Diesel Night Heater Install- VW T5 Camper Project 

Exhaust issue is mentioned, so no need to add to that. However, the standpipe is far too long - you can pick crap up from the bottom of the tank, but more importantly, you can empty the tank on ‘heat’ and not be able to drive the van away! You should aim to leave about a quarter of fuel left when heater runs out

You always look like you’re enjoying yourself! Good on you Dan.

Hi Dan.. you might end up choking up your heater sooner than normal, you might over heat the heater to if you were to run the heater accidentally when the engine is running and I don’t think the heater exhaust will last long at all when open to engine exhaust all the time, would be perfect if the port was switchable and only open when the heater is on.. 😬👍

That Cali step is a brilliant idea, the amount of times that I have knocked the round grill off my intake. Definitely worth the money.

Well done matey, you seem to be able to meet any challenges that come along on this build, really looking forward to seeing it completed.

When the van engine is running, part of the exhaust gasses will run backwards through the heater, making the inlet of the heater part of the van exhaust. I understand what you were trying to do, but this is not a very good idea. If it was, surely this was done OEM. Just let the heater exhaust end somewhere in the wheel well if you worry about the gasses escaping properly.

Telling myself I don’t need a heater…. Watched this video…. Now I want one 😂😂 you did an amazing job of fitting it dude 👊🏻

New tailgate and it’s in colour already!! Nice 👍

Hi Dan a very neat and well planned install but just one word of caution mate, the exhaust mod you did by tapping into the vans exhaust just be aware that the exhaust fumes from the vans engine may come out of the heaters air intake for the combustion chamber, I may be wrong here but those heaters will allow air to come out of the intake when it's not in use. I have one of these heaters in my little workshop and it heats my working area and my paint booth that's fitted in the corner, mine is one of those all in one models so the heater and fuel tank is all contained in a metal case, they are also cheap to run👌👌👍

Another neat install while all done lying on the floor, amazing Dan. Love the idea of using the OEM step cover for the final finish. Always thinking ahead

Nice finish to your work again Dan,good idea with exhaust I reckon.👌

Super neat job Dan, wouldn't expect anything different to be fair... ☺ loving the build so far, your putting bad thoughts in my head of doing another build myself now 👍

Great video Dan. Might stick one of those heaters in me LT35. Almost a complete tutorial despite losing the go pro footage..

The vans looking trick, great work as always

Hi Dan. Super👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌Greetings from the Czech Republic.

It amazes me how kitted the transporter can be.. enjoying the build loads mate.. looking forward to the mk2 getting going again too 👍

Nice one mate! Diesel heaters are a game changer! Never had a customer say otherwise 😎 Cali Step is a neat trick also, might recommend it going forward to my customers 🤙

Well done awesome work and the t5 is awesome 👌

Nice one Dan, superb job

Hi Dan, I have recently installed mine with same exhaust setup I made a stand pipe that sits 30mm inside the exhaust pipe this has a slot cut in one side and the end welded up this is then welded so the slot in the stand pipe is pointing downstream towards the tailpipe, I agree with your logic, along as the engine is not running at the same time it shouldn't affect operation of the heater however I though by adding this slight modification to the pipe would: 1) direct the diesel heater exhaust down stream towards the tail pipe. 2) exhaust gasses from engine should flow seamlessly around the pipe and would be pretty difficult to end up going backwards and into the slot on the stand pipe It's still early days for my setup but seem to have amazing flow out of the exhaust when the heater is ticking over and hasn't affected the performance of the van atall would be interested to see if you have had any issues in the past few months, many thanks Paul

Had a heater fitted in my t4 for 5 years now. I fitted mine under the drivers seat. Luckily I could access the tank without dropping it out..

Hi You can't connect heater exhaust to van exhaust When the van is running it will push fumes back through the heater into the van ☠️☠️☠️

Won’t you soot up the heater with the van exhaust? Maybe some kind of valve to stop it coming back, my understanding of these heaters is soot is a problem on the glow plug. Great video though, love the way the bracket fits, it’s neat, does the under cover plastic fit back on?

Great video Dan 🤙

Really neat and tidy installation, Dan. 👏👏

Nice one Dan, always on my to-do list but not got around to it.

Should take the air from outside or you're just recirculating moist air which make condensation worse. These heaters have no problem heating the cold air from outside and will pump dry air into the van. Crack the front windows and all the stale, moist are will be pushed back out keeping condensation down.

