What's the best way to Heat a Skoolie, Van, or RV?: - Essentially, it comes down to size, temperature, and what type of fuel you want to use. Diesel, Propane, and Wood are the top contenders, but the best answer is often a combination of those. For example: A Diesel Heater with a Wood Stove or Buddy Heater as a secondary / backup.

One of the best aspects of the Nomadic Lifestyle is that you can Follow The Weather! When it's cold you drive South. When it's hot you head for the mountains. While this practice is the most effective way to minimize your Heating and Cooling expenses, it isn't always an option, and even in Texas or Florida temps can get down into the 30s at night. Having at least some kind of heat backup is an absolute necessity. - Extra blankets and body heat only go so far.

As with Air Conditioning, the factory heater in your vehicle is a good supplement. If used properly, it can severely cut the amount of work your “House Heating System” has to do, but unless you’re vanlifing in Hawaii, you’re going to need a “primary” heating system for your Rig.

Tech Tip: If your Bus came with a Rear Heater, you should do everything within your power to save it. - Every time we see someone taking one of these out, we cringe a little bit. - Re-design your Build if you have to. If you can come up with a way to work around the rear heat unit and incorporate it, you will thank yourself later! These were designed to keep a bus full of school kids warm in sub-zero temperatures. They are remarkably efficient, useful, and a great backup if you run out of fuel for your primary heating unit.

It goes without saying that Effectively Insulating your vehicle is the biggest step you can take to keep your bus nice and toasty. - Yes, it is time consuming. It's expensive and, frankly, it isn't much fun, especially since you have to do it at the beginning of your Build when you really want to be doing other stuff. It is, however, well worth every dollar and every hour invested, especially if you plan to spend time in colder climates. Have a look at our Insulation Tutorial for our thoughts and recommendations.

Regardless of what you drive, a Diesel Heater is a good choice. A 5KW unit is more than enough for a Van or a Shortie, and the 8KW version will heat a Full Size Skoolie (though some choose to put one 5k in front and another in the back). They are surprisingly light on fuel and power use, making them the most efficient way to stay warm. Additionally, it's a dry heat, so there are no concerns about condensation. They are more quiet than you might assume (when equipped with a muffler), and while we've heard a few comments about odor, most people say they can't smell it at all. Perhaps the largest advantage is that the heat can be ducted to direct air at specific parts of your Bus.

The body of the heater lives inside the Rig, but you'll have to cut holes for the intake and exhaust to run through the floor. The install can be tricky, but it's well within the abilities of a decent “DIY-er”. - It does use 12v power, but it's a relatively minimal draw. You can figure about a gallon (almost 4 Liters) per day for regular use in a larger Bus (cold climates), and substantially less than that in a Smaller Rig. They come with a small fuel container, but can also be hooked directly to your Vehicle Fuel Tank.

Even if it’s not your primary source of heat, we strongly advise everyone get a Mr. Buddy Heater (Click Image). They're inexpensive, portable, scalable, and surprisingly efficient. They run on 1 pound propane bottles. - Perfect if you're “propane free” in your Build, but it can also be connected to an existing Propane System or larger bottle (with an adapter). - If you're in a smaller Rig, this might be the only heat source you ever need, and they will hold their own in a Short Bus, Airport Shuttle, or Class C RV (as long as you’re not scaling Mt. Denali in January).

Even if you're in a full size Skoolie it's a good idea to have one or two of these as a backup. Again, Follow The Weather, and you may find that you rarely need your other heat source, if at all. Additionally, don't discount the fact that they can be packed away when not in use. There's minimal impact on your Build Design, and you can have heat (or extra heat) whenever and wherever you need it.

Tech Tip: You can refill one pound propane bottles with this adapter (Click Image). It's much cheaper to purchase propane in larger amounts. - Using a Buddy Heater as our primary heat source, a one pound bottle will last 3-4 nights, with temps in the 30s.

There will be condensation from any Propane Heater, and some folks are uncomfortable using a portable propane heater indoors due to Carbon Monoxide (CO). - The solution to both of these concerns is to “vent”. We place the heater in front of a window slightly cracked open (2-3 inches) or under a partially open roof vent. Sure, there is minor heat loss, but it's a small price to pay, and hardly noticeable. - You'll want Carbon Monoxide detectors for safety, and it's a good idea to get a portable, rechargeable dehumidifier.

If aesthetics are your thing, Dickinson Marine makes a beautiful Direct Vent Propane Heater that looks and feels like a fireplace. They're not exactly cheap, but they pack a lot of heat into a small space, and with a great look! This is a good option if you like the idea of a wood-stove but not the idea of cutting, purchasing, and storing wood. It's sort of the best of both worlds. - According to the manufacturer, it will use 1 pound of Propane in 5-7 hours.

