In this luxurious world of modern day caravanning, there is no need to go to bed cold on a freezing night while travelling off-grid. The use of diesel heaters for caravans has exploded over the last few years and with good reason.
Installing a diesel heater can range from an inexpensive DIY install to an outlay of a few thousands dollars with professionals at the helm. If you’re handy on the tools, you get to choose your own adventure!
Here we explore the best diesel heater for caravan set-ups. For you, it may be a Chinese heater off eBay, or you might decide that going for one of the industry giants (Eberspacher or Webasto) is the best way to go.
RELATED POSTS:
• Diesel Heater INSTALL GUIDE →
• Chinese Heater TROUBLESHOOTING →
• Chinese Heater INSTRUCTIONS →
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.
How to Choose a Caravan Diesel Heater
Choosing a diesel heater is going to be a very personal decision based on your own skills, budget, needs and situation. Here are some things to consider when choosing a caravan diesel heater.
Power Output
In Australia, the common caravan diesel heater sizes vary from 2kW to 5kW. Getting the correct size diesel heater for your space is going to mean the difference between being too hot or not hot enough.
Obviously the higher the kilowatts, the more powerful the heater is. The 2kW diesel heaters are perfect for caravans under 21ft, while the 5kW heaters are good for larger vans above 21-24 ft.
However, if you’ve got a pop-top or expander caravan with canvas, you can expect to loose heat at a much faster rate. You may want to consider the 2.2kW or 4kW diesel heater if you feel that colder climates and canvas are going to be extra factors contributing to being cold on the road.
| If you’re on the fence with which caravan diesel heater size to choose, consider this: You can always turn a 5kW heater down if it’s too hot. You can’t turn the 2kW up any higher when it’s already running at max capacity in the High Country and you’re still freezing! |
Take yourself through the decision tree below to help choose the best size caravan diesel heater for your set-up.
Keep in mind that all diesel heaters need to be run on high from time to time, to burn off any carbon build-up.
With a 2kW, you’re more lightly to run it on max, being a smaller unit. But with the 5kW being such a powerful unit (those things really pack some heat!), you’re more likely to run it on a lower setting. It’s not a big deal, it just means you need to periodically switch it to high to allow it to do a burn-off.
Price
There’s no doubt about it, budget is going to play a big factor is choosing a caravan diesel heater. Have a look at the general pricing below, to give you an idea.
| 2kW | 4 – 5kW | |
|---|---|---|
| CHINESE Diesel Heater | From $138 | From $165 |
| BELEIF Diesel Heater | From $1,150 | From $1,310 |
| AUTOTERM Diesel Heater | From $1,436 | – |
| WEBASTO Diesel Heater | From $1,720 | – |
| EBERSPACHER Diesel Heater | From $2,349 | From $3,999 |
| TRUMA Diesel Heater | From $3,349 | – |
If you only have a few hundred bucks to spend, but still want to enjoy the diesel heater perks, head on over to eBay and take your pick. Sure, the Chinese eBay diesel heaters can get a bit of a bad rap, but to be honest, they also get raving reviews from many happy customers.
We had a Chinese diesel heater in our van and I thought it was great. Admittedly we did have an initial error code, which we had to figure out for ourselves and fix.
The downfall with buying a diesel heater off eBay is that you haven’t got any customer service or aftercare to rely on. For this reason, I’m more inclined to recommend the eBay diesel heaters to those who are handy with mechanical problem solving themselves. Not to mention the notoriously bad instructions, that the Chinese heaters come with!
If you’ve got a larger budget in mind for your diesel heater, you may opt for one of the more expensive brands in order to get a solid warranty and helpful customer service with aftercare for your product.
Size & Weight
If you’re trying to lose a few kilos… in the caravan that is, then going for the lightest diesel heater might be the determining factor for you.
There is almost a 6kg difference between the lightest heater (2.6kg) and the heaviest (8.5kg) and that’s without considering the 16.2kg Truma! That 6kg combined with all of your other payload really can be make or break.
To read more on working out your caravan weights, check out the article below.
Although the size of many caravan diesel heaters are fairly similar to each other, if you’ve only got a skimpy space to slot it into, the dimensions may become all the more important.
You can see all of the weights and sizes in the chart below for an easy comparison.
