Portable Power / Diesel Heater

[rootacres]

I feel this lands in the sleep system category. My most recent portable power box bit the dust. In the market for another. Whatever I get next I want to be able to run a diesel heater off of. I find myself truck camping in below freezing more often than not. A diesel heater would be pretty awesome.

What do you all say?

 

[Skerhunter]

check out the info here!

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Thread 'Diesel heater/power source'

Mar 2, 2026

Im looking at getting a diesel heater for camping/hunting this year. Most of my hunting is later into October and November. Whats everyone's favorite source of power to run the diesel heater? I keep reading about power stations or a LiFePO4 batteries. The batteries seem like the cheaper option and may last longer but I was just curious what you guys think. If you guys have any favorite brands you like that would be appreciated.

• NDHUNTER24
• Replies: 83
• Forum: General Discussion Forum

 

[Tmac]

I just put a 12v lithium in a battery box. All kinds of boxes out there, mine was meant for a trolling motor. Just need to make sure on what temp the BMA allows charge and discharge works for you. Some come with a heater. Also need a lithium specific method to charge.

If you put the battery inside the hot area it will help with things battery temp wise if it’s real cold. You want to avoid a battery running out when the heater is running, can damage the heater. So go big on the battery. Or charge it off a dc to dc charger on your truck and/or a solar panel with a charge controller.

 

[Seaskihunt]

I run a diesel heater and some lights off a 100aH LifEpO4 battery.
i built the heater into a harbor freight pelican box. battery rides inside the pickup bed.

Here's a pic. Heater is in the tan box. hose runs up to the window with a rotating vent inside.

 

[Tyler115]

Ive had a diesle heater in my 6X10' cargo trailer for 3 years now. I've been SUPER happy with it. Especially since I swapped the original fuel pump for a quieter one. The thing uses hardly any fuel and heats up the whole trailer in no time. I have a 100AH Lead acid battery in the trailer with a solar system. The heater uses lots of power for like 30 seconds or so when it starts up but once its its running it uses very little power. Highly recomend.

 

[riversidejeep]

A small Jackery would be hard to beat with a solar panel. You would be good for weeks on end.

 

[Tyler115]

Just realized I made an error, my battery is actually 200Ah, can’t figure out how to edit my previous post

 

[HairyScandinavian]

A small Jackery would be hard to beat with a solar panel. You would be good for weeks on end.

My Jackery 1000 will run mine on the AC but not on the cigarette plug. Heater runs but eventually throws a voltage error. It ran fine back home, but up in the mountains gets the voltage error I'm assuming due to the glow plug working harder on startup.

OP, best way I found to run mine is wired directly to my AGM deep cycle camper battery. I slapped a solar panel on it and never paid it any attention. I like having a dedicated battery for the heater.

 

[bigunit]

A lot of the diesel heaters draw more than 15A on startup and the breakers on most portable power stations are only 15A so I run mine directly off of a 12v deep cycle. This is on my jumping jack and I just keep the bluetti power pack inside. Can charge either the battery or pp with a solar panel. The power pack lasts a long time if your just using it for the odd thing or charging phones lights etc.