Best Ways to Heat your Van - 5 Different Methods

[@damon1201]

Jarrod, really like your channel. As a retired plumber the correct term is "Water Heater". If you have hot water, it wouldn't need heated. Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine. Good info, keep it up.

[@macbagpipethehaggis3213]

A shit chaser with a pet peeve. That's rich.

[@OkieJammer2736]

Ha! Thanks for this. Reminds me of the 'Hot' Water? routine from George Carlin.

[@ZWill07]

😂😂😂

[@jasonwilliams2948]

Jarrod's the man. He does more van build interviews then anyone in history. If you wanna do a van conversion, watch his videos and you'll know exactly what you need.

[@onetalentedman2822]

43 years of living alternative life styles. The greatest and cheapest investment is a good quility LPG OVEN. Mine is left on approx 18 hours a day you can cook just about any thing in your LPG oven on the lowest gas setting. A chicken may take 8 - 10 hours to cook surround it with root vegatables and there's a very tasty meal cooked at the same time your living space is heated. I've allways used this method very cheap alternative to run. Also I allways have a kettle simmering on top my LPG oven providing free hot water, and a stove fan to circulate this low cost heating system. Just remember to have plenty of ventilation and a good carbon monoxide alarm. Every thing in my alternative style of living must have several uses with very low, runing, costs.

[@rockyroads1033]

I'm looking into getting one for my shuttle bus home

[@sheri4673]

Is this LPG style of heat something that must be wired directly into my van, or is it a portable unit that can simply be carried into my van when I need heat? My van will be underconstruction over time, adding on things as I can afford them. I need heat immediately in order to make my very first trip to see a new grandbaby. The van isn't wired for any electricity yet. I guess for right now I need the equivalent of a space heater that runs on it's own propane tank. Could LPG be a solution for my need to get heat in the back of my van and get myself on the road quickly? Thank you for anything you can share!

[@OkieJammer2736]

@@sheri4673 LPG is Propane gas. Portable. No wiring. Cookers are VERY small up to fancy 3 burners built in. Here's a link. energypedia.info/wiki/LPG_for_cooking

[@nehabhole1]

Need a 2024 version of this!

[@_GntlStone_]

Also consider a 12v mattress pad (very low voltage draw), check the truck driver supply sites. That and a good sleeping bag, and maybe a real surplus wool blanket will keep you toasty . Don't forget to cover your head & ears.

[@leivicyper3827]

it was good, i would like if you put pictures of the products to know better about wat you are talking. thanks

[@joy.wasabi]

His Visio is for people who really want and did a lot of research. Not for feeding lazy people dude

[@barbaraburke2937]

I have only needed to use my Mr Buddy the last 2 winters in my van, only because winter seasons are short here in Odessa TX, roughly around 2-3 months between late December through early to mid March, then temps get high as 100°F-110°F, and I would turn on the Buddy heater for short times, about 10-20 minutes to knock out all the chill, and in under my sleeping bag and with cosy warm jammies too. It's been good with an occasional back up in the morning when nature calls, I'll turn it on for another 10-20 minutes, depending on how cold the temps are by early AM too, to knock out the chill, but does keep well after once or twice in the 95 GMV Vandura Conversion Van I had before the transmission went on it, now I'm will be working on my newer van, a 2000 GMC Savana 1500 full sized Conversion Van, Southern Comfort Edition, with a topper already on it, good shape and runs good also, I can at least stand up inside this one, I'm 5'5" and have almost around 1-2" space above my head depending where I stand, for now when I get started on the inside of this one, I'm doing some simple inside modifications, not to the original wiring, etc down the road will get ahold of experts for all the additional wiring, electronics and solar panels, etc when I get the money up and saved to do so, for now when I do work on the van, for heat I may go to the Wave 3 because of space too and winters here are not that long as well, however, as I do the flooring, wall, sofa to bed (single sized), a bit of additional storage, one of the storage places I have in mind will be the area I may have the solar system, batteries, etc installed later as I go, do you think the Wave 3 would be sufficient for now kind of thing? I know my Buddy heater is good, but because it's a bit fatter taking up a few more inches in space in size that the Wave 3, and for the sufficient amount used for heat in short winter's here. What you think?

