The Truth About Winter Camping Heaters, Propane or Diesel? with Harker Outdoors

In this video we discuss the three most popular heating options for camping and why we chose the Propex heater. This heater is available for purchase with a Harker Outdoors Camper or directly from Propex.
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#overland #wintercamping #truckcamping #camperbuild

[@robquin5093]

I live in a trailer all winter. I have the Propex HS 2800. When it works I love it for all the reasons you point out. However I have a diesel heater for backup because so far the Propex hasn't got me through one full winter without breaking down, whereas the diesel heater just works. When you strip the Propex down, you find that it has no proper seals or gaskets. It is just gummed together with silicon rubber. For the price I would expect a far higher build quality. So when you claim that they are reliable, I disagree.

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

Good to know! But we found just the opposite. This information is first hand testing from installing many diesel heaters and many propex heater over the past few years. We have tested the amazon Diesel heaters for years and about 50% of them work. Where as we havent had a single propex heater fail in the last 2 years. It sounds like you lucked out an got one of the good diesel heaters!

[@bruceskousen5451]

I’ve had a Propex heater for 4 years and it has worked flawlessly. I’ve never had any issues.

[@dannyeugenewaits9486]

So your comparing a cheep Chinese diesel heater that costs $165 at most... against a $1000 Propex.... let's compare apples apples now I have an Espar German made diesel heater with the high altitude kit total cost $1200, this is my 3rd year winter camping using it, no breakdowns, no "exhaust" issues you claim.... and lol diesel splashing all over😂😂 it's no different than your gas tank in a car, it's sealed, so when you make a comparison and cut down another manufacturer's heating system vs yours, at least compare against the same price point and quality build. Cheers from Montana

[@darthlord4411]

@@harkeroutdoors6191 You can’t compare $100 diesel Chinese heater to $1000 propane heater, I would planar here again, a propane heater, any day the week, and that’s using diesel. If you throw K1 kerosene in it that’s a whole another ball game. It runs a lot cleaner. No smell. Kerosene is three times a price. It was kerosene you should go to -40 not having to worry about dieseling up, I highly doubt you’re doing -40 with a propane

[@LiterallyOverTheHillAdventures]

I was camping in single digit temperatures recently using my Dickenson 9000 and it kept me very warm and used very little fuel. I ran it from about 6pm to 8 am on the lowest setting which kept it very warm inside. Due to the temperature forecasted for the next night, I went to get some propane at Tractor Supply and it did not take enough for them to even charge me. Of course I am in an Alu Cab Canopy Camper which is truly a four season camper and it has to get down into the upper 20s before I even need to use my heater due to it keeping my body heat inside real good,

[@Steeltown7]

Immediately like this guy right to the point thank you

[@pepperspray4144]

I just wanted to say thank you very much for your terrific input and your video the whole bit I live here Northern Ontario and I was looking for a better Source than the diesel heater and you've convinced me and I have picked up the link to the propane heaters and thank you again

[@will_ren]

I have the 2211 'external' version. I don't have it permanently installed as I camp in a tent, Chevy Express van, and Jeep Cherokee. Need it to remain portable. Great heat output, quiet both inside and outside, and it sips power.

[@darthlord4411]

I do agree that the propane heater seems a better option than a diesel heater, but you can’t compare $1000 propane heater versus $100 Chinese heater. I own a planar diesel heater and a thing is a beast. Starts right up every time barely any smoke out of it and it’s never failed but it cost US$1600. With a diesel heater, you can totally control the speed of the fan and the burn temp. From what I understand you cannot do that with a propane heater. It’s either on or it’s off.

[@schristiansen3151]

I got the Propex "Mean Green" edition and can't wait to try those 9500+ btu's out on some coyote hunts this winter.

[@metaglypto]

I am considering this one for use inside a Shiftpod tent, or also for the back of a pickup canopy.

[@dave8k9hohnjmdavez57]

Solid choice, sound wisdom.. I enjoy the proprex. Ccdh stinky diesel spills load exhaust and stoody carbon clicky pump. More power used icky

[@Slickheadhunter]

I believe I’ll be going with Truma!

[@MountainOffroad4x4]

Good to see more of these videos pop up. I run a propex that I built into an enclosure very similar to a diesel heater package and I constantly get questioned about why I didn’t go with just a simple diesel heater instead and I’m so happy I didn’t. Sooo much more efficiency and convenience with the Propex hands down. Curious, was that a cap on the intake vent port of the Propex I saw you had?! Do you usually use it that way too? Here I am running 2 vents and ducting (1 intake, 1exhaust) into my RTT because I thought I had to.

[@jamesray3920]

I looked at protex but chose truman varioheat comfort for many reasons 😊

[@Bumblingdesertdweller]

I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the diesel heaters. Most of which I heard after I purchased mine. Mine does not smoke on, start up, and you can only see a little smoke and smell when it is shutting down. I have been very fortunate with mine running on high altitude setting.

