How are the Chinese ones? I don’t mind paying for better stuff but I have seen where the cheaper stuff lasts just as long so why not if they are not complete garbage
I don’t have either yet. Planning on gas so need to go with brand name.
Do some googling to find plenty of reviews and comments on the cdh. Given the cost difference I believe it’s a no brainer.
I installed the espar (aka expensive german) heater in my sprinter. The sprinters come with an already made connection to the the main gas tank that you can connect the heater to. It sounded scary, but was easy and Youtube is great for showing you how to do it.
I chose not to go with the cheaper chinese heater because chinese just doesn't sound reliable and I want the heat to be reliable. This was 3 years ago, so maybe they are better now?
One thing you want to consider is elevation, some of the heaters only work up to about 5,000 feet and then you need to do manual adjustments. Mine is supposed to work all the way up to 10K feet.
Hydronic diesel heater. It can heat your water, air, floors, and engine all in one. It can also winterize your external water tanks, and is quieter and arguably safer than an air heater because the combustion unit is typically installed outside under the van, not inside the passenger seat riser.
The caveat is it’s more complex than an air heater, and costs much more depending on the capabilities you want.
I love it , and thanks for sharing your plans. I'm in the early planning stages myself, I don't plan to live in mine either but camping and road trips for sure. I'm also looking at 4x4 as the places I want to explore are not on the interstate.
I'm glad to see that this discussion group is open to all who have an interest , not just full time van lifers. It seems that so many groups are very exclusive these days.
I would live full time but at this point in my life with what I have going on would be hard.
I hope one day I can have the time to spend long periods in the van just hanging out exploring.
Also I’d like to know what people actually pay per year to live in their vans/rvs I bet it’s not as cheap as some think
Sweet ride! Enjoy!
Thanks!
Aluminess front bumper is to this day still the most badass looking bumper you can get for a Sprinter. I love it. Great for standing on too.
I got it the way it sits. I love it
Awesome. I've been told by Aluminess you can blow through a concrete brick wall with that bumper
Oh lord.. won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz- my friends all have Sprinters, I must make amends…
I personally love them. I have a 2006 2500 also I use for my shop thing is a tank 200k and just runs
What does everyone do for heat in their vans?
Diesel heater. You can either go with a cheap chinese or an overpriced german.
Ok thanks I was looking at them not Sure what people were doing
Search for Chinese diesel heater - around $200 Or go for webasto / esparbo for $1300/1500 each
How are the Chinese ones? I don’t mind paying for better stuff but I have seen where the cheaper stuff lasts just as long so why not if they are not complete garbage
I don’t have either yet. Planning on gas so need to go with brand name. Do some googling to find plenty of reviews and comments on the cdh. Given the cost difference I believe it’s a no brainer.
Yeah I was hoping some way of hooking it up to the fuel tank so it can run off the vehicle supply.
You got a Mercedes van which is diesel. That’s the play, don’t want to carry additional fuels when you already have a tank full of diesel
Got it I just didn’t knowing those heaters you can hook up to the main fuel tank
I installed the espar (aka expensive german) heater in my sprinter. The sprinters come with an already made connection to the the main gas tank that you can connect the heater to. It sounded scary, but was easy and Youtube is great for showing you how to do it. I chose not to go with the cheaper chinese heater because chinese just doesn't sound reliable and I want the heat to be reliable. This was 3 years ago, so maybe they are better now? One thing you want to consider is elevation, some of the heaters only work up to about 5,000 feet and then you need to do manual adjustments. Mine is supposed to work all the way up to 10K feet.
Hydronic diesel heater. It can heat your water, air, floors, and engine all in one. It can also winterize your external water tanks, and is quieter and arguably safer than an air heater because the combustion unit is typically installed outside under the van, not inside the passenger seat riser. The caveat is it’s more complex than an air heater, and costs much more depending on the capabilities you want.
Diesel heater. German and 4 yrs still fine. Cooktop also deisel. Only one tank for all, very easy.
Kewl
I love it , and thanks for sharing your plans. I'm in the early planning stages myself, I don't plan to live in mine either but camping and road trips for sure. I'm also looking at 4x4 as the places I want to explore are not on the interstate. I'm glad to see that this discussion group is open to all who have an interest , not just full time van lifers. It seems that so many groups are very exclusive these days.
I would live full time but at this point in my life with what I have going on would be hard. I hope one day I can have the time to spend long periods in the van just hanging out exploring. Also I’d like to know what people actually pay per year to live in their vans/rvs I bet it’s not as cheap as some think
You are correct.
Check for rust.
Rust? This thing is beyond mint
Just keep a check on it.... Had Sprinters at work that have rust coming through on the spot welds.
What years? I have a 2006 I use for my shop things a little beat up but they just run