5 Ways to Heat your Van Without a Diesel Heater

[@maxpower9340]

Two burner stove, turn on for 30 mins with door open and put two large firebricks on it. They got hot enough heat for at least 6 hours with no moisture or carbon monoxide issues

[@valeriehancotte-galan4790]

What's a firebrick??

[@abbeyl6115]

@@valeriehancotte-galan4790 Not red masonary bricks...found at hardware stores. Generally, they are placed inside fireplaces. Can take high heats and retain heat.

[@GarryFishermusic]

@@valeriehancotte-galan4790 Fire bricks are used in fireplaces and wood burning stoves to protect the steel

[@dawnhill539]

At what temperatures and how much her does that put out

[@aleee2323]

Sure, then if they contain ASBESTOS, which probably will, you’ll get asbestosis. Please think well before burning/heating random stuff.

[@jefforegon2916]

I like that little Butane heater, I've never seen one that small. I've never seen a 12v electric blanket, either. I learned two new things today, now my brain is full. Good night.

[@mobilehomelife4028]

I have not seen the 12v blanket until now as well, pretty nifty thing to have for sure.

[@lizscott6911]

I love 12 volt electric blanket. I travel in UK all year around and besides haveing 5 hot watterbottles. I now use 12 v e blanket.

[@Tootsie806]

@@lizscott6911 It doesn’t run down the battery?

[@terrybreeze6070]

I only have one thing to say CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING go Google it and stay alive do not use any open flame heater inside, rather smell diesel than die of CO poisoning.

[@lizscott6911]

@@Tootsie806 not atall.

[@missdead1]

a hot water bottle or two in a good winter sleepingbag is a simple and great option aswell! I live in norway and it works great all year round. The water bottle works just like a heated blanket, just no need for power. On the coldest nights I put it on my chest/stomack underneath my clothes and my body is instantly warm. As long as your heart is warm it will pump warm blood through your body! they contain the heat for a long time. then in the morning you can make another one for your bed, or put it inside your jacket or something if youre moving about. I also have two dogs that sleeps underneath the covers/in my sleepingbag that heats me up. I bought two good sleepingbags that could connect so its room for all of us, lol.

[@shawnhenderson1130]

velkommen norweigens er nummer én ;)

[@jeffnorbert1871]

If you have the ability to heat water. Not to mention you will have to obtain water. Easier said than done in the winter. Oh, just go to the store and buy some right? And when your "hot water" bottle freezes solid? 20 degrees below zero fahrenheit is a sure thing every winter where I am. The only sure thing here is a diesel heater and I hate diesel. Too cold for propane even. Even lithium batteries have problems in these temps. Everybody thinks they have "solutions" but they don't. The real solution is to travel to a climate that's liveable. Cold weather kills people every year.

[@beautifuldreamer3991]

Very smart. Thank you. Any advice from you, who lives where it gets extremely cold,is absolutely invaluable 😊

[@B.r.i.a.n.1]

I just finally broke and bought a diesel heater. So far I love it!

[@billieseymour9746]

Can I get the brand name of your diesel heater I'm going to be living in the pickup bed camper shell. And if you have a website I appreciate it Store bought. ??

[@bonniebryan2541]

I have one and i hate it! It is so loud that i cannot sleep. Ugh.

[@B.r.i.a.n.1]

@bonniebryan2541 what part is loud. The clicking pump or the fan?. Mine is quiet but my pump is outside.

[@B.r.i.a.n.1]

I have the likaci from Amazon. Probably too late, sorry.

[@sharicupit24]

I have the same van and i had auto start and alarm installed. I dont have to get out of bed to heat up, i just push button my key faub. But also because of your influence i purchased cupid heater! Love it!

[@wildeyedherman3102]

Got the Kovea Cupid. Living in Vancouver in an E350 window van. When it was zero degrees Celsius…..it was 18 degrees Celsius in here. Comfy as hell. Running it right now.

[@tonyl1483]

I have a minivan I converted, and for the longest time I searched for a safe space heater, the propane heater/stovetop never convinced me of safety! The problems of propane like you mentioned is carbon monoxide also the condensation is a bummer with mold & rust, another problem is if it gets knocked over even with the safety shutoff the grill is still hot! The other problem is you can’t leave it running if you leave the van, I would need to do that bc I have a service dog! I chose a diesel heater, I made sure I found a way to make it work & it works fantastic, the big plus’s are the heat is dry = no mold/no rust, comes with a digital thermostat easy to use & you can leave it running when you’re not in the van! Totally safe with no carbon monoxide! I ran it in the winter months sometimes -20 Fahrenheit in New York State and slept perfect! The best & safest heater out there, the kit may seem intimidating but it’s actually very easy to install & no smell of diesel fuel! It initially draws 10amps then it goes down to 1.9 amps! I hope this helps!

[@iliketolickbackpacks]

Hey Tony! Which diesel heater did you purchase? I am looking for some solutions for my trailer and this sounds awesome.

[@sspence65]

Mr. Buddy Propane heaters do not emit observable amounts of CO. Condensation can be a problem, but a window cracked open resolves a lot of moisture issues and adds needed oxygen.

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

@@sspence65 makes good sense especially during our dry winters in Ontario, Canada

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

Sounds good. Details would be good - which diesel heater and 2kw or 5, and how effective it is at what temps/ wind/

[@Debrajoy]

I'm going to convert my Honda Odyssey into a van to live in so the information on that heater is awesome!

