Previous posts show different ways to connect the heater vent to the camper. This is how I connected to my RAM pickup. Growing up on boats in South FL I decided to use a Marine Deck Cowl Vent.
They are available in 3" and 4" diameters.
Check out the following link and photos.
One more issue I ran across. My solar system is a Ecoflow Delta2. The 12vdc output is 10 amps. The HCALORY 12V Portable Diesel Air Heater spikes over 10 amps when the glow plug and blower goes to high speed at start-up. This tripped the 12 vdc overload.
If you do not have a built in solar system.
My solution is connecting the heater to the vehicle main battery. Then since the Ecoflow has 110vac then connect a 2 amp trickle charger to the main battery to keep it charging off the 110vac from the Delta2. The trickle charge draws less then a half watt.
Plus on a cold winter night you can connect the trickle charge to your house 110vac and keep your battery charged and ready for the morning.
The following photos are how I ran the duct hoses for my external Diesel Heater.
The parts I used will be after the photos.
I used an adjustable “Y” heater valve so I can direct the heat to the bottom truck bed or to the upper tent or to both.
I used the 3 inch “Y” from Amazon I listed before.
The rest came from Lowe’s. Here is the link one more time.
3 Way Splitter Duct Connector,MoreChioce 75mm Air Heater Valve Y Shape Air Vent Ducting Connector with 2 Adjustable Valves to Control Air Volume https://a.co/d/7EIlWAJ
Fitting going through the deck is shop shop vac coupling from Amazon. Make the hole through the deck slightly smaller ( I mean slightly smaller) and wedge the coupling in the hole.
Shop-Vac 90686 2.5-Inch Hose Coupling https://a.co/d/ewumos7
To attach the vent hose to the bottom of the deck I took apart the vent fitting that came with the heater and screwed it over the coupling the was wedged through the decking.
I’m still working on it.
I already cut a hole in the nonremovable deck on the opposite side and have a PVC coupling going through the deck with a removable 90° elbow on the top to direct the airflow. Removable 90° to allow the top to close. I am also thinking about put a tee in the hose to allow airflow in the bed of the truck and the tent at the same time. I will make it that the tee directs the airflow. I just want to make sure there is no back pressure (restriction) to limit the airflow through the heater to overheat the heater. I still need to test it when it gets cold.
Pre warning. I’ve already been told multiple times this is not an ideal way to mount/install/run a diesel heater because of numerous violations of the exhaust.
With the pre-chastise out of the way.
I just finished my diesel heater install inside my GFC as a way of making winter camping in alaska possible and more tolerable. After four nights of testing I can confirm it works wonderfully and I will likely upgrade the heater when this one dies or sometime over next summer with a better heater case.
I run two carbon monoxide detectors. One in the truck bed where the dog sleeps. One in the tent where I sleep.
I vent two panels (passenger front and driver rear) using the latches and then crack a vent by the hinge on the front of the tent to allow cross-breeze.
Since I was doing the work and I am not a professional I opted to keep the heater and fire away from the vehicle. Being in a tent on top I didn’t want to get roasted.
How far I keep the heater away from the vehicle will be determined.
If you have the full bed installed, like 2 people are sleeping in the tent, does the heat rise up into the tent? Or do you have some sort of a vent from the truck bed to the bed bed?
I posted this reply yesterday. [quote=“EasyOffRoading, post:3, topic:24141”]
I already cut a hole in the nonremovable deck on the opposite side and have a PVC coupling going through the deck with a removable 90° elbow on the top to direct the airflow. Removable 90° to allow the top to close. I am also thinking about put a tee in the hose to allow airflow in the bed of the truck and the tent at the same time. I will make it that the tee directs the airflow. I just want to make sure there is no back pressure (restriction) to limit the airflow through the heater to overheat the heater. I still need to test it when it gets cold.
[/quote]
This is the “Y” fitting instead of a tee.
3 Way Splitter Duct Connector,MoreChioce 60mm Air Heater Valve Y Shape Air Vent Ducting Connector with 2 Adjustable Valves to Control Air Volume https://a.co/d/3W0FJbp
I like it. I wish I would have seen that diesel heater disconnect.
