Truck Topics
Heating Solutions for Small Spaces
In expedited trucking, the cargo van has some definite advantages attached to it. It's (relatively) economical, in most cases there are no logs to keep, you can park about anywhere, and so the list goes.
There are some disadvantages though, and those shortcomings usually appear on some of the coldest and hottest nights of the year: Lack of climate control, or (since we're now in the winter season) more specifically, the lack of heat. Since the first driver climbed into a cargo van and made that first delivery, the question has been how to keep warm on those winter days and nights.
Idling is the first solution that comes to mind, but over the years, this writer has informally surveyed a number of cargo van drivers on this issue and it would appear that the efficiency of the van's heating system is on a case-by-case basis, regardless of the make or model of said van.
Some swear by their van's heater, while others just swear at it. And, since running the heater requires idling, it has become an even more expensive proposition as well as being a ticketable offense in some areas.
So, if idling is out, what's the next idea?
From the camping world
A few years ago, veteran expediter Rich Moore discovered a low-cost heating solution - the Coleman SportCat Catalytic Heater, available in the camping departments of the big-box stores such as K-Mart or Wal-Mart for under $50.
This device burns propane but is marketed as being safe for indoor use . This heater's flameless catalytic process is what differentiates catalytic heaters from other propane appliances; it's actually the platinum in the heating unit reacting with the burning propane that results in little, if any, harmful gas emissions.
"It works great!†says Moore. "I'm an anti-idling guy and we would turn one on in the daytime while we were sitting in the truck and it would keep us very warm. At night, we would warm up the sleeper with the SportCat before climbing into the sleeping bags, then turn it off for the rest of the night. When we woke up, we'd turn it on before getting out of the bags - in about 8 - 10 minutes, everything would be warm."
The SportCat is rated at 1,500 BTU and burns up to 14 hours on a 16 oz. canister of fuel. It's important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for indoor use and allow adequate ventilation to compensate for the oxygen being used by the heater.
When asked if carbon monoxide was ever a concern when using the heater, Moore says with a laugh, "I never worried about it because there was enough air leaking into that old truck to keep it well-ventilated."
It has to be said that there are some safety questions about using a flammable substance in the closed environs of a van. And, there are the issues about what occurs if the heater is knocked over, the inconvenience of replacing the propane bottles, possible leakage and how much ventilation is required.
Ray Lawrence of Espar of Michigan says, "We've seen guys use propane to heat their vans but I don't know that this is a particularly safe way to get the job done."
"We've also seen people use a ceramic heater or radiant heaters that they plug into their inverters, but anytime an electrical heating device is used, it takes a lot of power. If you have a small heater that's rated at 1,500 watts, that represents a current draw of up to 150 amps per hour. That's a large draw from the batteries."
He adds, "To heat the airspace in a van or sleeper, there's no way to beat the Espar AirTronic II."
Another idea
Lawrence's company sells and installs the Espar brand of forced-air heaters along with a number of truck-related environmental control products. One of his biggest selling products is the AirTronic 2 model. Lawrence says that this model will actually heat up to a 100-inch sleeper and will keep the bunk area at a consistent, comfortable temperature even with an outside temp of -20 degrees.
He tells us, "The mini-control (thermostat) on the unit is graduated up to 85 degrees. I've never had a customer tell me that the unit didn't keep him warm enough."
The heater will run for 20 hours on a gallon of fuel and is fueled from the truck's own tank(s). It's available in both diesel and gasoline-fired versions, is 12" long and weighs 6.5 pounds. In an AirTronic sleeper installation, the unit mounts in the side box under the floor of the bunk with the ducting for the forced air coming out of an opening that is similar to the OEM location.
Lawrence continues, "In a cargo van or Sprinter van with sleeper or dedicated sleeping area with/bulkhead, an AirTronic 2 (7,500 BTU's, $1,600 installed) will more than suffice because of the smaller area to heat. In the case of a cargo van or Sprinter van that is open to the back doors, we like to put the AirTronic 4 (12,600 BTU's, 14" long, around $2,000 installed) in there."
"In those cases, we're trying to heat a fairly large, non-insulated area, so we tell the customer that while an AirTronic 2 would be an improvement, in severe conditions, it might not provide enough heat. An AirTronic 4 will definitely keep them warm in the most severe conditions because it generates almost twice the output as the smaller model. What this means, is if you're sitting in a truck stop parking lot and it's twenty below outside, you're going to stay warm!"
In the example of the open cargo van, the Espar unit is typically mounted lengthwise along the driver's side wall, midway between the driver's seat and the wheel well with the discharge opening facing rearward. This allows better circulation of heated air and works to complement the truck's own heater (when operating), blowing warm air from the front of the vehicle.
For a sleeper-equipped van, the heating unit is mounted under the bunk (as in a larger truck's sleeper installation).
A testimonial
Art Smith of PJ Smith Trucking of Canton, Ohio has had an Espar AirTronic II in his Ford cargo van since 2003 and he says, "It's still going strong! I'm well pleased with it and when I get my next van, and my next straight truck, I'll have an Espar unit installed in those, too."
Smith's van has a sleeper unit installed that he built himself with a bulkhead, bunk and all the niceties. He says that the Espar unit keeps the living area warm enough to melt any snow and ice off the van forward of the bulkhead.
The first time I used it," he says, "I turned it up fairly high and I woke up in a sweat and had to open the doors to let the van cool off." He says that is a testament to how efficiently the unit heats his van and that he now keeps the heat setting on "about a third of the way. I never have to idle to keep the van warm."
Lawrence says that some customers become quite attached to the AirTronic units: "Typically, a straight truck or tractor owner has been using an Espar heater for a few years and they want air conditioning and electrical power, so we will install a RigMaster generator. They will continue to use the Espar unit as their main heating source at night time however, because it's so quiet and uses so little fuel."
Because of the absence of APU's that are designed for the cargo van, Lawrence recommends an alternative for those seeking air conditioning and electrical power. This is accomplished with two auxiliary batteries with an isolator, inverter and DC Airco air conditioning unit. His company can handle the design and installation of that system as well.
He concludes by saying, "The cargo van or Sprinter driver can be just as comfortable in extreme weather as the guys in big trucks. An Espar unit is small, compact but powerful, sips fuel and is reasonably priced. It's a good deal!"
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