Re-using rear heater

swolfe · 03-09-2021, 05:26 PM

Initially we wanted to take out the rear heater, but got advice from family not to remove it. We were going to cut the hoses and loop them into each other. Is there a way to incorporate the rear heater into the build? It doesn't look safe in my opinion, but I'm a noob. Anything helps, we planned on a wood stove but now I have no idea, and have no clue how I'd even add the heater into the build.

Propane and diesel heating doesn't seem appealing, and neither does electric heating because of the power consumption.

**we used a crowbar and angle grinder to rip up the bolts holding it down.

Johnny Mullet · 03-09-2021, 06:42 PM

I kept my rear heater and built the bed over it and added 3 vents around the bottom of the bed. It's really nice to have heat in the rear of the bus when driving in cold weather.

BarnYardCamp · 03-09-2021, 07:16 PM

I removed the rear heater from my first bus. Big mistake, we made a trip to Mississippi in April and it was unseasonably cold...we really missed having heat.
On my current bus, I plan to move the rear heater forward of the rear wheels. I figure it may come in handy while driving. We won't need heat in the back of the bus unless we are parked, then we'll use shore pwr for heat.

s2mikon · 03-09-2021, 08:53 PM

I removed the rear heater in my first bus a type c gasser and left just the front heater and after a long winter trip the bedroom was cold enough to hang meat in. Luckily it was still in a sea train container with other junk and was re installed. It is a real PIA to add things after they are built. In my current bus I dissembled one of the heaters and made new mounts and mounted it in the bottom of the closet blowing out into the hallway. Makes it nice in the winter while driving.

swolfe · 03-09-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2mikon

In my current bus I dissembled one of the heaters and made new mounts and mounted it in the bottom of the closet blowing out into the hallway. Makes it nice in the winter while driving.

This is a great idea! I'm worried about how hot it gets to the touch as we'll be living in our bus with our 2 children. Do you mind sharing any photos of that setup if you have any?

musigenesis · 03-09-2021, 09:48 PM

The heater that came with your bus will only work (give off heat) when the engine is running. If you want to have heat without running the engine (like, when you're parked), you need to get a separate coolant heater to heat the coolant for that bus heater (without hot coolant running through it, that heater is just a really heavy fan). These coolant heaters are fairly expensive and hooking them up to the system is not simple (although as a side benefit, you can also use them to pre-heat your engine in cold weather).

Quote:

Propane and diesel heating doesn't seem appealing, and neither does electric heating because of the power consumption.

This doesn't really leave anything but wood, but wood stoves are not allowed by insurance companies. You might want to revisit your aversion to diesel - diesel air heaters are cheap, effective and easy to install. You're right that propane and electric blow.

1catlady · 03-10-2021, 01:03 AM

I moved the rear heater to the front ,and made a bench seat to go above. I think it is a good idea to keep it. When I had it out and drove a couple of times this winter it was unbearably cold. I stay toasty now.

s2mikon · 03-10-2021, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swolfe

This is a great idea! I'm worried about how hot it gets to the touch as we'll be living in our bus with our 2 children. Do you mind sharing any photos of that setup if you have any?

I will take pictures today. As for how hot it gets, the coolant out of the engine goes to the cores of the heater and fans blow across that with about 60% or lower heat transfer, plus with the heaters running on a cold day the coolant temperature drops about 20 degrees from normal. Remember these were in school buses with children doing what children do best, dumb things. So it is more than likely safe / idiot proof.

swolfe · 03-10-2021, 07:48 AM

Lmao I keep forgetting these are built FOR children.

cadillackid · 03-10-2021, 08:33 AM

I know you arent into diesel heating but it works well..

in my DXEV bus my rear heater was noisy and had low BTU output so i swapped it out wit ha nice Jegs heater that has round outlets.. they are ductable with 3 inch vents.. so you can locate your heater underr a cabinet and duct the vents where you want it to go..

you should leave access for the heater to intake air and to access the fittings in case you get a leak..

then you can use a diesel coolant heater ..it heats the bus coolant loops so you can use the heater while driving from engine heat as well as when parked..

the diesel heater can be in the engine compartment or under the bus.. you dont have to worry about diesel fumes or fire inside the bus..

Cerax · 03-10-2021, 09:22 AM

For folks who moved rear heaters forward (for use while driving), we're considering doing the same.

Did you still cut and re-attach the coolant lines? I'm assuming if you move it forward 10 feet+, you'll have a lot of excess line to now hide/stow.

