@Chuck.D This should be the proper way to install it!
To add some additional info since we’re on the topic. The intake and exhaust hoses on the combustion should be equal length to get proper combustion. Additionally, if the heater is installed in the heated enviroment, route both combustion intake and exhaust hoses to the outside. DO NOT install the combustion intake hose in the heated environment. It will create a negative pressure environment and ingress outside cold air from all the little holes in the truck bed/GFC. The heater produces a lot of heat so I doubt most people notice. This is speaking from a pure efficiency perspective.
As far as the heat side of things. Depends on what environment you want to create. From an efficiency or utility perspective. There are two ways I see them installed. The best analogy is the difference between a single hose portable air conditioner vs a dual hose.
Config 1: The intake on the heat exchanger is drawing air from the heated environment, recirculating heat, thus creating a neutral pressure environment. Big perks of this is less fuel and wattage used to maintain temperature.
Config 2: The setup only has the heated hose inside the cabin and intake is drawing air from the cold outside environment. This creates a positive pressure which may be desirable if your trying to get rid of humidity or dry cloth like @Chuck.D was saying. The disadvantage is it uses addition fuel and wattage to maintain temperature.
In this world where you can learn a lot from the internet and YouTube, theres just a lot of incorrect info out there. I noticed a lot especially on the subject of Diesel Heaters.
EDIT to clarify intake and exhaust on combustion side and heat exchanger side
So I have an SR5 and mounted my All-in-One unit directly next to the cubby. I have my exhaust port running down through the cubby so that I didn’t have to drill through the bed, just the cubby which is replicable.
The unit is mounted to a piece of wood with little metal brackets that I quickly mounted to the stock tacoma bed bolts for removal after winter. Coming down from the unit you have to get a little creative with the angles of the exhaust.
I’ve had it mounted since Oct and it works amazing. Just used it Sunday after skiing to have a beer and some snacks.
I meant like not drilling through the bed, rather composite cubby. So I bought what you linked on amazon, except not angled. I drilled the hole for that diameter and inserted. I heat wrapped the exhaust both going into that from heater and going out to the little exhaust where I have it mounted.
I haven’t had any exhaust leak. I did have to run the heater on full blast for a few hours to burn off all the weird Chinese solvents. There should be some pics around here from when I did mine. If not let me know and I’ll get you some.
@the_philxx - I copied @78westy and have an all-in-one routing exhaust out a thru-hull connection that lives in the small cubby just forward of the AC outlet. I used it last weekend and while the heater is amazing it is a bit much for me in the small space of the GFC. I also installed a carbon monoxide detector.
I bought a 5kw unit, before I call it a night and climb in my sleeping bag I usually hang out downstairs. I actually end up sleeping downstairs probably half the time. Even on the lowest setting I couldn’t leave the heater on for too long as it really blasts the heat. Cycling these things on/off frequently seems like a bad idea. It wastes fuel, takes more battery by running the glow plug for a couple minutes at each startup, and ultimately probably carbons up the burn chamber.
Note that with the all-in-one the diesel tank is in your living space and may give off some smell. Mine does but it is pretty minor.
Sooo, I’m on the fence about doing a permanent install. I may get a 2kw unit and use my all-in-one 5kw as a garage heater for Winter projects. But to be honest I think I am going to try my Mr. Buddy again for off grid heat and just use a little electric space heater I already have when on grid. Note that I am an infrequent Winter camper so if you’re spending the night at the base of the ski hill the diesel heater is probably perfect.
Pic below is not my setup. If I do a permanent install someone on this board I believe posted this setup and it is what I would shamelessly copy.
Nice, well done and looks clean! I have the 8KW cause coworkers surprised me for my bday. It is overkill.
We are usually prepared with good sleeping bags coming from a backpacking background, but now that we have it the fiancé freaking loves the heater to warm your hands and toes after skiing. Girls got awful circulation lol.
I’ve used it on a few cold snowy nights and the downstairs is too toasty, I agree, but the upstairs is just right! I usually turn it off to go to bed and then flip it back on in the AM. We’ve used it a few afternoons for apres after skiing too and if its super sunny out (and cold) it does get too warm quickly.
That pic is not my setup, it is someone else on this board but I saved it for future reference as a clean install.
Based on my reading/youtubing you can mount these things on their side in one direction only. IIRC there is a small airhole on one side of the burn chamber and that needs to face up if you mount on the side.
If I end up going in this direction I would mount the fuel tank on my still-to-be-built rear bumper swingout.
Also, the dimensions listed on the 2kw VS 5kw that I checked online did in fact show that the 2kw is a smaller unit by an inch or 2 in each dimension.
Based on my knowledge, the correct orientation for mounting the flange is with the flange facing down. This is because if there is any excess fuel that does not get burned during combustion (such as during priming), it will be able to drain down. This is a concern that I have read about and I have also experienced this firsthand. BUT
I’m looking at the Webasto AIRTOP 2000STC manual right now and it seems it can mounted in most orientations except inverted and heat exchanger cabin intake oriented upward.
haha, so many random brands/sellers. Let us all know if you have questions. Mine worked really well out of the box. i will say mine had a strong funk/smell for awhile. i ended up cranking it on high and letting it run in the drive way for like 6 hrs one day after the 1st time camping with it.
has never had a weird smell or odor since. most likely weird chinese solvents and lubricants.
If you are making it removable with exhaust ports through the bed I have been using copper pipe to go between the heater and the ports, with the heater strapped down to add stability and a tighter seal and have had 0 issues.
I am finishing up my DIY Diesel Heater in a box. I cut 2 vent holes, 1 by the fresh air intake and one on the side of the box behind the exhaust. I see a lot of builds incorporate a computer fan. Have people had success without a fan pulling in cold air and just using vents? Besides wrapping the exhaust should I add any heat shield anywhere else inside the box? (pictures to come later!)
I would 100% add heat shield around the exhaust. I also have a 12v fan but that exhaust gets beyond hot. I don’t get how people totally skip this especially when the fuel line is so close.
I skipped the computer fan but I also keep the heater outside and then just run the ducting into the tent. I’m guessing this would still work fine if I ever decide to bring the heater into the GFC.