Hello a perfect job 👍👍👍greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 👋👋👋 Kai 🙏🛠🔊

Really neat installation, looked hard work on the floor though. 👌🏼

Nice install. Is there a filter before the fuel pump to save it getting all the crap from the tank? If you are going to change the exhaust in the future I would be tempted to do the same as you have done with the heater exhaust but at a 45° so the exhaust from the heater is being forced towards the back also it might help the system to not clog up with the engine fumes as it will act as a scavenger rather than a dead leg. Failing that put it direct to the centre box rather than the pipe.

can you provide a link to the step please mate great video, was going to pay someone to do it but going to have a go myself now. Might be easier with an empty tank I am thinking

When will there be a new workshop update mate?

Watching this build series is giving me the bug to get a new van and start from scratch again! When I fitted my diesel heater I’m sure I ran the fuel line the opposite way and there was spare fittings for it to slot into where the factory fitted one would have been? 🤔

Nice job 👌

The exhaust situation is a really bad idea. The gases will run in both directions and they will have trouble getting past the back box. You will have most of the gases making their way back up towards the manifold and into the engine bay.

Fitted mine last week to my vito, what a f about doing the fuel tank but boy was it worth it, best upgrade done so far. Great edit as always dude 👍

Great video Dan! - does the supplied Autoterm plastic duct fit ok behind the cali step?

Loving the van mate but I think the exhaust silencer is installed upside down 👍.

Won't the pressures be different for the two exhausts meaning that if you run the heater when the van is running the van exhaust pressure will overcome the heater exhaust pressure and feed it back?

Love this!!! ❤

How long has this lasted being mounted like this? Apparently they have to be mounted with exhaust facing down and apparently you can’t breathe in the hot air if you recirculate the air 🤷‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Not sure that exhaust system will work? Surely the van's exhaust fumes are going to the forced into the heater? Also the heater's fumes will get into a cold engine...

Hi just a question regarding the heater into the exhaust pipe when the heat is off in the vans running, we will get great back pressure and pushing back into the night heater possibly Mark

Not only do I worry about the back pressure on the heater. I wouldn’t want the exhaust from heater gunking the engine and exhaust with spend oil/diesel. I dont know before I’m ruined just wondering ?

Sweet install, might do this on my own t5. Got a question about the inlet of the warm air. Why didnt you out it in at the sidodoor? 🤔 is it hard to fit it or impossible? Haha

Hi where abouts under the seat does the outlet pipe go. I have a leisure battery under the driver's seat. Will it avoid it thanks

Not sure about connecting it to the exhaust pipe. You don’t want to find out it’s not the right thing to do the wrong way and end up hurt or dead.

Re stand pipe in exhaust .... Back flow of sooty ex hasses when engine os running ?

You could sharpen the hole saw again.. buying new just doesn't seem green..

Great work as always. I’ve installed mine and on start up it makes my Dometic LED’s which are on a CBE dimmer flicker until it’s up and running. Any ideas what this might be and how to combat it? They don’t flicker and dim fine when the heater isn’t starting up so confident it’s not the lights or the dimmer.

Can you not run the heater on red with a separate tank?

great build. One Q, doesn't welding an exhaust usually fail pretty quick?

Hi dan brilliant install, do you have the part number for the side step from TPS please? Van is looking excelent

How cold does it get in the UK ? As an Australian I can’t imagine needing a heater in a camper.

Looking good👍 U have the part number for the step cover?

How strong is the fan blowing the hot air out? I have a garden kitchen / pergola. You think it would blow strong/ hot enough to heat an outdoor area when sitting near the outlet?

Woo hoo

without the stop/starts for filming, how long would you say it took to fit?

Why not provide the heater with its own tank for fuel

The discount code doesn't work 😢

Do you have the part number for the caravelle step please.

Where did you put that jack on the front end

Dla zasięgu😀

Hi Dan, what’s the VW part no of step please.

Surely fitting the exhaust on the heater to the vans exhaust is a bad idea.

Mate , you have a great site and provide good information on how to. But you need better camera work mate. Your cameras are good mate, but why does it appear you are doing it all yourself?

Dan it’s not a good idea mate you essentially creating a death chamber your directing exhaust gases straight into the van when it’s running

Looks a top job but I’m not so sure about the exhaust solution 🤔

get a cod

Bad idea tapping into the vans exhaust. You are not allowed to modify a vehicle’s exhaust, so that’s a mot failure. Not to mention you won’t be able to run the van and heater at the same time. You’ll also find that the gas pressure may not be enough to force through the exhaust system. Not exactly sure why you think your idea is better than the manufacturers guidance?? £60 on a new step for no reason?? Doesn’t make any sense. If you’re that arsed about quality of look and workmanship, you’d have got the proper T5 fuel pick up pipe.

NO WAY A HOLE 5% 🤣🤣🤣