[@stevec3872]

I camped out overnight a couple of days ago here in the Great White North where the temp got down to 5, above 0, not below. In my Odyssey I used a Buddy portable, warmed the van nicely & I shut it down when I slept. I've also used a large heating pad plugged into my solar battery. Lasts all night, keeps me snug & warm in a good sleeping bag.

[@UrMom-v6d]

Doing colorado winter in my 2007 ody this year! Gonna focus on insulation, any other tips?

[@ediemarie4475]

Thanks for taking the time to pull all those units out and doing a very detailed description of how and why you use them. Very nice no nonsense video.

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks for taking the time to say that. I appreciate it.

[@Finlanderfive]

Just as I thought.

[@davidcampbell362]

Five different ways, to heat a Nissan S200- that's mighty impressive! Well done! More, please.

[@MrNiceCobra]

Heat powered wood stove fan on top of your stove will distribute hot air around nicely. Good video!

[@swahilijs]

Thanks. We have a oil filled heater we use in our home. I wish someone made a smaller version that you could hook it up to a peer source. I love our Jackery 500. The next one will be a Jackery 1500-2000.

[@offairhead]

I have a bigger van (an nv3500) but I am not a full time nomad (yet). I am a single mom and work for the local school district which means summers off but also not paid. We have the time to travel but not the budget for amenities. I need my van to still work as a passenger van during the school year but I want to be able to use it as a camping van during the summer. I am disabled and can’t be taking a modular build in and out so I bought a 3500 so I can remove the rear rows and build out the back leave the front rows for passengers. All that to say that even though I have a bigger van, I only have half of it for a build out so I really love this video. Space saving tips are great for my purpose. Thank you!! Also, great find on the Cupid heater,…I have been watching Vanlife videos for over five years and I have never seen that one.

[@jimlyon7311]

Great video. Liked the fact that you got straight to the info without chasing rabbits and gab.

[@janet1744]

True teacher.

[@matt08sydney]

Great video I noticed your placement of your carbon monoxide detector if you do have another spot the put it that would be safer and it will function better. It’s best not to install your carbon monoxide detector directly above or beside any fuel-burning appliances. A carbon monoxide detector should not be placed within fifteen feet of heating or cooking appliances or in or near very humid areas it can effectively reduce its safety impact and efficiency to work when you most need it too, and that’s when your asleep. There is a lot of confusion as wether to put your detector near the ground or up high, carbon monoxide is actually slightly lighter than air in the technical sense but that also depends on the temperature of the environment at the time inside your house, room or vehicle. I’ve been using them in gas plants and we wear them at chest height, sometimes at waist level on your belt so the height you have yours positioned is okay in that regard but here in Australia we have a very high standard of safety prevention is always better than the cure. But me personally would always have 2 of them in a van, one high and one low. We used to test them in groups of 10 or more at a time together ( I mean one’s worth between $600.00 and $800.00 each) exposing them to carbon monoxide and many other gases and not all of them worked every time, the test button results worked but not the acknowledgment of carbon monoxide in the air. It’s always a safer option to have a back up. On the flip side why I’m mentioning this to you is when we looked at real cases of families dying in houses from heat source’s , furnaces etc, from leaking carbon monoxide ( and we watched lots of them), because the air inside the houses was warmer because of the heat the carbon monoxide emissions fell to the ground in many cases ( hence killing everyone asleep) and the test levels were lower up high. Also the people In some of the houses that slept upstairs survived as the carbon monoxide vented downwards. Good luck on your travels definitely buy 2 detectors for peace of mind. Just thought I’d share have a great day 😊

[@ScottPDX]

Thank you for your thoughtful response.

[@matt08sydney]

@@ScottPDXYour welcome any time 🙏 😊

[@rebeccalankford9810]

Fantastic information Do you know if there is a denature alcohol hating system?

[@simonameier7779]

VERY HELPFUL !! I've been sleeping my cargovan, Ford,windstar, since 6 years with my dog and my cat in Bacliff (SE of Houston TX ) in front of my driveway after I lost my house in a fire. If I only knew all this stuff at the very beginning of this adventure. Then again... all in their good time. Now, a former neighbor who is n 23:37 ow homeless she has an SUV , , and I try to help her with the help of what I learn from your presentation. In addition to it, I will insolate her car interior 1" thik: walls, windows,floors plus I 23:37 will build for her a bed ,kitchenette, mini shower, powerstation "mini garage "shelfs, and cabinets, like yours,etc... Greate ideas. Thank you !

[@trebor1745]

Propane = flame = oxygen use = RED FLAG in a HOUSE let alone a space like a small van. Electric unit (set on SUPER LOW heat) powered from a long cord or secondary battery prolly better all around. (Shop around; they're out there) Sleeping bag liners are a cheap and easily stored alternative. The 12V blanket sounds like another, but I don't know about the battery drain... Milwaukee Brand tools offers a (self contained) battery powered jacket. Many motorcycle accessory suppliers offer the same (Gerbings is one of the best there. Sorta pricy; Worth it!) Spent lots of time in a tent freezing various things off. Now in a Chevy Uplander SUV converted to a sleeper. Keeping warm has never been a problem. Keeping cool is literally another story. My $.02

[@carolhewett3756]

I heard a tip from a tent camper that before bed he eats a big bowl of pasta which causes his body to generate heat during the night. It's not the craziest idea. Those of us who have horses give them extra hay at night to eat bc that generates heat. Also just before getting into his sleeping bag he does some calisthenics for a minute and the bag itself will have a heated water bottle or a wrapped heated brick placed in the foot area. I like low tech options.

[@sarahmorrill]

I bought one of those metal heat diffusers to put on a butane stove just out of curiosity and I found it worked much better than I expected.