[@red-bb3xd]

Simple in the Canadian winter. I have stayed many mouth s in my 34-foot trailer. Number one. Insulation, number 2. diesel furnace diesel truck diesel HWT system solar panels batteries, and wind gen. Done cheap fast Marine products are sometimes better than RV. Works for me in 40 below.

[@NicholasHoggan]

One of my favorite videos of yours so far and I have seen some really good ones. Mark definitely paired well with your style of presenting information.

[@GracieandJacqsAdventures]

A ton of info to think about when doing a van conversion. Thanks Marc and Jarrod for putting this together!!! Happy travels and blessings from PDX!

[@swagonman]

Insulation is important, especially insulated window coverings. Vans are small and I don’t go to extreme cold environments, so I just have a 12v electric blanket and a small 200W electric heater. My battery is about 2500Wh LiFePo, so 200W heater can easily run all night, but I’ve never done that. But I couldn’t probably do that night after night unless I increase my battery charging current significantly. But so far, we turn everything off as we sleep because memory foam mattress and good blankets are plenty warm.

[@PaDutchRunner]

The Bosch draws 1400-1475 watts regardless of the setting on the heater (how hot you want the water). When heating the water from cold, it generally runs 30 minutes (but this can vary depending on settings and the ambient temps). Then, if the system is idle and you have the heater just maintaining the temp, the heater will run once every 4 hours or so for about 5-7 minutes.

[@jerryhofstra6894]

Propane canisters used on boats (inside the cabin) has a very good system, were they have there tanks stored in a sealed box vented at the bottom. Allowing the tank to gas out of the cabin.

[@arborleaftree1769]

That wooden back wall is sick. I'm stealing that design for my van. It's Done

[@craigslist04]

Flue; a duct for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, a gas heater, a power station, or other fuel-burning installation. Flume; a deep narrow channel or ravine with a stream running through it.

[@stephaniemcgreevy4114]

I love that you went through this I want to consult to have that full system put in ! From Van Life Tech, I like how he explains and Jared.

[@hannahgunter3552]

I could listen to the two of you guys foreva! Super helpful thanks!

[@islandvibes9076]

Great video, JT! Always appreciate the knowledge. Loving your new format with the daily vlogs as well as the informational vids!

[@heyyou2074]

I know I'm in over my head here but... I'm renovating a skoolie - handicapped model - 14' front to back floor. I'm pretty sure I'll be going with electric infloor. It may well be too much for my batteries and panels but if comes to that I can use a generator. Seems to me a much more versatile way to skin the cat. For the few daze and nights I might need big heat it doesn't make sense to me to go through the expense and hassle to go with the high tech you recommend. Thanks for the insight. I'm sure you're right, just not for me.

[@tajetaje9238]

Years ago I used gas for lights as well as heat and cooking but that was in an old mobile home I am not to convinced with the solar system but wind turbine to generate electricity seems much easier in vans particularly in winters

[@shokojimhollingsworth3940]

The vanlifetech system sounds like the absolute dream, but I’m assuming the price is “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” Since I spent the last winter living in my Subaru wagon I guess I’ll take baby steps and deal with cold water and seeing my breath inside the van in the mornings!!! Hello, mr. buddy.

[@avivamae5171]

You can definitely afford 12v electric flooring mats $200-300 but then you need to have a big enough battery bank, if you build your own 24v lifepo4 battery from 3.2v 100amph cells yourself then it's actually pretty affordable (if you build your own lifepo4 battery it's less cost then an agm for even more battery cycles).

