So this year is going to be different at my local ski hill (thanks covid19) and the lodge will only be accessible for restroom access so I have been looking into some method of keeping the D2 warm without running the engine.

Couple solutions that I found...

1) Webasto makes a heater that runs on gas; the only catch is that its expensive and probably a b***h to install.

2) Chinese 2KW diesel heater; much cheaper and look a D2 specific implementation...


Long story short I ordered the parts last night and plan to build out the project!

Has anyone used something similar in their D2 or have any suggestions on improving the quality/safety of the build?

 

I have zero experience but very interested to see how this works out!!

 

Not exactly the same, but I came across this video update last night from one of my favorite channels. Thought I would share this:

 

Purchased items thus far...

Renoster 2000W 12V Air Diesels heating planar Parking Heater 2KW Metal Diesel Parking Heater remote control Car Camping Van
All 3d printable parts

I ordered the 3d printable parts through Treatstock in ABS with 30% infill and I don't really know much about 3d printing but I read that ABS is best suited for applications where strength, ductility, machinability and thermal stability are required so we'll give it a shot!

 

@gecko951 and I were discussing this on a another thread before a specific one was created. I’ve got an “all in one” 2kW model that I use to heat my roof top tent. I’m happy to give input on any questions there might be. My experience has been pretty positive but you have to be willing to work and play around with them (much like the D2, now that I think of it!) to get them to work for you. YouTube is your friend here so do a bunch of research/video watching before you commit. The all in one model works OK for me, I know it wouldn’t be perfect going in but was willing to trade that for an assembled solution right out of the box. Now that I have it, truth be told I might take it apart and rebuild it in a more convenient form factor but that won’t be for a while.

Here are my highlights:
1) The 2kW model is plenty to heat a vehicle or tent. I think the 5kW would be better for a workshop or large RV. I run mine pretty low and run the air through a 3” dryer duct which I’m sure dumps out a lot of heat along the way and it’s still plenty warm for me.
2) It’s very good on fuel, I think mine has a 5L tank and I would bet it would last for a full 24 hours on a low setting.
3) It needs 12V, and consumes about 9amps on initial start up for 5 minutes and again on shutdown for about 1 minute to run the glow plug. When it’s in steady state operation it draws about 1amp (again, on a low setting), but not much more when you crank it up. All that’s running most of the time is a motor to shift the air.
4) Some videos make the ticking of the fuel pump out to be loud and annoying, but I can barely hear it. I don’t know if I got a “good” one or what.

 

I have done a ton of research on these as well, you need to run them at full bore every now and then to prevent carbon build up. A couple of minutes at start and before shut down helps

 

Hurray! My 3d printed parts are complete and enroute!

 

I had a Webasto block heater many years ago for my VW van and they are great for pre-warming the engine and heating the cab. No more cold starts, frozen or fogged windows and an ice cold cab in winter. Unfortunately I had to sell the van because I couldn't take it to the US. I installed it myself within a day and is was very easy. The heater is the size of a brick and fits into the engine compartment easily. You cut the input coolant hose to the cab heater, put the block heater in between, tap the fuel line, feed cables into the cab for the fan and the head unit and connect it to the battery.

Somewhere I saw a pic with a installed block heater in a D2. It was installed where the air pump for the SAI sits. If you don't have SAI, then it should be very easy.

$859 sounds expensive, but they were more than $1,200 twenty years ago. It comes with a timer, so you can set the start time of the heater. There are also remotes available.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Webasto-GAS...C/332856432390

 

Nice, that Webasto heater looks like quality kit and would probably be worth the $$$ for the clean, factory-like installation.

 

Just googled some pictures. This is the best picture I found showing the installation of a Webasto in a D2, V8, LHD.