[@stanm8462]

I can recommend #6 is 1500 BTU Coleman or Martin catalytic propane heater. On 1 pound propane tank it runs at least 9-10 hours, which is enough for full night sleep. I use it for years and very happy with it.

[@MyShyCats]

After seeing your heat can - I got to thinking about those candle flower pot videos - and I tried this out: - I have a large terra cotta flower pot which fits upside down on my Colman butane stove - it works like your heat can and gives off heat for ages after you turn the flame off! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@dachanist]

I'd suggest also keeping a thermos and hot water bottle. It takes 75 watt hours to heat a liter of water from 15c to 85c. You can reasonably add 150wh to your heating system by supplementing with a couple hot water bottles overnight. You can also get a battery powered vest or hoodie, they work well and are much lighter than the jackery and electric blanket.

[@jizzythefroggy1108]

Great ideas!

[@angelicsiren11]

Hot water in a Nalgene before bed. Take a heavy duty winter boot sock and slip it over as a cover and place it near your thigh (femoral artery). Will def keep you warm for quite awhile for cold nights and take the edge off for brutal ones. I also like the take another longer one and place it at my feet.

[@lissaestes7017]

Great video! It's not a new video, but the message is just right. I want to especially support your comment about being in dry clothes. Even if you just wear your clothes every other day you are letting them dry for a day. Don't fold them up in a drawer. Hang them up by an open window or even outside. And put the dry clothes on at night. Moisture next to your skin will make you hotter in summer and colder in winter. I forgot my own advice once on a very cold night. Fortunately I had my 12 volt blanket and a full power station. I would not make that mistake again. Happy Trails!

[@charleshughbryan5603]

Great video ! Carbon monoxide is heavier than air so it builds up near the floor and will kill you in bed before the detector goes off. I'd mount it lower than your bed.

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks for the comment. Also per the EPA it should be placed 5 feet above the floor, but I understand there may be different opinions in Van's and RV's. www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/where-should-i-place-carbon-monoxide-detector#:~:text=Because%20carbon%20monoxide%20is%20slightly,fireplace%20or%20flame%2Dproducing%20appliance.

[@johnwren3976]

RV CO detectors are mounted on the baseboards

[@IzzyZon]

Dimplex 250 Watt.

[@1787danrob]

Very interesting 👍. I have spent two winters in Alberta and three in Vancouver living full time in a Dodge Caravan. I've never modified anything and only used warm clothes, sleeping bags, foam pad and the heat from the engine. I just stay in the sleeping bag and use auto start to warm up the engine. I'm usually driving to work so I have to warm up the engine to de ice the windows anyway. In the depths of the Albertan winter I tended to surf the internet in malls and coffee shops for a heated place to hang out. So thanks, I'm always looking for new tips. I find the humidity makes a big difference the prairies are so dry and PNW is so damp. The dampness makes cold winters just as uncomfortable as much colder drier places. In PNW my tip for staying warm is investing in good quality moisture wicking underlayers such as merino. I simply find it is so much easier to insulate myself than heat the van. But I do like your idea for the small butane heater I think it could be used to dry out the van as damp does become a problem. Butane does give off moisture but heat convection should take it out of cracked windows. Thanks for your tips keep it up👍

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

Good tips, Dan. How long do you keep your van running to heat it up before you go to bed and how long until that heat disapates?

[@SauTunSud2025]

If you cover your windshield with a blanket, you won't have frost inside.

[@1787danrob]

@@JohnHelmsStudio It really depends how cold it is but I have my bed set up next to the minivan floor heater so hot air blows into my bedding which can trap the heat for an hour or so. It kind of feels like an electric under blanket so plenty warm enough to go to sleep. I find the summer heat harder to cope with than the cold so I switch to a stretched canvas cot in late spring

[@ReviewsandTech]

Nice units you got man, although the Jackery is a solar capable power station, so either a 100 watt solar panel or even 2 of them mounted on top of the van would keep it charged full almost everyday! There is also portable solar panels too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas too. Cheers

[@ExternalDefeat87]

Put in a small wood burner 😂 great video brother! Come to Montana this year!

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks bro! Didn't' realize you had a channel, interesting video you have on installing a woodstove in your RV.

[@libellula3313]

I found an old brass bed warmer at a garage sale/vide greenies in France. I fill it with hot coals or ashes from my wood burning stove, and use it to warm my bed before I go to bed. Cheap, no electricity

[@erollpotter3004]

I’m about to go through it here in about 3 weeks 😅 thank you for the experienced support

[@mongorians22]

Great video and breakdown of the options. For me, a cheapo chinese diesel heater is still worth the cost and effort over any of these options, many of which I tried, for so many reasons. Installing one is mainly a matter of assembly and where to drill the hole. It took about $200, 4 total hours of planning and education and 3 hours of labor to install mine. A youtuber called John McK 47 has an excellent series of videos on the technical aspects. Yes, you will probably need a separate 12V battery, but for that upfront investment, you have a heating system that can heat your entire vehicle for 48 hours (continuously) on a 10L tank, no matter where you park, in the coldest weather, and has a virtually nil risk of CO poisoning or fire compared to propane and butane (when burning properly it produces 6-8ppm CO at the exhaust, which is vented outside of the vehicle anyway, and diesel isn't flammable under normal pressure). Another notable advantage is that they produce dry heat and you won't have any condensation. Last advantage is that in the long run, the efficiency of diesel means that you'll spend less-- again, about 48 hours of continuous heat on a medium setting and a 10L tank. Diesel is about $0.90 per liter, so that's 9 bucks for 48 hours of heat. A Mr. Buddy propane heater lasts about 6 hours on a 1lb propane tank, which costs about 4 bucks. So for the same amount of heating time, you will have changed the tank 8 times, and have spent 32 bucks, or about 3.5 times as much. Butane has a similar cost-efficiency. Short of the diesel heater, I'd say that a 12v electric blanket and a good-quality sleeping bag are the best options. Anything in between, like propane, is really only good for a few moderately cold nights at best, and definitely not an option for sustained cold.

