Why no choice ? (1 Viewer)

[VWDrooper]

Having only had PVC’s I find it hard to comprehend why there is a lack of choice in the motorhome sector when it comes to heating, hot water and fridges, it seems the large majority of them dont give you the option to have a diesel heater/boiler and a compressor fridge when specifying from new.

I’m unsure if this due to cost, ease, environmental reasons or perhaps the wide availability of LPG in Europe where most of the vehicle manufactures are based.

My question is what motorhome models do you know of that have the option to change from the reliance of LPG ?

 

[Northernraider]

Many are fitting compressor fridges. ...but also don't have the necessary power banks to run them


Personally I prefer 3 way fridge


For heating I think many will soon be trying to make them all electric powered too as they try to move away from gas appliances.


I'm glad I won't be buying new ones

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Several new vans we saw at Brownhills had deisel heaters fitted as standard

 

[Northernraider]

I think I'd rather pay £50- 90p a litre for lpg though than £1.30- 180 a litre for diesel .

 

[Bubba]

I think I'd rather pay £50- 90p a litre for lpg though than £1.30- 180 a litre for diesel .

I use red diesel for heating. Works out much cheaper. There is a petrol station near me that sells it from a pump to the farmers.

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[VWDrooper]

I think I'd rather pay £50- 90p a litre for lpg though than £1.30- 180 a litre for diesel .

More peace of mind than cost, always have diesel in the tank

 

[VWDrooper]

I use red diesel for heating. Works out much cheaper. There is a petrol station near me that sells it from a pump to the farmers.

If you have a separate diesel tank for the heater then why not

 

[poppycamper]

I use red diesel for heating. Works out much cheaper. There is a petrol station near me that sells it from a pump to the farmers.

So do you have a separate tank for heating asapposed to van fuel??
Even if so.. is it not now illegal to use "Red Diesel" for heating.

 

[Northernraider]

More peace of mind than cost, always have diesel in the tank

I always have lpg in the tanks lol .

And if I use it all I'm not left stranded with no fuel for the engine

 

[Northernraider]

I use red diesel for heating. Works out much cheaper. There is a petrol station near me that sells it from a pump to the farmers.

But what happens when you're not near that petrol station ? ie travelling in Europe

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[VWDrooper]

I always have lpg in the tanks lol .

And if I use it all I'm not left stranded with no fuel for the engine

It’s the lack of LPG filling points in the Uk that makes the diesel more convenient, for me at least

They normally cut out if you go below quarter of a tank so you wouldn’t get stranded

 

[VWDrooper]

But what happens when you're not near that petrol station ? ie travelling in Europe

Just fill with standard

 

[Guigsy]

Only needing one small LPG bottle rather than two large cylinders is also a big space saver on a PVC.

 

[poppycamper]

It’s the lack of LPG filling points in the Uk t

Still plenty around if you care to look..

 

[TheMachMan]

My mates got a Westfalia Columbus with diesel heating & compressor fridge. Fantastic build quality, better than mine!

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[Jewellbags]

I think I'd rather pay £50- 90p a litre for lpg though than £1.30- 180 a litre for diesel .

What’s the actual consumption between the two though . I have diesel heating and even after a long weekend with it constantly on I never notice a dip on the fuel guage

 

[Northernraider]

What’s the actual consumption between the two though . I have diesel heating and even after a long weekend with it constantly on I never notice a dip on the fuel guage

I had a diesel heater in one van and my biggest concern was the amount of battery power it used .

My current van has a gas fire , uses no electricity and very little gas .

Don't get me wrong I like diesel heaters but I'd not want one as the only heating in the van

 

[L' Hobo]

If you have a separate diesel tank for the heater then why not

Because, I THINK, the law changed a few years back that Red diesel could ONLY be used by Farmers with off road vehicles or some such?

 

[Raul]

I had a diesel heater in one van and my biggest concern was the amount of battery power it used .

My current van has a gas fire , uses no electricity and very little gas .

Don't get me wrong I like diesel heaters but I'd not want one as the only heating in the van

Diesel heater uses 10a on start up for about 2 mins, there after it’s only the fan. If it’s on low, the power is negligible and just over 1.5A at full chat. A 5kw diesel heater even at 1/4 power up, it spanks any gas heater. I have a propex 2.8kw lpg blown air heater, and a finest China diesel. The diesel heater gets used 95-99% of the time.
A 100 amper lifepo4 will happily run a compressor and a diesel heater. Food for thought.

