Are the diesel heating instead of gas & solar worthwhile options?

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Speccing up our new GC600 and wondered if anyone with these options could advise whether they are good/bad ideas?

 

[Barbara]

I had a diesel heater fitted, it is great for winter trips out for coffee in the van after a walk. Only problem I have had was when I needed on a campsite only to find that my leisure battery had not been charging so the heater would not work. I assume you are thinking of being on sites without electric power so you may need solar power too to keep your battery charged to use the diesel heater.

On my T5 the heater exhaust is by the side door so I do not think it is a good idea to keep that open when running the heater. Since the problem I had I now carry a small electric oil filled radiator style heater as I always go to sites with power.

 

[thesquirrelpatrol]

we mostly do wild camping so self sufficiency is key. Our current GC600 has the gas heating system and we inadvertently ran out of gas once so I was keen to avoid that ever happening again plus it means only carrying gas for cooking saving on space/weight.

We have had issues with battery charging off the engine in our current van so I was considering speccing the solar for this one but its an expensive option and I was hoping someone who has solar fitted could let me know if it actually works in real life to keep the battery charged up better than trying to keep it topped up off the engine intermittently.

 

[andyinluton]

Speccing up our new GC600 and wondered if anyone with these options could advise whether they are good/bad ideas?

On a GC I would prefer the diesel heater if doing long spells off hookup especially in winter. Its far easier to fill up with diesel than to keep changing gas bottles.

The diesel heater though does use more electricity to run than the gas so you would probably need the solar as well.

Using diesel for heating can free up a lot of space in the gas locker, just a 5kg cylinder would keep the hob running for ages & save a fair bit of weight as well.

If you tend to use Campsites a lot with electric hook up, the important thing is to make sure you have the electric heat & hot water. You then don't need to worry about running out & the operation of both is almost silent.

 

[rod_vw]

I have used diesel heating in my campers for well over twenty years and would never be without it. However the current plan for the forthcoming MAN TGE build is to fit a Truma diesel air and water heater. If this doesn't work out as I hope I will be looking at installing an Eberspacher blown air heater probably in the same location as VW/MAN do on the same vehicle.
I've always thought that diesel heaters were more cost effective in use than gas ones.

 

[Mr T]

Solar is a definite yes from me. I also went for diesel heating as I liked it in the Cali Ocean and thought I’d go for the same, also as Andy says keeps the gas bottle requirement down a bit.
I have the diesel/electric choice. I also went for the parking heater. Why not I thought, it’s the first time I’ve been let lose on a new vehicle order so I ticked plenty of boxes.
The one thing I am disappointed with is the wireless charging pad in the pocket next to the bench seat. Not an expensive option but seems to make my iPhone very hot whilst charging, which I’m not comfortable with.
Awning and outdoor light brilliant, ambient lights nice, I do use them, also went for the sog system.
Oh and the 3.88t variant too.

 

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Here’s the options list as things stand

 

[andyinluton]

Nice set of options, you don't look to have left anything off that I would want.
Are you trying to stay under 3.5tnnes? if so I don't think you can have the extra bed + towbar + awning and stay within the weight limit.

 

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Nice set of options, you don't look to have left anything off that I would want.
Are you trying to stay under 3.5tnnes? if so I don't think you can have the extra bed + towbar + awning and stay within the weight limit.

I did ask this question but the Dealer has confirmed that with those options we are still ok to stay at 3.5t

 

[Mr T]

View attachment 95658
Here’s the options list as things stand

Looks good, not too dissimilar to mine!

Candy White/Mojave Beige	9198
LED headlights	8IT
Lights & Vison Pack B	ZLS
Blind spot monitor	7Y8
Driver assistance Pack D w/side protection & Park Assist	9X1
Rear View Camera	KA1
Wing Mirrors - Heated & Power Folding	6XP
Ambient Lighting	YYB
Step Illumination	9N2
Awning White	YBA
Overcab Bed	YBC
Solar collector on the roof, 104W	YEI
Toilet Vent SOG System	YDS
Inductive Charging Cradle	YED
Mudflaps F&R	6N2
Chrome Pack	ZL6
Heating system for water and interior powered by mains electricity or diesel	YHC
Auxilliary heater - with programmable parking heater and remote control	7VL

 

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Nice set of options, you don't look to have left anything off that I would want.
Are you trying to stay under 3.5tnnes? if so I don't think you can have the extra bed + towbar + awning and stay within the weight limit.

