Photo by Adventure_Photo via iStock
I’ve been using a diesel heater for some time now, and I honestly can’t imagine camping and overlanding without one. The days of being cold are over with the instant, dry heat of a diesel heater!
Even if you don’t do much (or any) cold weather camping, having a diesel heater in your kit is a fantastic amenity for those chilly summer nights while camping. I’ve been in some hot spots over the years – Death Valley among them – and even in locations like that, a heater is often necessary at night.
So, what are the top diesel heaters of 2022? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
- Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Air Heater
- Sparks Overland Diesel Heater
- Webasto AT 2000 Diesel Heater
- Eberspacher Espar Airtronic Diesel Heater
- Planar Heaters 2kw Diesel Air Heater
Top Diesel Heaters of 2022: Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Air Heater
This 4kw portable diesel air heater from Planar Heaters is a self-contained unit that comes with everything you need to get instant, dry heat in your tent, camper, van, or other sleeping accommodations.
The bright yellow case is easy to see at night and offers crushproof protection and rain resistance, so you don’t have to worry about tough weather conditions causing it harm.
This is a dual-fuel unit and runs on either diesel or kerosene, both of which require 12-volt power as well. Either way, you can enjoy dry heat for about eight hours from roughly one gallon of fuel.
Planar has equipped this portable diesel heater with a silencer to minimize noise. There’s an air intake filter to keep the unit breathing, and a remote wired controller is included so you can adjust the heater’s output without having to get out of bed. That’s a nice touch!
As I explain in the video above, I’ve had this unit for about a year now, and I’ve used it in all sorts of conditions in all kinds of locations. Each time, it’s worked like a charm and provided instant dry heat for my rooftop tent. And with 4kw of power available, there’s enough output to heat my tent and a buddy’s tent at the same time.
Plus, at 25′ x 19′ x 19′ and 33 pounds empty, this heater is easily portable and doesn’t take up much space in the bed of my Jeep Gladiator. When you’re overlanding, space is at a premium, so gear with a small form factor is appreciated.
All in all, I’ve had a great experience with this heater. The build quality, ease of operation, quiet operation, and incredible heat output are just a few reasons why this heater is on our list of the top diesel heaters of 2022! You can even get a 2kw version (shown above left) if 4kw is too much.
Learn more about the Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Heater
Top Diesel Heaters of 2022: Sparks Overland Diesel Heater
This all-in-one diesel heater option from Sparks Overland is a 5kw unit that puts out a ton of heat.
It uses 12-volt or 110-volt power and includes a built-in .75-gallon fuel tank to keep you warm and toasty with dry heat all night long. In fact, with that much power, this heater is more than enough to heat your tent, your friend’s tent, your annex room, and more!
This unit is built like a tank because it’s specifically designed as an overlanding heater. The unit sits outside your tent, RV, or other sleeping area to provide you with dry heat without the worry of fumes or fire. Since it’s exposed to the elements, the outdoor shell is water resistant for peace of mind.
The unit requires 10 amps to start up and has just a one amp draw. And since everything you need is included (except fuel, of course), the setup couldn’t be simpler.
I’ve had this unit for a few weeks of testing, and so far, it has proven to be an easy-to-use, quiet, and affordable option (it’s currently priced at $800.00). As I just mentioned, setup is super easy, and since it has a small form factor (13.75″ x 10.25″ x 18.5″ and 28 pounds empty), it’s easily portable as well. I also really like that you can plug it into 110-volt power in addition to having the 12-volt option.
I haven’t taken the heater on extended trips yet, but I can tell you that the heat output is impressive. You get all-night warmth with very little fuel. In fact, Sparks Overland states that you can get 3-5 nights of heat on a tank. Not bad!
In other words, in my testing thus far, this heater is certainly worthy of a spot on our list of the best diesel heaters of 2022!
Learn more about the Sparks Overland Diesel Heater
Top Diesel Heaters of 2022: Webasto AT 2000 Diesel Heater
Yet another top option among diesel heaters for your overlanding needs is this Webasto AT 2000 unit.
Unlike the previous two units, this one is not portable. But once you install it in your trailer, RV, boat, or another adventure vehicle, you’ll have cozy, warm heat to enjoy all night long.
This is actually one of the smallest diesel heater units on the market at 14.3″ x 11.1″ x 9.5″ and 14.32 pounds, so it’s ideal for folks like me that have a small tow-behind trailer.
What’s more, this diesel heater is optimized for fuel efficiency so you can run it without worrying how much fuel it will use to keep you warm.
Features include recirculation and fresh air modes, 12-volt operation, quiet operation, and a design that makes service and repair a breeze. The kit includes everything you need to install the heater as well.
Learn more about the Webasto AT 2000 Diesel Heater
Top Diesel Heaters of 2022: Eberspacher Espar Airtronic Diesel Heater
Another small and economical option for installing a heater in your adventure rig is this Eberspacher Espar Airtronic diesel heater.
You get 2.2kw of heating power, which equates to 7,500 BTUs – plenty for your rooftop tent, traditional ground tent, or small trailer.
Like the Webasto heater discussed above, this one also must be installed in your vehicle, but Eberspacher makes it easy to do so in just a few minutes’ time by including all installation elements in the kit.
The heater comes with real-time temperature monitoring, an easy-start 7-day programmable timer, and a stepless motor with a silent fuel pump. You can even use this heater at altitudes up to about 9,800 feet above sea level without an altitude kit.
As you’d expect from Eberspacher, this heater is small and lightweight at 21.5″ x 14.9″ x 8.4″ and 17.16 pounds, so it’s a great option for installation in tight spaces.
Learn more about the Eberspacher Espar Airtronic Diesel Heater
Top Diesel Heaters of 2022: Planar Heaters 2kw Diesel Air Heater
If you don’t need a portable diesel heater and want to install one in your rig, another fine option is this 2kw diesel air heater from Planar Heaters.
I’ve had this heater installed in my Turtleback Expedition Trailer for about a year and a half, and it provides plenty of heat output for my SMRT Summit Suite Rooftop Tent.
Actually, with 2kw of heat output, this heater is more than enough for campers, vans, and boats up to 25 feet in length. Just hook it up to 12-volt or 24-volt power, fill it up with diesel or kerosene, and away you go!
The heater comes with an installation kit, an operating manual, and your choice of an analog or digital controller. Likewise, the heater has a self-adjusting system so you can operate it at elevations ranging from sea level to 8,200 feet.
It’s a small unit, too – 12.76″ x 4.65″ x 4.69″ and 15.7 pounds.
Check out my field test of this heater in the video above to see this bad boy in action!
Learn more about the Planar heaters 2kw Diesel Air Heater
Final Thoughts
With that, you have a few excellent options for getting instant, dry heat for your overlanding adventures. Whether you need something portable or installed in your rig, these heaters are among the best available on the market today.
I encourage you to check these heaters out in more detail, do your due diligence, and invest in one that suits your specific needs. As I said before, I can’t imagine camping without a diesel heater – and once you have one, you won’t be able to imagine it either!