[@ScottPDX]

Thank you for your detailed response.

[@keepingyouinformed1259]

great info

[@testudo2185]

100% agree with you

[@Garyguygax]

If you refill the green cans or use a refillable bottle tge mr buddy is $0.75 per 5 hours and requires no electric. Thoug it does make your van a sauna and diesel is dry heat.

[@kdiddy7076]

I’d keep the blanket ditch the other 4. As well as the Jackery. Diesel is cheaper, smaller, and safer. Also when I slept in my van 2-3 nights every week I had an alarm that had a remote start feature. If I woke up cold or hot I’d push the button on the fob and go back to sleep. It ran for 30 minutes and shut off. Pretty convenient. Good video, BTW.

[@LoveDogs___3]

That's the first time I have seen one of those little Butane heater's. Ty

[@mobilehomelife4028]

Although I am converting a short-bus, and yes putting in a diesel heater, your first tip is still one I could use. I could pipe the heat from the cab vent into the living area of the bus in a pinch. I do have a Mr. Buddy I have used a couple times when working in the bus (with proper ventilation) in winter but I hate the ambient smell associated with such heaters.

[@volvoqueen9698]

I waited for him to tell us to Crack a window! Didn't hear that!

[@hopeheavenonplanetearth1417]

Hi Scott… loved this video! FYI. I was wondering if you could add to your titles, “in a NV200” it may add to your algorithm. This video just popped up after many months of searching under NV 200. PS… I have a NV200 and love learning how people deal with the small space!

[@terrywilcox5485]

The Broan heater is amazing. Saved my bacon in colo.

[@allanb52]

That stove top heater looks good, will order one. We are off to the Alps soon and will look for campsites, in which case have a tiny 500w heater. Years ago had a 1-2kW fan heater and even on low it was way too hot. Yours is the best review I have seen on this subject, thanks.

[@melrichardson2392]

Tarp and Velcro across your back doors just saying love you brother.

[@nmr3352]

THANK YOU for five different heating choices! The Kovea heater would be my choice for a small van or vehicle or even a small room or bathroom for a house if the power goes out.

[@LeonerPerez90807]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. The information is very helpful.

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks Leoner.

[@terrytillstrum1712]

Thanks, out of all, I love the Kovea Cupid. Keep camping.

[@toddbu-WK7L]

I was not familiar with the Kovea heater. That looks like an interesting option.

[@Dustandfuzz]

Love your great attitude. Great video! Love the little covea cupid heater and small electric heater for when you have power at your site. I have a 1000 watt Jackery with Solar panels. My problem is, no van 🤣 I was going to do van life but not anymore. Got a cheap but nice apartment as I think I’d need some relief from van life. Got a butane/propane one burner stove. Plan on getting the electric blanket too. Now if I can just get the van.

[@kpex7509]

Living in a van for six years using the little buddy heater .. good advice good point of view great video🖖🏻🧔🏻‍♀️ PS you might wanna move the towel rack

[@LollyGaggler]

good video about heat options i went fall camping at Oregon coast with no heat source...froze my arse off lol...did not even cross my mind to start up the van...i have Camco olympian wave 3 now...its perfect

[@SarahNicole420]

Love ur van conversion and all the lovely tips. I just have a couple tips. Great idea w the carbon monoxide detector However, carbon monoxide is a very heavy gas which sinks to bottom of floor and would have to build a substantial amount before it would reach ur detector and set it off. By that time you would likely be dead. My cousin is a 30 yr fire chief for the department of national defense and is also a fire inspector. He alerted me to this as I had my detector mounted too high as well. He told me to mount both the detectors for my home and in my van on the floor. With carbon monoxide the earliest you can detect a leak the better. Also, I live in Canada and for anyone thinking of camping in cold weather butane stoves wont light in weather below minus 1 Celsius so propane stoves are better for cold weather. Thanks for all ur wonderful vids. Enjoyable and very informative

[@ScottPDX]

Actually, CO is lighter than air, and the EPA recommends mounting them at 5'.

[@ronplaisted3008]

Very well done. The layout of your van looks very well thought out. I’m just starting my van NV-200 conversion. Floors, roof and lower half walls now insulated. Intent is to head from the northeast to the Midwest backpacking National Parks and other quality areas.

[@mobilehomelife4028]

Will you be doing any videos on the van conversion? I am converting a short-bus and always looking for ideas, I am still in process.

[@ronplaisted3008]

@@mobilehomelife4028 Hi Mark, Just saw your reply/question. I don't intend on doing any videos except maybe on my FB. I do post van details on FB periodically which I keep public. Congratulations on your upgrade to a short-bus. That's several years out for me after I've learned to live small in the NV200.

[@mobilehomelife4028]

@@ronplaisted3008 Actually my first choice was a van pretty much an exact style that you have. I was only looking at buses as a secondary option. And the only reason I got this short bus it was a deal that I just could not pass up. But if I ever do another build it will be a smaller van.

