Truck Diesel Heaters: Choose The Right Heater For Your Truck

From the road trains of the outback to the semis that snake through the suburbs, millions of Australians depend on trucks to deliver the necessities of day-to-day life. Although Australia is a continent famous for its punishing heat, every trucker knows that when night falls so does the temperature, and no matter how hot it gets during the day, you need something to keep you warm when the cab cools down.

Diesel heaters are a fantastic way to heat truck cabins that are often overlooked in Australia, which is why we decided to write this Buyer's Guide, so that you can learn a bit more about diesel heaters and whether they're right for your truck.

What is a diesel heater?

A diesel heater, sometimes known as a diesel air heater, is a compact device that uses diesel fuel and a fan to heat up a space. Famously efficient, safe, and easy to use, diesel heaters are a reliable way of delivering rapid heating, even on the coldest nights.

How does a diesel heater work?

Diesel heaters are incredibly straightforward in their operation and are essentially miniature engines. Diesel is pumped from a fuel tank and ignited in a combustion chamber; at the same time, cold air is drawn into the unit, passed through a heat exchanger and heated with the energy from the combustion. Finally, a small motor drives a fan that pushes the hot air through a series of ducts and vents to heat up your truck cabin.

What are the benefits of using diesel heaters in truck cabins?

Many truck drivers rely on their onboard heating to get them through cold nights but that requires either leaving your engine idling overnight or draining your batteries - neither of which are ideal. Diesel heaters, on the other hand, can be connected to your sleeper cabin power supply, drastically reducing your emissions and fuel consumption and all but eliminating the risk of waking up with a flat battery.

In addition, truck diesel heaters are both safer and smarter than gas or electric heaters, with many models being able to automatically adjust their heat output to maintain a constant temperature. At Shop RV Parts, both models of Eberspacher diesel heaters feature this intelligent temperature control.

Finally, diesel heaters are quiet and efficient: rapidly coming up to heat and maintaining the temperature for hours, with little noise and incredibly low fuel consumption. Together, all of these aspects make them an excellent choice for heating your truck cabin.

Can you use a diesel heater while driving?

Absolutely! Part of the appeal of diesel heaters is that they can be used any time, day or night, with or without the engine running. In fact, the intelligent temperature control offered by models such as the Eberspacher D2L AS3 makes them better suited for use while driving than traditional onboard heating, which will continue to blast out hot air even when you're at a comfortable temperature and can significantly increase your fuel consumption.

Where should I install a truck diesel heater?

The best place to install a diesel heater is near the floor so that the heat rises through the cabin, while the unit can always draw in fresh, cool air. It is worth remembering that the combustion that powers a diesel heater generates exhaust, which will need to be vented out of the cabin, so think carefully about where you will route the ducting before you start the installation.

What is the best diesel heater for a truck?

Like anything in the automotive world, there are many different manufacturers producing diesel heaters, ranging from cheap Chinese versions that only cost a few hundred dollars to high-end European brands that can cost in the thousands.

At Shop RV Parts, we exclusively stock Eberspacher diesel heaters, considered by many to be the best in the world and often referred to as the 'Mercedes Benz of diesel heaters'. Designed and manufactured in Germany, Eberspacher diesel heaters are truly top-of-the-line and offer intelligent performance and reliability that you won't find anywhere else.

Are you worried about keeping warm on the road? Browse our selection of Eberspacher diesel heaters today.

There's no need to rug up and bear the cold the next time you're on the road - invest in a diesel heater and stay warm whatever the weather. With an Eberspacher diesel heater, efficient operation and intelligent temperature control are at your fingertips: browse the range and experience the difference today with Shop RV Parts.