HCalory Toolbox Diesel Heater Unboxing for the Jolene F350 Camper Build

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQNQyp1xBs

This post contains affiliate links. We purchased this heater ourselves for the Jolene build. If you use our Amazon link, it may help support The Baker Adventures at no extra cost to you.

Reliable heat was one of those things we knew we would need before the camper side of the Jolene build was fully sorted out. The plan was simple enough. Get the camper installed, head toward the mountains, start testing the truck and camper setup, and try not to freeze while doing it. Of course, it is June in Alberta, which can still mean cold, wet, windy weather, especially once you start heading west.

Since we still do not know exactly where the permanent heater, electrical, and ducting will end up in the truck bed, we picked up a portable toolbox-style diesel heater to get us through the first stage of the build.

The heater we bought is the HCalory Toolbox 2S style diesel heater.

Amazon affiliate link:https://amzn.to/4awJOjP

Why We Chose the Toolbox Diesel Heater

The biggest reason we went with the toolbox version was flexibility. Jolene is still in the middle of becoming a proper family camping, hunting, and overland platform. Until the camper is sitting on the truck and we can actually visualize the layout, I do not want to permanently mount a heater, run ducting, or commit to a final electrical setup.

The toolbox-style diesel heater gives us heat now, without forcing us into a permanent decision too early.

It has a built-in fuel tank, carry handle, hard case, controls, and power options all together in one unit. That means we can test it, move it around, use it outside the truck, and see whether it becomes a long-term solution or just an interim heater until the final camper system is built.

HCalory Toolbox Diesel Heater Specs

Here are the main specs for the unit we picked up:

• Model: HCalory TB2S / Toolbox 2S style diesel heater

• Rated power: 8KW

• Fuel tank: 6L built-in diesel tank

• Power: 12V/24V DC, with AC adapter support depending on version

• Fuel consumption: approximately 0.12 to 0.36 L/h

• Controls: Bluetooth app, LCD panel, and remote/key fob

• Altitude reference: up to 18,000 ft / 5.5 km

• LCD extension cord: 59 inches / 1.5 m

• Size: 18.9 in long x 8.07 in wide x 14.96 in high

• Weight: about 25 lb / 11.3 kg

• Advertised heating area: roughly 215 to 289 sq ft

• Features: automatic start-stop, altitude mode, app control, timer settings, and adjustable heat levels

For our use, the key things were the 6L fuel tank, the portable case, the 12V option, and the ability to run it before we have a fully finished camper layout.

What Came in the Box

Overall, the packaging was clean and the heater came with more than I expected.

Inside the box was:

• The toolbox heater unit

• AC plug / adapter

• 12V power cord

• LCD/controller extension cable

• Air outlet vent and duct

• Intake pipe

• Exhaust pipe

• Intake filter

• Muffler / silencer

• Clamps and hardware

• Fuel pre-filter

• Brackets and accessories

• Manual

• Remote/key fob

The case itself felt more solid than I expected. It has some real weight to it, and the hard case reminded me a little of the Pelican-style cases I use for camera gear.

One thing I noticed right away was that the little fuel pre-filter did not seem to lock down as cleanly as I would have liked. That is something I will keep an eye on once we start using the heater more.

First Start and First Impression

For the first test, I filled the heater with diesel, powered it up, and started it with the remote.

The fuel pump started clicking, the heater went through its priming cycle, and after a few minutes it started producing heat. There was a little smoke at first, which is expected on a first start, but once it was running, it settled in and started pushing hot air.

I had it cranked up to level 10 for the first test, so it was not exactly quiet. Sitting open in the back of the truck, with the fan and pump running, it was noticeable. That said, this was a rough unboxing test, not a proper mounted setup.

After shutting it down, I let the heater run through its full cooldown cycle. That took about five minutes.

That is something I would not skip. With these diesel heaters, you want to let the unit shut itself down properly instead of cutting power while it is still hot.

Cord and Duct Lengths

One thing I could not find easily online was the actual length of some of the included pieces, so I measured them during the unboxing.

The hot air outlet duct measured about 26 inches, or 65 cm.

That is probably too short for how we plan to use it if the heater is sitting outside the camper or away from the truck. For a tent, rooftop tent, or a closer setup, it might be enough. For our family camping setup, I already know we will probably need a longer ducting solution.

The controller extension measured about 60 inches, or 150 cm.

That is a more useful length. Depending on where the heater sits, that may be enough to bring the controller into the camper or near an entry point.

The 12V power cable was longer than the controller cable and looked long enough to reach from the truck bed down to the ground. If we extend that later, I will want to make sure the wire gauge is appropriate and not just start adding length blindly.

Safety Note

This unboxing was not a full install guide.

When we actually use this heater with the camper, the exhaust will need to be routed properly outside, away from enclosed spaces, and installed according to the manual. Diesel heaters also need proper intake and exhaust routing, ventilation, and a working carbon monoxide detector nearby.

That matters even more for us because this is a family setup. We are not just heating a hunting tent for one person. We are building this around a family of six, including a baby, so the final setup needs to be safe, repeatable, and properly thought out.

Where This Fits in the Jolene Build

For now, the HCalory Toolbox diesel heater is a temporary heat solution for the F350 camper build.

It gives us something we can use right away while we figure out the final layout. Once the camper is installed and we know where the electrical system, storage, and sleeping setup will land, we can decide whether this heater stays portable, gets modified into the build, or gets replaced with a higher-end permanent heater later.

That is really the point of this stage of the Jolene build. Test things in the real world before locking them in.

Initial impression?

I like the idea, I like the portability, and I like the future possibilities.

Now we need to actually use it in the cold and see if it earns a permanent spot in the setup.

Follow along with the full Ford F350 overland hunting build here: Ford F350 Overland Hunting Build