[@_GntlStone_]

Also consider a 12v mattress pad (very low voltage draw), check the truck driver supply sites. That and a good sleeping bag and maybe a real surplus wool blanket will keep you toasty . Don't forget to cover your head & ears.

[@aleee2323]

@@avivamae5171 can you tell more about these mats? Also about building your own lifep04

[@lamarrharding4776]

I've Driven Semi trucks for 20 years, had both Webasto and Espar heaters both Airtop and Hydraulic, they have all needed service every season.

[@PaDutchRunner]

Mark should not feel bashful about the camera....he did an amazing job!!!

[@loppylou490]

Love your channel Jarrod. I hope one day to be able to have Mark do a build out for me! Great job guys!!

[@koopadogmax1345]

Can we have links to some examples of your recommendations? I've specifically been looking for a diesel fueled, closed-loop hydronic/radiant heater, ideally one that will also provide hot water for showers etc. This has to exist!

[@volb9817]

Awsome. You think you could add pictures of the different heats system? To see what they actually look like?

[@PaDutchRunner]

Awwww you guys really beat up propane....as if I haven’t been second-guessing myself enough!!

[@Unlikelyjellyfish]

Really cool conversations here! listened to it all!

[@sheilaayala7913]

Mark did great on this video

[@swagonman]

BTW, if you’re using an electric heater through your AC inverter, the inverter’s efficiency becomes awesome. Normally, the inverter efficiency is calculated on DC power in to AC power out. Almost all of the lost power is actually heat, and then air movement via the inverter’s fan. But when you heat your van, that isn’t lost power. It’s useful power. Think of the inverter as a power converter and heater. Same goes for your electric refrigerator; it’s also a heat pump, refrigerating its inside while heating up your van.

[@cambreaezell7346]

They quoted me $14k for the system - I just can't afford that ...

[@carsta101]

Thanks for all the info guys! Greetings from Heidelberg, Mark 😀

[@SamanthaBManthaJane]

Marc is adorabubs! = ) Such a wonderful smile and a great, positive energy. You all stay safe there!!

[@Judygurl2]

So true! Marc did my build and he exudes an energy that's calm, wise, creative and trustworthy. When a van build is done, if you still like your builder, that says it all.

[@RestaurantSeatingDesigner]

Thank you so much for your time with this video. I shared every platform I could. Videos like this is so needed. Learned a lot.

[@improvagility5516]

Great presentation!

[@colleenkaralee2280]

Having heat exchanger and hot shower on demand makes full-time vandwelling that much sweeter. However, when my brother and I were kids staying in the Shenandoah Mountains we swam and bathed in a mountain fed stream until our lips turned blue.

[@patrickcummins976]

Great video guys! Thanks for the encouragement not to give up on the dream!

[@drewmakes9274]

UPVOTE UPVOTE UPVOTE!! TED talk for nomads. Thanks guys

[@chakaula8642]

HOW MUCH MAN! HOW MUCH? Even a general hi - lo heat exchange system from Troy! C'mon man. Aloha

[@JarrodTocci]

Heaters can range from 1500 to 15000 depending on what you want. Propane me buddy heater you can easily look up for 100ish. Reason we don't give prices is because having Troy's system installed can be different from certain installers. Just like a contractor. Also depends if it's just the heater or if it's a full build. Also depends if buying diy or paying someone for labor. So you can see there are too many options to go over and we leave it open for the consumer to see which they'd like and go from there

[@hannahgunter3552]

Y’all are simply the best!

[@esquire9445]

A tip from a time in my life where I was having a hard time. If you need hot water put bottles of water on your dash and turn your defrost on hot. Best to plan out when you are driving somewhere… so you aren’t wasting gas.

[@robinbliss6513]

Great discussion! Thank you for this!

[@Spartan2x]

Thanks for taking the time to lay it out for us!

[@vanlifeforgoldenrhodes]

Mark you did a GREAT JOB!!! You give off a sense of trust about you and that is comforting for someone who needs a building partner for their rolling home. Thanks Jarrod for this VERY informative vlog and all the time and editing.

[@VanSheGoes]

very informative and positive energy when providing breakdowns of reasoning

[@susanshaver912]

Thanks for sending me to Matt Foley.. Good chuckles, sad ending. Did he really live in a van down by the river? Great ideas on heating a van.... Thank you :)

[@scottboivin8507]

Hi guys, how much does each one of these systems cost? Thanks for the great information.

[@JarrodTocci]

So many varieties but it can range from $100 Mr buddy heater to over $10k for top of the line system. We wanted to give this info so if someone wants to know more about a certain heat they can start researching and comparing on their needs

[@davids6977]

Great info, How about some more photos or miniature videos of what you're talking about

[@reddbeard2030]

Great stuff! My wife &I just purchased a Shuttle Bus and we need to convert into a living space. First we need a "Fulltime" build that, initially, will be stationary while we build our house, then afterwards will migrate into a "Van Life" situation. We love your videos and your expertise and would greatly appreciated some advice on possible builders in our area. Thanks!

[@_GntlStone_]

You need proper CO2, Propane, and Fire ALARMS and they need to be PROPERLY INSTALLED. Greatly informative video, thanks guys! Mark's focus on safety first, even/especially in DIY is a necessary counterbalance to video/internet inspired "great ideas". If planning a diy propane system please consider having it safety checked by a professional before covering with paneling/cabinetry or use.

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

Mini split heat pump 9000 btu 22SEER works great in my Express. $$$$. 1000Wp on the roof. 800Wp deployable. 10.5kWh LFP. Magnum 4024. Midnite SCC.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Super professional.....thank u!

[@TrustInHim777]

Kimberly wood stove is the answer as it captures fresh air from the bottom, it uses little space required. Capping the pipe coming out when driving is easy. I will be including it in my van build. However, it will be hidden and will be using a gas for a stove & heating. And if I am stuck and run out of gas, I can remove my gas stove top revealing my Kimberly stove and resemble it form my stove top and heating source. I expect to run out if up far north surrounded by trees in the deep snow.

[@jeffreywhitaker5154]

Yooo J, on the up and up how much would the heating system that you have in your van cost? I think that should be noted as well for people that are interesed.

[@itsnotlevel2]

You win buddy, I'll keep my comments to myself.

[@Takpay]

When I can get back on the road I need to talk to you about re-doing the walls on my 1996 Firan Telstar Ford E350. I call her a van on steroids.

[@stephenmagee3766]

Your content is great! Thank you. A note of caution that I have observed in many vans tours. They have a carbon monoxide detector, but mount it on the ceiling often next to smoke detector. This is WRONG! Carbon monoxide is heavy and builds from the ground up. You will be dead before a ceiling mounted alarm sounds. Many companies used to market the all in one fire and carbon monoxide detector. Useless. Be safe put your carbon monoxide detector on the floor.

[@JarrodTocci]

Yes I agree. However, a good friend of mine is a firefighter and as he said with the small space in a van it doesn’t matter. I try and tell people to put it at waist height for best but again it will still work being high just not recommended

[@robinsouth8555]

Very informative, waiting impatiently on this 12 volt AC system.

[@JarrodTocci]

Me too 🤣

[@beckyelliott2871]

Jono lenoob - hope I spelled your name right. My idea of “body heat” is curling up with my 12 lb. cat! Different strokes for different folks!

[@keirburgess]

Brilliant video - so informative. Thanks.

[@songsparrowadventures]

Where should one store those small propane bottles if they are not safe inside the vehicle? Good video, thank you

[@101perspective]

I hated using propane to heat my van. I switched to a diesel heater and it has been awesome. It is MUCH safer since it vents the fumes outside. It also is a dry heat... no moisture issues like you get with propane. I went with one of the Chinese diesel heaters. I probably would have gotten a webasto if I could afford it. Mine has worked great though. One of the only problems I seen with it was the loud fuel pump. I mounted the fuel pump inside and it was way too loud. I built a small enclosure for it and that has helped a lot... but still noticeable. Another small issue I had was the hose screw clamps that came with it. They just looked unreliable to me so I went and bought some better ones at home depot. Didn't cost that much so no biggy.