[@led8541]

Great video I almost have my truck build finished and have been thinking about how to heat it. I do have a buddy heater but it is pretty big and the stove i have is pretty big as well. I may switch over to the butane mainly because if its size. Again great video have a great rest of your weekend led

[@chrishorst6993]

Thanks for showing us this CUPID heater. I’m going to need to find a CUPID heater myself

[@ravenwolf79]

Amazon for about $90

[@male42nfree]

I have owned one of these Cupid heaters for over a year - and it is great. Things to be aware of: No integrated oxygen sensor, No tipping sensor, butane cans are not refillable, it uses an "open flame", and being an open flame type heater it can produce a fair amount of water vapor after hours of use (dripping water on windows and trailer walls). I too use a a CO sensor - and a propane sensor. I also ensure that I keep a window cracked open. The open window helps reduce the moisture accumulation as well as lower the risk of CO poisoning. When properly deployed, the cupid is VERY stable, so tip over is not a real concern verses a Mr. Buddy box type heater. My experience is that 90% of the heat (or more) goes out from the front grate - not out the back, top, or bottom of the unit. For safety I would not run the heater all night when you are sleeping - but I will admit that I have done this on at least one very cold night in my small trailer. In my 6x8 square drop trailer, on the low setting I have gotten 5+ hours of heat from a single butane can. I bought my Cupid heater on eBay, shipped directly from South Korea. It arrived in about a week, well packed with bubble wrap, with no damage of any kind (and also came with Korean language-only instructions). When used safely the cupid is a great solution for SUV, tent, and small trailer camping.

[@ScottPDX]

Well said, thanks.

[@danfieldsphotog]

Kovea Cupid Heaters are my favorite, by far. Tried them ALL. Kept me alive in negative temps many time

[@carolhewett3756]

Great ideas. I did notice that roll of flammable paper towel near your heat can. I bought an item almost identical to the heat can in Walmart's kitchen section intended as a stainless steel can for utensils. It was less than $10.

[@kimdavid4406]

That's a good idea. I have one holding my scrubber brushes!

[@Rad-Zach]

So, so many times van builds get overly complicated through over-thinking. The van-heater realization you had is a classic example. I use a heating pad (like for a tummy ache) that I plug in and keep under the blankets all night. Works great. Nice video!

[@johnm1585]

Just want to say this is a really good video on staying warm in a vehicle. I'm just going to start car camping so I need good tips and hints like this. Thanks.

[@elijahefg5503]

Hot water bottles are great!

[@KierLow]

awesome video dude from across the pond in the uk i appreciate your help!!!

[@brentkellner5107]

An old school solution is using an unglazed clay flowerpot upside down on your stove sized so the pot opening is same size as your stove burner. Hole in bottom of pot allows for homemade handle to move around or use oven pads.

[@joannlangford4719]

Called a clay Cornish stove

[@paulroberts5677]

​@@joannlangford4719I'd love somebody to explain the thermodynamics of such an arrangement to me

[@elaine8013]

Another con on the diesel heater is the extra expense of diesel. Most people living in their vans have to be very money conscious and can't afford to buy so many types of fuels. I really appreciate this video.

[@Finn-pe7uj]

All fuel costs money, except gathering wood which costs time and calories (food isn't free for most people). There's no "extra expense", you're either consuming fuel / spending money, or you're sitting bundled up in the cold conserving calories.

[@wrafl]

I heat my minimate camper with 110v electric if Im at a campsite with shore power. I also have a 12v electric blanket which I connect to a power station. The trick for not draining the power station is to use a usb with a 12v cigarette lighter plug. And its efficient. Another method of heating my camper is with my solo stove which I put at the bottom of stove a candle or sterno fuel. I can probably cover the solo stove with a small flower pot too to add radiance.

[@idontcare9797]

Buddy heater with a 20lb propane is the cheapest way to go and it's refillable. Con it takes up alot of space feels unsafe and like you said warms up very fast

[@2000talon]

I'm using butane as well so my heater is the Martin butane.same thing just not as compact as yours. I also installed a woodstove .I live in Canada so I don't like to be cold my sleeping bag is -9 from mountain equipment coop.🇨🇦

[@2000talon]

@Colette Stabler I'm gonna film my stove again installed and evening in ten days I have to pick up my airstream

[@jameshill3062]

Hey Scott Great video. I am looking for a Heat solution in my Skid Steer Cab. I may use one of your ideas. I would however suggest that you move your CO Detector Low. Carbon Monoxide lies low and having your detector high will take longer to alert you.

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks James good luck with your project. As far as CO detector location goes, I think folks mix this up with Propane detectors. I did check with the EPA about ideal CO location before I went ahead and found this guidance referenced in a number of places. "Carbon monoxide is lighter than air. It also rises with warm air, so the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends placing a carbon monoxide detector on a wall about five feet above the floor or about eye level. "

[@mikestone9129]

I have the Kovea Cupid and love it. I've used it in a full size Chevy van and now using it in my 6x10 cargo trailer/camper conversion. It's the perfect size and have been using it for 2 winters now.

[@leonaadamson]

How long does it run before you're out of fuel?

[@sbenn99]

I use the Cupid heater as well

[@mikestone9129]

It will run a few hours. But I usually just run it long enough to heat up my van or trailer then shut it off. It's a great little heater, I love it.@@leonaadamson

[@ssutherland9019]

Im gonna get a cannister as i use my gas stove for heat when camping if it gets very cold. Gas lasts me a week of camping usually. Great simple way to keep warm if u need it. I always use hot water bottle to heat sleeping bag before bed. I dont like to cold and that works fine, even when I camped in snow in Scotland! Great video, lots of tips.

