A diesel heater turns a chilly van into somewhere you actually want to be in March and October. It's the single biggest upgrade for extending your camping season.
This guide has everything you need to keep your van, motorhome or caravan cosy on cold nights, with a step-by-step fitting video and the parts to do it safely.
Diesel heaters draw outside air for burning and vent their fumes outside, so the heat they blow in is dry. Gas and other flame heaters burning inside the living space add moisture to the air, which runs down your windows. A typical heater uses roughly 0.1 to 0.5 litres of diesel an hour depending on the setting, and only a few amps from your battery once it's running.
A great video to help you with a DIY fit, plus everything below that you need to safely fit a diesel heater to your caravan, campervan, motorhome or van build.
Everything we used for a safe, quiet, tidy install. Tick these off and you're ready to fit.
Power
Red and black cable from the battery to the heater. Around 9m (30ft) of each covers many setups.
Why it matters: A heater draws a high current while its glow plug fires up. Cable that's too thin causes voltage drop and failed starts.
Handy
You only need a couple for the heater, but a full set leaves you extras for later jobs.
Why it matters: Properly crimped terminals mean no loose wires shaking free on bumpy farm tracks.
Essential
A fuse on the live lead between the battery and the heater is an essential part of the fit.
Why it matters: It protects against overheated wiring and the risk of fire.
Pick your depth
Essential when you're fitting directly onto timber, plywood or composite flooring. Choose the depth that matches your floor.
Why it matters: It keeps heat away from your floor and gives the heater a solid, airtight base.
Peace of mind
Heater remotes are generic enough that a neighbour's remote could switch yours on.
Why it matters: A simple physical switch means your heater stays off until you want it on.
Quieter
Use them to hang the fuel pump under the vehicle so it isn't resting on the chassis.
Why it matters: A suspended pump ticks quietly instead of drumming through the floor all night.
Quieter
Wrap it tightly around the pump to quieten it down.
Why it matters: It also adds moisture protection and helps if the pump is mounted near the exhaust.
Finishing touch
The finishing item for securing the foam wrap tightly and neatly around the pump.
Why it matters: It's a small but useful final piece that keeps the install clean and long-lasting.
Two items that should go in before you ever switch a heater on.
Must have
If you run any fuel-burning heater in an enclosed space, this is a must. It's the most important product on this page.
Why it matters: Carbon monoxide has no smell or colour. An alarm is the only way you'll know there's a leak while you sleep.
Extra protection
Automatic fire extinguishing balls: a smart extra layer of protection near diesel and electrics.
Why it matters: They react on their own, even when you're asleep or away from the van.
Optional extras that make your heater warmer, quieter and more reliable, and keep it running for years.
Extra ducting and outlet vents let you send warm air to the bed, the cab or the washroom.
Why it matters: Warm air goes where you need it, and a second outlet can stop the heater overheating in a small space.
A standpipe kit lets the heater draw straight from your vehicle's own diesel tank.
Why it matters: No separate tank to refill or find room for. The standpipe stops short of the bottom, so the heater can never drain your tank dry.
A small filter in the fuel line catches dirt before it reaches the pump.
Why it matters: Dirty fuel is a common cause of failed starts and sooty burners. A cheap filter protects an expensive heater.
An exhaust silencer cuts the heater's outside roar to a gentle hum.
Why it matters: At a family festival your neighbours are a few metres away. A quiet heater keeps everyone sleeping.
The glow plug lights the heater on every start, and it's the part most likely to wear out.
Why it matters: It's cheap, it takes ten minutes to swap, and it saves you a freezing night if yours fails on a trip.
A small digital display that shows the temperature and humidity inside your van.
Why it matters: It helps you set the heater just right and spot rising damp air before condensation and mould set in.
Look after your heater and it'll look after you for many winters.
Always switch off with the controller and let the fan finish its cool-down. Never cut the power while it's running.
Run it on high for 20 to 30 minutes once a month to burn off carbon, even in summer.
Summer diesel can gel in hard frosts. Fill up with winter-grade fuel from autumn onwards.
Point the exhaust away from doors, windows and awnings, and never run a heater inside a tent.
Power, heat and cooling: everything that lets you camp anywhere, in any season.
We have 5 fabulous events throughout the school holidays every year.
Come along for the weekend, or enjoy the whole event.
It's up to you.
1st - 11th April
28th May - 6th June
25th July - 1st August
8th - 15th August
23rd - 29th August
We hope this guide helps you plan a setup that works for you. The products shown are examples of the kind of kit we'd look at. We're part of the Amazon affiliate scheme, so a small commission may go to Wild Festivals from purchases made through this page.
Got a question, or a tip that would help other campers? Send it to us and we'll add it to the guide.
As an Amazon Associate, Wild Festivals earns from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep our festivals affordable. Prices and availability change, so always check the listing.
