Let's look at how we are going to heat my expedition truck.
Again the internet is a great place to start with deciding on the type of heating for your camper conversion. There are many different types of systems and fuel sources. With a lot of people choosing underfloor hydronic in combination with small heat exchangers these days. A lot will be down to personal preference and experience. Let me explain why I have opted for two heating systems.
This will be done using the Truma Combi D 6 E Boiler. This is a dual fuel, using both diesel from the vehicles main tank and electricity. It can provide both hot water with a 10litre built in tank and heating. This unit supplies heated air throughout the camper via a ducted pipe network. Very quickly the habitation box can become warm and comfortable.
For hotter times I am fitting a Truma Aventa Compact Plus roof mounted air conditioning unit. This has an added benefit of providing hot air heating as either a backup in the event of the main heating system failing or to compliment it if it becomes extremely cold.
I decided I wanted a full size heated towel rail in the bathroom. This not only provides heat to the room but as can help with the drying of wet clothes. So I am installing a Eberspacher Hydronic D5WSC heater. This will be controlled separately from the Truma boiler units.
As mentioned I am going to have a false 300mm floor with the habitation box. This will allow room for these to be installed below one of the bench seats in the lounge. I shall post pictures once I am at point of the installation.
CAD Layout showing false floor and two boiler locations
One of the main criterias for this build was to have redundancy just in case of a failures. I know a lot of people will have there personal preference and ideas as to what is best. But I'm just going on my experiences over the years.
There are electric systems and the Truma Combi D 6 E I am installing does have an electric option. So I can use it to heat the camper in electric mode. Naturally it will effect the load requirements on my battery storage. Alternatively you can get underfloor electric element pads. They do take a while to heat up and are not very good in extreme cold conditions.
I would love to have one, but even with my design skills I found I couldn't fit one in on the is build. Maybe the next one!
moosejamoffgridandoverland
Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes