Heating when you can't afford a Mr. Buddy

[jonyjoe303]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]"Alas, insulation is pretty much useless without a heater of some sort."[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]It works but you need a large amount of it, the whole rear of my van is covered in rtech insulation, roof/sides/windows. this year I'm adding another couple of layers, I already got the front of the van separated from the rear of the van with a sliding foam door. I also foamed the side door of my van, the seals were gone, that helped, now most of the outside air doesnt get in.  [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]With just the foam I see a 10 degree difference between the inside and outside of the van. I think I can do better with more foam.
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[lenny flank]

Alas, math is math. 250 BTUs won't have any significant effect on raising the temperature.

 

[UptownSport]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]With just the foam I see a 10 degree difference between the inside and outside of the van. I think I can do better with more foam.
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Yes!
There's certainly a difference inside uninsulated window C-van and outside.

Very, very interesting read on super efficiency standards >>>> Passive House
In short:
Insulation
Seal it up tight (need heat exchanger)

The van's advantage is that it's a tiny space! You don't need R50 to keep it warm.
While I'm not suggesting using passivhaus standards, certainly there's something to learn from the principles.

I use a dual fuel inside to warm up coffee, sometimes cook. Fuel is absurdly cheap, and i don't have propane tanks to take up space, or run out. If the white gas runs out, there's 20 gallons of unleaded as a contingency. I don't need it at night, s-bag is cozy in any temp I've encountered.

 

[RVTravel]

I gather you mean a duel fuel stove and not generator ; )
White gas and unleaded would be my two last fuels to consider inside my vehicle.

 

[John61CT]

Alcohol cleaner but more expensive.

All open flames inside a living space, especially as small as a van are very dangerous.

But probably less so than driving.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I used to use a dual fuel stove for cooking indoors until I learned of the toxins in the combustion byproducts.  I now only use the stove outdoors; I use a butane mix stove indoors for cooking and propane for heating.

Ethanol is clean burning and very expensive.  Denatured alcohol is less expensive but releases toxins that I don't want to breath.  Same with the gasolines.  Propane/butane emits CO2 + H2O and little else.

Years ago I heated a small cabin with a cast iron pot on a propane stove.

 

[highdesertranger]

don't forget the CO. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Only if there is inadequate ventilation.

 

[John61CT]

> butane mix stove indoors for cooking and propane for heating

Easy to get an adapter to use the propane for both, cheaper safer and more convenient

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Easy to get an adapter to use the propane for both, cheaper safer and more convenient

MSR Pocket Rocket?

 

[John61CT]

Yes, that's AKA standard 7/16 (11mm) UNEF threaded "screw style", EN417, ​"Alpine Lindal", "NS" or " T-type".

Do you use Coleman 1"-20 or ACME QCC Type 1 (1-5/16″) / F.POL for your propane?

Also, do you want to fill the MSR bottles with LPG, run the stove direct from yor propane bottle, or both?

 

[John61CT]

G-Works in Korea has really excellent gear for this sort of stuff, takes a little puzzling to work out the mangled translations though.

Here's an eBay seller prolly easier than dealing direct:

https://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?isRefine=true&sid=lstefano2015

There are cheaper examples, but quality's a roll of the dice, and with flammable gasses. . .

 

[Kathleen]

I am pretty brave when playing with fire, but I would not use a liquid fuel stove inside a van, especially not a gasoline stove.

Putting a tent over your bed is a good way of warming up the air around you.  Canopy beds were popular before central heating.  A breathable fabric would probably be better than a tarp.

Thanks for your response.

I was not going to use the tarp as a tent over my sleeping space but attempt to adhere it to the top of the van for AZ winter weather, remove it in summer. Run the other one along the row of side windows near the bed. Have not heard anyone who's used this technique. Don't know how well it would work but the tarps do reflect heat back down onto objects below.

The Gas One Dual Fuel uses propane or butane. Rain guards on front windows permit me to get that 1 inch of air required. Would not leave stove on at night. Just for heating in AM/PM to take chill off.

 

[John61CT]

> I was not going to use the tarp as a tent over my sleeping space but attempt to adhere it to the top of the van for AZ winter weather, remove it in summer. Run the other one along the row of side windows near the bed. Have not heard anyone who's used this technique. Don't know how well it would work but the tarps do reflect heat back down onto objects below.

Tarps are completely different from space blanket or reflectix materials.

He was saying enclosing the bed area helps you keep warm.

Proper insulation is required to keep the whole space warmer.

Heavy wool blankets may help a bit, but the shiny stuff is only good for keeping radiant heat out of a living space - shiny side out.

Pretty useless for keeping body heat in.

 

[Almost There]

Thanks for your response.

I was not going to use the tarp as a tent over my sleeping space but attempt to adhere it to the top of the van for AZ winter weather, remove it in summer.

Where in AZ are you planning on spending the winter?

I ask because you can be in AZ in the winter at 8,000 ft elevation with some serious winter weather or you can be at sea level in AZ in winter and be in shorts and t shirts most days by 10 or 11 AM and sipping cold drinks by 3 pm.

If you're joining us in Ehrenberg, Quartzite for example, you won't need any of that stuff for probably 95% of the worst of winter (January, early Feb). If you're planning on staying in Flagstaff then all bets are off!

 

[ClassyGlobal]

FWIW Did you make a decision or purchase yet? Check the reviews at Amazon on this - http://a.co/akb2mHb

Kovea Cupid Portable Butane Gas Heater With HardCase Outdoor Camping KH-1203 by Kovea

CO2 sensor/alarm is a must! Also make sure to have a good foot of clearance around this! ~ 4hrs on per canister is quite decent.

 

[hugemoth]

FWIW Did you make a decision or purchase yet?  Check the reviews at Amazon on this - http://a.co/akb2mHb

Kovea Cupid Portable Butane Gas Heater With HardCase Outdoor Camping KH-1203 by Kovea

CO2 sensor/alarm is a must! Also make sure to have a good foot of clearance around this!  ~ 4hrs on per canister is quite decent.

Nice small design but looks like it only works on butane. I use this one that comes with a bulk propane connector. 20 lbs of propane lasts a very long time. https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Emer...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QWYWJN5P20NHF6A7BQPC

 

[John61CT]

Anything that burns butane can switch to propane and v/v, easy to get adapter fittings.

My favorite mobile cooker is hotel-grade Iwatani, uses the $1 canisters from any Asian grocery by default, just toss it into backback, very high BTU output supports a huge wok or chili pot.

Most of the time mine's plugged into my big propane tank, just takes a minute to remove to use outside with the butane.

Propane also keeps working down to much lower temperatures.

 

[GrayWhale]

How about using a $15 propane camp stove for heating. You need 1 for cooking anyway. And the flame can be adjusted with a much wider range to save fuel.

And put a heavy pot on top to help retain & radiate the heat. You can always have something being warmed up, water boiling, etc. Someone suggested putting the boiled water into metal drink containers for this purpose. And hot water bottles too.

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=27787

 

[GrayWhale]

Nice small design but looks like it only works on butane. I use this one that comes with a bulk propane connector. 20 lbs of propane lasts a very long time. https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Emer...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QWYWJN5P20NHF6A7BQPC

You got me interested in this heater.  Found an excellent review on it from a vandweller lady, even: 
 

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