South American BJ40 with no heater

[Catman76]

I've been fighting winter with my BJ40. I put in a block heater, but it kicks a 20 amp breaker while running. I found some fuel efficient heaters that run off diesel. I'm thinking using one for cab heat and block heater, just split the output.

Does anyone have a suggestion on where to tap the fuel system to run it off the tank? The heater has its own pump and come with a tank, but I'd kinda like to not have two places to fill.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Are you talking a China diesel heater? $100 on amoron. They do air heating really well. To heat your engine and fuel will need some sort of radiator to move heat from air into coolant or the fuel tank.

I would build a box behind the front seats and put in like a Subaru radiator with the fan for cab heat. My block heaters are only 300W for the LC or F150 gas, my Sis's Dodge Cummings block heater is like 1500W

 

[Paul_A]

Something is not right if an electric block heater is tripping a 20A circuit. You might have to unplug a few higher wattage items that are on the same circuit. When it got close to 0 or below I used to put a 100W incandescent bulb shop light under my hood next to the battery and it generated just enough heat to get me started.

 

[3_puppies]

X2 on something is wrong with the block heater, maybe I'm mistaken but it will pull the same amps whether it is 30F or -10F

why not get a stock 40 series heater setup and use that for cab heat?

 

[Catman76]

Getting a stock heater is the long term plan. The one I got is more temp to get me to spring. I think my block heater is 400w. I'll try it again.

 

[3_puppies]

Getting a stock heater is the long term plan. The one I got is more temp to get me to spring. I think my block heater is 400w. I'll try it again.

if it trips right away, something is wrong with the cord or the block heater

if just trying to get by until spring, get any stand alone heater, run 2 hoses from engine into the cab and run a toggle switch to control the fan

 

[Catman76]

if it trips right away, something is wrong with the cord or the block heater

if just trying to get by until spring, get any stand alone heater, run 2 hoses from engine into the cab and run a toggle switch to control the fan

It doesn't immediately trip

 

[clrussell]

I honestly thought about tosssing my diesel heater in the rear of my 40 a while back.

But then I bought a rear heater.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

400 Watts at 120v is only 3.3 Amps. What else is on the circuit? Maybe a garage fridge/freezer that trips it when it kicks on? Just guessing.

 

[45Dougal]

I sourced and fitted a used oem cab heater to my South African HJ. It was pretty cheap and was a quick easy job. The only no standard part was the valve I used.

As far as block heaters; can't you get it inside a garage in winter? Maybe insulate your garage? Electrically heating a truck outside seems like a big waste of energy to me.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I turn on my block heater 3 or 4 hours before I plan to start my rig - that puts enough heat in the system to allow it to start right up. My home made fluid heat riser helps with the header so I don't get carburetor ice if I'm fogged in.

 

[sogafarm]

I used a stick on silicon heater that sticks on the oil pan. It worked down to about -5 F on an old Mercedes 300d I used to have. They also make a wrap around the fuel filter heater that pre heats the diesel.

 

[kbahus]

I sourced and fitted a used oem cab heater to my South African HJ. It was pretty cheap and was a quick easy job. The only no standard part was the valve I used.

As far as block heaters; can't you get it inside a garage in winter? Maybe insulate your garage? Electrically heating a truck outside seems like a big waste of energy to me.

Was the US spec heater a bolt in affair? I would think it would be, but have never messed with an import model.

 

[45Dougal]

Was the US spec heater a bolt in affair? I would think it would be, but have never messed with an import model.

I may have had to drill a couple of holes, but otherwise nothing serious.
I actually picked up the heater in florida while on holiday, and flew it back to the UK in my luggage... saved a few hundred bucks, but that was quickly absorbed by disney...