Mitch.

 

[Essgeebee]

What options are there for refillable gas and does changing to them involve installing new pipe work for filling and a new regulator? An idea of the costs would be useful too. Anyone know of reliable installers in Devon?

 

[Neil S]

What options are there for refillable gas and does changing to them involve installing new pipe work for filling and a new regulator? An idea of the costs would be useful too. Anyone know of reliable installers in Devon?

No new regulator is required you just use the existing bulkhead mounted
Installation is relatively easy
Either one or two refillable cylinders are connected with a outside filling point

 

[McLouis]

What options are there for refillable gas and does changing to them involve installing new pipe work for filling and a new regulator? An idea of the costs would be useful too. Anyone know of reliable installers in Devon?

I used Alugas (Al cylinders are lightweight), only needed a couple of hole saws to mount the external filler cap and pipe through the gas locker. I think Alugas can arrange fitment, have a look on their website. Costs are on the site as well.