Espar, Webasto, Proheat or others; which is the best?

[Turbo Horseman]

Yes it's spring now, but I'm shopping for next winter... cause I'm in the Norhtwest Territories and winter is COLD



So in order to keep my truck alive when the brass monkeys attack, I want to be prepared. #@$%!



I've heard good things about Espar heaters, but terrible things about their customer service and offering of their product in individual and not packaged components. :{



So what are the opinions out there on the various diesel fueled engine preheaters: how they perform, installation, cost and who stocks them as well as any other information?



ttfn

 

[BRobertson]

I just installed an Espar in January.

It is one of the best upgrades that I made!!!

I use it regularly and think that it should be a factory option!!!

It took me approx 2 days to install, but would be far faster and easier with help!!! I did it by myself!! Pulling the fuel tank and reinstalling was a b@#%^!!!!!

I got mine from the Alaska distrib in Anchorage.

JR2 heard of a better deal than I was able to find on short notice, maybe he will join in here>

The only thing I didn't like about the kit was the mickey mouse coolant hookups!! I will be modifying mine when I get time.

Bob

 

[BRobertson]

PS





The grommet that mounts on the factory fuel tank collar after you drill a hole, was not included with my kit. I called the main distrib in Canada and they sent me one immediately. They seemed to be concerned with their customer service reputation.

Bob

 

[JHansen]

Espar on mine-was miserable to install as pretty much anyone who's done one will tell you . Works great though-except for getting the underhood wiring harness tangled in the steering shaft due to installer error . Polar Mobility was able to get me another pretty quick-although it was only sold as the complete wiring harness set (like you alluded to in your opening post).



If you wanna have a look-see or talk to me over the phone about it send me a PM-not really that far away from you if you're currently in Rocky like your profile shows. If you're up in the NWT right now you may not get the chance to see it on my truck anyways!



Jason

 

[SOOT]

I don't know about Espar, but I deal with Wabasto every day on the equipment that I maintain in the oil field.



They have given us very little trouble and are useally very easy to troubleshootOo.



I can get one for around 400-500 less than I can get Espar, so for me this is the way to go. The only thing is they do not have a kit for our trucks like Espar does

 

[johnrv4]

My buddie has a Webasto on his truck, and he picked it up new with the timer for $700. This heater works great, and has been pretty much trouble free. I think that I would go with one of these units myself if I drove my truck in the winter. Someone from the UK was advertising new ones for something like $650 US. That would be a heck of a deal.

 

[ACoyle]

I put an Espar in last Fall.

1) Everything I needed was in the kit.

2) It was not easy. There is not much room.

3) The dealer gave me a good price and only asked that he NOT

be asked to do the install.

4) It work great. One cold day will convince you.

5) Can't pass on the support - didn't need any.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

So anyone out there used/installed a Proheat?



Have a dealer up here offering to sell me a Webasto for $1000 Cdn (+/- $650 US). How does that compare with pricing?

 

[johnrv4]

That sounds like an excellent price for the Webasto if it includes the timer. The one my friend installed had a pre-wired harness. He relocated the passenger side battery and installed the heater there. The install looks and works great. If I drove my truck around in the winter, I would definately buy one for $650. See if you can get the model number, and I will compare it with his horseman.

 

[JohnE]

I have an Espar unit under the hood. I got the Espar for a very very good price as the local dealer does a lot of business with my company.

Installation is a <em>bit</em> more difficult than the instructions depict. My first unit failed in the first month. I got very good Customer Service directly from Espar with help troubleshooting the problem. It took a long time for a replacement unit from the dealer though.

I started writing the tale of my Espar install and posted it on my website at NWBombers. I hope to finish the story sometime this summer.



I considered a Webasto as we supply them as an option on our equipment. I opted for the Espar due to my pricing and the complete kit.



I stopped at an injection service shop a few weeks ago. One of their customers installed a Pro-Heat. He installed it in the bed of his truck. The only ProHeat units I've seen are very large (both in physical size and BTU output) and would only fit in the bed.



diesel on

-john

 

[WDaniels]

For you guys that have gotten or researched the Webasto, is that the one that can be tempature adjusted and circulates the heated coolant through the engine block and then on the last 10 minutes of the cycle, turns on the internal fan to heat the insides up? If so, that is a kick butt price. Up here in Fairbanks it's 950. 00. If someone could find an address for a less expensive Wabasto, I would greatly appreciate it.

WD

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Thanks Johnrv4. I'll try to get the model number in the next couple of days. Hopefully it comes with the timer, etc.

 

[EScott]

I don't like the idea of a timer so much as a thermostat. It'd be a lot nicer if when I parked at the airport for a week I knew it would be warm and ice free when I returned. The problem is that I rarely know when I'm getting back until I get back so a thermostat would work a whole lot better.



So do any of these systems include the option of a thermostat?

 

[JohnE]

EScott;



These systems use a timed heating cycle triggered either by a clock timer or a remote control for a reason. Your stock batteries will only take a single run of the system. After using the heater you either need a long drive to alternator charge the batteries or plug in to a battery charger.



My Espar book lists the D4W as 24-52 Watts depending on the heating mode. I tried to run a double cycle without adequate recharging the batteries. I have a mess under the hood. Not only did I need a jump start, but discharged batteries will freeze. When youtry to recharge a frozen battery it may boil over.



The new (last fall) Exide batteries are pitiful ib n reserv capacity (RC). I should have gone with Interstate Megatron or Sear DieHArd.



diesel on

-John

 

[BRobertson]

John,

You brought up a good point.

I would highly recommend an upgrade for batteries if a truck has an Espar!!

I have very often run my Espar thru two cycles and With our limited road system here, I don't drive it enough afterwards to properly charge the batteries.

The Redtop Optimas have worked very well.

Bob