Bongo Fury

Hello Bongo people

I'm thinking back to a particularly deep freeze in Penrith last year, when I woke up to frozen condensation on the insides of all the windows and I said to myself "I need to sort the heating out in here". So, coming up to Summer and here I am finally doing something about that.

I'd like to hear any advice or product recommendations for heating a parked Bongo without running the engine. Obviously it needs to be silent, and ideally I want to wake up in the morning rather so it has to be safe (CO free).

The options I've found so far are:
- Webasto / Erspracher parking heaters (very very expensive) http://www.webasto.com/gb/markets-products/car/
- Wood burner (OTT in a bongo)
- Hot water bottle (didn't cut the mustard in Penrith)
- Chinese version of the Webasto http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-p ... eater.html (cheaper, dodgy?)

I'm most interested to hear if anyone has any experience of the unbranded Chinese import heaters. I'm tend to believe that a lot of these products are essentially the same and get stamped with a different logo at the end of the production line, but when it comes to a potentially dangerous device I would need some reassurance!

EDIT: just found this heater... Seems much better value and easy to fit http://www.kiravans.co.uk/campervan-heater-mv-airo.html

And of course, any other solutions welcome.

Thanks all
H

The big question is will hook up be available?

If yes I'd go with an oil filled rad or greenhouse heater. Cheap, silent, safe.

Peeps have fitted Webasto and Eberspachers with gteat success, they need proper fitting and there is some noise, bit like a small jet engine.

Personaly I think the cost would get you a lot of hook up but this won't do if you want to wild camp.

Have you looked at Propex? Its a gas version of the diesel ones you have looked at

Electric hookups are cheating! I need something that I can use anywhere.

I like the look of the Propex system a lot... I'm really surprised there isn't a cheaper standalone option which doesn't need plumbing into the van though. I would imagine a gas or diesel powered unit that has its own fuel tank, which sits outside the vehicle and pipes hot air in from outside would be a good design?

henners wrote:Electric hookups are cheating! I need something that I can use anywhere.

I like the look of the Propex system a lot... I'm really surprised there isn't a cheaper standalone option which doesn't need plumbing into the van though. I would imagine a gas or diesel powered unit that has its own fuel tank, which sits outside the vehicle and pipes hot air in from outside would be a good design?

Propex did these for British Telcom.
Remember when you used to se the red and white stripy tents in the road, whilst a phone man worked on the connections? Well they used a portable propex to heat them, I only found out by chance as some one bought one but it would only run for 20 mins as they had an inbuilt timer to stop them being left on.

winchman wrote: Propex did these for British Telcom.

Excellent knowledge... I wonder if they still do them?

If you have a diesel Webasto/Esperacher are usually the best bet, look out for a reconditioned one from a scrapped GPO van etc, quite a few have gone for this option as they cost about half a brand new one.

I myself had a Propex heater working off a 4½ kg calor gas bottle in my Bongo. Worked well but parking the heater underneath the rock n' roll bed used up a lot of storage space of which a Bongo is very short off. The Webasto/Esperacher on the other hand has the advantage that it is slung underneath the Bongo with an air inlet in the sliding door well.

If you search the archives you will find many photos and descriptions on how both these options are undertaken.

Tony

PS: I still had an electric hook-up in addition as my other half preferred it when available.

I've got a Propex fitted under the r&r bed. Admittedly it does use up space but it's well worth the compromise between losing useable space and being toasty.
I believe that Propex now make a unit for external use which could be slung underneath.

I used a 24v lorry eberspacher dl1c cost me £80 ISH AND ABOUT £20 FOR ducting. I isolate main battery and jump lead actoss to make 24v system for heater and still 12v system for leisure battery all lights inside,work only heater is 24v. I lose the electric door only.

Fitting instructions on fact sheet.
I have seperate tank and run it off heating oil (cheaper and less sooty than red diesel) which I got of ride on lawn mower its retangulare and sits between the metal frame joists under seat.

Works well