[andy east sussex]

what do you guys use in your vans to stop everything freezing up ?

[richard jagger]

Hang a  1000 watt fish pond/tank heater into your tank and this will keep water from freezing and keep the van worm. I have drilled a small hole in to accommodate the wire and sealed it with a glue called Serius Glue its a silver tube. ( very good glue for water) I have added a second screw cap to refill tank using a 25 lit bottles section and used this glue to stick in to the tank.

[colin purewater]

Last year I let it all freeze every night

Then in the morning put a fan heater in the van
For 15 mins before I went out and all sorted

[paul ette]

That's what I did, didn't fancy leaving a heater on, seemed a fire hazard, so got up a little earlier and put a fan heater in the morning, 30 min , job done

[ben M]

which fan heater have you got?

[paul ette]

just some cheap thing from argos, does the job, have to make sure you put it close to pipes, sometimes had to chuck some hot water on the pump to get it going

[colin purewater]

Yep £20 jobby from argos

But I wouldn't risk pouring kettle hot water over a
Frozen pump, I think that's pushing your luck
A bit to much !

[dave0123]

i use this fan heater very good for defrosting the di bottle at times    it was 14.00 when i bought it only ten now... if it falls over it stops blowing hot air so its quite safe.. just used to put it on 30 mins before going out

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4152174.htm

[paul ette]

That's the exact one I got lol

[PAUL JAMES]

This might sound a bit mad but worked a treat for me last winter.
Silver foil around the pump covered with a towel and no frozen pump whatsoever. Wrap the pump up when finished for the day.
Cheap timer for an heater in the van to come on a couple of times through the night-ten minutes at a time.

[LBWCS]

Last year I let it all freeze every night

Then in the morning put a fan heater in the van
For 15 mins before I went out and all sorted

Iv tried doing this but have found the defrost takes a lot longer than 30 mins. Also there's a risk of equipment freezing so deep it slits the plastic on filters etc. it happened to me a few years ago. Fan heater on frost stat and everything is fine

[PoleKing]

Does anyone else struggle with the cab windows steaming up overnight with the heater on?
Since I can't put my van in the garage at this house in using a greenhouse heater over night.
I'm paranoid about it freezing so I think I'm having it too hot.
That Argos heater-does it keep everything defrosted but without condensation on the glass?

[R.C Property]

here is a video of what I use in my van!

http://youtu.be/kSR530IyLak

also I set one of these up at the bottom of the windscreen and that kept all condensation off the screen and stopped it freezing up on the outside.  didn't have to defrost or scrap my van windscreen last winter

[bobplum]

Does anyone else struggle with the cab windows steaming up overnight with the heater on?
Since I can't put my van in the garage at this house in using a greenhouse heater over night.
I'm paranoid about it freezing so I think I'm having it too hot.
That Argos heater-does it keep everything defrosted but without condensation on the glass?

bulkhead

[dazmond]

oil filled radiator left on overnight

grit/salt and a sweeping brush in van


flask of hot water for thawing out brush jets if they freeze during the day.

this is all i do in the very cold winter months to keep me working.

[Ian101]

oil filled rad in van overnight set on a low to med setting then for about an hour before I go out turn it up to max to get van toasty however since i swapped transit to a combo it fits in garage so no more freezing issues for me 

[Ian101]

tried a greenhouse heater once but thought of litre of parrifin and naked flame in back of van gave me a sleepless night - however had anything happened the insurance claim would have been interesting 

[Clever Forum Name]

Oil fired rad over night on frost setting. and Isopropyl alcohol for water when its -4 - -6 After about -6 its home time!!!!!

[H20cleaning]

I have improved every year since i started.
I have a nissan primastar (so the bulkead helps abit)
I seperate the middle of the van with a thick quilt (so the hoses etc defrost quicker)
As soon as i get in from work i fill my 400L tank up then get 2 pond heaters in, and by morning the waters warm.
I have a heater on a timer for 5.30am so by the time i gey up at 8.00am everything is fine:)

[richard jagger]

This the fish heater I have used for 2 years running.IT FLOATS ON THE TOP OF THE WATER.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sharper-Edge-Electrical-Pond-Heater-For-Koi-Fish-Fish-Ponds-/250986405159?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PondsWaterFeatures_UK&hash=item3a6ff49d27