Rucker · 03-10-2021, 11:18 AM

I left my rear heater where it was and built the kitchen around it. Keeps my toes toasty.

I probably should have replaced the heater lines, but they looked okay.

I haven't had to relocate a heater, but it's just hoses, so there's no magic. Cut and reconnect, making sure you keep track of which hose went to which inlet/outlet. Wires can be looped.

Everyone else has already pointed out the value of keeping the heater.

ABdriver · 03-17-2021, 08:24 PM

I drive school buses 7 hours a day in Michigan. The original heaters are okay, but they are big, heavy, and loud. Yes they are safe but the older they get, they clog up with sediment and are not as efficient. MANY times a year we have hose clamps loosen, hoses rupture, heater cores split, etc. They WILL make a hot soggy mess on your floors. My conversion will have nice floors when Im done and that nasty heater has already been removed for sure.

nords · 03-19-2021, 09:30 AM

Just a random thought. Would it be possible to route a hot water tank (propane, maybe) with a circulating pump through the heater as a backup heat source when parked? It seems like a cheap way to get heat when you don't need it too often. You would just need a couple of valves to throw when you wanted to switch from hot water to heat.

cadillackid · 03-19-2021, 09:47 AM

You need to make sure you only use it with domestic water and I’d want it non potable water as that heater once had coolant in it. To use hydronics you’ll want an expansion tank.

Simplicity · 03-19-2021, 10:24 AM

As previously mentioned by another school bus driver, hoses do leak/burst.

I removed my hoses and rear and mid heaters. I purchased new heater hose and some hose insulation tubing.

I'm running the hoses under the bus floor along the frame cross-members and to the front heater/defroster. It's more of a safety issue in that a cold driver isn't safe and fogged up windows are not safe.

In the back, I have my Suburban 19k btu propane heater as an auxiliary.

I will add a curtain to go across the back of my drivers seat to isolate the cab area if needed. I'll also use curtains across my bedroom area, where the propane heater is, to keep my sleeping environment comfortable.

This isn't ideal, but I'm only looking to stay in moderate climate areas. Yes, weather is unreliable and cold snaps happen, but I weighed the pros and cons and this was my solution.

The other reason for keeping heaters and long run hoses is that in the Summer, or any over-heating situation, turning on your heaters can help keep your coolant temps down until you can address the over-heating or pull off somewhere safe.

Oh, I'm not sure I'm going to go with a wood stove anymore. I think I'll be adding a second inside rated propane heater, as I have a spare propane connection inside.

Fortunately, I run hot, so having it a bit cool isn't an issue for me. Dress for the weather!

Best of luck.

cadillackid · 03-19-2021, 12:43 PM

I surely would not want any open flame propane heater buring esp in a moving bus duroing cold weather.. that is a recipe for steamed up windows.. if the suburban heater is vented and you dont mind burning propane then its a good option for being parked as well as driving for extra heat..

i like the idea of the coolant lines accessible .. for more armor you can run A/C line (#12) which is mouch more durable and is designed to handle the temperatures of coolant and of course high pressure..

qhile the original main heater lines are 1 inch in a bus you probably dont need near that big unless you are running the complete set of bus heaters and expect hot heat at idle.. a booster pump and the bus water pump together will flow fine through somewhat smaller lines if you are only keeping your front heaters and dont do much idling.. at idle the flow will reduce some and the air wont be as hot..

Simplicity · 03-19-2021, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I surely would not want any open flame propane heater buring esp in a moving bus duroing cold weather.. that is a recipe for steamed up windows.. if the suburban heater is vented and you dont mind burning propane then its a good option for being parked as well as driving for extra heat..

Yes, it's fully vented.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

i like the idea of the coolant lines accessible .. for more armor you can run A/C line (#12) which is mouch more durable and is designed to handle the temperatures of coolant and of course high pressure..

Where was that input when I was searching! lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

While the original main heater lines are 1 inch in a bus you probably dont need near that big unless you are running the complete set of bus heaters and expect hot heat at idle.. a booster pump and the bus water pump together will flow fine through somewhat smaller lines if you are only keeping your front heaters and dont do much idling.. at idle the flow will reduce some and the air wont be as hot..

I do have the booster pump.

Hopefully it will suffice!

nords · 03-19-2021, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

You need to make sure you only use it with domestic water and I’d want it non potable water as that heater once had coolant in it. To use hydronics you’ll want an expansion tank.

That makes sense. It would be better to use a heat exchanger between the two systems. At that point, it may not be worth it.

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