Yep we use one, they can be very effective. They are very heavy on the batteries that you use to power them. We use a dedicated house battery just for the heater. They are far more effective if you run a hose out of the tent to the inlet of the heater as well (as well as a hose from the heater to the tent) so you are heating air from the tent, rather than warming cooler outside air continually.
We have never had any comments, but we tend to avoid busy sites. Just take care the exhaust fumes cannot enter the tent, and use a Carbon Monoxide alarm.
The MH diesel heaters are audible several pitches away, from within our MH (ie more soundproof than a tent). Audible enough to disturb us on an otherwise totally silent rural site. But was I going to knock on doors at 11:30pm? Of course not.
They can be smelly too. Not so nice for you or others sitting outside downwind.
My car is diesel, advice is to wear disposable gloves when filling up, you really don’t want it on your skin.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 11/3/2026
The MH diesel heaters are audible several pitches away, from within our MH (ie more soundproof than a tent). Audible enough to disturb us on an otherwise totally silent rural site. But was I going to knock on doors at 11:30pm? Of course not.
They can be smelly too. Not so nice for you or others sitting outside downwind.
My car is diesel, advice is to wear disposable gloves when filling up, you really don’t want it on your skin.
Might be the case with older ones as the latest ones can't be heard in the pitch next door.
ftat
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Well we learn something every day. I have never heard of a portable diesel heater before. I'm quite used to them in truck cabs and in motor-homes or boats, but one for use in a tent is a new one to me. Where do you get the fuel supply and what do you do with the exhaust?
There are now dozens available from about £80 and are about the size of a small suitcase. They use normal diesel, road, marine or agricultural so easily available. Exhaust is via a flexi pipe which must be routed outside.
IMHO handy for garden sheds, possible motorhomes and boats, but not something I'd use in a tent, not least because they do need a power supply for the pump, control system and fan.
If its too cold for camping spend on high quality clothing.
Quote: Originally posted by daveyjp on 12/3/2026
There are now dozens available from about £80 and are about the size of a small suitcase. They use normal diesel, road, marine or agricultural so easily available. Exhaust is via a flexi pipe which must be routed outside.
IMHO handy for garden sheds, possible motorhomes and boats, but not something I'd use in a tent, not least because they do need a power supply for the pump, control system and fan.
If its too cold for camping spend on high quality clothing.
I have installed one in a boat and that was relatively easy. I just tapped into the engine's diesel supply and the boat's electrical system. The exhaust was a flexible metal pipe that went to a fitting in the hull. I wouldn't want a portable version because of the problem of having to carry fuel and a battery to run the electrics, and then getting rid of the diesel fumes.
Quote: Originally posted by daveyjp on 12/3/2026
There are now dozens available from about £80 and are about the size of a small suitcase. They use normal diesel, road, marine or agricultural so easily available. Exhaust is via a flexi pipe which must be routed outside.
IMHO handy for garden sheds, possible motorhomes and boats, but not something I'd use in a tent, not least because they do need a power supply for the pump, control system and fan.
If its too cold for camping spend on high quality clothing.
I have installed one in a boat and that was relatively easy. I just tapped into the engine's diesel supply and the boat's electrical system. The exhaust was a flexible metal pipe that went to a fitting in the hull. I wouldn't want a portable version because of the problem of having to carry fuel and a battery to run the electrics, and then getting rid of the diesel fumes.
I think you have probably nailed the big disadvantages there Colin. Fitting into a vehicle, be it a boat or a campervan brings a large ready supply of both fuel and battery power, with a turnkey instant use. A standalone 'portable' heater with a tent is a lot less convenient with its weight/bulk to transport, it's fuel supply via replenished jerry cans every day or so, keeping the sizeable battery sufficiently charged if not running on mains power, so probably a solar panel setup (possibly not up to the task under dull winter skies!), not to mention siting and 'plumbing' pipes into/out of a tent in a safe and convenient manner every trip, you'll maybe also be going outside to adjust the heater settings if sited external to the tent (I wouldn't want it inside with me!).
If you have mains via EHU, then surely the trusty silent running Oil Filled Radiator has to be the first choice if heating is required, a fan heater is the second choice with of course a certain amount of fan noise. Many campers prefer to keep themselves warm with appropriate clothing and bedding rather than attempt to heat the environment.
My preferred method in my caravan is a cheap convector heater. It's thermostatically controlled, makes no noise apart from the occasional click when the thermostat operates, and doesn't take up much space. We are always on EHU and I find that if I leave it on the 1kw setting that is more than adequate. It would probably be ok in a tent too. It's also perfectly safe to leave on overnight. No way would I want a diesel heater in a tent, and I'm not sure I'd want one in my caravan either. Far too much bother with fuel supply. Ideal in a motor-caravan, camper-van or a boat because of the readily available fuel supply.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 13/3/2026
If you have mains via EHU, then surely the trusty silent running Oil Filled Radiator has to be the first choice if heating is required, a fan heater is the second choice with of course a certain amount of fan noise.
I respectfully disagree in that my first and ONLY choice for heating inside a tent when I was a tenter was a fan heater with no more than 2kW with dual power output and variable fan speed, as an oil filled radiator would take way too long to heat up a tent from cold.
DK
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 13/3/2026
If you have mains via EHU, then surely the trusty silent running Oil Filled Radiator has to be the first choice if heating is required, a fan heater is the second choice with of course a certain amount of fan noise.
I respectfully disagree in that my first and ONLY choice for heating inside a tent when I was a tenter was a fan heater with no more than 2kW with dual power output and variable fan speed, as an oil filled radiator would take way too long to heat up a tent from cold.
DK
I've used a fan heater in a tent, and in the caravan for a bit of 'instant' heat too, the fan noise from mine is not that intrusive IMHO, but many seem to be unable to sleep with the fan noise, so the suggestion of the Oil Filled Radiator. Many have inbuilt timers, so it can be set to heat tent in good time for actual occupation, but the speed of heating a space is indeed significantly different between the two types.
Portable diesel heaters with their own built in tank are available. They are frugal - we had a standalone tank for the one in our last van. They'll run for hours on a decent portable power bank.
I'm considering one of the decent portable ones for my Kangoo. Output ducted through a insert fitted in the window & powered by my Ecoflow power bank.
I'm also converting the big van from gas heating that runs from an underslung tank to diesel. In winter the heater chews through gas offgrid & places to refill can be days away.
Could you fit a stove jack and get a wood burning tent stove if your tent is suitable? Certainly silent and lovely on an autumn/winter/spring night and you can cook on it as well
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Topic: Diesel heaters
via mobile 09/3/2026 at 10:15pm
