heat for layover ingargo van?
- Thread starter mules
- Start date
Lots of different options: insulate the van, isolate the sleeping area to avoid heating unnecessary space, an arctic sleeping bag, several layers of clothing & blankets, a small propane heater, even Sterno can heat a small space enough to keep you from freezing - one driver used a large candle in a tin can, to take the chill off. One note of caution: be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide leaks when using a propane heater, and the fire hazard of open flames, if you choose one of those. Anything that produces heat can be deadly if you're asleep.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
Get a carbon monixide detector from a home improvement store. I think they have models that double as smoke detectors. Could save your life.
The best source of heat in a cargo van? An Espar heater, hands down. Nothing else even comes close in efficiency or cost effectiveness. Like Cheri said, insulate the van like crazy. It helps with keeping warm in the winter, as well as keeping cool in the summer. An arctic sleeping bag, several layers of blankets and clothing, yeah, well, keep those on hand maybe in case of an emergency, but you won't need all that if you have an Espar heater. I sleep nekkid on top of the sleeping bag, and I sleep quite comfortably. Most important, my (usually sockless while sleeping) toes sleep comfortably. If my toes are cold, I am not a happy camper. Not at all.
late4dinner
Seasoned Expediter
Yea, What Turtle said.
I was in this business for over ten years before I got my Espar heater. I have no idea how I made do without one. Yes they are a little pricy, but with the cost of fuel I believe they pay for themselves the first year, two at the most.
Then you have the idle laws that some states have that you have to worry about.
If I had to choose between giving up my Espar, or staying in this business, I would retire the first cold day.
I was in this business for over ten years before I got my Espar heater. I have no idea how I made do without one. Yes they are a little pricy, but with the cost of fuel I believe they pay for themselves the first year, two at the most.
Then you have the idle laws that some states have that you have to worry about.
If I had to choose between giving up my Espar, or staying in this business, I would retire the first cold day.
A few years ago my mom rooked me into repainting the top of her RV trailer with a reflective type paint...you think it would be effective on a van for summer in Laredo....just do the roof where it doesn't show at ground level?
I dunno. Couldn't hurt, I suppose. I'd want to do more research before I did it. I do know that if you have a refer and don't have a white roof on the box you're gonna eat somewhere between 25% and 35% more refer fuel than if the roof is painted white.
Only thing wrong with that idea....in the winter time I'd be deflecting the heat that I want! DOH
Yeah I have to agree with the Espar heater as they don't weigh much and not only heat the van but keep the motor warm so if a call comes up your ready to go with a warm engine which in the winter is nice. They use about a 1/4 gal per hour or such so the cost per hour of operation is alright. You can run it while waiting for a customer to open in the AM when you arrive early. The initial install is high but over time the savings on motor time and fuel are great.
Rob
Rob
late4dinner
Seasoned Expediter
My Espar don't keep the engine warm, only the inside of the van. It's about the size of a thermos bottle and runs on gas taken from the vans fuel tank. Are there different kinds of Espar? It seems to me that if something would keep the engine warm, it would be a heavy drain on the batteries, or is there a gen pack with the unit?
It's not that heavy of a drain on the batteries at all. There's the inside heating Espar, and then there's the one that does both. The one that keeps the engine warm does, indeed, go through a lot of fuel. Mine is the Airtronic 4, the bigger one for inside-only heating, and even when it's below freezing out there it won't use but a gallon (of diesel) every 15 hours. When it's less than zero it'll use a gallon every 8-12 hours depending on just how cold it is. The can is uber insulated, though.