Best propane heater

[mylestone]

I plan on getting a Olympic wave 6000 heater and my question is how far do I have to keep combustibles(me in sleeping bag)away from the heater.I actually own a 1997 dodge camper van with the center buckets removed.And I sleep on a nice thick oriental cheater so I am insulated at least on the floor! Where can I place the heater without starting a fire with me in the center of the cab!
Thanks Guys
Myles

[dwightdi]

A van is a very small confined volume and great care must be taken not to deplete the oxygen or have an accumulation of CO. I think you might be more safe with a 12 volt electric blanket, which would keep you warm without trying to heat the van, which is by nature very poorly insulated and very conductive.

[Jammer]

I believe that catalytic heaters are unsafe for use in RVs.

I would suggest that you look at the Propex heater

Sure Marine Service, Inc. * Since 1972 * Marine Heating, Air Conditioning, and Galley Equipment

Or the Atwood Everest

RV Furnace Everest Star 7900 II by Atwood

[Tim J]

Propex is not cheap.....but worth every pennie! Had one in our 87 Westfalia Van and it worked great! We winter camped in From Oregon to NH and It never failed to keep us warm.

[jdalrymple]

I use a Mr. Buddy occasionally when boondocking. 12 volt heating sources take a LOT of power to run. The fan motors in forced air furnaces will eat a pair of group 27 batteries over night, if the temps are cold.

The space required between the heater and combustibles is more a function of how much heat the burner is producing than anything else.

Catalytic heaters make radiant heat. It heats objects, not the air. A few of feet of separation is probably ok. Test it one day, fire the heater up and monitor your bedding. Position the heater so the bedding is warm, but not hot to the touch.

As for venting, the main issue with catalytic heaters is the depletion of oxygen, not the production of carbon monoxide. A couple of cracked windows will be safe. Most RVs leak enough air to be safe. If they didn’t, they would not be so hard to heat. Convection losses noted.

Regards,