Sparks Overland Diesel Heater - This Changes Winter Camping!

[@markthomas8658]

Ordered one after your first video and so excited to get it!

[@BluebirdOverland]

This heater just even looks good and quality.

[@MooreAdventures.]

Love the metal case. And how leak free it is

[@crazykids9883]

Nice unit. I’m waiting for the 2.0kW unit in their wall mountable case. With a smaller unit for our small teardrop, I’ll be able to run it hotter so that it burns cleaner. A bit more fuel use but no biggie.

[@marceld6061]

I agree. Get the smallest unit that will fit your needs. Running it hotter will keep it cleaner. Diesels like to run HOT. It's easy to find 5 and 8 KW which, in my opinion, are a little big for overlanding. 2kw is about right for tents and trailers.

[@brembofly]

I’m so glad you’ve done this more in depth review of this one! I’d love to do a propane suitcase but price point is counting me out, so this one may be the one.

[@FindingJay]

Great information. A lot of detail. Thanks for sharing.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@davidncraig4274]

What’s your opinion on the Sparks Overland gas heater? I was thinking it might be easier than having to carry multiple different fuels on the rig.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I don’t have the gas heater yet but should soon.

[@JendellOverland]

Looks pretty heavy duty. Very nice

[@barryraven4745]

Do you have to put tape on the diesel tank lid so it doesn’t spill on rough roads?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Nope.

[@WolfOverland]

You can also buy the accessories separately. I have the tent vent and the rubber adaptors for my cheap China one In South Carolina we don’t see much cold winter camping

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Of course you can if you want to rebuild a cheap one.

[@1oldarmyguy]

The last video you posted and shared a brief about the heater, I went and checked them out. Defiantly a quality product, buy once, cry once. I'd rather spend my money on something I know will last versus something I will be replacing every other year or more.

[@maxmoore4315]

Nice job on the technical specifications on the heater! How to you remember all the specs with no teleprompter lol.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I have notes. lol

[@teehoooverlanding]

Seems good, marked,I'd like to have a try

[@randylenz254]

Sparks build some nice, interesting stuff. I find theor approach to tents interesting if nothing else.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Their tents are definitely interesting. I haven't seen one in person yet.

[@randylenz254]

@OzarkOverlandAdventures I'd like to see one myself. Honestly they are out of my price range but I like the creativity of them a lot

[@robocop2571]

Where does the exhaust come out from? Does it have to remain flat or can you mount it sideways with tank facing up?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

The bottom. You'd have to call Sparks Overland and ask them about the mounting. I'm not sure.

[@sonnicman]

Wow, I talked about this heater in your last video, and here you are putting out a video about it. Awesome. I have a few comments but I'll address the elephant in the room first. You're wearing a hat repping a product that is designed to make things COLD while discussing a product designed to make things HOT. 😆 I'm sold on this heater. The low setting would be more than adequate for me, since I'm like a human polar bear. Like you, I usually sleep with just a heating pad and blankets. Yes, the heater weighs more but that's due to the tank and if you think about it you'd need to carry a separate rotopax for extra diesel if you chose to go with a heater with a smaller tank. So you'd have the weight of that separate fuel so I think in the end it all equals out. I am intrigued by the concept of them coming out with a gas unit as like you said carrying only one fuel type would be awesome. Time will tell how that pans out but would love to see a review and your thoughts when the time comes.

[@WolfOverland]

You can also buy the accessories separately. I have the tent vent and the rubber adaptors for my cheap China one In South Carolina we don’t see much cold winter camping Thanks for the video

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Of course you can if you want to rebuild a cheap one.

[@530ffDriver]

Looks super well built but can’t justify the price tag! Just pulled the trigger on a LF Bros N2-T after an HCalory let me down in single digit temps!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

LF Bros is good stuff but it drives me crazy they don't have a bluetooth app for them.

[@rosssparks1805]

If you keep getting burned by the cheap ones you should consider the sparks. You’re already at 5-700 on crappy ones?

