Heating my car when sleeping overnight.

[The Singing Stalker]

i, on occasion, have to sleep in the car, now normally not a problem but I do remember one night where it was flipping freezing. I was ok whilst wrapped up but when I got up, it was sooo cold. I’m getting old and like my comfort, well, at least you gotta be warm.

As I am a bit stuck with what I can do at the moment, I have been spending a bit of time on YouTube and such to pass the time. I came across diesel heaters for campers and all that. But fairly quickly I thought that seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to for the very occasional use.
I then started thinking.
A 400w heater would do fine, so, I was thinking, a small (quiet) generator, 600, 800 watts, extension lead running into the car with a small electric heater inside the car.
What do you think? Mad? Bad? Or superb?
Any advice?

 

[thefoxandthe.243]

I would say a small diesel night heater will be both cheaper to buy, and to run

 

[Will the chippy]

What about a battery heated jacket. Think most power tool manufacturers do one now.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

So, the diesel heaters are brilliant. What size vehicle is it? The negative is they do take up space in the car. I've fitted a couple recently, one to my motor and another to @Kjf s van. They really are a game changer. I've camped out in mine in the minuses and on the lowest setting had it sat at 13 degrees. It's enough to keep the van warm and enough to dry me/dogs/clothes out that have become sodden!

If you want any advice, drop me a pm, happy to help

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Just do the dishes when you are told to….

 

[Phil fox man]

dial 0800 babe to keep you warm

 

[sauer]

Start engine run car heater ?

 

[John Gryphon]

Have you got three dogs?

The Band.

Why do they call themselves Three Dog Night?


Danny Hutton's girlfriend, actress June Fairchild, suggested the name of the band after reading a magazine article about indigenous Australians. It was explained that on cold nights they would customarily sleep in a hole in the ground with two dogs and, if the night were freezing, it was a “three dog night.”31 Jan 2019

 

[nic531]

I have fitted a night heater in my defender 90. fitted it when I was doing bits and bobs of security overnight. it also is a godsend as it can be switched on by a text so Landy is toasty when I get back from stalking or wild fowling. cost at the time was sub 100 quid and to run was something like a litre of fuel a night.

 

[Steff]

A night / parking heater is definitely the best solution. Not only good for you but also for your engine when you start it up on a frosty morning. You'll be using it more than you think now once you've got it.

 

[finnbear270]

I find this to be a "No heating required" option, good to minus 15

https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/ac527c7582b02617b1ecdcb3739644c7/h/2/h2400_4.jpg

 

[User00047]

When I was homeless I had to sleep in a car a fair bit. I just had a sleeping bag and wore lots of clothes if it was cold.
Do diesel heaters produce poisonous fumes at all?

 

[User00047]

double post

 

[bowji john]

I had one from these guys fitted in my overlander Toyota troupy

www.eberspaecher-climate.com

From passenger cars to special-purpose vehicles: Eberspächer is your partner for OEM and retrofit climate control solutions such as air conditioning systems or heaters.

www.eberspaecher-climate.com

 

[NullMac]

Dog

 

[WillowJ]

You could buy a selkie suit, essentially a sleeping bag overalls, my brother used one to sleep in a van in whistler canada for a winter with no heater. Or if looking a diesel heaters, overlander groups and roof top tent people often build them into a pelicase or toolbox and have them outside the vehicle pumping hot air into a cracked window. Been using a lavaner pro 2kw diesel heater whilst living in a caravan for two years, running on kerosene and it's kept us comfortable with outside temps of -11c

 

[angusb1]

I have fitted a night heater in my defender 90. fitted it when I was doing bits and bobs of security overnight. it also is a godsend as it can be switched on by a text so Landy is toasty when I get back from stalking or wild fowling. cost at the time was sub 100 quid and to run was something like a litre of fuel a night.

Sounds great, which one did you get?

 

[John Gryphon]

Any advice?

What about using what we colloquially call "a swag" .
Canvas envelope with foam mattress and quality s/bag. I don`t mean the modern swags that have evolved into setting up exercises but just the simple envelope with full length wet suit type zip.
Pull up to field, throw swag on ground, unroll and get in. Rain or shine frost or snow you stay snug as and its a full length sleep not a jacked up one as in limited car space, oh add pillow.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Bit of a faff and leaves nowhere for the workshop manual, tow rope and CD’s, but they do kick out some heat:

Install a cab heater

Being warm in a Defender needn’t rely on a four-season sleeping bag. Alisdair Cusick looks into fitting a diesel heater to banish chills for good

www.landrovermonthly.co.uk

K

 

[Rutland lad]

I looked in wonder at a perfect solution for your problem recently.
An ex MOD salesroom full of stuff - one of which was a fully insulated sleeping bag type suit for tank crews of very very cold countries. Looked like an ideal December high seat thing to me !