Diesel heater update!
Hotbox has evolved significantly since its first iteration. With a fresh new design and major improvements, we’re thrilled to share the latest updates. There’s been a lot of anticipation and curiosity around the project, and we’re excited to finally provide some answers and keep the momentum going.
Why a diesel heater?
Since we started making truck bed campers, the biggest question has been, "How do I heat it?". We've been focusing on production for the last year but we're finally ready to start development on our own heater.
We chose a diesel heater as the method for heating the camper because they are an inexpensive and efficient way to heat small spaces. They don't produce condensation (unlike a Mr. Buddy style) and are much cheaper than high end units like a Dickinson.
Why are we making our own?
How do you use it?
Hot Box Diesel Heater is designed to mount to the side of your camper or sit on the ground next to it. When mounted, it can make use of the recirculation vent built into each side of the tent so it's not heating cold air.
To power it up, connect the cable to the Diesel Heater Port and to your Hot Box and turn it on from Juicebox. A simple iOS and Android app will allow you to see your current interior temperature and set a goal temperature. The app will also allow you to set a schedule for when the heater turns on and off so you can conserve fuel when needed.
Development
Estimated Launch - Fall 2025
We're very early in development on Hot Box. We've started electronics design for our "Leech" PCB that will allow us to control a standard diesel heater motherboard (very similar to the Afterburner controller if you've seen it). We have our first draft of the app design and controls/settings we want. We've sourced a great supplier for high end components. After we do another prototype we'll tool up a custom rotomolded leak proof fuel tank to take up every available cubic inch of space inside the heater.
We need your input on this project to make sure it'll meet all of your needs. There are tons of diesel heater owners out there any everyone does things just a little differently. Just like with the camper design, we want to pull all the best ideas into one product. Below are some screenshots of our app design and a poll for a bunch of questions we'd love to have your feedback on. Please comment below if you have any questions or feedback other than the survey.
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The Tank
Junk Drawers
6 comments
OK guys… It is fall now and we could really use this damn thing. At $400, it will be the highest priced diesel heater. It would be nice to see a price and a release date to know if we should wait or buy something else.
Picking up my V2 in December. I’m going to be chasing the cold every time I camp, I love snow! And while the hotbox would be no doubt the diesel heater I’d buy once I grab my camper, the final question on the Typeform is what caught my eye. Not to name drop, but Super Pacific offers an insulation kit for their camper. And while I know the tent can keep some heat, a lot of that can be lost really quickly if you turn your heater off. The HotBox update looks great, I think the fuel capacity and the smart temp management are two very stand out features. But if you were to combine that with insulation? I could see a great increase in fuel efficiency. I’ve been looking into how to insulate the camper myself, but if in the future you guys made your own kit, I’d be the first customer haha. I’m no expert at all in any sense in any form. Just my thoughts.
Chinese heaters often have fuel line leaks, noisy fuel pump ticking and odd app controls. The fuel tank lids often leak through the breather in the cap causing fuel to leak on rough roads. A nice easy way to attach to the camper would be nice to decrease hose length.
Currently have a cheap diesel heater and am waiting to see what you guys land on before I upgrade. The two most annoying things about the cheaper heaters (i.e. things I will no longer put up with) are the loud ticking noise and the propensity for fuel leaking from around the cap. You guys fix those two things along with the simplified controls and I’m in.
Currently have a cheap diesel heater and am waiting to see what you guys land on before I upgrade. The two most annoying things about the cheaper heaters (i.e. things I will no longer put up with) are the loud ticking noise and the propensity for fuel leaking from around the cap. You guys fix those two things along with the simplified controls and I’m in.