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I Installed a £71 Chinese Diesel Heater in My VW T5… Did I Regret It?

Vandays and Dog Tales

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Chinese diesel heater install VW T5 2kW underslung fit guide. Full 2kW Chinese diesel heater installation including fuel tank drop, standpipe install, exhaust routing, fuel pump mounting in a VW Transporter T5 campervan.

In this video I show how I fitted a 2kW Chinese diesel heater under my VW T5 from start to finish. This includes modifying the underslung box, routing ducting, installing the exhaust and combustion intake, mounting the fuel pump correctly and dropping the fuel tank to fit a standpipe.

This is not a professional guide, just a real world install showing what worked, what didn’t and what I would do differently. If you copy anything shown here, you do so at your own risk. If you are unsure about electrics or fuel systems, get a professional installer to fit yours safely.

🚐 Van: Big Red – VW Transporter T5
🔥 Heater: 2kW Chinese Diesel Heater
📍 Location: Kent, UK

🎬 Filmed with:
DJI Pocket 3
DJI Action 3
iPhone 16 Pro Max
DJI Mic Mini 2

🎵 Music: Epidemic Sound

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#vanlifeUK #dieselheaterinstall #vwt5
#chinesedieselheater #vwtransporterT5 #campervanheating #standpipeinstall
#fuelpumpinstall #underslungheater
#vandays #colliedog

0:00 Why I Installed a 2kW Diesel Heater in My VW T5
0:35 2kW Chinese Diesel Heater Unboxing & Overview
3:57 Diesel Heater Accessories & Upgrades
6:59 Preparing the VW T5 for Heater Installation
8:20 Modifying the Underslung Heater Box
10:44 Mounting the 2kW Diesel Heater Under the Van
11:41 Removing the Driver Seat for Power Access
12:42 Routing Ducting & Fixing Inlet Hose Issues
15:02 Installing the Interior Heater Vent
18:21 Exhaust, Combustion Intake & Fuel Pump Install
23:03 Dropping the VW T5 Fuel Tank for Standpipe Install
27:01 VW T5 Fuel Sender Removal & Standpipe Fitting
32:59 Priming the Fuel Line & Testing the Heater
34:15 Final Thoughts – Was It Worth It?

12 Comments

@theveryhumanmind 6 months ago

New subscriber here. This really made me pause and appreciate the moment. There’s something calm and meaningful about your style.

@carlrobinson4357 2 days ago

Love your video. Love your honesty and practical approach. We are cut from similar cloth, although you are Southern, we’ll overlook that, given the aforementioned attributes. Keep up the good work fella 💛💙🤍

@BudtheDub 7 months ago

Nice informative video buddy will help a lot of people out. Doing the tank is always the scary bit lol, you will be nice and toasty warm for your road trip really looking forward to watching those vlogs, great job Martin 👍

@TheSlowRapido 7 months ago

Nice neat install fella 😊

@ericjsmart1082 1 month ago

Thanks a lot… excellent informative video!

@Words-And-Pictures 7 months ago (edited)

(Sorry for the essay) Good work installing your heater, you must be proud of yourself, I am. That's a serious amount of fart dust under your driving seat 😂You have an advantage over the fellow youtuber because it's obvious to see that you have practical knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills. You could send your average van-life youtuber down the hardware shop to buy a left-handed screwdriver, and they'd go ask. "Muffler" and "Flange" are good and funny words 😆 One issue though, it's not urgent as summer is coming. This is sent with good heart and friendship: You must have had a good look at your underseals, yes? And the exhaust too? I couldn't tell. Now I couldn't get a proper look, and only got to see a small area. But to me there are a few patches where they're staring to rust and one or two spots where the rust has eaten a very small area out. Van-lifer camper-vans are notorious for rusting underneath and not getting treated. Parking up on wet park-ups, grass, fields, by the sea winds all take their toll. Rust remover and underseal aerosols cans are cheap. The job is easy enough, especially for a practical man such as yourself who has the equipment needed to get under your van. As I said there's no rush at all, you could even do another winter to next summer. It's for sure worth keeping in mind as a job to extend the life and value of your camper-van. Plus your Big Red is lovely and I'm getting fond of her so treat right 😁😎

@LisaMoon-i7w 6 months ago

Proper smart fella aint ya

@GrifferTheCampervan 7 months ago

Really, really impressive, mate! I do, however, question your sanity. 😂

@Tom111060 7 months ago (edited)

Well done. Reminder: drill a drainhole at the lowest point of the muffler, and make sure the fuel intake is not all the way down the tank, otherwise the heater will suck all of your diesel and you're warm but stuck ...

@cdavey061 1 month ago

i thought you would have cleaned the diesel tank before refitting it...

@dannyfleming732 6 months ago

Hi mate, can you provide a link to the upgraded nylon fuel line you purchased so you didn’t have to use the green stuff? Not sure what size the fuel line is. Thanks

@mavicairflyeruk 7 months ago

you did well mate no way i would attempt a job like that, mine is situated umder the rock and roll bed its a Hcalory one it makes so much difference we was at the lakes last week was -1 outside anc a toasty 18c in the van happy days