need heat in the topper'd bed

[strvger]

got a topper on the bed and everything is insulated and carpeted. now i just need to get some heat back there for the cold weather. i've thought about one of those aftermarket hot water heaters that plumb into the cooling system. also maybe a couple of those 12volt small electric heaters running off the deep cycle battery. kind of afraid to use anything propane while driving. anyone have any suggestions?

hmmm... hope this is the right place for this!

 

[tpking]

http://www.visionaire-inc.com/offroadair/heater/heat.html

 

[strvger]

thanks for the link. book marked it for future reference. too bad they don't list their prices for their stuff.

 

[dogboy]

Would it be possible to put a T in one of your air ducts and run a tube back into the bed? It may not heat the bed enough, yet roast you in the cab at the same time.

 

[RobbieD]

If it's for while driving, or if you run the engine parked, you might consider a rear heat/AC unit that conversion vans use. The rear H/AC units have a blower motor and a heater core which is plumbed into the existing heater lines with T fittings and regular heater hose. Likely can get one cheap from the boneyard, and you can either use the AC section, too, or not hook it up or even remove the evaporator core.

 

[Mark_88]

I was considering a system like the minivans use...just extension lines running into an additional core as someone already mentioned...but I decided against that because I wasn't back there when I was driving...

Are you carrying something that you don't want to freeze or are you planning on camping in the back of your truck? I would go with a small camp heater for the later...they burn clean and usually provide upwards of 8 hours of heat per refill...or you can get one of the big kerosene heaters and roast your weenie at the same time..

 

[strvger]

yeah, it's for the dog while on the road. the winters here in northern Minnesota get way too cold not to have heat back there for her.
i do have a heater core with blower motor already. unfortunately, it's 24 volt from an old army jeep. i could just replace the motor i suppose with one that is 12 volt, but i'm thinking it might be worth way more to some collector as it is.

 

[Mark_88]

Ah...now I understand...lol...definitely too cold where I live to keep a dog in the back too...

Hooking up an extra heater core isn't difficult and could be done in a few hours...but I'd be wanting to put some conduit over the hoses to protect them from road debris...or along the frame rail would be good...up on the side opposite the gas tank since they run that way for the heater box in the cab anyways...you might find that by the time the water gets there it's quite a bit cooler than the ones going to the cab...unless you insulate them...

 

[Jason]

What about using aluminum or copper tubing coated with spray on truck bed liner to run the lines back? That would be as susceptible to road (or trail) damage. Plus, if you coated the pipes heavy they wouldn't lose as much heat on the trip to the back.

 

[strvger]

i'll probably just use the same foam pipe insulation we use on the well water pipes here. just watch it so it doesn't get too close to exhaust or other high heat areas and melt.

 

[red98ranger]

How about crank the heat and open the sliding rear window if you've got one? maybe toss a small box fan in the window so that it pushes the heat back there?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Our dog has a heated pad we plug in when he gets to crash in the garage during a winter storm. Stick one of those in the bottom of the box and get a power inverter rated to handle it and I bet that is all you would need.

 

[Cacher]

Anybody know of any type of stick on insulation similar to the sound deadening material they use in car doors?

 

[Tony Raine]

i would go with a 12V heater for ease of installation. plug in and go.

not sure about an additional heater core plumbed in. what if something leaks back there? animal + antifreeze = bad combo

 

[Loud Ranger]

yeah, it's for the dog while on the road. the winters here in northern Minnesota get way too cold not to have heat back there for her.
i do have a heater core with blower motor already. unfortunately, it's 24 volt from an old army jeep. i could just replace the motor i suppose with one that is 12 volt, but i'm thinking it might be worth way more to some collector as it is.

what about running 2 12v batteries wired in series to get 24v? just keep it isolated from your trucks electrical and not sure how you would charge a 24v battery bank