I may switch it out when we get more serious into camping.
Right now we have a family issue and have to stay within 3 days from home.
One more thing. You might want think about the heat loss you may encounter with the vent hose you are using.
I ordered an insulated heater hose and a tripod carrying bag to store it in.
Note: If the temps are in the 30’s it may get a little warm when using the insulated hose.
Hon&Guan 4’’ Insulated Flexible Duct - 8 FT Noise Reducer Hose, Insulated Duct for Exhaust Fan Ductwork Insulation, Heating & Cooling HVAC Ventilation with 2 Clamps, Grey https://a.co/d/jhh6Q3Z
39"x7"x7"/100x18x18cm Padded Carrying Bag Heavy Duty Photographic Tripod Carrying Case with Strap for Light Stands, Boom Stand and Tripod HBP03-US (39") Amazon.com
Nice setup, really like the idea of the marine vent.
I have what looks like the same heater, however I had a big problem when I bought 3" insulated vent hose. My heater kept faulting to an over temp alarm. I was able to determine it was due to air flow restriction of the hose I added. I have to keep cutting it shorter until I was left with about 5’. Then it worked reliably. Note I did not experiment much after my using it and I likely had it at max heat settings, so that may have been the issue.
Before I started connecting the Diesel Heater I read the posts on the forum and that is why I went to the 5" hose with a 4" to 5" metal reducer on both ends. The following is the reducer I used.
Update!
This is how I finally ran the duct to the tent.
When I finally camped in freezing weather I found that trying to heat the lower truck bed area was not practical because the bed was bare metal and became an ice box.
I shortened the duct to the tent and I was nice and toasty when I was in -8° weather
Oh interesting. Can you elaborate on the ice box effect? Because I’m planning on routing heat to the downstairs in order to warm my lithium battery and Jerry can of water.
Heating the bed on the truck depends on how much insulating you install. Keep in mind the bed of the truck is not air tight and it is metal.
When I first started looking at a solar system I was going to build a bench to sit on and put the batteries, inverter, and controller in it. You could heat the box but heating the whole bed with an metal topper might be difficult.
My solution was an EcoFlow Delta 2. The nice thing about the Delta 2 is it is mobile. I have used it at family get together, as back power for my computers during a power failure. This year they even made it better. They now have a box the connects to the vehicle battery and charges at 800 watts when the engine is running
Temperature concerns and my solution.
The Delta 2 will shut down when the temperature gets in the low 20’s.
Also my concern was, it is not recommended to put a battery warmer on a lithium ion battery because the battery warmer could over heat.
BUT I found a battery warmer that has a thermostat in it. It runs off 120vac. If you have an inverter you might check it out.
I used it when the temperatures were around zero Celsius and the thermostat cycled on and off keeping the battery around 50°c. Because it cycles on and off it did not run the battery down much.
You might check the warmer out. It may work for the water bottle. I’m going to.
Interesting! I have a bed rug in my bed and I carpeted all of the inside panels. Hopefully that will keep at least some of the cold out. I plan to route one diesel heater duct into the bed, and one into the tent.
My electrical system uses a battery with an internal heater. Im a little skeptical about how well it’ll perform sitting in the bed of the truck this winter… we’ll see.
I bought a fish tank heater to throw in my Jerry can to keep that from freezing. Not the most elegant solution, and I’d be open to hearing any ideas anyone may have about keeping a scepter water can thawed during extended periods of very cold temperatures.
I’m heading over to the pet store tomorrow to check out the fish tank heaters. LOL
I don’t know about the carpet side panels because I use it as a pickup.
Do a search on forum for insulating your truck bed area. There has to be others that have discussed this before. If not start another thread asking for input.
I will be interested to hear what others have been doing.
Note: No matter what use an insulated duct on the outside coming from the heater. I lost a lot of heat before I switched to an insulated duct.
One more thing.
Get a CHEEP wireless outdoor thermometer and attach it to the battery. That way you can be in your house and check the battery temperature at a glance.
That is what I do.
I can check the temp of any part of the GFC both in the hot summer and cold winter any time day or night from my house. I move it all over.
