Retrofit a diesel-fired heating system?

[Bill Garamella]

Pete,

The Webasto Thermo 90 is relatively small. I estimate 18" l x 18" h x 8" d. It
weighs less
than 40 lbs with its stainless-steel case. There is no internal plumbing simply
two
radiator hose connections. This assumes the coach is already equipped with the
"coach
heat" that was standard on FCs and PTs through the 80s anyway.

The installation took two of us about one day. Next time around it would be
less.

http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_rv_heaters_821.html

No doubt the funds spent on a unit purchased at retail price and installed by a
shop
would be difficult to directly recapture in a resale. However, it sure won't
hurt as a selling
feature when the time comes. An informed buyer may recognize the value of having
it.

NH Bill
1983 FC "Casa Billisa


-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> There's nothing to stop you from doing it -- given that you have the
> time and money to engage in the effort. In my '95, the AquaHot is
> placed filling part of two bays on the street side. (These are
> shallow bays as the fuel tank is in the center.) You'd need to find
> about 24" x 48" (this is an estimate, I didn't measure) of free space
> in your basement to hold the system.
>
> The big effort would be to thread the tubing for the interior heat
> radiators and to wire in the thermostats. This task would certainly
> be much easier when the RV was in a state of partial construction (or
> otherwise gutted inside) and is likely to be very labor intensive as
> a retrofit. If you were doing serious redecorating (new floor, for
> example) and were to remove all the furnishings, it might be easier
> to manage the retrofit at the same time.
>
> I also note that an Aquahot unit is several thousands of dollars
> (although, used units might be available from a salvage yard).
>
> Frankly, I'd think you'd be better off to 'trade up' your 'bird for
> one that already has a hydronic heating system (either Webasto or
> AquaHot). I note that the retrofit (after the time and expense)
> probably won't add any value to your coach on resale.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Newberry Springs, CA
>
>
>
> On Dec 6, 2008, at 8:30 AM, Scott Forman wrote:
>
> > Has anyone ever retrofitted one of the diesel-fired heating systems to
> > a mid-80's PT? This one one of only a few features of the newer
> > coaches that I really wish I had. It seems to my feeble mind that one
> > should be able to install the unit in a bay and tap in to the loop for
> > the original hot water heaters coming off the engine, but I am no
> > engineer. Any advice on this?
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 86 PT38
> > Memphis
> >
>