 

[Northernraider]

Diesel heater uses 10a on start up for about 2 mins, there after it’s only the fan. If it’s on low, the power is negligible and just over 1.5A at full chat. A 5kw diesel heater even at 1/4 power up, it spanks any gas heater. I have a propex 2.8kw lpg blown air heater, and a finest China diesel. The diesel heater gets used 95-99% of the time.
A 100 amper lifepo4 will happily run a compressor and a diesel heater. Food for thought.

It doesn't spank a gas fire .. it uses no power at all.

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[Raul]

It doesn't spank a gas fire .. it uses no power at all.

A open gas fire no thanks, humidity and oxygen depletion.
I was talking about room sealed combustion with fan assisted exhaust flue.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Red diesel can still be used for "non commercial heating".

Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement

www.gov.uk

But you must have separate tank, as any trace of red in your propulsion tank will get you in a heap of difficulty. Nothing to stop you putting standard full duty diesel in the separate heating tank if you can't get red.

 

[Northernraider]

A open gas fire no thanks, humidity and oxygen depletion.
I was talking about room sealed combustion with fan assisted exhaust flue.

Not sure about open .. but in all the motorhomes I've owned its proved to be the best heating I've had in any off them.

Cheapest to run and the van is toasty within 5 minutes.

 

[L' Hobo]

Red diesel can still be used for "non commercial heating".

Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement

www.gov.uk

But you must have separate tank, as any trace of red in your propulsion tank will get you in a heap of difficulty. Nothing to stop you putting standard full duty diesel in the separate heating tank if you can't get red.

I see nothing in your link concerning Motorhomes.
The nearest thing I can see is PERMANENTLY-MOORED HOUSEBOATS and OFF-ROAD VEHICLES.

Can you show me where you see it allowed to any other MOBILE vehicle?

 

[Lenny HB]

My mates got a Westfalia Columbus with diesel heating & compressor fridge. Fantastic build quality, better than mine!

One of those parked next to me in Germany last year, what a flipping row their diesel heater made.
If manufacturers are going to fit them they could at least install them properly with a decent silencer.

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[poppycamper]

So do you have a separate tank for heating asapposed to van fuel??
Even if so.. is it not now illegal to use "Red Diesel" for heating.

One of those parked next to me in Germany last year, what a flipping row their diesel heater made.
If manufacturers are going to fit them they could at least install them properly with a decent silencer.

Agree.. one parked about 200yrds away from us and it was worse than any generator I have ever heard!!

 

[TerryL]

To answer the original post, the motorhome market isn't really big enough for the larger manufacturers to offer alternatives for fridges, boilers etc. Smaller converters do, of course, offer a more bespoke service so are usually more amenable to different options in this respect. You are more likely, however, to see this on PVCs rather than coachbuilts.

 

[carolyn]

We have just ordered a Consort Oslo (yes I know I keep on about it but we’re very excited!) and we’re having a diesel heater and a compressor fridge. The standard is a 140 litre compressor fridge but we’re having the 90litre option with more storage. That’s enough for Nick’s cider. We will have 320 ah solar and 230w under seat lithium (Roamer) . The underslung lpg will just be for cooking so will last a long time!

S&L another UK converter offer a diesel option. I think the fridge was a 90 litre compressor one but I didn’t like the tambour doors on the toilet and the raised floor at the back. Anyway, we wanted a Consort Oslo.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

Wildax have gone all diesel/electric on the new models.

"The Altair is fitted as standard with an all in one Lithium leisure battery system which power the 12v systems and through a built in 3kW inverter will power all your cooking and other needs without being plugged into the mains. The system is charged from the 400W solar system whilst in the wild, from the engine via the ‘supercharger’ whilst driving (up to 80 Amp!) or from the mains whilst parked up. Cooking is offered via the 2 induction ring hob and microwave. There is a large 154 litre all electric fridge/freezer. Heating and hot water are provided by the Truma 4D, diesel and mains electric powered system."

 

[Blofeld]

I think I'd rather pay £50- 90p a litre for lpg though than £1.30- 180 a litre for diesel .

When you can get it. I’m in the Cotswolds and there’s always been a choice of suppliers. But the two nearest have closed, no3 has supply problems, 4 and 5 were temporarily unavailable last week so I drove 20 miles to no6, a calor dealer with a big tank but a geriatric pump. I gave up after 12 minutes and 5 litres. “It’s a very old machine” he said “but not worth replacing”. And that says it all for the future of LPG pumps.