Ok so i run a service truck and for a long time took care of a homeless / vanlife community. The people doing the vanlife / trailer thing have been using these cheap 'chinese diesel heaters' that are basically knock-offs of something called a Wabasto which you may have heard of.

I got the 8kw unit (yes i know its only a 5kw irl) which is entirely too much heat for a single cab truck. I had to think about how i wanted to install it for a while and came up with this.

The heater is installed in one of my side boxes. The plumbing goes down through the leg of the box and also has a 1/4" line vented inside to create positive pressure inside (avoid my other tools getting moisture pulled onto them).



From the box, the hot air goes down a radius curved duct (diy welded tubing) through the leg. Inside the leg is a T (diy tubing) with one end poking out for aux heat. Eg. Hands, tools, parts, engines.

Below the 1st outlet which is controlled by a simple cap is a blend door inside the manufacturer provided T (modified with diy door and lever).



The lever (which is hard to see, follow green bungee) controls my front/rear mix. This allows me to bleed off air or even send it all to the rear for my trailer.

To go through the cab, i had to make a pass-through flange.






Unfortunately due to the level my deck sits at, i couldn't clear the cargo trays and had to also pass through that.



That position works ok but i put a couple pieces of 2x5 tubing between middle seat bench and back to allow for air flow. Ill replace those with something less mad max in the future.

I mounted the fuel tank on other side after painting it with enamel for UV protection. Obviously had to leave a level viewer on it as well.




Im really proud of this install. It borrowed from almost every one of my mechanical skill sets and challenged me to find an acceptable and practical way to install the unit. For now im using flexible duct but i may build a small brake and make some rigid stuff.