Author Topic: Heating in a Jayco Camper Trailer (Read 14281 times)

Extraordinary · « **on:** June 16, 2011, 09:24:03 AM »

I'm looking at buying a Jayco Eagle/Swan in the next 12months or so for a 8month trip around Aus and beyond with my now 5yr old son. My son has asthma and can go downhill relatively quickly in the winter with the chilly night air. It doesn't seem to matter how many clothes or blankets I put on him- if there is a chill in the air- he'll be coughing from here all the way up to Cape York. So- I'm looking into heating- is there any option for heating in the Jayco Camper Trailers? Have you put heating in? Is it possible being a canvas type set up?

TIA

DANBRI · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:28:49 AM »

If you're staying in van parks (power) than a cheapo 2200w fan heater are great ($20). But if not, and given your situation I'd look into diesel heaters, expensive though - around $2000.

Teabag · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:43:27 AM »

We have the Jayco Hawk which has roof mounted reverse cycle AC. The heat function I am yet to use living in Cairns but believe it is better cooling than heating? Maybe an option......

Burnsy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:08:10 AM »

As Danbri said, cheap fan heater for around $20 heats ours fine when south in winter and 240 volt is available. Just make sure you get one with a safety cutoff switch that shuts it down if it falls over. We put ours under the table and it does fine at heating the whole van from there. I think it is only a 1600watt version.

If I had the money I would love to fit a webasto diesel heater that does both air and water heating.

Red1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2011, 06:18:13 PM »

We just picked up our new swan on the weekend, and used the heater(roof mounted Dometic). Worked really well

Cheers

Bushman · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2011, 07:31:04 PM »

Yep as others have said, small fan heaters are ample if on power, they heat the camper nicely,

we're currently looking for ways to heat the Expanda when away from power, would love the Websto diesel heater but for the cost, I may as well by a Gennie and be able to run the A/C year round. but then I need to be able to carry the gennie.

flamingo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2011, 07:38:39 PM »

Gday Extraordinary We have a 5 bar oil column heater.. warm as and only 50$ from muirs

Phil

NewcastleKnight · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2011, 07:40:35 PM »

We had reason to buy a cheapo fan heater in Ballarat a few years ago when we had the All Terrain and it heated the area up fantastically. Have used it in the Jayco last September in Jindabyne and it heats the Jayco like toast.

GS · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2011, 07:58:23 PM »

We camped last year in winter in Dubbo (negative temps) with a cheap fan heater and warm clothes.

Woke up each day with ice on the tent but were were all toasty and warm.

GS

austastar · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:30:52 PM »

Hi,
June LWE in N Tasmania I had access to power and borrowed a 700W little column heater, which turned up full had about a 50% duty cycle.
It took the chill off the air in the van, but was not by any means cosy.

I am so looking forward to getting the Airtronic diesel air heater fitted and working.

cheers

Sharshebelle1 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2011, 08:43:41 PM »

We stayed at the snow last year, we took a small ceramic heater and electric blankets, never used the electric blankets, and the heater was only used in bursts as it was too hot after a while. If no power available we use a hot water bottle.

TheOtherLeft · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:06:11 PM »

As an asthma sufferer have you thought about getting your son to wear a scarf that covers his mouth/nose? This warms the air he breathes in which may help. My asthma isn't that bad but breathing in warm air certainly does feel more comfortable.

Rumpig · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:39:45 PM »

Quote from: Burnsy on June 16, 2011, 10:08:10 AM

If I had the money I would love to fit a webasto diesel heater that does both air and water heating.

we have one in our KK and used it for the first time in anger on the weekend just gone at Sundown National Park. first night it used about 2 ltrs of diesel as it cycled on and off during the night, but the next night it used about 3 ltrs of fuel due to running pretty much non stop all night because it was much colder.
yes they are alot of money to buy, but it was so warm inside the camper i'm glad we made the decision to get it at time of purchase of trailer.

here's a link to someones DIY install http://www.around-oz.com/diy_mh/diy_webasto_installation.htm

Burnsy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:02:31 PM »

After my original reply I did a quick search and the Webasto's have certainly come down in price for the air heaters. You can get them online for around $1300 now which considering the cost of an air conditioner which some use for heating is pretty reasonable.

Not really cold enough here to justify it now but it might get a reconsider before we do a lap and spend some time in TAssi and the Vic high country.

Captain · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:31:54 PM »

We have both an a/c and a diesel heater in our Quantum. Even when we have 240V available, we choose the diesel heater every time, its so much quieter than the a/c.

If I didn't have the diesel, I would use a 240V fan heater in preference to our a/c, its just too noisy at night for my liking.

If you are considering a diesel heater, it would pay to do some research on the different types. I originally wanted the one that incorporated the HWS as well, but found out that its relatively power hungry and not as efficient.

Apparently the combi heater/HWS types use just under 3 amps per hour, it means you need ~30 amps for 10 hr operation. It also uses much more diesel unless you are using the HWS as well (who does that all night?). By comparison, the heater only units need less than 1 amp per hour, a very noticeable difference.

If Rumpig uses 3 litres of diesel in a night (as mentioned in the previous post), thats more than I used in 8 (yep, eight) nights - and thats running for some 10 hours a night too. I was suprised at just how economical the diesel (only) heaters are, very good on juice.

I am not trying to knock the diesel combi heater/HWS systems, its just that I too had my heart set on one till I found out the drawbacks of a combi uniit.

Cheers

Captain

Burnsy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:45:49 PM »

Mark, do you know what model yours is?

Bird · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:50:09 PM »

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Webasto-HL10011-Diesel-air-heater-Espar-Eberspacher-/320692028312?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aaabc0398

this should work

theflyingbadger · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:53:05 PM »

one of the many jobs my dad had before he retired was as a truck driver (in the UK). he had a diesel night heater in his truck (fairly much standard in sleeper cabs) - will there not be s/hand ones available from wreckers?

Burnsy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:58:49 PM »

If you look on ebay there are second hand ex trucks ones available from the UK etc however they are larger like the one linked above and not the neat little stand alone units designed for the RV market.

theflyingbadger · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2011, 11:01:10 PM »

Quote from: Burnsy on June 16, 2011, 10:58:49 PM

If you look on ebay there are second hand ex trucks ones available from the UK etc however they are larger like the one linked above and not the neat little stand alone units designed for the RV market.

ah ha.

Captain · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2011, 11:01:27 PM »

Quote from: Burnsy on June 16, 2011, 10:45:49 PM

Mark, do you know what model yours is?

Mine is a Dometic Airtronic D2 by Eberspacher - here is a link to one http://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9198

Cheers

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Author Topic: Heating in a Jayco Camper Trailer (Read 14281 times)