Diesel Heater Fitting Position

Are you pulling your hair out trying to find the best place to fit your heater? Selecting an appropriate location for your heater is crucial. When it comes to choosing the spot, two options are available: internal turret mounting or underbody placement.

If you are retrofitting a heater to a finished conversion it can be difficult to find a suitable location. When internally mounting with a turret mount we will need to drill a 125mm hole in the floor. There are numerous obstacles on the underside of a van which need to be considered before choosing a location.

• Any structural section of the chassis

• Fuel tank/ad blue tank

• Exhaust system

• Spare wheel

• Brake pipes

• Hand brake cables

• Water & waste tanks
  

It's best to avoid installing in the proximity of the rear axle as free space can quickly disappear when the van is fully loaded.

On a large van, these obstacles can be easily avoided however it can be difficult on smaller vans.

If opting for external mounting the protective case is large (510mm long x 130mm wide x 150 deep) and comes at an additional cost of £130. Underbody mounting can sometimes be the only option when internal space is not available.

For practicality, it is best to install the unit near the side of the van to minimise exhaust length. If possible it is best to have the exhaust on the driver's side, as you may want to use a drive-away awning in the future. It's crucial to bear in mind that the exhaust temperatures can reach as high as 500 degrees Celsius (932 degrees Fahrenheit). This positioning helps minimise the length of the exhaust, reducing potential faults and minimising the risk of heat exposure to surrounding components.

There are standard places which are normally selected when fitting a heater depending on the vehicle.

Transit/Transit Custom

• Under the passenger's seat

• Behind the driver's seat
  

VW Transporter T4/T5/T6

• Under the driver's seat

• Underslung (Bespoke fitting kits available from Autoterm)
  

Renault Trafic/Vauxhall Vivaro

• Under the driver's seat

• Underslung
  

Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert, Fiat Scudo

• Behind the driver's seat
  

Mercedes Vito

• Under passengers seat
  
  

Larger vans such as the Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter, Citroen Relay, Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato Renault Master, and Vauxhall Movano - have lots of options inside or outside, we recommend installing on the driver's side as far forward as possible to minimise the length of the fuel lines.