Ye so turns out when the dealer went to place the order that with these options it is over 3.5t. Options are that we remove 2 out of the 4 big options - diesel heater/solar/awning/towbar or most of the smaller options and one of the big ones. The other option is I sit my cat c1 licence. If rated over 3.5t should I be worried about resale as this presumably limits how many people are able to drive it?
Would appreciate anyones thoughts on this.

 

[andyinluton]

I would leave out the diesel heating & the towbar unless you really want the diesel set up. We use the Gaslite cylinders from Homebase, they weigh a lot less than the steel ones to keep the weight down.

The towbar can be fitted by the dealer after registration, it eats into your available payload but its up to you to manage that.

I do think the over 3.5tnne restricts the resale it also affects speed limits & toll charges if you venture abroad.

 

[Eber123]

Hello,

Heating, solar panel, weight of the camper etc. all these things are going through my mind at the moment (even if I already have a GC 600) as well.

May I share my thoughts about this (and I am not even near with finding a good solution).

From heating point of few I don't believe there is a difference between diesel or gas. As mentioned before I have read on different places that the diesel heater need a bit more electricity.

I believe the main difference is the logistics of replacing "burning material". Obviously there is no real issue with a diesel heater. Gas is a different beast. If you use standard gas cylinders you might (no you will) have problems to replace them abroad. Each country has their own standards. I changed to LPG which helps, but still. We just came back from a 3,5 week trip in Europe. I kept the heater on to have warm water and (even it kept to switch off) I used about 1 1/2 bottles. More than I expected. In other words - if I could configure a camper it would be always with diesel heater.

Our GC 600 came with the solar panel. Even thought it is a small panel it provided enough power to charge the battery. So even the standard GC 600 is worth to get (at least if the weather is good).

Everybody is talking about "autarky". Yes the battery is an important factor, but even with the standard setup and a standard VW solar panel it always lasted from early afternoon to next late morning. It could be a wee bit more, but hey. The key issue for standing autark is the toilet casette. I say it needs to be emptied at least on the third day if two people use it.

Weight is a big issue. To configure the van that is under 3.5 t is only half the battle. For instance. I prepared my GC for traveling. The weight of the van was 3,240 kg. Now I have to add our weight, cloth and food and I believe we came over the famous 3.5 t.
During our roadtrip through France, Spain, Andorra and Portugal (5224 km) we drove dozens and dozens of times on roads forbidden for vehicles over 3.5 t. Because of this a change over 3.5 t would never be on my list.

Best of luck with your plans. I hope you won't feel like me, the more I think about it the more complicated it gets.

Best of luck,
Eberhard

 

[MaxDuquelu512]

Hello,

Heating, solar panel, weight of the camper etc. all these things are going through my mind at the moment (even if I already have a GC 600) as well.

May I share my thoughts about this (and I am not even near with finding a good solution).

From heating point of few I don't believe there is a difference between diesel or gas. As mentioned before I have read on different places that the diesel heater need a bit more electricity.

I believe the main difference is the logistics of replacing "burning material". Obviously there is no real issue with a diesel heater. Gas is a different beast. If you use standard gas cylinders you might (no you will) have problems to replace them abroad. Each country has their own standards. I changed to LPG which helps, but still. We just came back from a 3,5 week trip in Europe. I kept the heater on to have warm water and (even it kept to switch off) I used about 1 1/2 bottles. More than I expected. In other words - if I could configure a camper it would be always with diesel heater.

Our GC 600 came with the solar panel. Even thought it is a small panel it provided enough power to charge the battery. So even the standard GC 600 is worth to get (at least if the weather is good).

Everybody is talking about "autarky". Yes the battery is an important factor, but even with the standard setup and a standard VW solar panel it always lasted from early afternoon to next late morning. It could be a wee bit more, but hey. The key issue for standing autark is the toilet casette. I say it needs to be emptied at least on the third day if two people use it.

Weight is a big issue. To configure the van that is under 3.5 t is only half the battle. For instance. I prepared my GC for traveling. The weight of the van was 3,240 kg. Now I have to add our weight, cloth and food and I believe we came over the famous 3.5 t.
During our roadtrip through France, Spain, Andorra and Portugal (5224 km) we drove dozens and dozens of times on roads forbidden for vehicles over 3.5 t. Because of this a change over 3.5 t would never be on my list.

Best of luck with your plans. I hope you won't feel like me, the more I think about it the more complicated it gets.

