Truma Diesel & Electric Boiler

[Nigel L]

Has anyone got a Truma Diesel & Electric boiler fitter?
Our new van has now arrived at the factory, and when we originally spec‘d our choices, we ticked the Gas & Electric Truma option.
Now thinking whether a Diesel/Electric may be the better way to go with Lpg getting more sparce.
Anyone running one? Interested to hear any experiences, and how they compare to the gas/electric Truma.
many thanks.

 

[Lola Crossley]

Hi Nigel L
I've the Truma Diesel (without electric option though) Had it for three years with no reliability issues.
I like the extra space available as we are fairly limited in that area, I only keep a small gas bottle for the fridge/freezer etc. for when not on EHU. I find the current draw spikes when first switched on but soon drops to a nominal amount (not got exact numbers just going off the panel readout) There is some noise whilst getting up to speed, especially on boost/high heat but this soon levels out. Once up to desired temperature it is very quiet, our bed is close to the heater, and we don't notice it. Ours is only a six-meter van but heats up very quickly and I have never really noticed the diesel consumption, haven't bothered checking as it seems so little.
We did have one issue with ours - occasionally there would be considerable smoke from the outside vent on start-up, once it cleared there was no trace of fumes at all. generally, when starting up there are no noticeable fumes. When running there is no discernible clue it's even on.
I have to say that I have no experience with LPG heating at all as our first and only van came with the Diesel heater.
Feel free to contact me if you require further info.

 

[Lyrick]

We have the 6kw diesel/electric unit in our new Rapido and so far it's been excellent. Very quiet on start up and running and it's easier to get diesel than gas. Combined with a compressor fridge lpg usage is very low.

Patrick

 

[bubble63]

Combined with a compressor fridge lpg usage is very low

And there by I think is the catch, it needs to be combined with a compressor fridge, otherwise you have a lot of gas needed as well as diesel, if you are not hooked up

 

[Simon Meadwell]

All this cant get lpg is fake news.

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[phil.]

I have the D6E and think it’s fantastic.

I’ve never used the gas version but suspect noise levels are similar as it’s the fan that blows the hot air out the ducting that you can hear, I t’s not intrusive.

It does use more power to start & shut down than the gas versions (maybe about 8A for 3 minutes) so consider if your battery is up to it.

If you camp above 1500m (we do in the alps) then you’ll need to add the extra altitude pump. Has kept the van toasty in ski resorts.

For us it was worth it to be gas free, if you already have gas for everything else then maybe less worthwhile.

It needs a bigger exhaust unit on the side of the van.

 

[LesW]

All this cant get lpg is fake news.

Absolutely.. spread by folk who don't live next door to an outlet.

 

[OffwegoNZ]

Hi Nigel L
I've the Truma Diesel (without electric option though) Had it for three years with no reliability issues.
I like the extra space available as we are fairly limited in that area, I only keep a small gas bottle for the fridge/freezer etc. for when not on EHU. I find the current draw spikes when first switched on but soon drops to a nominal amount (not got exact numbers just going off the panel readout) There is some noise whilst getting up to speed, especially on boost/high heat but this soon levels out. Once up to desired temperature it is very quiet, our bed is close to the heater, and we don't notice it. Ours is only a six-meter van but heats up very quickly and I have never really noticed the diesel consumption, haven't bothered checking as it seems so little.
We did have one issue with ours - occasionally there would be considerable smoke from the outside vent on start-up, once it cleared there was no trace of fumes at all. generally, when starting up there are no noticeable fumes. When running there is no discernible clue it's even on.
I have to say that I have no experience with LPG heating at all as our first and only van came with the Diesel heater.
Feel free to contact me if you require further info.

We are looking at putting a D6e or D4e in our van and are wondering if they completely shut off when up to the set cabin temperature and then fire up again when it drops? Or does it just ramp down to idle and then chug away? May we ask your experience please? We have a 6m van too.

 

[MichaelT]

All this cant get lpg is fake news.

Its deffo getting harder to get round here, all 3 of my local ones not sticking it now.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Its deffo getting harder to get round here, all 3 of my local ones not sticking it now.

View attachment 777708

Is that just supermarket pumps? Check out independent suppliers. We have a small local company with three sites who have pumps but also supply bottles to construction and mobile home sites.

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[MichaelT]

Is that just supermarket pumps? Check out independent suppliers. We have a small local company with three sites who have pumps but also supply bottles to construction and mobile home sites.

No 1 was independent, 1 Shell and the other Morrisons. Its not isolated either, you are lucky where you are but others not so. It means going well out of our way to fill now.

 

[Nigel L]

We are looking at putting a D6e or D4e in our van and are wondering if they completely shut off when up to the set cabin temperature and then fire up again when it drops? Or does it just ramp down to idle and then chug away? May we ask your experience please? We have a 6m van too.

We are looking at putting a D6e or D4e in our van and are wondering if they completely shut off when up to the set cabin temperature and then fire up again when it drops? Or does it just ramp down to idle and then chug away? May we ask your experience please? We have a 6m van too.

Hello, and welcome to Motorhome fun
When up to the required temperature, it closes down, and then fires up again when the temp has dropped a couple of degrees.
We have now had both Lpg/electric and the diesel/electric Truma units, and the only noticeable difference, is that you can hear a faint ticking noice from the diesel pump comming from underneath the van, when it is heating up, but other than that it all seems very effecicient.
The unit does seem to run hotter than the Lpg one, and has three heat vents around the van, and I believe the unit can take 4 outlets, so next time we are up the factory, they said that they are going to put the forth vent in, to help disapate the heat better.
It dose seem very frugal on diesel as well, I closely monitor the mpg I am getting and even running the water/heating for a few nights when we have been away, has made negligible difference To mpg.
So, overall am pleased with the decision, and another big plus, is no more LPG re-fill anxiety

 

[OffwegoNZ]

Hello, and welcome to Motorhome fun
When up to the required temperature, it closes down, and then fires up again when the temp has dropped a couple of degrees.
We have now had both Lpg/electric and the diesel/electric Truma units, and the only noticeable difference, is that you can hear a faint ticking noice from the diesel pump comming from underneath the van, when it is heating up, but other than that it all seems very effecicient.
The unit does seem to run hotter than the Lpg one, and has three heat vents around the van, and I believe the unit can take 4 outlets, so next time we are up the factory, they said that they are going to put the forth vent in, to help disapate the heat better.
It dose seem very frugal on diesel as well, I closely monitor the mpg I am getting and even running the water/heating for a few nights when we have been away, has made negligible difference To mpg.
So, overall am pleased with the decision, and another big plus, is no more LPG re-fill anxiety

Thanks for your quick reply and the welcome!
We have already got a combi 4 gas in the van but it has a compressor fridge and makes more sense to go diesel. We are back over from NZ where its so easy to get an LPG 9kg swap bottle for about 15 quid so gas anxiety is definitely a factor!
Actually looking at a D4e with the new controller as it looks like a better unit but will function just the same. My fear with the diesel one was it roaring back into life every hour in the night, can cope with the ticking as we had a normal diesel air heater in our last moho. If we go diesel heater and a lithium battery then we don't need to splash out on a big gas system.
Cheers