[@steelontarget]

I like the tank. Do you have to crack it open when operating since it's so sealed?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Nope

[@montysinnett]

Great review, just about a week late for me 😅. Maybe for my next heater or after my trip to Yellowstone

[@CloudsOnTheSun]

Matt, could I mount it on top of my Jeeps Rhino Rack, then just run the hose down through a Jeep window? I will need to create a window hose vent of sorts.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I'm sure you could.

[@TexaSteven]

I love it but with me I have a suv with a RTT that takes up the entire roof space and I don’t see how else to carry it without having fumes inside my vehicle.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

The fuel cap seals well as well as the lid. No odors from this one.

[@TexaSteven]

@ well thanks for the advice I’ll definitely look into one of these, might have to wait on that tax return.. but jk I can tell it’s worth the price. We’ll keep the great content coming Matt and looking forward to another great year with you and Cara…

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@ thanks so much!!

[@KICROKS86]

did u go over a webasto heater ?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

To my knowledge there is no portable heater that uses Webasto.

[@Irishjackhammer]

My LF Bros N2pro is about as expensive as i can go. This one looks nice, though. Still has the ticking, for how expensive it is, should be absolutely no ticking.

[@shellback8945]

You got me. 😂

[@ashnfrank10]

I took a bunk heater out a wrecked Peterbilt

[@ahmednesbitte4906]

Hi Matt, really nice diesel heater. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@rexhua4833]

Is it possible to have a small diesel generator that produces heat and charge the power station as well?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I’m not aware of a generator that makes heat.

[@fubarfabbit808]

Hi My name is Robert McClellan I really like your video and I love that sign behind you! Whats the story on that sign?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

McClellan is my last name too. lol A friend made that sign for me because people used to come to my house all the time for me to cut their fenders on their JKs.

[@fubarfabbit808]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Thats awesome! Howdy Brother!

[@Traulus83]

That pump is loud as hell. My cheap vevor diesel heater, makes at HI, 55 db. Price difference, is huge, components are easily swapable. Silicone hose or fuel line, eich are cheap

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

You didn't test your Vevor the same way I did this one so that's not relevant. If you want to modify your Vevor then go for it.

[@jonvenden4284]

MS stands for meters per a second. This is how metric countries measure wind speed.

[@ccwstraightshooter9761]

Big and heavy is a deal breaker not to mention it’s $1,000 bucks after tax and shipping. We want light and small. At that price range might as well just buy the superior Propex heat exchanger which runs on Propane which is much cheaper in fuel cost, lasts much longer in fuel, no knocking noise via a fuel pump, 1/3 the size and half the weight. Same price. However, if you don’t want to spend $1,000 then just buy the LF Bros N2 - T Plateau edition which is a high quality diesel heater with leak proof fuel cap and other high quality parts. It’s only $350 and does everything the LF Bros N2 Pro does with automatic altitude compensation and thermostat control. In my opinion the N2 - T Plateau is the best all around bang for your buck diesel heater. Anything above that I world buy the Propex heater.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

To get lighter you lose the fuel capacity. That's why it's heavier. LF Bros is good stuff but it drives me crazy they don't have a bluetooth app for them.

[@taylorhale1035]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I agree with everything CCW said about going propane at that price range. I built a Vevor kit in a DeWalt box on wheels with all the same features: bigger tank, bluetooth app, twist-off end caps (mechanical plumber's test plug from HD), rubber connectors for outlet to dryer vent tube (also from HD), upgraded plastic fuel line as opposed to green rubber/poly, all for around $300. The power draw & running features are all the same. It seems like all you're doing is paying astronomical labor for a bunch of mediocre upgrades. I bet if you took off the aluminum cover you'd find the same heater unit from all the "cheap" chinese units. And only dropping 13db by adding Kilmat? lol We use that stuff in car audio all the time! Thought it funny too that the "fuel pump case" they made is the same cheap inlet from the chinese kits! lol They're basically showing that they buy a full kit and just make it their own like I did. All info I hope others to use in their purchasing decision. We wouldnt know unless you made the video! Thanks for that.