[@ruthieclarke9125]

It would be really helpful to put links to the products you talk about. You could make some cash too but I am uncertain if you have to get to a certain point in subscribers to be able to monetize. Good video!

[@ruthieclarke9125]

Failed to list the little heater.

[@Jakelol1980]

Would the Kovea Cupid be able to heat up a room that is 100 square feet in a appartment if needed?

[@ScottPDX]

For sure it would, just use precautions when using it.

[@stanw909]

Coleman Black Cat heater on low using propane bottles are good for a night and a half for my van at 40° outside. I don't go to super cold places here in SoCal. When I had my Sportsmobile pop top van I did use the Black Cat in the mountains overnight with snow . Still only used it on low.

[@Mojokiss]

the funny thing about the moisture is in many areas is dryer is not always better, i know i don't like having a dry sinus

[@VANquishedAdventures]

Heated blanket is a good backup. I bought one at Walmart for $8....marked down after winter. Those blankets do not recommend continuous use...4 hours only I think. Some of them have auto shutoff for better safety but they cost a little more

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Yeah but I imagine they are almost universally used continuously. Who wakes up every so often on a schedule so they don't upset the blanket manufacturer?

[@DontStepInTheGrease]

I don't use a elec blanket or heated mattress pad because of the EMF's.

[@FeralCatSanctuary]

@@dingfeldersmurfalot4560 Yep, I have used an electric heated mattress pad on my bed (in a house) every night for probably 20 years. When it wears out I get a new one immediately. They are wonderful. Lying down on top of one every night is like heaven. I have never turned it off during the night. I have not burned up yet.

[@sharicupit24]

I have the same van as you. And because of you I bought the Cupit heater and love it! But the other thing I really love is I paid to have an automatic start put on my car. I keep my keys next to my bed and all they have to do is push the button and it starts the van in the morning and it heats up in 10 minutes. I never even have to get out from under the blankets! The van quickly heats in 10 minutes up to 70° and then I get out and start my day. Sometimes on the freezing night I will use that instead of get out and turn on my Cupit heater. Anyway I really love both solutions for my van. I also use a 12 V electric blanket that I plug into my Jacorey to warm my bed before I even get into it. It only runs for 10 minutes. But I can easily restart that anytime during the night to warm me up. The coldest temperatures I have slept in my van was 29°F. Also I have a 250 Watt heater not good for freezing temps but good for 45-50

[@ScottPDX]

Sounds like you have it figured out Sheri! Good solutions.

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

Great video, Scott. My experience with a Big Buddy heater: A few years ago my central heat was inop and I couldn't afford to fix it. I live in Tennesse but it got really cold one winter ( down to O degrees ) so I bought a Big Buddy heater for my little house. I put it in my small living room and it heated it up quite nicely but it gave me a bad headache and I could even smell the propane fumes. I thought I might have bought a defective one so I returned it to Walmart and bought another one. Same thing happened. I had a carbon monixide detector in my living room and it didn't sound off and my buddy heater didn't turn off automatically if it detected too much carbnon monoxide. I decided not to use it and just toughed out the cold. I finally got my central air unit replaced and haven't fooled with a Big Buddy still in the box. Even a small Buddy heater in a van would be way too much heat and too dangerous because of the carbon monixide. I know foks have used them with no problems and will disagree with me but that was my experience. The little Kovea heater makes more sense but you still have to have adaquate ventilation and I wouldn't run it very long. The Jackory is safer but more expensive to use and ya can't run the electric heater or the sleeping blanket very long at the expense of depleting your power in the Jackory. I think I'd have to agree with Bob of CheapRVliving that an Olympian Wave heater is safer alternative if you don't mind spending $203 for one. You still have to have adequate ventilation for it and it needs a 30 inch clearnace from the front of the heater which may be a deal breaker in a small minivan. The Olympian directions say not to put a 20lb propane tank in your van so I guess it's not a good idea after all.

[@ScottPDX]

Thanks John good thoughts here. A CO detector is always a good idea. I had an Wave heater in a previous RV and it was dangerous. Right out of the box the unit was defective and produced a lot of CO. Fortunately I had a CO detector. I had a few calls with the manufacturer and had to send the unit in to them, which they replaced with a beat-up used, and tested unit. That replaced unit worked fine, and did not set off my CO detector. The fact they gave me a used unit when I bought new, and the fact that their initial unit was deadly out of the box, left a bad taste in my mouth for wave heaters. They also are a pain in the butt to light, and mount. Plus the cover is not included and is needed as if the catalytic mat gets dirty it is less effective at burning off the CO (Or whatever it does to get rid of the CO). Additionally, it is a very directional heat source, so if it's mounted, you need to be directly in front of it to get much use out of it. People seem to sweat that they are the "gold standard", but my personal experience has been less than stellar.

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

@@ScottPDX Major Bummer! So your everyday go to heater would be.......and if I cracked open the side window on my minivan would a coleman stove be safe to use as long as I have a CO detector? Definately going to get a heated blanket.

[@Monaz1]

The Olympian Wave 3 heater is $450 on Amazon.

[@davewaters9203]

My back up heat is a kerosene heater . I grew up with these.. commonsense I to have a window or vent cracked open as you and it needs to breath..I'm still here going on 80 yrs..so read the instructions and obey them itsp as easy as that . And while im at it .. u need to vent your wood stoves also.. If a wood stove makes u sleepy .. its using up the air in your house . So Crack open a window for that too...

[@nealamesbury1480]

What’s so hard about ventilation ?

