Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Contact Us

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Motorhomes and Campervans
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Campervan kit out advice Post Reply Post New Topic
02/3/2024 at 7:19pm
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Hypercamp Palamos 6
View Ratman's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ratman Reply   Quote Ratman Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   49

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I have recently bought a 2008 VW T5 that is currently in the bodyshop having some work done.

I am having it kitted out with a plyguys kit. There will be no fridge but I am intending to have a diesel heater fitted and leisure battery.

I don't intend to have EHU fitted but looking at options for lithium batteries to power the diesel heater.

Will I need solar to keep the leisure battery topped up. Any charging of stuff phones etc will be done via an ecoflow. I have been searching the web but get lots of technical advice that I don't really understand. I am interested in what people have done reference internal lighting. 12v via the battery or are there other options out there

Does anyone have experience of kitting out a van in this way in simple terms.


via mobile 02/3/2024 at 10:42pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5075
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 232
Site Reviews 2024: 16 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 34
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30

Why aren’t you having EHU fitted?

-------------
2024 = 18 sites / 38 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


Campervan and Motorhome Insurance - Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members
Caravan Guard Special Discount for UKCampsite.co.uk members on Campervan and Motorhome Insurance. Get 5 star rated cover and big savings - for a quote simply click Online Quotation

via mobile 03/3/2024 at 8:45am
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Hypercamp Palamos 6
View Ratman's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ratman Reply   Quote Ratman Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   49

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

There will be very little in the way of need for ehu.

No fridge, no electric appliances to speak of that will require ehu. I am looking at going down the lithium battery and solar panel route to give me flexibility and less reliance on ehu


via mobile 03/3/2024 at 8:55am
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12650

Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134

Rather you than me. Won't you need electricity for heating?


via mobile 03/3/2024 at 9:01am
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Hypercamp Palamos 6
View Ratman's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ratman Reply   Quote Ratman Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   49

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The diesel heater will run off the leisure battery.


Advertisement



03/3/2024 at 9:42am
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
Joined: 19/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9577
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 56
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 9  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 9  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 45
Site Nights 2023: 47
Site Nights 2022: 46
Site Nights 2021: 34
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by Ratman on 03/3/2024
The diesel heater will run off the leisure battery.



How long would the leisure battery last without being recharged by solar energy alone?

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


via mobile 03/3/2024 at 10:25am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5075
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 232
Site Reviews 2024: 16 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 34
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30

I remember a CCTV video (on the BBC app) of a fire started by an electric bicycle lithium battery exploding when it was being recharged in a hall cupboard; plus the debate about EV fires. I personally wouldn’t choose one, but it’s not my decision.
There has also been some discussion about diesel heaters here. The ones I’ve been pitched near to have all been noisy & smelly, like being by a vehicle idling at the lights. I knew someone who lived in his diesel heated van during the week (in the office car park), the cooker was also the heater somehow. The diesel ran out when it was minus 10 one night, so he brought his sleeping bag into the office. And because the diesel had run out, he couldn’t drive the van away to fill it up. No EHU in the car park.

-------------
2024 = 18 sites / 38 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


03/3/2024 at 5:00pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
 Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
View Capt Lightning's Profile View Profile   Reply to Capt Lightning Reply   Quote Capt Lightning Quote  
Joined: 17/8/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2372

Site Reviews Total: 45
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 5  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 5
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 6
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 5

I wouldn't get too hung up on the possible dangers of a lithium battery, but for cost and simplicity, I'd go for a good conventional leisure battery.

I agree about the drawbacks of a diesel heater especially regarding noise.
Lights - go for LED ones.



-------------
Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


03/3/2024 at 7:36pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
Joined: 23/8/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4650

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Do you know the electrical power consumption per hour of the diesel heater. It must be in the specs somewhere.


09/3/2024 at 1:45pm
 Location: north Devon
 Outfit: CS ducatto Maxi van
View sudo's Profile View Profile   Reply to sudo Reply   Quote sudo Quote  
Joined: 06/4/2008

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   28
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 3
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The diesel feeder pipe fitted to your main tank should not be fitted right down to the bottom of the tank, then you will always have fuel left to drive your van. If you fit a 150 watt solar panel to your van and 2 110 amp leisure batteries as i have you should have no shortage of power my system also has a dometic 650 compressor fridge and i have run it for two weeks solid in the orkneys in max 8 degrees weather and overcaste all of the time.


Advertisement



10/3/2024 at 5:11pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
Joined: 19/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9577
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 56
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 9  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 9  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 45
Site Nights 2023: 47
Site Nights 2022: 46
Site Nights 2021: 34
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I have a Webasto diesel heater and hot water system in my PVC, and I honestly do not believe it is any noisier than other vans.

Yes I can smell the fume, however, it is only at start up.

I had the heater ticking over at about 10degC while the van was packed outside my house during the first winter, thinking it would be cheaper than hooking it up to the mains, and nearly ran the tank dry in less time that I had expected, even though it was at least half full to start with.

Slight off-topic...

This year, I plan to use the air con unit on the roof for heating during the colder months and the immersion heater for hot water when required, so that I don't have to use the diesel in the tank if I am already paying for un-metered EHU as part of the pitch fee.

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


10/3/2024 at 5:55pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Murvi Morello
View chrisandsandra's Profile View Profile   Reply to chrisandsandra Reply   Quote chrisandsandra Quote  
Joined: 05/10/2002

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   964

Site Reviews Total: 68
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 19 
Site Reviews 2020: 6  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 2
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 24
Site Nights 2021: 53
Site Nights 2020: 15
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 2

We've had 2 vans with diesel heaters installed.

The last one was an Eberspacher and was very very noisy on start up and noisy to run, to the point we stopped using it on sites.

The current one has a Webasto fitted with a silencer and it is very quite outside the van at all times. It's a bit noisy inside when first fired up but after a few minute runs almost silent, certainly quiet enough to run all night when sleeping which we did last weekend in -1 degree temperatures. Diesel usage over 24 hours was not really noticeable.

I have no experience of other makes but I hear some can be noisier than others.

One thing to note is that they do take quite a heavy electric load on the start up depending on heater size and make then a continuous draw to keep the fan going so do check what the electrical usage of the heater is before fitting. There is little worse than running out of battery power on a cold dark night in the winter. Been there and got the tshirt on that one.

Also bear in mind that your batteries may not get fully recharged form solar in the winter due to low light and short hours of daylight.


via mobile 10/3/2024 at 6:05pm
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Hypercamp Palamos 6
View Ratman's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ratman Reply   Quote Ratman Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2006

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   49

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to look at ehu.

Just need to work out where I can hide the consumer unit etc



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Motorhomes and Campervans - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














4895 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement



Advertisement



Advertisement