Winter camping is a lot of fun. But it’s very different than other seasons. The worst part, which I think 99% of people would agree on, is the cold. Especially once it dips down to below freezing, and closer to zero degrees, it can get downright miserable.
Diesel heaters (and other portable heat units) have been around for a while. It seems that they have been gaining popularity over the past few years. 10 years ago, I had never heard of portable heater units like are available today.
Fast forward to 2024, and you can buy a heater that bolts right into your camper, recirculates the air, and uses the best possible products for ultimate performance. Easily the most premium option of them all – The Two Track Nation Hot Box. And there’s no way around it. It is pretty expensive.
I’ve been testing and running the final prototype unit for the last year (two winter seasons) and I’ve gathered my thoughts.
Find It Online
- Two Track Nation Hot Box: Check Price
Table Of Contents
Two Track Nation
The best brands are run by enthusiasts. A team that wheels hard and spends time a lot of time outdoors is best suited to design and test products.
Two Track Nation is founded by overlanders and for overlanders. With a love for the hobby comes a great attention to detail.
This company is ran by Chase (@chase.in.point) and Hunter (@hunter_constantine) – the cofounders. These guys put in the hours. Not just in rad media/content creation, but into the Hot Box system. I’ve lost count with how many times I’ve seen them, especially Chase, running circles around the country and documenting their travels.
Point is – you can trust this team to make something good. They tested these units for a very long time before releasing to the public.
The Hot Box
If you’re looking for the very best in a heater – this is the epitome of what a system can reach in terms of potential.
Utilizing only the best brands like RotopaX, Zarges and a Espar/Eberspacher diesel heater – the setup doesn’t leave much room for improvement. Don’t get me wrong, no product is perfect, but this one seems close. The camper version is especially cool because it recirculates the air, dramatically improving heating efficiency.
There’s no denying one thing – premium options come with premium price tags. It’s not cheap. But as the saying goes – you get what you pay for. Is it an absolute must? That depends on your intentions and how much time you’ll spend winter camping. And how much you prioritize ultimate functionality.
Specs & Features
My unit is a final prototype. The first one to be tested on a GFC. So if you’re wondering… yes, I had to drill a bunch of holes into the side of my camper. We measured a hundred times, and thankfully, got it all mounted without any major issues. And it’s all sealed with high quality silicone.
This same system will fit several popular campers like Alu-Cab and more. Fitment should be confirmed with others. As long as you have the room, it will work. You’ll need space for all the brackets and mounts. Depending on your setup, they do offer some customization.
Since mine was an earlier unit, there have been some updates. I’ll list the major ones below.
Summary
- Espar/Eberspacher heater kit (latest model with new burn chamber)
- Zarges Aluminum Case
- RotopaX Yellow Diesel (now updated to an all-aluminum 2.1 gallon tank)
- Vertical or Horizontal Mounting Options
- Calibrated For Operation Up To 13,000 ft
- Single Wire Harness
- Lightweight Internal/External Metal
- Quality Seals For Easy Maintenance
- Consistent, Clean Welds
- Recirculation Tubes Coated With Silver Corrosion Resistant Coating
- 120W Power Draw On Start (requires power supply and power from battery/power station)
- Low Power Draw ~6W, High Power Draw ~32W (after warmed up)
- Fuel Tank Allows For ~1 Week Heating
- Removeable Exhaust For Quieter Operation
- Little To No Noise (ticking) While On
Mounting
I already mentioned you will have to drill a panel. With the GFC, worst case scenario (although there is room for error), you’ll just need to replace a panel.
From the back, as seen above, from left to right, you can see the smaller backing plate for the RotopaX mount (now has updated aluminum tank) and the larger plate that reinforces the heater itself.
With careful planning, the install is straightforward. You just need to make sure the inlet/outlet clear the space frame. Liberal amounts of silicone at all the openings guarantee a waterproof seal. I’ve never had any of the connection points or holes leak. Even with heavy rain.
If you’re curious, the inlet on the right (with the cover on it) is where air is drawn in, and the outlet on the left is where hot air comes into the bed area.
Review
I’ve been running this unit for about a year now. I’ve done about two weeks of cold winter camping in the meantime. From a low of 10-15 degrees, to a more manageable 32 degrees, I’ve been nothing but impressed. Before I had this setup, I’ve never used any kind of heat source for warmth. Just loads of blankets and sleeping bags.
The experience is a game changer. The worst part of cold camping is the cold (duh). When temperatures drop and you stop moving, it’s hard to warm up. With this heater, you can get your sleeping setup so hot, that the inside holds a more than comfortable temperature at 70 degrees (or more).
I have a Geneverse HomePower One Pro. It’s a 1200W unit. Fully charged, when temperatures drop below freezing, the power station uses roughly 30% of capacity per night. This could probably be improved with a more efficient unit, or if you did a good job sealing the bed.
Once the unit is plugged in, a provided controller allows you to set you preferred temperature. 65ish degrees is a sweet spot for me. The controller acts as a thermostat, so placement of the controller determines how the system gauges the amount of heat to pump out. It’s entirely automated, so you don’t need to worry about waking up sweating. A great feature.
The outlet comes with a hose to direct the airflow. Although I have typically just removed a single sleep panel and allowed the heat to rise, You can also use the tubing. The ultimate move would be to drill a small hole into the tent floor, and passing the tubing into the sleeping area. Or, you could put a diverter in, and warm the top and bottom.
Simply put – the system works amazing. It makes cold camping super enjoyable and is a breeze to operate. Is the price high? Yes. But can it be justified? I believe so. This is not for everyone, but if you’re serious about your build, or you spend tons of time camping or living in your camper, this is a good product to consider.
Final Thoughts
Much like the GFC, the heater is an investment. Not everyone will jump right into a camper, but those who do can’t deny how much easier and more efficient camping has gotten. I think the same could be said for anyone who experiences the Hot Box.
Hunter and Chase are constantly reevaluating the system and continue to make improvements. I look forward to watching their adventures, and sleeping comfortably during mine!
Let me know if you have any questions below.
YouTube Video
Additional Photos