[@Deltro61]

If you replace that China made fuel pump with the one from the Espar, and mount it outside with one of the rubber mounts it's virtually silent. There's tons of KZbin videos on the China made heaters and issues with that pump. Nice thing is the china model mounts are virtually the same, if not identical. I believe when the patent expired on the Wabasto, that's when the Chinese jumped in and duplicated that thing as close as possible. Overall there pretty decent units for the price. And I have an old Atwood 10K in my Volkswagen Westfalia, and as long as they're vented to the outdoors moisture is not an issue. I agree though I like the diesel better, and it sips fuel. Whatever heater you decide to go with a carbon monoxide detector and gas detector if using propane should be mandatory. It's just too small of a space to risk your life without safety protocols in place

[@101perspective]

@@Deltro61 Thanks for the info. I will have to look into that pump. I have been satisfied with the heater also. When I'm on trips now I feel almost like I'm at home comfort wise. I agree on the detector. Mine is a carbon monoxide/smoke detector.

[@Deltro61]

They have em on Amazon. The real key though is a good heavy duty rubber mount so noise doesn't get transferred.

[@N3pea]

I would really love a follow up on the insulation video.

[@Lmt1wp]

Well....this was filmed 4 months ago but Mark....you did great, (you too Jarrod) 😊

[@Kralphrn]

Mark is really impressive

[@sharinsharitv]

You guys are great very informational! So is solar heat/ac ran as electrical through an inverter and batteries? I really don't want propane in my van due to exactly what Marc was saying... release/leaks. Wrapping (warping!) my mind around all this lol Thanks for the segment.

[@MrBryantdavis]

I'm wondering the same thing. I like the diesel heaters but diesel is expensive. I hear people using around a gallon a day.

[@Backyardplay]

Many thanks for another bomb video Jarrod! Power on my friend.

[@davekoch2607]

Mark did a fantastic job 👍 thanks for a great time and info.

[@HuangXingQing]

German engineering IS the best. Italians . . . well they do leather well. Very well in fact. Great video. I learned some things.

[@JIMKOR]

Love your Chanel. Do you build custom vans for other ppl?

[@epicelements5528]

Great info video for people looking into different systems. You guys did a great job. Where those bloopers though?🤣 I already know I’m getting the best, from the best, and the best is installing it. 😬

[@gloriaandrews4477]

Wow! Thank you. That was sooo helpful.

[@angiedee8749]

Thank you so much for all this expert proessional inside information! Love it...

[@mvborg]

Can you use the stock heater on a 2019 sprinter passenger van to heat the van with the house battery, because it is a 12v diesel heater?

[@johntatman9168]

Another thing to consider is how much time you plan to spend in cold weather. If you plan to stay in warm areas than it would be senseless to spend a huge amount of money on a heating system.

[@JarrodTocci]

True. But I was even in San Diego most of winter and it still gets cold there at night, a lot of my friends hung out in my van at night. If you're full time and living that way then spending some money on a decent heater I feel is worth it

[@chucktownvanlife4267]

Marks getting better lol

[@rose8662]

💖Super, super helpful! Thank you so much!💖

[@sumbirb5843]

lol dude was reading my mind. was researching this last night

[@johnguerard1355]

Very informative. And Marc did awesome.