[@glenparker234]

I got a propane adapter kit for one of my little wood stoves it also uses the butane tanks it also lets you refuel the butane and propane tanks from a 5 gallon propane tank. As for the blankets I got a coupe of dog blankets from Amazon they are for covering furniture they’re waterproof have short fur on one side like velvet and about 1/2 inch fleece on the other side and these blankets are warm down below 30 degrees I’m using one to cover the bed and another on top of me and the dog these are warm and if you have them doubled on top of you you will get sweaty if it’s above 20 degrees

[@sandrabeck8788]

Wow, I was just looking at this stove top heater for my mini van! Bob Wells says he uses his Coleman cook stove to heat his van, works for him. This seems more effective and safer than an open burner.

[@Wittywidow559]

I have the lasko My Heat and it works great in My Dodge Caravan plugged into my hackery

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

@@Wittywidow559 How long do you leave your little Lasko heater on and what size Jackery is required to run it? I'm a firm believer in Lasko heaters. I've been using the Lasko tower units for years in my house. They're great.

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

Sandra, I thought about the coleman cook stove idea also but you wouldn't want to leave it running all night while you were asleep would you?

[@bradcompton33]

@@JohnHelmsStudio - I'm pretty sure Bob doesn't leave his on all night. I seem to remember him saying that in an older video.

[@Lulu5771]

I recall Bob saying he would turn on his cook stove for a few minutes just to take the chill out. He is way too sophisticated to use a cook stove for full time heating, I’m sure that would not be safe. So many other options available.

[@nealwright5630]

A huge benefit of the buddy heaters is they also work off any large propane tank (you need to use their adapter hose) and can heat all night if necessary.

[@foote1967]

Nice! I use the Kovea cupid heater and I also have the Kovea stove much like the one you show here...both work great for heating my van. My van is a little bigger than yours in that it is a GM standard cargo van (GMC Savana). I'm out near Bend Oregon...so the winters can be brutally cold...and these two options work great for me. I do travel to Portland for a week each month for work. I live out of the van for that week and it works great for that! I did put a good battery and solar setup so I'm fully self contained but still use the butane options.

[@ScottPDX]

Yikes, Bend in winter, can be chilly. Love it out there, heading to Chimney Rock Campground out near Prineville on Thursday. Love Central Oregon.

[@foote1967]

@@ScottPDX nice....I actually live in the town of Prineville..👍👍

[@dickvankoughnett2331]

I also have both Kovea but what's called the all in one stove . I find even below freezing ,I lite the heater then make coffee on the stove and the truck camper is warmed up . Great products the Kovea

[@colinfitzgerald4332]

I purchased a 350 watt 120v mini heater with fan and safety tip switch. It will heat my mini van quite well when plugged into a power station and a 100 ah battery. It will run for about 4 continuous hours if need be. It’s good for a warm early morning here in the Pacific Northwest.

[@mudthe1st512]

Hi Scott, thanks for sharing your tips on heating your van. I too, live on the PNW. And I've been trying to find a good heater for my van. The buddy heater a bit to much for my needs. The cadet heater maybe what I need for my van.

[@beccafitz22]

Hello, I’m trying to figure out what the PNW is please and thank you?

[@JohnHelmsStudio]

Pacific North West@@beccafitz22

[@beccafitz22]

@@JohnHelmsStudio thank you.

[@loboheeler]

I see the NV200 compact van is out of production. Such a shame, as that type vehicle is very useful. Are we left with just with "crossovers" now?

[@СлаваСлава-з4х]

The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy kzbin.infoUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!

[@drillsergeant5338]

Good to know about the 12v electric blanket. I have a 110v heated throw I use with my generator and that usually does the trick.

[@rayneday-trippin2554]

Im liking that little heater like the buddy heater. Got a link to where i can purchase?

[@rayneday-trippin2554]

Found it online 😁✌

[@ScottPDX]

Glad you found it, I wish it were back on Amazon.

[@davefletch3063]

That little Cupid heater is pretty cool

[@ripvanrevs]

I have a promaster van. Electric heater will raise the temp 20 degrees and I have no insulation at all. I have slept as low as 22° with no heat. Two big comforters kept me warm.

[@BlackdogADV]

Very good Scott! I’ve been researching diesel heaters and your vid popped up. I’m trying to figure something out for my toy hauler. Missed you at the last rally.

[@carolhewett3756]

To add another suggestion: a cast iron Japense tea kettle on a cast iron platform that can hold a candle or can of sterno or alcohol heat source. The idea is to have a heat sink consisting of both water and cast iron using a low tech source of heat. Obviously not for really cold temperatures. But at least you'll have hot water for tea or bouillon or hot chocolate.

[@thePOWERofART-11]

lasts the night?

[@carolhewett3756]

@@thePOWERofART-11 it will last for hours.

[@lisaarcher6091]

Great tips on keeping warm. Can't find anything about that Broan heater though. Don't see it on their website. :(

[@ScottPDX]

Yeah, I bought that a few years back, and with supply change problems going on, they may have dropped it. There are other good small electric heaters out there to substitute for it. Good luck Lisa.

[@lisaarcher6091]

@@ScottPDX Thank you. Really liked all of your suggestions. Blessings on you. :)

[@bque9444]

Thank you for your openness, honesty, and detailed explanations of the 5 sources of heat.

[@-TerryBogard]

I have a large SUV I road trip in. In the very cold weather, staying warm isn't as much of an issue as breathing in the cold air. That is what makes me cough and prevents good sleep. So I'm looking for a solution for that for all night sleeping (at least 6 hours). I have the buddy heater and have not tried it yet but I'm worried that it's not smart to leave on while sleeping and also it might be too hot on its low setting. I really wish it had a lower setting that would also allow it to last longer. Any recommendations? I've thought about making a tent like set up enclosure using heated blankets. Etc etc. anyways thanks for any and all suggestions.