[@ccwstraightshooter9761]

Yes but everyone who overlands usually has 2, 3 or 4 Rotopax carriers and it’s super easy to include an extra diesel fuel one. As for app control… just what we need is one more app to control something. It’s nice to not always need to be on screen at camp. Plus nothing wrong with the remote. I just keep mine clipped inside my roof tent full time. Also since the LF Bros has thermostat control in the controller itself I run the controller up to my tent so I can utilize the thermostat feature. So I won’t need to use the app anyways since the controller is usually in reach.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@ The Propex portable heaters are twice the price of this. You went with a Vevor heater which is one of the cheapest and least dependable heaters you can buy. This heater isn't that. The fuel pump in this is by Espar - one of the highest quality fuel pumps you can use. You seem clueless to think that 13db isn't a huge impact. Is your tank a high quality aluminum or cheap plastic? I bet I know. LOLOL. Haters will always hate.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@ccwstraightshooter9761 That's great! I personally love the app control and not blindly pushing a +/- button and if something does go wrong, I can read the error code and restart the heater staying in my tent. But that's just me. I personally think it's great to not have to carry extra fuel if I don't have to.

[@JarradShaw]

❤❤❤

[@1AndreasKendu]

The cost is nothing for a durable and reliable heater (if taken care of properly - study carbon build up and how to mitigate that) so you dont freeze at night and allows you to go places otherwise you may not go. Looks awesome

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Agreed!

[@rosssparks1805]

Matt you are getting a gas heater bud!!!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@rosssparks1805 heck yeah!!

[@NorthernCoveCreations]

I wish I could afford one but unfortunately single mom, outside my budget.

[@Recovering_Californian]

Everyone's first thought: How much is it?? .... $940

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

yep

[@MRCH4TH]

I am sure it is nice ... but a grand for a heater is crazy

[@jusgibs]

@@MRCH4TH A grand? That’s a grand + a power station to get warmth. If you need warmth that bad, stay home.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

There's tons of cheap ones out there to chose from but only a few really quality ones.

[@jusgibs]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I forgot to mention, you also need a solar panel to keep the power station charged. We made a matress for our 4-door Bronco. I have over 6 1/2 feet of room. I can start the vehicle and run heat for a bit. Hope you don’t take offense to my comment. My wife and I love your channel. Thanks for the demo.

[@rosssparks1805]

@@jusgibs I think most people have power stations. I would recommend that before anything else. Power station, fridge, heater in that order most of the time.

[@JohnCoulliette-s2r]

Overpriced Chinese parts! Even uses a HCalory controller. They do not “make” the splitter either, it’s is $9.99 on Amazon and $30 on Sparks website. so no surprise it’s 1k.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Lots of heaters use that controller. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@teaker1s]

But it's not hand built, Chinese heater with metal case and premium price without espatcher or webasto

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Does your definition of hand built require that the heat exchanger be custom built as well? These are definitely hand built with quality components. The fuel pump is Espar which I said in the video.

[@DadBodJake]

Why are they trying to “save money” on a screen for a 940$ diesel heater…

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

There's not really a better option but I think one is coming.

[@Camping_with_Greg]

great products but god dam

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I don’t think God has anything to do with it. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jusgibs]

I’m sorry, My wife and I watched this a 2nd time, and as much as we’ve liked your channel, this came across as a sales pitch. Hope you come back to the basics.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

For winter camping, diesel heaters are basics now. This video was done like all my other gear review videos. Just informing you. I don’t make any money if you buy it or not.

[@joem5110]

Gas heater sounds dangerous.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I hope to find out. lol

[@shellback8945]

As soon as u said Chinese, I’m out

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

As you typed that on your Chinese made phone? 😂😂😂😂😂🤦🏼‍♂️

[@ramblinChet]

I disagree when you state this is "for people who go out often, who love winter camping." In my opinion, it's a cheap Chinese heater inside a cheap Chinese aluminum case. If you are interested in something that is premium and will last - a Espar or Webasto (German) diesel heater inside of a Zarges (German) aluminum case would be appropriate. The Chinese knock-offs you are promoting are far from premium and the cheap $940 price is reflective of that.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It's ok to be wrong. LOL. To my knowledge no one makes a portable pre made heater using Espar or Webasto heat exchangers. And if they did do you have a clue how much they would cost? A lot more than $940!! This one does use an Espar fuel pump.