portable 12v defroster

[swamprat]

Has anybody used any 12 volt defroster. My defrost in my BII is weak. It doesnt blow out much heat. Just wondering if they work the way they say.

 

[kunar]

i have been thinking about buying one here lately. my dad got one from harbor freight a few years back and it didnt last long. stay with a good brand for sure....

 

[MAKG]

Do you have air conditioning?

Turn it on.

You only need a little heat. And if a 2.9L isn't putting out enough, the question isn't how to defog the windows, but how to fix your cooling system (and probably the cracked heads).

If the airflow is weak, dig out all the leaves from the heater/evaporator box.

The idea that a 12V defroster is going to do ANYTHING (aside from MAYBE blow a fuse or two) is less than sane. Most hairdriers (which approximates what you're trying to do) are 1500W. Exercise #1 is figuring out how many amps you're about to try to pump through your electrical system. Exercise #2 is to find out what your biggest fuse is. If you can't do either of these, do NOT F with your electrical system or you'll break it.

 

[swamprat]

I dont have AC. I have swapped in a 4.0 so no cracked heads. It is not the fog on the windshield but the frost that I am working on. We get a lot of freezing rain in this part on Kentucky. I will check for leaves but I have a decent amount of air flow. Might as well flush the heater core too I guess.

 

[MAKG]

Let's put it this way.

It's right around freezing at night now where I live. The heater on full blast is uncomfortably hot. I have to turn it almost half way down to stand it. This is a stock 1991 4.0L with the two-row radiator.

Having said that, asking to melt ice with air is asking a great deal. Air doesn't hold heat very well at all, compared to ice. Unless it's a very thin layer, you'll have to scrape it off.

And while 4.0Ls are less prone to head cracks than 2.9Ls, they aren't immune. Check out that cooling system very carefully.

 

[kunar]

yea i bought one. it was only $15 and just to have a little heat long before my engine is even luke warm....its okay for that. it doesnt put out nearly enough heat to melt ice any faster than starting your truck 10 mins early with the heat on. i havent needed it for a defogger so i cant comment there. as far as the electrical issue, its rated at 200W (i think) and 16A and has a 20A fuse inline in the cord. i havent blown a fuse.

 

[Jspafford]

The heat is warm in my b2 after about 1/4 mile. I have never seen a vehicle warm up so fast.

It's nice, but like Mike said, It will run you out real quick.

 

[synapse]

I bought one at a pilot truck stop that works great for what it is. Its the best one, it will heat your truck ok also. It blows pretty hard and was made for 18wheelers. It comes with screws and straps. The ones at autozone and advance suck.