Timberline Heater by Elwell REVIEW! Is it Right for Your Camper Van?

Grit Overland co-owner Dan Dayley gives his honest feedback on the Timberline Heater by Elwell. Find out what he thinks and find out if this heater is right for your camper van build. We go over the key features and how this heater works, as well as mention that the company has incredible customer service.

At Grit Overland we build adventure style camper vans with no compromise. Come walk through one of our vans & experience first hand how we do things different than your typical class B RV. From tig welded aluminum frames on all our lower cabinets, to the structural tie downs & our ultra light final build weight, you'll appreciate our no compromise approach to building a van.

We'd love to meet you & help you get on & off the road for your next adventure.

Grit Overland
w/out Compromise.

TRANSCRIPT
If you've ever dealt with the installation of a gas tank-powered air heater in your van, you're probably familiar with the challenges of altitude adjustments, carbon buildup, and regular maintenance. These issues can make starting up the heater for the first time quite frustrating. However, there's a solution that addresses most of these problems: the Timberline air heater by Elwell.

The Timberline heater is more complex and slightly pricier than regular air heaters, but trust me, it's worth it. Whether you're purchasing one of our vans (we love having more members of the Grid family on the road using our products and benefiting from our exceptional customer service) or if you're building your own, these are the guys to talk to. The customer service at Timberline is outstanding, and I can't emphasize enough how great they are in this aspect.

One of the reasons we love the Timberline heater is its reliability. It rarely encounters issues. We have numerous units of these heaters on the road, and they adjust well to altitude and elevation. So, you won't experience problems with carbon buildup or decreased heat output when you're at high altitudes like eight or ten thousand feet, whether you're in Colorado or anywhere else in the world.

Now, let's discuss how the Timberline heater works. It operates differently from traditional air heaters that simply heat incoming air. Instead, it heats up a coolant called Dex-Cool. This heated Dex-Cool then passes through heat exchangers, which are of two types. First, there's an air heat exchanger that blows hot air into your van using a fan. Second, there's a water heat exchanger that provides instant hot water. As you can see, the system is more complex, but it's incredibly effective. While it may be pricier, I assure you that you won't be disappointed whether you install this heater in your van or choose to acquire one of our pre-built vans.

[marksilvern]

Curious, how strong do the fans blow? I had one installed in my van by a builder that didn't end up supporting his build. My van is fully insulated but I find in the winter (live in Tahoe) when the air temp is 15-20 or so, the van really doesn't get much above the high 30s. Tank temp and heater temp show 180s and the heater exchange is 160s plus. Just looking to find something that may be off and obvious. The air coming off the fans is hot but the air velocity coming from the fans is definitely less than the fan in the van (2017 sprinter) on 3 or 4. Feels more like a 1 or 2. Any thoughts? Thanks!!!

[conscientiousdefector]

That thing is MASSIVE. Sorry that’s a deal breaker.