Routing heater hoses

I will be installing a 30,000 btu bus heater in my cargo box in the next few days. The heater hoses will go through the floor, along the frame rails to the engine bay.

Because the hoses are going to be exposed outside of the vehicle, I purchased silicone hoses, but I am wondering if I should run them through a protective conduit made of pvc or metal?

I don't think I have to worry about abrasion protection, but I am thinking that the conduit would reduce heat loss and thus provide better heat. The downside might be reduced engine cooling or am I just seeing monsters where there are only shadows?

Use the foam plumbing cover. Cheap and keep down the heat loss and added freeze protection.

Thanks again for the advice

or slide them through a bigger hose....pvc or conduit would probably sap the heat, where as another rubber hose would add insulation...and would be easier as far as making it go where you want....conduit or pvc...straight lines

what does that heater run on Rob? is it for keeping the truck from freezing while its parked or for keeping the truck warm while cleaning with engine running?

ACpower1 wrote:what does that heater run on Rob?    is it for keeping the truck from freezing while its parked or for keeping the truck warm while cleaning with engine running?

Heating the box when on the road. I will probably still pump RV antifreeze through the machine and heater, I want to protect the chemicals, wands, extra psi hoses, etc. It should also give me a good back-up if I lose power at the house.

This heater uses the trucks coolant to provide the heat.

oh I see, so would you run the rv anti freeze after each job?

Hopefully, I will just winterize after the final job of the day and be able to keep things warm moving from job to job....not that it happens much this time of year, but I want to be able to do it.

I'm just wrestling with the best way to move the heat through the box with all those aluminum walls.