Best of luck,
Eberhard

Hello Eberhar,

 

[MaxDuquelu512]

Hello Eberhar,

Our experience with CG 600 heating:
I bought 2 Alugas lightweight alu bottles, see www.alugas.de and the 3 different connecting pieces used in Europe. Empty, each bottle weights 5,5 kg. They have a security system that block the inlet at 80%. I fill them at gas stations with LPG. Full with 20l they weight 15,5 kg each. We are home from a 8 weeks trip trough Switzerland and France. We only used 7,6 litres from one single bottle. Obviously we only used gas for a little heating in the morning and for light cooking. We don’t heat the boiler, cold water is good for the skin.
The app “myLPG.eu“ gives you the list of LPG stations in Europe.
enjoy,
Max

 

[Taff Tenor]

we mostly do wild camping so self sufficiency is key. Our current GC600 has the gas heating system and we inadvertently ran out of gas once so I was keen to avoid that ever happening again plus it means only carrying gas for cooking saving on space/weight.

We have had issues with battery charging off the engine in our current van so I was considering speccing the solar for this one but its an expensive option and I was hoping someone who has solar fitted could let me know if it actually works in real life to keep the battery charged up better than trying to keep it topped up off the engine intermittently.

I have had a panel fitted earlier this year and certainly if enough bright light, it appears to keep my batteries topped up. On cloudy days and into the winter however, it’ll price to be less effective with shorter darker days

 

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Got our order placed yesterday. Had to delete the awning and change the towbar to just the prep to get under the 3.5t. Can get rest of towbar installed as retrofit.

 

[Mr T]

Got our order placed yesterday. Had to delete the awning and change the towbar to just the prep to get under the 3.5t. Can get rest of towbar installed as retrofit.

You can retrofit after, but don’t understand the logic. If you can’t fit at point of order due to weight, but you will fit it after. Surely still a weight concern?

 

[andyinluton]

You can retrofit after, but don’t understand the logic. If you can’t fit at point of order due to weight, but you will fit it after. Surely still a weight concern?

Van can only be registered with 4 seats if there is sufficient payload for four passengers + an EU prescribed amount of luggage each.
Hence Ireland being able to register GC680 at 3.5 tonne but only as 2 seaters with no rear seatbelts, same for the 4 motion Ocean not being available with the extra seat.

Any thing that is done after registration is up to the owner just need to be aware that it is eating into payload.

 

[Mr T]

Van can only be registered with 4 seats if there is sufficient payload for four passengers + an EU prescribed amount of luggage each.
Hence Ireland being able to register GC680 at 3.5 tonne but only as 2 seaters with no rear seatbelts, same for the 4 motion Ocean not being available with the extra seat.

Any thing that is done after registration is up to the owner just need to be aware that it is eating into payload.

Yeah I get that Andy. Just not sure I would
Want the hassle or concern of weight limits regarding what I can/can’t pack. If you’re needing the upper bed then you are likely to be travelling with at least 3 people, and therefore have associated luggage etc.

 

[Taff Tenor]

You can retrofit after, but don’t understand the logic. If you can’t fit at point of order due to weight, but you will fit it after. Surely still a weight concern?

Very thin profile and weighs very little

 

[Mr T]

Very thin profile and weighs very little

Talking about towbars on a Grand California.

 

[Eber123]

Our experience with CG 600 heating:
I bought 2 Alugas lightweight alu bottles, see www.alugas.de and the 3 different connecting pieces used in Europe. Empty, each bottle weights 5,5 kg. They have a security system that block the inlet at 80%. I fill them at gas stations with LPG. Full with 20l they weight 15,5 kg each. We are home from a 8 weeks trip trough Switzerland and France. We only used 7,6 litres from one single bottle. Obviously we only used gas for a little heating in the morning and for light cooking. We don’t heat the boiler, cold water is good for the skin.
The app “myLPG.eu“ gives you the list of LPG stations in Europe.
enjoy,
Max

Hello,

I agree with everyone that the change of gas bottles is a pain. First they are heavy, second it only makes sense to exchange them when they empty and third the different countries in Europe have different standards.

Because of this I changed to LPG. I got 2x 11 KG refillable gas cylinders and got the refiller installed outside. The reason why I did this was, that I was reading in several places that there is a slight chance that a Auto gas station (or LPG station) refuse to refill the bottles, but no problems with a fill connection outside the vehicle.

It was expensive enough, but still cheaper than to change from gas to diesel in the camper. So far I am rather happy with the setup.

Why I used 25 l of gas in 3 1/2 weeks in one of the hottest spells in Europe for years I don't know. Yes we used it for cooking, but that is not a lot. I wanted to have warm water all the time so the gas boiler was switched on all the time - with two exception. One was when the window above the gas exhaust was opened and second when the Truma boiler switched off, which I believe is a software issue on the camper control unit (KFG).

But in general I believe I might have not filled up the bottles completely. It was my first time I did it on my own.

Regards,
Eberhard