Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
For the last six years, Planar has held the #1 spot in my diesel heater testing—and for good reason. I’ve personally run my Planar heater for five years, trusted it in real winter conditions, and recommended it without hesitation.
This year, that changed.
In this video, I take you inside Sparks Overland’s very first AUTOTERM diesel heater unit, built by hand in Colorado. This wasn’t something I could just look at online—I had to fly out to see it come off the production line myself.
Why? Because this is a big deal.
Sparks Overland didn’t just knock Planar out of the top spot—they leveled up even further by pairing AUTOTERM heater cores (the same core used in Planar heaters) with their own hand-built, self-contained heater boxes. Each unit takes 4–6 hours to build, and the attention to detail shows.
In this walkthrough, I:
- Take a close look at Sparks Overland’s first AUTOTERM unit
- Break down what makes this heater different
- Share my first impressions from someone who has tested portable diesel heaters for over half a decade
- Explain why this shift matters for overlanders, winter campers, and cold-weather travelers
Check out the heaters Sparks Overland is offering: sparksoverland.com
If you’ve been following my heater testing over the years—or if you’re trying to decide what diesel heater actually deserves your money—this is one you’ll want to see.
Timestamps :
0:00 – Colorado intro
0:49 – Heater testing background
1:31 – Sparks Overland lineup
2:15 – Autoterm vs Velit
3:03 – Mini Autoterm reveal
4:28 – Leak-proof fuel tank
5:45 – Space-saving design
6:17 – Marine-grade features
7:38 – Why this matters
9:05 – Camping comfort & value
10:32 – Handbuilt quality
#sparksoverland #AutotermDieselHeater #overlandcamping #dieselheater #coldweathercamping
More Overland Camping Setups:
I Put This RecRac Cargo Bed Rack on My ZR2… Some Parts Are GENIUS, Others Need Work
youtu.be/yDYInKpkxV0
Stapll Fender Rack System – Full Install on a 2025 Toyota Tundra + First Impressions
youtu.be/efkqfyTWdUo
For the last six years, Planar has held the #1 spot in my diesel heater testing—and for good reason. I’ve personally run my Planar heater for five years, trusted it in real winter conditions, and recommended it without hesitation.
This year, that changed.
In this video, I take you inside Sparks Overland’s very first AUTOTERM diesel heater unit, built by hand in Colorado. This wasn’t something I could just look at online—I had to fly out to see it come off the production line myself.
Why? Because this is a big deal.
Sparks Overland didn’t just knock Planar out of the top spot—they leveled up even further by pairing AUTOTERM heater cores (the same core used in Planar heaters) with their own hand-built, self-contained heater boxes. Each unit takes 4–6 hours to build, and the attention to detail shows.
In this walkthrough, I:
- Take a close look at Sparks Overland’s first AUTOTERM unit
- Break down what makes this heater different
- Share my first impressions from someone who has tested portable diesel heaters for over half a decade
- Explain why this shift matters for overlanders, winter campers, and cold-weather travelers
Check out the heaters Sparks Overland is offering: sparksoverland.com
If you’ve been following my heater testing over the years—or if you’re trying to decide what diesel heater actually deserves your money—this is one you’ll want to see.
Timestamps :
0:00 – Colorado intro
0:49 – Heater testing background
1:31 – Sparks Overland lineup
2:15 – Autoterm vs Velit
3:03 – Mini Autoterm reveal
4:28 – Leak-proof fuel tank
5:45 – Space-saving design
6:17 – Marine-grade features
7:38 – Why this matters
9:05 – Camping comfort & value
10:32 – Handbuilt quality
#sparksoverland #AutotermDieselHeater #overlandcamping #dieselheater #coldweathercamping
More Overland Camping Setups:
I Put This RecRac Cargo Bed Rack on My ZR2… Some Parts Are GENIUS, Others Need Work
youtu.be/yDYInKpkxV0
Stapll Fender Rack System – Full Install on a 2025 Toyota Tundra + First Impressions
youtu.be/efkqfyTWdUo