[@Mevi]

Hey thanks. I’ve tried most of these, but still watched through to the end. Good video. I have a domestic electric underblanket that draws less watts than my 12v blanket. Even a small diesel heater will likely cook you alive in that smaller van. I have the Fiat Ducato (Promaster over there) and the 2KW is just enough.

[@dta97392]

What brand do u use? Thx

[@fairydust-weepthewildwinds]

Greetings, very good information I’m in a minivan freezing all of the time. I’ve been looking for a heater, that runs on batteries some what of a heater fan type. I have not seen such. I have the Echo Flo 1260 w solar power pack, and have used any heater source with it. But now that winter is here and I’m going camping out to Quartzite Arizona, I need something to keep me at 90 degrees and not sure if my power source can handle anything for about 4 days out there. Thank you for sharing. 👍🏽💙

[@janicem9225]

I've seen some van lifers with mini wood and pellet stoves, different sizes, based on van size, and they keep even a decent sized van, warm enough to handle the cold. Also, you can cook meals and heat coffee and tea on them. Just find a nice corner spot, with the fireproof metal under and around, which protects the van, AND helps to reflect the warmth outward. Some van lifers even use the tiny tent stoves in their vans. Good heat and cooking on them, too Still need ventilation and smoke or Carbon monoxide detectors, of course.

[@MySonsMother]

I wanted one, but decided it wasn’t worth the trouble because you need to feed it often, maybe every hour. Doesn’t hold much wood.

[@stvnfarm]

You can use a metal boat deck plate to create a resealable hole for the chimney

[@ThatGuy-mu2rr]

One of the things I considered for my van when I get it is heated floor tiles. Between this and a ceramic heater, my van ought to get plenty warm inside. Also, I will have solar, a secondary alternator and 12 KW of energy storage in portable power stations.

[@TerenceKaplan]

Small space like that a candle or two would probably do wonders. Though you'd want to make sure there's no chance of them falling over / wax mess like putting them in a sink. (before you all get scared of fire, remember the butane options are all fire sources too).

[@sspence65]

You would need a lot more than two candles, you'd need dozens. A candle flame is good for about 80 BTU.

[@mannyfragoza9652]

i find that the Diesel heaters are a hit and miss on there working when you need them. Bought one brand new last year this year it crapped out. So I'm going with as many other alternative heat sources i cant find not to mention Diesel has sky rocketed in price. Right now I'm trying my new Butane portable Gas heater. Its working great so far with Zero co2 .

[@ScottPDX]

I hear ya. My newer van came with a Diesel heater, and first trip to snow this year and it wasn't performing as well. I also had that Butane Cupid stove with me and it sure helped on a few early mornings. That being said, the Diesel heater problem was on my end, and now fixed, and when it runs, it's hard to beat.

[@mannyfragoza9652]

@@ScottPDX i agree

[@marklennox2151]

What a great video Scott. I love the compact size of these gadgets. I just bought an Astrovan which is small enough to really benefit from these ideas. How did you know I'm in the Northeast?

[@loboheeler]

Astros are revered in the northern areas. They drive pretty well in snow with 2WD, but are awesome with AWD. They usually rust out before the drivetrain wears out. 300K mileage was common.

[@alaska-bornfloridaman]

I'm back East, and I wish I had more of that cool weather.

[@lindadowling8484]

Never have I seen such a rather sexy little Butane Heater. Love the smallest of appliances.

[@ekp-g205]

Kinda want to see the adapter to heat up cup of water, that he doesn't have, but said it can have

[@szaki]

I want to add, for the big Body heater, you can add with an optional kit, the big 20 lb propane tank. Heater can run for days on one tank. Get

[@aubreyj.tennant1123]

Nicely done! I just bought a diesel JDM camper with a built in diesel heater but I like your multi alternatives. Inspired me to think about backups to open up camping year round. 😊

[@Subgunman]

I have refilled those butane canisters with no problem.years ago I was lucked enough to find an adapter at one of the camping supply stores that clipped on to the Camping Gaz butane canisters that are not reseal able. This adapter allows any screw on stove to use these cheaper canisters here in Europe. From the same store I also found an adapter from Brunton that screws onto butane canisters that allow me to empty two 190 gram canisters into the long butane canister. No problems! Those butane canisters for the stove you have there are over five euro each here in the EU while the little blue Camping Gaz canisters are around 70 euro cents each.

[@ScottPDX]

Interesting. I have refilled Propane cannisters that way, but never butane. We don't have much bulk butane for sale here in the states, but we have a lot of bulk Propane. I went with Butane mainly because the cannisters are so much smaller, others may go a different route based on their needs.

[@alchristensen8121]

My problem with butane is that it doesn't like to burn when it's cold, or even just cool. Low temperatures reduce the pressure in the cans and you get a feeble little flame. And, at really low temperatures, butane condenses into a liquid.

[@danfieldsphotog]

I’ve used the Kovea cupid heater w butane 20-30 times in temps less than 10 degree f…..with elevation. They’ve worked perfectly, 100% of the time.

[@boyds434]

whats the name of piece you put on top of butane stove?,looks like the burner piece out of kerosene heater,i need that on my stove butane is cheaper than propane

[@ScottPDX]

Its one of these amzn.to/3qHSaNN

[@boyds434]

@@ScottPDX Thank you for responding back!,I found it soon after asking,had no idea you could put that on stove ,I just let flames go,didnt heat well,seems with that canister it will disperse heat out.