Bongo Fury

I found these on Ebay, they are from Rover's and I think BMW use them to.

Webasto Heater.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROVER-75-MG-Z ... 056b7#shId

Has anyone fitted one? I assume an on/off switch is all it needs? I was thinking about fitting it under the passenger seat and buying the heat vent from a new one and cutting it into the sliding door well?

Do these come in bigger or smaller sizes and if so is this big enough to warm a bongo cabin?

Appreciate any experience anyone else has had with one of these?

thanks Jim

https://plus.google.com/photos/10782621 ... psrc=pwrd1

put webasto in forum search and read away

Hi Jim,great little heaters,just make sure that your insurance policy covers it.

Thanks Rita.

Thanks Wonka - you're URL didnt work - can you resend the link or PM it to me please?

Not sure if you are aware, but this is a water heater for pre-heating the coolant system. If you fitted a domestic central heating radiator you could use it to heat the van...

Here is more info on the auxiliary water heater you found:

http://www.melloronlineshop.co.uk/Vehic ... iesel.html

It's commonly fitted to cars such as VW/Audi and Range Rover to heat the coolant to make starting easier and provide extra heating without the engine running. I've just bought the Volvo equivalent to fit in my XC70 which can be programmed to come on at a preset time and activate the interior heating such that you get into a nice warm defrosted car in the mornings. The same unit is also used on boats, especially narrow boats to provide hot water for heating and washing.

It would not be too tricky to plumb it into the Bongo coolant system and as it has a built in circulation pump, you would have hot water which would allow you to use the normal front and rear heaters. It would mean re-wiring them to be powered off the leisure battery but it's certainly feasible and would involve less work than drilling 60mm holes for the hot air ducting. If I hadn't just removed my rear heater I would have a go myself...

If you are looking for a cabin heater, the most popular Webasto model is the Airtop 2000.

Simon Jones wrote:Not sure if you are aware, but this is a water heater for pre-heating the coolant system. If you fitted a domestic central heating radiator you could use it to heat the van...

This the idea I've been going on about from time immemorial. For gawds sake somebody do it, and show us how. Much nicer heat than warm blown air. Is the device also quieter? And would it lend itself to heating water for washing etc?

Ps - should I consider the Bongo engine a possible heater rad, albeit an inefficient one, if it could be protected from wind stripping its heat away when on site. But it already sits inside the Bongo,vplus could the rear heater matrix assist as a radiator. Keeps things simpler and avoids adding extra weight.

mikeonb4c wrote:

Simon Jones wrote:Not sure if you are aware, but this is a water heater for pre-heating the coolant system. If you fitted a domestic central heating radiator you could use it to heat the van...

This the idea I've been going on about from time immemorial. For gawds sake somebody do it, and show us how. Much nicer heat than warm blown air. Is the device also quieter? And would it lend itself to heating water for washing etc?

Ps - should I consider the Bongo engine a possible heater rad, albeit an inefficient one, if it could be protected from wind stripping its heat away when on site. But it already sits inside the Bongo,vplus could the rear heater matrix assist as a radiator. Keeps things simpler and avoids adding extra weight.

This type of heater can also be used with its own matrix and fan or with a Delaney Galley Type unit to give interior heating.

mikeonb4c wrote:

Simon Jones wrote:Not sure if you are aware, but this is a water heater for pre-heating the coolant system. If you fitted a domestic central heating radiator you could use it to heat the van...

This the idea I've been going on about from time immemorial. For gawds sake somebody do it, and show us how. Much nicer heat than warm blown air. Is the device also quieter? And would it lend itself to heating water for washing etc?
.

I had one these type of units fitted to a Saab I had a few years ago. As Simon said, it's designed only to preheat the cooling system and certainly didn't bring it up to high enough temperature to get any decent hot air from the heating system.
It certainly wasn't quieter than an Eberschaer/Webasto either, scared me to death until I read the manual and found out what it was.

briwy wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:

Simon Jones wrote:Not sure if you are aware, but this is a water heater for pre-heating the coolant system. If you fitted a domestic central heating radiator you could use it to heat the van...

This the idea I've been going on about from time immemorial. For gawds sake somebody do it, and show us how. Much nicer heat than warm blown air. Is the device also quieter? And would it lend itself to heating water for washing etc?
.

I had one these type of units fitted to a Saab I had a few years ago. As Simon said, it's designed only to preheat the cooling system and certainly didn't bring it up to high enough temperature to get any decent hot air from the heating system.
It certainly wasn't quieter than an Eberschaer/Webasto either, scared me to death until I read the manual and found out what it was.

Oh well, back to the drawing board

thanks all. As good as a radiator is a blown air heater was what I had in mind!


You saved me from buying an ornament so cheers for that.

I got a quote for a Eberspacher type and fitted it's £970 - which is just a tad to much for the amount I used the van, the age of it etc

I have been looking for a cheaper alternative I guess you get what you pay for.

Thanks Jim

I've bought several Eberspachers second hand & have been lucky so far. One just cost £60 & only needed the addition of a timer & the pipework to get it going. The risk is that if you get a duff one, the repair cost can often be uneconomical. A cheaper option is to buy a new Propex gas heater which can be picked up for under £400:

http://www.justkampers.com/propex-hs200 ... ystem.html

Thanks Simon.

The gas ones look pretty good, I read they should be fitted inside have you seen one in a Bongo before?
Assuming they do not consume much gas I should get away with a small gas bottle ~2kg for a few nights? I will look into the consumption.

Clock is working great BTW

Thanks Jim

Typically on VW's, Propex units are mounted under the R&R bed so the vent faces forward. You could build one into a side conversion with ducting to direct heat as required. Not personally seen one in a Bongo, although I think there is one on ebay with a Wellhouse conversion & gas fired heater.