[@jdub1922]

Good video, but my man, make a pretty detailed script outline you can read from the film position... Don't just 100% wing it.

[@jasonkelly9373]

Hey I just saw your video on truth about winter camping heaters and propane and diesel heaters yeah I agree with you on that the propane heater is way better I've done over Landing rving for over 13 years before overlanding ever came out anyways we've always had propane and I've always done air circulation and had the vent open and everything and just a little bit and we did just fine and -32 degree winter time and I've never had a problem with propane or anything like that the diesel heaters I keep seeing error codes white smoke all kinds of problems with it and I think one of the problems with the diesel heater is that little screen that is inside the by the glow plug that goes around the glow plug anyways that I think that has a problem right there to the exhaust pipe should be a lot longer and also sealed up by the compartment and everything and instead of aiming down it should be flipped sideways so that way the exhaust can go out a lot better in my opinion but yeah and all in all propane heaters the way to go

[@joshuabuss4840]

Without insulation in the Harker what does the temperature get up to and how well does it maintain that temp? I would be curious to see a real life situation video with sound output and temp control throughout a night in freezing temps.

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

Over the past year few years we have put both the diesel heater and the Propex heater through many nights below freezing. For example, one of our favorite things to do here in Utah is hunt down hot springs in the winter. So we have spent many nights in the negatives, hanging out in the hot spring, and then using our campers to stay warm overnight and dry out our gear so we can hit hot spring the next day. The Propex performed quite a bit better than the diesel heater during those freezing snowy nights. Between the efficiency and how quiet it runs, that is why we stuck with the Propex.

[@KipperKushman]

I would love to see the installation of this unit. It looks to be vented out the side of the camper and I can't really find any info on doing this. I am leaning toward side venting vs. bottom so I don't have any penetrations in the floor. Thanks.

[@bozste1813]

Mounting it on the side like shown in the video is acceptable by the manufacturer?

[@MountainOffroad4x4]

It is. I run mine that way too. As long as it’s not upside down either horizontally or vertically but the install instructions I believe say it all.

[@user-qo2jw4ub7d]

It looks like the heater should be very effective with the bed platform tilted up. But with the bed down, the only way for heat to get up to the sleeping platform appears to be leaving the flip up/down panel in the up position so the heat can rise. Otherwise the heat is trapped below. Is that correct?

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

There is an extension tube. It has adjustable length so you can position it wherever you would like. But in general, since there is plenty of gap towards the end of the bed and the edge of the camper, and the heat is pushed that way, the heat will easily rise the upper portion of the bed. We found that bed area stays around the temperature that set the heater at, without the tubing extension.

[@metaglypto]

I am curious about setting up a portable unit for use inside a tent or the back of a pickup. Anyone tried doing this? Doesn't seem like it would be too much of a challenge. Just do the mounting on a wood frame that could easily be carried from point A to B. I was thinking of an H frame, where the Propex unit sits in the top part of the H, and the tubing running out the bottom part of the H. Anyone see an issue with that?

[@will_ren]

I use mine in a portable setup. I have a tire step on the driver's front wheel and set the heater on that. I use a piece of wood with a hole drilled through it to support the exhaust pipe. I use two 8' lengths of insulated 3" flex hose (dryer duct but better) and pass trust through a cutout I made that guys in the driver's window. I use Anderson quick connects to connect the power to my battery. This is all in my Chevy Express van. In below 32 degrees temps I camped for 4 days and it consumed approximately 80 amp hours. This was at a temp of 65-70 in the van.

[@metaglypto]

I got the HS2800, the one that puts out 9500 BTU's. As I am trying to keep it as portable as possible, to transfer between pickup and tent, I went with the bigger one. I spent a week in the woods at 15-20 degree temps in my very nice new Shiftpod tent, and without a decent source of heat, it was just cold, and not much fun. Getting old is not for@@will_ren

[@bobbyedwards6144]

Is the pro pecks heater noisy when it kicks in at night time? Thanks

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

Not at all!

[@dave8k9hohnjmdavez57]

Fan has a slow ramp up speed

[@bruceskousen5451]

You can also install acoustic ducting, which I’ve found reduces the noise about 8 decibels in my teardrop.

[@ThadJB]

What about a Mr. Heater, propane?

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

In comparison to the heaters we mentioned it is about half the efficiency, and it also creates a lot of moisture.

[@mertkaptan3849]

does it make condensation

[@harkeroutdoors6191]

It does not produce any condensation at all!

[@bruceskousen5451]

No condensation because the propane byproducts are exhausted outside. The interior air is circulated without any propane combustibles mixed just like a house furnace.