Help me Decide on a Furnace, for the Adrenalin - Propex, Espar, Webasto, Other?

[Borrego60]

I use a proplex in my tent on my horizon and love it. As far as condensation none. I have used it down to mid 30s and have the inside of the tent in the high 70s. I love it.

Both Espar and Webasto units have gasoline versions. The Espar Airtronic has an optional high altitude compensator. Webasto does not.

If high altitude performance is your main concern, I would think you have narrowed it down to an Espar and possibly Propex. Another factor to consider is power draw..... Curious, does the Propex produce much condensate?

[FellowTraveler]

I recently purchased an Espar Airtronic (diesel fueled) for my burb but have not installed it yet because of other interior mods in progress. From everything I've read this will suit my needs.

[spressomon]

Both Espar and Webasto units have gasoline versions. The Espar Airtronic has an optional high altitude compensator. Webasto does not.

If high altitude performance is your main concern, I would think you have narrowed it down to an Espar and possibly Propex. Another factor to consider is power draw..... Curious, does the Propex produce much condensate?

Not sure about the Webasto petrol variant but their diesel 3xxx and 5xxx models feature integrated automatic altitude compensation at no extra cost. They, from the conversation I had with them last year, intend to include this feature on the smaller 2000 model series sometime in the future. Webasto utilizes increased air volume to adjust for altitude...up to around 10,000 feet.

The Espar diesel units (Airtronic 4 and 5 series) offer an optional (about $350) electronic module that adjusts (i.e. lowers) the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber as altitude is increased.

From our experience with well over 100-nights in our Webasto 2000 equipped Kimberley Kamper we have found it inadequate at colder temps at elevations above about 3,000' or so. Combined with near zero insulating properties of canvas tent fabric the desire for a larger version with altitude compensation has become paramount.

From the multi-fuel perspective: Either way we would need to carry an additional fuel container. The Propex is relatively thirsty compared to either comparable output Espar or Webasto units. Coupled with the other propane devices we use we would either need a much larger single propane tank or an extra propane tank for our uses. Carrying diesel has been a non-issue. On a week long elk hunting trip where we were based camped at 7,500' and had received 6" of snow the Webasto used less than a gallon of diesel the entire week. We just needed some form of altitude adjustment to have allowed the little Webasto to have functioned better/even more efficiently at the temps and elevation we were camped at...

Just my $.02 and maybe all its worth

[TACODOC]

I have the Propex from Adventure Trailers and recommend it. Very quiet, very efficient. It worked very well as the nightime temps at Mormon Lake in N. AZ dipped into the low 30's/high 20's at night there during Overland Expo last weekend. Amazing piece of high quality gear.

Full write up is on my site.

[Borrego60]

Ya got that right Doc Remember Toys for Tots frost in the AM.

I have the Propex from Adventure Trailers and recommend it. Very quiet, very efficient. It worked very well as the nightime temps at Mormon Lake in N. AZ dipped into the low 30's/high 20's at night there during Overland Expo last weekend. Amazing piece of high quality gear.

Full write up is on my site.

[Rando]

I researched this same question fairly extensively for heating my Wildernest, which looks to be of a similar size and construction to your tent. The conclusion that I came to was that while the propex is certainly the most elegant solution, it probably would not produce enough heat to camp in really cold temperatures. I bought a Mr Heater 'Big Buddy' on sale for about $60 and did some testing with that. On high (which is ~5 KW) it will heat my wildernest about 25C (~50F) above ambient if it is fairly calm out. If it is windy I only get about half the temperature rise. The propex HS2800 is rated at 2.8 kW, so you will only get roughly half the temperature rise, which would barely get you to freezing if it is 0F out. I also tried a Zodi, which was pretty much useless.

I would recommend getting a Mr Heater to start, and see what sort of heat rise you get out of it, and whether you (or more importantly the family) find a heated tent practical before throwing down the big bucks on an Espar or Propex.

[dzzz]

I've become fond of my electric blanket.
60w draw when on, I figure it averages 30w on a really cold night. So pretty close to a 12v frig.
I think this is a good option for campers with decent house batteries with owners who don't want to run a catalytic heater while sleeping. Before, when I slept with cabin heat off, I would wake frequently due to the constantly dropping temp.
I try to not camp at 0F.

[Christian P.]

I have the standard/not glamourous/Atwood RV propane furnace in my Bigfoot camper and we have been using it all winter in Tahoe - 30000 BTU is a lot for the camper, I don't think we ever turned it all the way up once, even in the 20s.

[Borrego60]

I researched this same question fairly extensively for heating my Wildernest, which looks to be of a similar size and construction to your tent. The conclusion that I came to was that while the propex is certainly the most elegant solution, it probably would not produce enough heat to camp in really cold temperatures. I bought a Mr Heater 'Big Buddy' on sale for about $60 and did some testing with that. On high (which is ~5 KW) it will heat my wildernest about 25C (~50F) above ambient if it is fairly calm out. If it is windy I only get about half the temperature rise. The propex HS2800 is rated at 2.8 kW, so you will only get roughly half the temperature rise, which would barely get you to freezing if it is 0F out. I also tried a Zodi, which was pretty much useless.

I would recommend getting a Mr Heater to start, and see what sort of heat rise you get out of it, and whether you (or more importantly the family) find a heated tent practical before throwing down the big bucks on an Espar or Propex.

I know I have camped in 30 degrees and the inside of my tent was a toasty 70, not to dispute your findings but the proplex works very well for a RTT.

[shredwagon]

Personally - I'd take a good down bag over a fandangled electric blanket. But then my Western Mountaineering bag was almost as much as a Propex. But, I camp for fun in the winter.

To the OP - if you're seriously into using your camper in winter, it would be most beneficial to raise the R-value of any exposed walls/roof. There's alot of good advice here, but everyone is using a different platform with a different R-value. So what is adequate for one...... Maybe synthetic quilts or the like to make an interior winter "hood". Lots of info on homebrew synthetic quilts that could be attached to the roof and/or walls.