[@joeholecek8309]

if you notice your house vents are all pointed to the outside walls to create a thermal barrier to keep a space warm you need to stop penetration ! also I hvac tech

[@tiffanieqaisar4632]

If you ever get out of this mess, I'm going to throw a party for my friends Sara and Luca from their truck camper and also the King here, Jarrod. You can puke in my car and not too many people can say that anymore! Love ya and wish you could travel to Colorado USA, ex military folks are basically our circle. Hit us up. I am still waiting to see what happens with the locals so standby... stay safe stay warm stay away snowed 8 inches yesterday, blizzard!

[@rtmsound1877]

Great video! What are your thoughts on the Truma Combi Eco LPG forced air heater and water heater system?

[@andreawisner7358]

Could you stick a list of the various types of products that you're talking about?

[@JarrodTocci]

I'll pin a comment with products and names later today. Thank you

[@clawson7064]

What about a mini split for heating?

[@LivingProcess]

Always great is there a way to break it down to cost what would be cheeper ... Or cost the most but save money in the long run

[@hermanlighthall3972]

thanks for the great info - HAPPY EASTER!!!

[@turquoisewitch.wild-owl]

You both did great! Thanks.

[@vacayalldayeveryday]

We love ya man! Best info ever.... everytime!!!

[@cybertrucklife7716]

What about the scenario of living full time in an electric fueled van? It's rare now but will become more common in time. You dismiss the option of electric heating but could it make sense in this scenario to use all electric heating if you can power it off the vehicle's gigantic battery? Obviously you would lose driving range from also tapping into it for heat but if you have a current or upcoming vehicle with very large range it might not matter much. My planned dream build in around 5 years time will be a scratchbuilt truck camper on the back of a top spec Tesla Cybertruck. That's expected to have around a 250KWH battery pack (if I'm calculating that right I think that's around 60 times the size of the battery pack in Ghost II though obviously primarily need for moving the vehicle) which hopefully should be fine to power purely electric heating.

[@sharonmallory4223]

Thinking about a medium school bus, what type would be the best?

[@iptaylor]

Hi Jarrod - I wonder if you can expand a little on the "Siesta System" you mention during this video? I am in preparing to build a van over here in the UK. I am looking at dowin a Heat Exchange system and but unclear who I can get that from here in the UK perhaps you or someone can guide me a little? Thanks Iain

[@JarrodTocci]

I'd email [e-mail] and I think they have someone in the UK that can install. The siesta system is the same type of heat without the floor heating element. So it gives you 18,000 btu of heating controlled by a touch thermostat inside the van. Also has on demand hot water part of the system

[@iptaylor]

Hey Jarrod, thanks for the prompt reply, I'll reach out to them. Much appreciated 🙂👍

[@scottyjackson6665]

Carry wood? If you have a composting toilet, just burn the dried out man chips. Probably work better if you are either vegetarian of vegan, but if it's been integrated with dried moss/coir it's probably a great mixture of fast and slow burning fuel. Perhaps chuck them in after the stove gets near temp for second combustion to reduce the more toxic gases and of course the smell. Probably not a good idea if you are trying to maintain stealth.

[@rocknsnowryan9400]

Most builds that i've seen on youtube seal up the 5 gal propane in it's own box/cabinet and put air vent holes in the floor.

[@breadfan_85]

No, you said it right. It's why you're doing this vehicle.. *for information.*

[@BroadcastJohn]

I have read that supposedly some insurance companies will not insure your van or cancel your policy if you have a propane tank inside. Is this true?

[@johnpowell5726]

Who do you most highly suggest as a van builder?

[@krishtiandark]

What should one do if their van is an EV? What is the best heating source for this?

[@williamholleman8673]

Appreciate the sense of hummer and van technicalities.

[@AR-xd4di]

Thanks for all this info guys , but like Mark said it all comes down to your insulation .I think you used Havelock wool for Ghost II but not sure of how your insulation setup is , what do you advise people (Proper Insulation) to use before going the route of getting a gas or diesel heater installed ?

[@N3pea]

Did you two ever do the installation video?

[@JarrodTocci]

Not the two of us but I've done one with some of the methods he has taught me