🔥 The Dickinson Newport Diesel Heater: How It Saved My RV at –19°F (Real-World Review)

This winter taught me something I’ll never forget: you need a reliable heat source when you’re living or traveling in temperatures that plunge into the negatives. I’ve seen –19°F real temperature (before wind chill) with the wind blowing straight under my vehicle. Every inch of metal becomes a heat sink. Everything inside wants to freeze. And you start to realize—fast—whether your heating system is genuinely dependable.

For me, the thing that saved my winter was the Dickinson Marine Newport bulkhead-mounted diesel heater.

And after living with it day in and day out, through one of the harshest cold spells I’ve ever experienced, I want to share what it’s actually like to use one of these heaters as your primary heat source.

If you’re living full-time in a van, skoolie, ambulance conversion, RV, or off-grid cabin—this post might save you a lot of cold, sleepless nights.

🔥 Why I Switched From a Wood Stove

Before the Dickinson, I actually designed my ambulance conversion around a wood stove—specifically the Cubic Mini. I love wood heat. But here’s the brutal truth:

• Even with dense hardwood like oak

• Even with careful burn control

• Even with a perfectly tuned stove

You’re getting maybe 3 hours of heat per load.

And when it’s –10°F outside, 3 hours is not enough.

You end up waking up all night feeding the fire… or you oversleep by an hour and wake up to a frozen vehicle.

That was the reality that pushed me toward diesel heat.

🔥 Living With a Dickinson Newport Every Day

There’s a big difference between testing a heater and actually living with it through months of winter. So here’s everything I learned.

1️⃣ The Heat Is Exceptionally Dry

This is one of the biggest advantages over propane heaters and wood stoves.

No condensation. No mold. No mildew. No wet windows.

Last night, temperatures were around 6–9°F, and even then I had zero condensation forming on the inside of my ambulance. That dry heat makes a massive difference in tight living spaces where your own breath can saturate the air.

2️⃣ Absolutely No Diesel Smell (When Used Correctly)

I was honestly worried about this before owning one.

But the Newport is a sealed combustion heater:

• Fresh air is drawn from the outside

• Combustion exhaust goes out the chimney

• Nothing leaks inside

The only time you’ll smell anything is during ignition, and even then it’s just a tiny puff when you open the door.

Once the door is closed:

No diesel smell. None.

3️⃣ How the Dickinson Actually Works

This heater is old-school in the best way. No electronics required.

Inside is a small cylindrical firebox (“like a paint can”), and fuel trickles in at a controlled rate through a tiny metering hole. A stainless diffuser sits over that hole and radiates heat once it gets hot.

Here’s the ignition process in simple terms:

1. Turn the fuel on full for about a minute

2. Turn it off

3. Light a tissue or paper towel

4. Drop it inside onto the fuel inlet

5. The tissue acts like a wick

6. As the flame heats the firebox, it vaporizes the diesel

7. The flame rises to the top and becomes a clean “floating” blue flame

Once the flame lifts into that stable zone, you turn the fuel back on and adjust it.

It sounds complicated, but after a week of doing it, it becomes second nature.

4️⃣ The Hidden Danger: Why You Must Light It With a Cold Firebox

I can’t stress this enough:

Never try to relight it when the burn chamber is still hot.

You can get a small “poof” or combustion pop because the diesel will vaporize too quickly. Let the chamber cool completely, and you’re golden.

5️⃣ Fan-Assisted Flue for Deep Winter

Most days, you don’t need the fan at all.

But when temperatures drop into severe negatives, the optional 12V fan dramatically improves efficiency at higher fuel settings.

You’ll know you need it if:

• The flame turns too orange

• You get soot buildup on the glass

Turn on the fan, add air, and the flame cleans right up.

6️⃣ The Double-Walled Construction Is a Game-Changer

Unlike small wood stoves, the Dickinson’s exterior is double-walled:

• The sides stay cool

• The back stays cool

• The heat rises upward instead of radiating sideways

I mounted mine near an aluminum window—something you cannot do with most stoves—and the window never gets hot.

The design is simply brilliant for tight spaces.

7️⃣ Safety Systems That Actually Matter

For anyone considering one of these:

✔ Carbon monoxide detector (mandatory)

✔ Fire extinguisher (common sense)

✔ Uncapped drain line – this will dump excess fuel safely outside

✔ Barometric draft regulator – keeps the flame stable during high winds

✔ High-temperature cutoff valve – cuts fuel if the system overheats

Dickinson recommends attending the stove while it’s operating.

I’ll be honest: I’ve left mine running while shopping. But I also run a high-temp shutoff. You assess your own risk tolerance.

8️⃣ Fuel Use: Real-World Numbers

On low, mine burns about 1 gallon every 24 hours.

In deep negative temperatures, I burned about 2 gallons per day.

That’s incredibly efficient for the amount of heat this thing puts out.

9️⃣ Gravity Feed vs Pump

The Newport can run 100% without electricity if gravity-fed.

To do this:

• Tank needs to be ~1 ft above the stove

• No pump required

• Absolutely silent

• Zero amp draw

I couldn’t get my tank high enough in my build, so I use the Dickinson low-pressure pump. It ticks once every 7 seconds and costs ~$120, but it’s reliable and quiet.

🔟 The Secret Superpower: Hot Water Heating Loop

This alone makes the Dickinson one of the smartest upgrades I’ve ever made.

Inside the stove is a stainless steel coil that can be connected to:

• A water tank

• A radiant floor loop

• A thermosiphon hot water system

Mine is plumbed to a 6-gallon aluminum tank filled with RV antifreeze, which then passes through radiant floor tubing.

This does not replace your primary heating system.

But it does:

• Keep your floor from freezing

• Keep water from icing

• Make the floor noticeably warmer (comfortably warm, not hot)

In an RV or skoolie, that’s huge.

🔥 So Is the Dickinson Newport Worth It?

In my opinion: absolutely—yes.

Here’s why:

• It runs with no electricity if gravity-fed

• Produces extremely dry, clean heat

• Burns diesel cleanly with a beautiful flame

• Works better the colder it gets

• Can heat hot water and radiant floors

• Has almost nothing to break

• Feels like having a tiny fireplace in your home

It’s not cheap.

With the heater, pump, chimney parts, water loop, and safety accessories, you’re looking at $750–$1,000+.

But you buy it once.

It’s a lifetime heater.

And honestly, in –19°F weather, knowing I have a heat source that doesn’t depend on electronics, solar, batteries, or any fragile systems… that’s peace of mind that’s worth every penny.

🔥 Final Thoughts

If you’re living off-grid, full-time on the road, or in any mobile setup where freezing temperatures are a real threat, the Dickinson Newport diesel heater is one of the most reliable pieces of equipment you can install.

It kept me alive in temperatures that would freeze an RV solid.

It uses barely any fuel.

It requires almost no maintenance.

And it turns your space into a warm, cozy cabin.

If you have questions, drop a comment below the video or shoot me a message.

I’ll include links to the heater, accessories, and my setup details so you can dig deeper.

Stay safe. Stay warm.

And thanks for being here with me.