Well, I see two solutions:

1: A replaceable bottle mounted right in the door;
2: Hose going to bottle/tank under the seat.

The door would have to be prevented from opening completely- to prevent the
heater from impacting the body as the door slides.

As you note, venting would be a cinch

Marshall Ruskin

>
>I like this door mount idea.
>
>Venting would be a cinch.  Space utilization would be good.
>
>How do you route gas to the heater?  Hose across the floor inside?
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Marshall Ruskin [mailto:mruskin@pangea.ca]
>Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 3:49 PM
>To: Ty Graham; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
>
>
>One "potentially" good place to put the Plat Cat is in the sliding door.
>
>This was discussed on the list before - there are some issues to consider.
>Interference during the opening of the door needs to be well thought out.
>
> At least installed in the door, it would be making use of a surface that
>has no current functionality.
>
>This reduces the amount of compromise one would have to make by installing
>it there, as opposed to somewhere else in the van.
>
>It's a good thing! ;-)
>
>Marshall Ruskin
>84 Westy
>
>
>>So folks are talking about using bottled propane rather than running a
line
>>from the existing tank per Dave Garth?  I assume you could also use some
>>sort of QD fitting and a flex hose?
>>
>>Seems like bottles might be the way to go for flexibility, though I wonder
>>about run time.
>>
>>Anyone thought about putting the plat cat up in the extended poptop and
>>directing it downward into the living space?  I guess this might not work
>>for most folks as it would for me; I only use half the upper berth to
>>maximize head room.
>>
>>Back of the passenger seat location is not so good for me, I really use
the
>>rear facing passenger seat.  Also I have my ARB fridge in this location;
>>things could get too jammed up.
>>
>>Since I'm thinking about pulling the dometic completely out, I'm wondering
>>if there might be some cleverness I can do with a swinging cupboard door
>>mounting a plat cat.
>>
>>Ty Graham
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>>Of Bill Davidson
>>Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 10:25 AM
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Subject: Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
>>
>>
>>Robert,
>>
>>I don't have a PlatCat and haven't used one, but I have thought of buying
>>one and given potential locations some thought.
>>
>>Rear Closet Location:
>>It seems to me that the rear closet location has the advantage of being
out
>>of the way but the big disadvantage of not being 'pointed' at the area
>where
>>you would normally sit or stand... as I understand it a big factor in the
>>heat is the radiant infra red which is received when the heater is facing
>>you.
>>
>>Behind the Passenger Seat Location:
>>This spot is great in that the heater does face the sitting/standing area
>>and thus you get the full benefit of the infrared radient heat... but has
>>the disadvantage of limiting the use of the passenger seat... I find it
>very
>>useful to turn the seat around where there are two people.
>>
>>Also both of the above locations are more or less permanent installations.
>>It would be nice to be able to remove the heater for summer camping trips
>to
>>gain the extra space.
>>
>>Steve Schwenk has posted a description of his portable set up for his
>>PlatCat in the past.... As I remember he built a stand/legs for it and
sets
>>it up on the front table swung between the driver's and passenger's
seat...
>>or more in front of the driver's seat... has the vent going out though the
>>driver's window (window rolls up to seal against a foam insert that houses
>>the end of the exhaust tube)... and power via an plug in 12 volt set up.
>>
>>I like Steve's idea of portable, but this seems to me to be a pain to set
>>up... and I'm not really a fan of taking along the front table.
>>
>>So here's my thought/wild musing:
>>
>>Between the Seats Location:
>>How about a portable set up where the mount is simply an insert into the
>top
>>of the tube that holds the front table leg/pipe. This insert would, I
>guess,
>>be some sort of rigid tubing that would fit vertically right into the top
>of
>>the front table holder. The vent could possibly be routed thought this
same
>>mounting tube... then a flexible tube out the bottom of the front table
>>mount and through the floor. Also, it might be possible to design the
mount
>>such that the whole heater could pivot on its mounting/exhaust tube like a
>>gate so that you can have access between the front seats. The 12 volt
power
>>would be via a cigarette lighter plug... and the thermostat could be
>>permanently mounted some place with a jack for hooking it up when the
>heater
>>is set up.
>>
>>If this design could be executed it would allow the advantages of easy
>>removal and easy set up (no legs to attach, no vent to run through a
>window,
>>no front table to install... or any need to take it along), infrared
>radient
>>heat well directed to where you will feel it, and use of the passenger
>seat.
>>For those who want a permanent installation this design could likely be
>such
>>that it could be installed permanently too... so people would have a
>choice.
>>The disadvantage would be for those that find their front table useful...
>>but I think a lot of us don't even take it... and for those that do this
>>design could be installed behind the front seat or on the rear closet as
>>well.
>>
>>In any case, I would vote for something that is easily installed and
>>removed... plug 'n play...
>>
>>Just my 2 cents,
>>
>>Bill
>>90 Westy Syncro
>>
>
>