Diesel heater
- Thread starter R8N XX
- Start date
2kw. Any more and it would be running mostly at less than full throttle, which can lead to them sooting up.
It depends upon how you intend to use it - I have fitted a Webasto Air Top Evo 40 4 Kw to my LWB high top van. BUT I use a heater for rapid heating of the van after being out with the dogs and for rapid defrosting in the frosty mornings and never use the heater for overnight heating ( that is what bedding is for ). As I have a workshop with a couple of dozen heaters in ranging from 2Kw to 5.5Kw I can swap a different one in or out as I wish.
If you are intending to use it as overnight background heating the 2Kw is the one to go for.
A 2Kw Webasto will run at 0.9Kw at lowest output and a 4Kw will run at 1.5Kw at lowest output so you have to take this into consideration also if you want to run overnight continuously.
A 5 or 5.5Kw heater is far too powerful for all T6 vans unless your useage is Northern Finland in the winter months!
OEM fitment to T4/T5/T6 vans was a 3.5Kw heater - the closest to this heater was the Webasto Air Top Evo 3900 3.9Kw heater which superseded the 3.5Kw ST model. The 3900 ran at 3.5 Kw if boost for the extra 400W was not fitted.
If you are intending to use it as overnight background heating the 2Kw is the one to go for.
A 2Kw Webasto will run at 0.9Kw at lowest output and a 4Kw will run at 1.5Kw at lowest output so you have to take this into consideration also if you want to run overnight continuously.
A 5 or 5.5Kw heater is far too powerful for all T6 vans unless your useage is Northern Finland in the winter months!
OEM fitment to T4/T5/T6 vans was a 3.5Kw heater - the closest to this heater was the Webasto Air Top Evo 3900 3.9Kw heater which superseded the 3.5Kw ST model. The 3900 ran at 3.5 Kw if boost for the extra 400W was not fitted.
The factory fit eberspacher is 3kw, that doesn't help really does it! 
On full power it's stupid warm, I've not used it overnight yet but I reckon lvl 3 or 4 will be fine, full power for 20 minutes defrosts the whole van very well.
On full power it's stupid warm, I've not used it overnight yet but I reckon lvl 3 or 4 will be fine, full power for 20 minutes defrosts the whole van very well.
Last edited:
What? Who? Why? Where?
I don't understand.
I don't understand.
I have a 2kw S2 D2L in a uninsulated van, and it has been great over winter, mainly used for defrosting and sitting in after walks, bike rides or for a picnic with the family etc.
I went for OEM intake on the drivers step and OEM outlet on the B pillar, controversially with the vents upside down blowing up and into the van.
I also have the control's in the front, as it's just used as a Kombi.
I have a brand new factory for 3kw sat in my garage, but changed my mind and went 2Kw so far no regrets.
I went for OEM intake on the drivers step and OEM outlet on the B pillar, controversially with the vents upside down blowing up and into the van.
I also have the control's in the front, as it's just used as a Kombi.
I have a brand new factory for 3kw sat in my garage, but changed my mind and went 2Kw so far no regrets.
Your very informative reply reminded me of this character, but if you haven’t seen it, then understandably the tumbleweed will roll…
I got to say in our Camperking the heater is good but I don’t think I would call it a sauna level ? I am a very prone to the cold but trying to adapt to van life, I don’t know what Kw the heater we have but I guess as our insulation is minimum maybe it’s not sufficient for someone like me? My wife by the way is the complete opposite she finds the van roasting even if there’s ice forming on the windows !
Do you fit diesel heaters? if so which ones? Thanks.
From what I’ve read Camperking don’t insulate or sound deaden their vans, it’s well discussed on the Forum. This saves the converter a significant amount of time and money while presenting the same appearance to the customer.
I have a fully insulated SWB van, with the windows cracked open 900w is sometimes too much overnight unless it’s sub zero.
Yes we install regularly, our preference is Webasto as never had a failure.. touch wood
Had our 2kW Planar/Autoterm on last evening and it was effectively warming the van and the driveaway awning - fully insulated van and with the door shut you can’t have it on full for long unless you want a sauna!
I think the general consensus is that 2kW is plenty in a Transporter. We've been in -20C in the Alps & it's been toasty.