Best Diesel Heater for Caravan Comparison Table
| kW | Weight | Size (mm) | Fuel (L/hr) | Price (AUD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBAY CHINESE | 2kW 5kW | 7 – 8.5kg 7 – 8.5kg | 340 x 115 x 115 390 x 145 x 145 | 0.11 – 0.51 0.11 – 0.51 | From $138 From $165 |
| BELIEF | 2kW 5kW | 2.6kg 4.5kg | 323 x 121 x 120 371 x 150 x 140 | 0.12 – 0.24 0.11 – 0.51 | From $1,150 From $1,310 |
| AUTOTERM | 2kW | 6.5kg | 310 x 145 x 119 | 0.10 – 0.24 | From $1,436 |
| WEBASTO | Single Outlet Twin Outlet | 2.6kg 2.6kg | 317 x 121 x 120 | 0.12 – 0.24 0.12 – 0.24 | From $1,720 From $1,839 |
| EBERSPACHER | 2.2kW 4kW | 2.7kg 4.5kg | 310 x 122 x 115 371 x 150 x 140 | 0.10 – 0.28 0.11 – 0.51 | From $2,349 From $3,999 |
| TRUMA | Combi | 16.2kg | 525 x 450 x 300 | 0.22 – 0.63 | From $3,349 |
Best Caravan Diesel Heater for:
✔️ PRICE = eBay Heaters
✔️ SIZE = Webasto
✔️ WEIGHT = Webasto
✔️ FUEL USAGE = Autoterm
✔️ QUALITY = Eberspacher
✔️ KIT INCLUSIONS = eBay Heaters
✔️ BANG FOR BUCK = Belief
Below are all of the best caravan diesel heater options sorted by brand and model. Have a browse through and compare so that you can choose the best diesel heater for your caravan based upon your own needs and wants.
EBAY CHINESE Diesel Heaters
The Chinese diesel heaters from eBay are the most affordable and accessible caravan heaters on the market. If you’re handy on the tools and have a basic understanding of electrics, I would hands-down recommend a Chinese heater!
Granted, you’ll be left to your own devices to install the unit and sort through any troubleshooting. Plus, there is always a small chance of getting a dodgy unit, since the quality just isn’t going to be as good as the European industry giants.
But as I say, you can buy over 10 Chinese heaters for every 1 Eberspacher!
Here are some handy Chinese diesel heater Facebook groups:
eBay 2kW Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.11 – 0.51 L/hr |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +50℃ |
| Size | 340 x 115 x 115mm |
| Weight | 7 – 8.5kg |
| Warranty | 1 – 3 years (varies) |
➤ eBay: From $138 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system
- Air intake pipe & cover
- Fuel line, pump, filter & shock clip
- Duct & vents
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- LCD monitor & remote control
- 10 – 15L diesel tank
- Instructions
eBay 5kW Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.11 – 0.51 L/hr |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +50℃ |
| Size | 390 x 145 x 145mm |
| Weight | 7 – 8.5kg |
| Warranty | 1 – 3 years (varies) |
➤ eBay: From $165 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system
- Air intake pipe & cover
- Fuel line, pump, filter & shock clip
- Duct & vents
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- LCD monitor & remote control
- 10 – 15L diesel tank
- Instructions
BELIEF Diesel Heaters
Belief are one of the original and best diesel heaters to come out of China. Although it’s easy to mistakenly bundle these units in with the ‘cheap eBay diesel heaters’ that we talk about, the Belief brand is actually in a totally different league.
These guys are the real deal, but at a much more reasonable price compared with their German and Russian competitors. With all of the same sensors, safety features, motor designs and warranty as the big name brands, you get the benefits of a high quality diesel heater for less.
Available in the Belief Diesel Heater range:
- 2kW
- 2.2kW
- 4kW
- 5kW
Below we compare the 2kW and 5kW Belief diesel heaters.
Belief 2kW Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.12 – 0.24 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 1.2 – 2.2 (amps @ 12v) |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +20℃ |
| Size | 323 x 121 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,150 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Stainless exhaust system
- Inlet air silencer & air pipe
- Fuel pump, mount, silencers, line & connectors
- Duct & vents
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Rotary controller
- Instructions & user manual
*Fuel tank sold separately.
Belief 5kW Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.11 – 0.51 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 0.7 – 3.3 (amps @ 12v) |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +20℃ |
| Size | 371 x 150 x 140 mm |
| Weight | 4.5 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,310 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Stainless exhaust system
- Inlet air silencer & air pipe
- Fuel pump, mount, silencers, line & connectors
- Duct & vents
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Rotary controller
- Instructions & user manual
*Fuel tank sold separately.
AUTOTERM Diesel Heaters
Autoterm claim to be Europe’s quietest diesel heater, which are now available in Australia. These diesel heaters are produced in Russia using state of the art staff and production methods from former Russian Space and Military programs.
