By Paul Todd,
September 14, 2022
We delve into diesel heaters for caravans including how they work and share three top choices for your caravan or camper.
Ever toured Tassie in your RV? If you have, you’ll definitely understand the rise in popularity of diesel heaters for caravans. Like almost every facet of the RV lifestyle, heating and cooling has come a very long way since the old 70s Millards.
If you’ve ever looked at diesel heaters for your caravan online, you will have noticed wild variations in the prices. You can pick up an eBay special for about $150, or you can find yourself spending upwards of $3,000 for the premium brands.
Why you should get a diesel heater for your caravan
As many lappers chase the warm weather around this vast country of ours, they may not see a benefit in spending good money on diesel heaters for their caravans. On the odd occasion you find yourself in cold weather, you’ve got a jumper, right? That may be so, but if you’re not prepared for cold weather, you deny yourself the opportunity to see places like the high country in the snow season, deserts in winter, or a lap of the Apple Isle in comfort and warmth.
A lot of us are running big-dollar lithium setups with all the 12v goodies you could imagine, plenty of 240v power, and a nice little A/C unit. Did you know that your lithium batteries shouldn’t be charged when the temp is under 5-degrees? Or that the internal safety cut-off on many will shut the battery down altogether at 0-degrees? An hour of diesel heater action in your caravan will bring the temp back up and you’re back in business.
How diesel heaters for caravans work
The science behind diesel heaters for caravans is actually quite simple. There’s a small diesel burner inside the unit that applies heat directly to the surface of a heat exchanger, which is typically cylindrical. A fan then draws air in from outside through the intake ducting, passes it over the heat exchanger to warm it up, and sends it out into your RV. The exhaust gasses are kept separate and sent outside.
How to choose a diesel heater for your caravan
So, out of all the diesel heaters on the market for caravans, how do you pick the best one? Forgetting the price point for a second, the main considerations around the functionality are the weight, the actual physical size of the unit, and the heating capacity. Once you decide what your needs are, that’ll narrow down your options, and from there you can make your selection based on the price.
Our top three diesel heaters for caravans
Truma Combi D 6
RRP: $3,695
Out of our top three diesel heaters for caravans, this one is the most expensive. However, before you dismiss it on price alone, bear in mind that this one doubles as a hot water heater. Think hot showers when it’s -7 degrees outside and the lithiums have shut down. It also has a digital temperature control panel. Thanks to the water heater functionality, it’s a little on the larger size compared to the others.
- Size: 525mm x 450mm x 300mm
- Weight: 16.2kg
Eberspacher D2L AS3
RRP: $2,310
When it comes to German-made diesel heaters for caravans, this one is widely considered the best on the market and as such, is an excellent option. While it doesn’t offer a water heater feature like the Truma, it does have digital temperature control and super quiet operation.
- Size: 305mm x 122mm x 115mm
- Weight: 2.7kg
Webasto Twin Outlet
RRP: $1,890
A popular choice when it comes to diesel heaters for caravans, the Webasto is extremely fuel efficient and offers a dehumidifier function to alleviate any mould concerns you might have. This one is a nice small unit like the Eberspacher.
- Size: 317mm x 120mm x 121mm
- Weight: 2.6kg
Note: Prices across these diesel heaters for caravans may vary, and often additional parts and accessories may be needed for your specific application. Installation is also an additional cost, so make sure you confirm your drive-away costs before committing to any purchase.
Read next:
