does anyone know whats the best way to heat a cargo van besides a buddy heater? was thinking about a roof mount like a travel trailer has with air and heat then get a 3000 watt generator and mount on the van outside but not sure if theres a better solution...please let me know if have any other suggestions thanks
cargo van heat
- Thread starter jezzy
- Start date
MCBuggyCo
Seasoned Expediter
https://www.expeditersonline.com/sub/espar/index.html
I have no experience with these but they are the gold standard from what I read in other's posts.
I have no experience with these but they are the gold standard from what I read in other's posts.
late4dinner
Seasoned Expediter
Espar Espar Espar
I concur, concur, concur.
The cover story in the current edition of Expedite NOW is about Bill Allen, a cargo van owner who powers his sleeper with solar power. At press time, Bill planned to install an Espar heater. That was recently done and he is delighted with the heater. As winter approaches, he expects to stay toasty-warm in his cargo van sleeper, without using a generator and without idling his van.
See: Expediter Uses Solar Power to Eliminate Idling
See: Expediter Uses Solar Power to Eliminate Idling
BTU output, Amp Draw, Airflow and Fuel Consumption:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/truck-talk/22527-espar-d2-cargo-van.html#post185410
Installed cost is (roughly) $1500 for the Airtronic 2 and $2000 for the Airtronic 4.
Cost analysis of the Espar versus idling:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/general-expediter-forum/18669-propane-truck.html#post144497
and here:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/general-expediter-forum/18669-propane-truck.html#post144499
$1500.00 bucks for a Heater, does it keep the engine (Diesel) warm also?
The D5, man that's a big heater. That's for large boats, trailers, stuff like that. That should keep ya warm and toasty. 
I have the D4, which is not much different, tho.
The $1500 buck for a heater sounds like a stoopid amount to pay for a heater (I have the larger D4 at $2000), but it'll cost you at least that much to idle. It pays for itself the first year, and every year after that the money stays in your pocket instead of paying for the heater or the fuel to idle.
But the Espar Airtronics are air heaters, not an engine block heater, so no, the Airtronics won't heat your engine. The Espar Hydronic engine coolant heaters will. They are integrated in the cooling system of the engine, and the heat energy gained is then distributed through the vehicle's existing heat exchanger as forced hot air and this heats the interior of the vehicle via existing air vents. The engine is warmed up with the residual heat in the cooling water.
I have the D4, which is not much different, tho.The $1500 buck for a heater sounds like a stoopid amount to pay for a heater (I have the larger D4 at $2000), but it'll cost you at least that much to idle. It pays for itself the first year, and every year after that the money stays in your pocket instead of paying for the heater or the fuel to idle.
But the Espar Airtronics are air heaters, not an engine block heater, so no, the Airtronics won't heat your engine. The Espar Hydronic engine coolant heaters will. They are integrated in the cooling system of the engine, and the heat energy gained is then distributed through the vehicle's existing heat exchanger as forced hot air and this heats the interior of the vehicle via existing air vents. The engine is warmed up with the residual heat in the cooling water.
Thank you for explaing it.