Each heater is put through a one-hour computer-controlled testing cycle, to make sure that each one is of the highest quality standard before being packaged and sold. In addition, one heater is chosen randomly from each batch, then put through a 3000-hour computer-controlled test.
What sets Autoterm apart from the rest:
- Silent pump – reducing noise output by 95%
- Brushless fan motor – provides more torque & extended motor lifetime
- Stepless fan speed – chooses fan speed required to achieve best heater temperature, helps to maintain room temperature
- Balanced fan – prevents noise & vibration
- Air intake silencer – keeps the heater quiet
So, if rigorous testing and high quality is what you’re looking for in a diesel heater before handing over your hard-earned cash, Autoterm is the way to go.
Available in the Autoterm Diesel Heater range:
- 2kW (12v) – with Rotary Controller
- 2kW (12v) – with Digital Controller
Autoterm 2kW Diesel Heater (with Rotary Controller)
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.10 – 0.24 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 10W – 29W |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ |
| Size | 310 x 145 x 119 mm |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,436 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system & mounting kit
- Exhaust pipe (1m)
- Exhaust heat insulation (45cm)
- Air intake hose (65cm), silencer (18cm)
- Air intake grill & heater vent
- Fuel pump, rubber brackets, line (10m)
- Fuel standpipe (68cm)
- Ducting (1.2m)
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Power cable & fuses
- Rotary controller & 1.8m cable
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately.
Autoterm 2kW Diesel Heater (with Digital Controller)
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.10 – 0.24 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 10W – 29W |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ |
| Size | 310 x 145 x 119 mm |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,522 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system & mounting kit
- Exhaust pipe (1m)
- Exhaust heat insulation (45cm)
- Air intake hose (65cm), silencer (18cm)
- Air intake grill & heater vent
- Fuel pump, rubber brackets, line (10m)
- Fuel standpipe (68cm)
- Ducting (1.2m)
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Power cable (6.5m) & fuses
- Digital controller & cable (1.8m)
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately.
WEBASTO Diesel Heaters
Webasto has been in the innovative automotive industry for well over 100 years (since 1901). Across the board, they offer heating and cooling systems, as well as charging and battery systems. Webasto is well-known for being one of the world market leaders in parking heaters.
Available in the Webasto Diesel Heater range:
- Single outlet (12v)
- Twin outlet (12v)
Webasto Single Outlet Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.12 – 0.24 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 9W – 22W |
| Size | 317 x 121 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,839 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system, silencer & pipe (0.8m)
- Air outlets & vents
- Air intake & grill
- Fuel pump kit & harness (7m)
- Fuel connector, clamps, filter & line (6m)
- Ducting (1m)
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately. Not all kits include remote control (check before purchase).
Webasto Twin Outlet Diesel Heater
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.12 – 0.24 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 9W – 22W |
| Size | 317 x 121 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $1,980 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Exhaust system, silencer & pipe (0.8m)
- Air outlets & vents
- Air intake & grill
- Fuel pump kit & harness (7m)
- Fuel connector, clamps, filter & line (6m)
- Ducting (2m)
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately. Not all kits include remote control (check before purchase).
EBERSPACHER Diesel Heaters
Eberspacher are renowned for being the original and the best when it comes to diesel heaters across the board. These heaters are German-made, extremely reliable and have the best high altitude performance. You can feel confident when buying an Eberspacher, as they’ve been around since 1865 and are still very much dominating the industry today.
The new Eberspacher D2L model includes:
- Easy Start Pro digital controller
- Brushless motor with longer service life & stepless power control
- Super quiet fuel pump (no ticking)
- Quieter fan
- Longer service life
- Built-in altitude sensor up to 3000m
If you come across Dometic or Airtronic diesel heaters, you can rest easy knowing that you are in fact looking at Eberspachers. While Dometic are one of the Australian distributors for Eberspacher, Airtronic is simply a different brand name for the same thing.
Available in the Eberspacher Diesel Heater range:
- 2.2kW – AS2 D2L
- 4kW – AM2 D4R
Eberspacher AS2 D2L Diesel Heater (2.2kW)
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.10 – 0.28 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 6W – 31W |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +70℃ |
| Size | 310 x 122 x 115 mm |
| Weight | 2.7 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $2,099 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Stainless steel exhaust system, silencer & pipe (2m)
- Fuel pump
- Fuel line (6m) & T piece kit
- Combustion intake pipe
- Ducting (1m)
- Inlet/ outlet grills
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Easy Start Pro controller
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately.
