Retrofit a diesel-fired heating system?

[Pete Masterson]

In the 'history' section at Vintage Birds, they show the info for
each year. 1994 shows "Primus heat" and 1995 shows "AquaHot".
However, it's my understanding that some 'birds may have had a
Webasto system around the mid-90s.

The AquaHot was in all models, BMC, 40' and 42' models, (the 40' had
the DD 8v92, the 42' the DD Series 60 engine). The 1994 listing shows
Primus for the 40' and doesn't name the furnace brand in the BMC
version.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Newberry Springs, CA



On Dec 6, 2008, at 5:13 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

> What year did Birds start having these?
>
>
> --- 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
>>>
>>
>
>
>
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