How Do You Keep Warm Driving Your Buggy???

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ManxManiac
Posts: 200
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:00 am
Location: Ventura, CA

How Do You Keep Warm Driving Your Buggy???

Post by ManxManiac »

How or by what method do you buggistas keep warm when driving in cold weather or during the winter???

Heaters, what kind???
Heated seats 12volt???
Blanket wrapped around you???
Heated blanket 12 volt???
Ski outfit???
Snowmobile outfit???
Sleeping bag???
Five layers of clothes???
Or... ???

Michael Cates
ManxManiac
#958
Ventura, CA
Original Meyers Manx "Xena"
M1609C8S22
Grumpy One

How Do You Keep Warm Driving Your Buggy???

Post by Grumpy One »

Michael,

I find that a full top with side curtains is the best place to start.  Followed by layers of clothing, gloves or the mittens that open up to allow the fingers to be exposed.

The best would be a gas fueled heater like were available on the old air cooled beetles.

Joe
ManxRob
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:00 am

How Do You Keep Warm Driving Your Buggy???

Post by ManxRob »

I put a Stewart Warner gas heater in my Manx. The Stewart Warner heaters were sold through VW dealerships. They are real simple in design, with a coil spring thermistat for temperature control, a fan dedicated to moving the spent exhaust out of the cabin, and a warm air distribution fan. They were available in either 6 or 12 volt. The model sold for the bus had a higher heat output rating. Stewart Warner also made a version (with different mounting brackets) for Terra-Buggy:
Image.
I have never seen a Terra-Buggy version, but I liked the mounting location under the dash, so that’s where I installed mine.

Here is the (working) 12 volt heater, sourced from Craigslist for $125.
Image

I modified the mountings so everything could be removed/serviced under the dash without removing the hood:
Image

This is the setup prior to setting the hood/dash:
Image

And the complete install, The fiber wrapped tube in the passenger footwell is the heater exhaust. The heater fan/temperature control is between the key and speedo:
Image

Like Joe says, “a full top with side curtains is the best place to start”, to contain the warmth. 

Rob
MyBlueBuggy
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:00 am

How Do You Keep Warm Driving Your Buggy???

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