Eberspacher AM2 D4R Diesel Heater (4kW)
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.11 – 0.51 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 6W – 65W |
| Operational Temp | -40℃ to +70℃ |
| Size | 371 x 150 x 140 mm |
| Weight | 4.5 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $3,399 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Diesel heater
- Mounting plate
- Stainless steel exhaust system, silencer & pipe (2m)
- Fuel pump
- Fuel line (6m) & T piece kit
- Combustion intake pipe
- Ducting (2m)
- Inlet/ outlet grills
- Wiring loom & mounting hardware
- Easy Start Pro controller
- Instructions
*Fuel tank sold separately.
TRUMA Diesel Heaters
Truma have been marketing accessories for caravans and motorhomes in Europe since 1949. It’s inception began with a simple gas lamp, but has since extended out to heaters, air conditioners, hot water systems and more.
There is one diesel heater in the Truma range, however it differs from all of the other models we’ve looked at here. The Truma Combi is a diesel-run heater, which not only heats the air, but is a hot water heater all in one.
These heaters are specifically designed for larger vans and will even work while you’re driving. You do have the option to just heat the water in summer, without heating the air as well.
Chances are that you’ve already got a fully-functioning gas hot water system in your van and people rarely like to tamper with something that is already working well. In addition, your diesel consumption will go up dramatically if you’re using it to heat your hot water every day, as well as the air in your van. However, you will be cutting the cost of gas, so that is something you’d have to weigh up.
There’s no doubt about it, the Truma Combi Diesel Heater will not suit most people, but it’s still a great unit and the option is always there if you so choose.
Truma Combi D6 Diesel Heater/ Hot Water System
| Voltage | 12 volt |
| Fuel Consumption | 0.22 – 0.63 (L/hour) |
| Power Consumption | 1.8A – 7A |
| Size | 525 x 450 x 300 mm |
| Weight | 16.2 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
➤ CaravanRVCamping: From $3,349 AUD →
Kit Includes:
- Combi heater
- 4 x hot air outlets
- 4 x duct clamps
- Air intake grill
- White wall cowl
- Digital control panel
- Instructions
Not included:
- Fuel tank
- Exhaust piping
- Heating ducting
Diesel Heater FAQs
The length of time you can run your diesel heater will be dependent on the size of your diesel tank, plus how many litres per hour you’re going through (which can vary).
If you’re averaging 0.20L/hr and have a 10L diesel tank, you can expect to get around 50 hours of running time out of the tank. However, this figure will continuously fluctuate based on your diesel heater settings.
Just like an air conditioning unit, diesel heaters can be noisy. The cheap Chinese ones are among the noisiest, especially if you mount the pump along your chassis without any dampening, which will cause the ‘ticking’ noise inside the van.
When you first start up the diesel heater you can expect it to be loud as the fuel pump is priming and the heater gets up to speed. Once it gets going, the fan will slow down and won’t be so noisy.
If you’re worried about the noise inside the van or throughout the campground, opt for an Eberspacher, Webasto or Autoterm. These more superior brands include brushless motors, quieter fuel pumps and balanced fans, which all help to significantly reduce the noise.
Diesel heaters in caravans are considered very safe. All of the fumes are emitted through the exhaust system outside of the caravan and the heater unit itself should never be hot to touch. Many of the heaters have an inbuilt auto shut-off if the unit’s temperature increases above a certain level.
To reduce any risk of carbon monoxide building up in the van, always keep the standard air vents clean and clear. Even on a cold night, the air needs to naturally circulate.
Under the bed or under the dinette seating is generally the best location for the diesel heater unit to sit. That keeps the unit permanently mounted out of the way and all you’ll see are the air inlet and outlet vents.
Currently, there are no Australian made diesel heaters, however many of the units come from Russia and Germany and are of the highest quality.
Travel Essentials
Travel Planning Tools
| TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES |
|---|
| ✔️ Checklists → 💲 Budget Spreadsheets → ✏️ Planners & Guides → |
PIN IT for later!
please supply me with a list of metal diesel heater tanks that I can place externally and can carry 10-12litres or more and I can receive ASAP
I have a Chinese heater under the bed installed professionally by Canterbury caravan with a 10 litre plastic (white tank).that has since cracked.
replacement area is Same size as 10litre white plastic tank.
your help and assistance is vital in connecting with a reliable organisation/company to purchase a metal diesel external heater tank.
your truly
Hi Michael, have a look on eBay for Metal Jerry Cans, there should be plenty available. You’ll then just need to add a fuel pickup to your fuel line.