Campervan & Motorhome Upgrades
Beyond batteries and solar, Fiadh upgrades and reworks the wider systems in campervans, motorhomes and horseboxes — power, charging, heating, cooling, refrigeration, and the parts that never quite worked right. If your vehicle is most of the way there but not where you want it, that is usually fixable.
What Can Be Upgraded?
Charging systems, inverters, monitoring, heating, cooling, hot water, refrigeration, switching and control — individually or as a coordinated improvement. Often people come to us with one frustration and find that addressing it properly means tidying up two or three related things that were holding the vehicle back.
Diesel Heater Installations
A properly installed diesel heater transforms winter touring. Running directly from the vehicle's diesel tank, these systems provide reliable cabin heating and hot water without relying on gas bottles — no refills to find, no LPG running out at 2am in a Highland layby in January.
We supply and install diesel heaters for campervans and motorhomes, including full integration with your electrical system. That means proper power supply from the leisure battery, thermostat controls, and ducting designed for your vehicle's layout. For vehicles with existing Victron systems, the heater's power draw is factored into the overall energy budget so your batteries can sustain heating through cold nights.
Whether you're replacing a faulty gas heater or adding heating to a vehicle that doesn't have any, we'll spec the right unit for your vehicle size and how you tour.
Fridge Upgrades
Factory-fitted absorption fridges are one of the most common frustrations in campervans and motorhomes. They rely on being perfectly level, they struggle in hot weather, and they consume significant gas or 240V power. A compressor fridge upgrade solves all of these problems — running efficiently from 12V, working at any angle, and performing reliably whether you're in the Highlands or touring southern Europe in 35°C heat.
We supply and install compressor fridge upgrades, handling the electrical integration including power supply, fusing, and making sure your battery and charging system can support the additional load. If you're upgrading the fridge alongside a lithium battery swap or solar installation, we design everything together so the system works as a whole.
Air Conditioning
With longer, hotter summers becoming more common — and many Scottish-based owners touring extensively through Europe, Scandinavia and North Africa — air conditioning is increasingly moving from a luxury to a practical requirement. Rooftop and split-system units designed for leisure vehicles can make a significant difference to comfort during summer touring, overnight sleeping comfort, and for anyone working remotely from their vehicle.
Air conditioning places substantial demands on an electrical system, so the installation needs to be considered alongside battery capacity, solar input, and charging infrastructure. We assess your existing setup, advise on what's needed to support AC reliably, and install the complete system — unit, electrical supply, and any supporting upgrades to your power system.
Going Gasless: Removing LPG from an Existing Vehicle
One of the upgrades we are asked for most is taking the gas out — replacing LPG cooking, heating and hot water with electric and diesel equivalents. The appeal is real: no gas bottle to refill or find abroad, no LPG safety burden, and simpler, cleaner running. It does put more demand on the electrical system, so it needs the battery and charging sized to suit — exactly the calculation we specialise in. We will talk you through what it involves, including any knock-on implications, before you commit.
Adding Capability for Off-Grid or Longer Trips
If your vehicle was built for weekends on hook-up and you now want to go further and stay out longer, the gap is usually power and charging. Many of our customers tour extensively — weeks across Scandinavia, months through Morocco, full seasons on the road through Europe. We can take a vehicle from 'enough for a night or two' to genuinely self-sufficient for extended touring in any climate.
Is My Vehicle Worth Upgrading?
Usually yes — a good base vehicle is worth investing in, and upgrading is often better value than starting again. But we will be straight with you if we think you would be throwing good money after bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most worthwhile single upgrade?
For most vehicles used off-grid, a lithium battery upgrade combined with a DC-DC charger gives the greatest improvement in usable power and charging performance. After that, solar and an inverter open up genuine energy independence.
Can you install a diesel heater in any campervan or motorhome?
Most vehicles can accommodate a diesel heater. The installation involves routing a fuel line from the diesel tank, fitting the heater unit (typically under the vehicle or in a locker), ducting warm air into the living space, and connecting the electrical supply. We assess each vehicle individually and advise on the best mounting position and ducting layout.
How much power does air conditioning use?
A rooftop AC unit for a campervan or motorhome typically draws between 40A and 80A at 12V, depending on the unit and conditions. This is a significant load, which is why air conditioning needs to be considered as part of the whole electrical system — battery capacity, solar input, and alternator charging all play a role. We design the installation so the system can sustain AC use during your typical touring patterns.
Is it worth replacing my absorption fridge with a compressor fridge?
If you tour off-grid regularly, almost certainly yes. Compressor fridges use less power overall, work regardless of vehicle angle, perform better in hot weather, and run entirely from 12V — eliminating gas consumption. The upgrade typically pays for itself in convenience and reliability within the first few touring seasons.
How long do upgrades take?
A single component upgrade — a diesel heater or fridge swap — typically takes one to two days. More involved work such as a gasless conversion or adding air conditioning with supporting electrical upgrades may take three to five days. We will give you a clear time estimate when you book.
Where are you based?
Callander, Perthshire — 45 minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow, within easy reach of Perth, Stirling and the Highlands. All work is carried out at our workshop.
Ready to Upgrade?
Tell us what is frustrating you about your vehicle as it is, and where you would like to get to. We will advise on the most practical route to get there.
Call us on 01877 381210 or email info@fiadh.scot