The Uber spacker

We have a friend to thank for that. Actually spelt Eberspacher, this is an independent diesel powered night heater for keeping the van warm without running the engine. The Eber draws in cold air from the cabin, sends it through a heat exchanger which is heated by burning diesel and blows it back into the cabin. My particular one was originally fitted to a BT Ford Transit, but don't let that bother you, it didn't know any better.

The biggest question when fitting these is where. The combustion gases must be expelled clear of the vehicle, but heated air must be fed to the cabin. I thought long and hard and in the end found another T4 owner who copied what VW had done when they fitted Eber's - under the floor with ducting bringing the warm air into the cabin (and taking the cold air feed from there too).

I in turn copied him, and had a bracket made up to fit between the chassis rails. there is plenty of room under the floor - the Eber still sits above the sill line - and the underside is surprisingly clean. Not only that but fitting the combustion intake, exhaust and fuel lines is a lot easier than cutting them into the body.

Speaking of fuel lines, mine was taken from it's own stand pipe in the fuel tank, mounted in the same place as the engines fuel pipe. I cut mine about 1" shorter than the vehicle stand pipe, this was the Eber may run out of fuel but I'll still have some to drive to a petrol station. Having said that Eberspachers are reputed to be frugal with diesel.

The digital 7 day timer was fitted to the ply panel behind the opening window.