Who doesn't love curling up in front of a Wood Stove? It's beautiful, relaxing, and a great way to end the day. - While we've all fallen in love with the idea, and it is an effective way to heat a Skoolie, if you’re considering this as a primary heat source, you should be clear on a few practical matters before you pull the trigger.

1.) Check with your Insurance Company. It can be difficult enough getting insurance for a Skoolie, and with the addition of a wood burning stove (especially a DIY unit) your options will be limited even further. There are companies out there that will do it (varies by state), but be prepared to make some extra phone calls, and potentially pay a little more.

2.) If you're thinking that you will roll up on BLM Land and “gather” enough firewood to keep you warm, you are mistaken. These places have usually been picked clean, and cutting down trees is an absolute no-no! (Wood has to be seasoned / dried for about a year before you burn it anyway.) If you're near an industrial area there is the potential to collect pallets and scrap, but pallets require some major processing (cutting) and tend to only last a few minutes in the fire. - In reality, you will probably wind up buying bundles of firewood from the local big box store more often than not. These will last a day or so, at $4-$5 each.

3.) Add to that the idea that you will need to store and transport wood in your Rig, which is no small spatial concern, especially if this is your primary source of heat.

That being said, Wood Stoves are wonderful! We love them. For a lot of folks they are a pivotal part of the Skoolie Experience, and well worth having. There are ways to overcome all of the issues above. If you want a stove, and you can fit one into your Build, by all means, get one!

Our suggestion would be that you use a Diesel Heater for a primary, and supplement that with a Cubic Mini that you can also fire up on romantic evenings. Click the image to go to the Cubic Mini Site and check out all of the great products they offer.

Another topic that comes up from time to time is Radiant Floor Heat. Full Disclosure: We discussed this idea briefly, but dismissed it due to the operating expense and difficulty of install. It would be absolutely awesome for your floors to be nice and warm, especially for the cold feet crowd, but it will require running a water heater full time, which would be a major power draw. Look into it if you're interested. (there are several videos), but we're going to shy away.

Lots of other things can help keep out the cold. Thermal Curtains, Reflectix, closing off sections of the Rig, and even parking with windows facing the sun. Be sure your windows are sealed, or even consider replacing school bus windows with RV windows.(Click the image to see various sizes.

What's it gonna cost?: Since the outside temperatures you face will vary greatly, as will how, and at what price, you acquire Fuel/Propane/Wood, so will your operating costs. - We budget $40/month for Propane, between our Buddy Heater and Portable cook tops, but we almost never use it all. A Vanlifer friend tells us that her 5KW Diesel Heater takes more than a week to go through 2.6 gallons, and another friend uses almost a gallon a day in his 40 foot pusher.

At well under $100 the Buddy Heater is the cheapest to purchase, followed by a Diesel Heater at $150-$700. A Wood Stove can cost anywhere from $400-$1500 up front, and perhaps a couple hundred more for the full installation (DIY).

Ultimately it comes down to the specifics of your Build, and your personal habits. A Diesel Heater is almost always the best choice for primary, but if you love curling up in front of the fire, and have a great source of wood, there's no reason you can't go with a Cubic Mini or other wood stove. Just be sure you have an additional heat source ready to go. - If you're in a Van or a Shortie a 5KW Diesel will be more than enough, but if you don't want to bother with the install or a separate fuel tank, get a Buddy Heater and see how it goes. You can easily add a second or jump to a Diesel Heater later if needed.

Stay Safe and Stay Warm!

-Skoolie Supply

Quick Links:

Start The Engine - Establishing a Budget - Making a Living on The Road - Choosing a Rig - Do I Need A CDL? - Designing a Skoolie Build - Step By Step Build Order - Skoolie Toolbox - Doing a Build On The Cheap - 10 Tips to Save Power and Money - Skoolie Build Ideas - Solar 101 - “Inverter/Charger/Switch” or 3 Separate Devices - Simple Solar - Solar Cheat Sheet - Step by Step Solar - Water Setup - Propane Setup - Skoolie, Van, & RV Air Conditioning DE_Mystified! - Skoolie Heating - Insulation - Digital Nomad Connectivity - Choosing a Domicile State - Converting a Commercial Title - Van, Skoolie, and RV Insurance - Camping Clubs, Subscriptions, and Passes - Road-Skool / Home-School - The Simple Skoolie Kitchen

Jump To Page:

Home - Tutorials - Solar - Cooking - Refrigeration - Water - HVAC - Tech - RV Accessories - Gear - Swag.