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Old 03-05-2015, 01:38 PM   #1
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Auxiliary rear heat - coolant-based

Has anyone added an auxiliary rear heater to their Class C for more comfortable traveling heat?

1992 Four Winds 29'er.


I'm using my MH in the off-season (winter) for youth sports travel--hockey and volleyball. The dash heat doesn't quite do it, and I'd prefer not to have my propane furnace running while going down the road.

I have tried opening a vent slightly in back to create a vacuum to draw the dash heat rearward.

A 12V fan placed in front of a dash vent to circulate warm air worked pretty well (but not great).


I'd like to add a secondary engine coolant-based heater in back, either tied into my furnace duct for distribution or located under the dinette table.

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Thoughts?
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Old 03-05-2015, 03:15 PM   #2
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Why not run the generator and plug in some electric heat?
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Old 03-05-2015, 03:30 PM   #3
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Mostly because I'm not a fan of turning heat into electricity and back into heat when I could heat with heat I'm just dumping into the outside air through the radiator, but that's honestly a solution I could implement for very little cost.


At $2/gal fuel, I could run that generator/elec coil solution about 100 hours before I'd break even against a new coolant-heated fan/coil heater.
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Old 03-05-2015, 03:52 PM   #4
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It is not a big deal. You only have to run 12 volts for the fan and two heater hoses. You will need two Y connectors, which you can be found at Advance or NAPA. You should be able to pick up an aux heater J C Whitney.
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Old 03-05-2015, 04:54 PM   #5
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Have you tried the 'open vent' method? I have no problem keeping my slightly shorter unit warm right to the back wall by doing so.

Open the rearmost roof vent and set the chassis heat system to vent with the vents pointed straight down the middle of the coach. The vacuum created by the open vent draws a significant amount of heat to the back of the coach.

The problem with an auxiliary 'bus heater' is that the flow in the heater circuit isn't that great and you won't end up with a bunch of hot water way back there.
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Old 03-06-2015, 12:47 AM   #6
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I did this years ago in a 3/4 ton van and it worked wonders to raise the interior temp in the rear of the van.


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Old 03-06-2015, 05:18 AM   #7
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No big deal, find a cab heater on Ebay or where ever, and use good hose on the run to the rear. Winnebago had motor aid heat for years except in the 2003 Journey I bought. It will make you warm all over.
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Old 03-06-2015, 10:01 AM   #8
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My first idea was to run a duct from the underdash HVAC down into the underfloor RV duct, but there just isn't room from underdash and through the doghouse area. If I could get something through the doghouse, I have plenty of room once I get between the framerails.


Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4Runner View Post
I have tried opening a vent slightly in back to create a vacuum to draw the dash heat rearward.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf2u View Post
Have you tried the 'open vent' method? I have no problem keeping my slightly shorter unit warm right to the back wall by doing so.

Open the rearmost roof vent and set the chassis heat system to vent with the vents pointed straight down the middle of the coach. The vacuum created by the open vent draws a significant amount of heat to the back of the coach.
I did, but it was still not warm enough in the coach while we were roasting in the cab. As I mentioned, the 12V fan in front of the dash vent helped a bit.

This is for traveling in COLD 5ºF-20ºF weather. Temps in the 30-40ºF range and the dash heat and vent method works fine.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf2u View Post
The problem with an auxiliary 'bus heater' is that the flow in the heater circuit isn't that great and you won't end up with a bunch of hot water way back there.
Because we were roasting up front, I suspect there's enough heat in the heater circuit.

You make a great point about "way back there". I should insulate the heat lines so I don't lose all my heat with the length of the lines. I could probably even run them inside the ductwork so any heat lost is dumped into the air I'm blowing inside.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ga traveler View Post
It is not a big deal. You only have to run 12 volts for the fan and two heater hoses. You will need two Y connectors, which you can be found at Advance or NAPA. You should be able to pick up an aux heater J C Whitney.
Thanks. I forgot about JC Whitney as a source as well.

Thanks RayJr. I had heard of the MotorAid reheat for the water heater, didn't know that mfrs put them in the HVAC as well--this tells me it's a workable solution for sure.

I will post photos and any lessons learned in the install.
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