How to hook up heater in cab?

What is the best way to hook up an in cab heater? Would you Tee off of both rad hoses or run it inline in one hose only? Thanks, Mark

Tee off both radiator hoses is the way i would go. I looked at several kits and the al appear to supply tees for the radiator hoses.

123.bert0621 wrote:

Tee off both radiator hoses is the way i would go. I looked at several kits and the al appear to supply tees for the radiator hoses.

I had mine like that when I first put it on...moved both hoses to the drivers side,  I think it works better that way.  You don't get full flow going to the heater-core with the "y".  Be a good time to install temp gauge while you are cutting hoses.

Good tip thanks.

Ok Thanks, I will hook it up in series with the rad. I was concerned about restricting rad flow, doing it that way.

moobster wrote:

Ok Thanks, I will hook it up in series with the rad. I was concerned about restricting rad flow, doing it that way.

That was my concern , as well.  The heater core is 5/8 , compared to the 7/8 hose on the bike.  I had a temp gauge prior to the heater...there wasn't any increase in temp ,  whenever I put it in series....the heater works better (you're getting "all" of the hot water now ,  not just part of it ) .  I picked up all of the fittings , at the local NAPA...they have them with the different sizes on each end.

hooked mine into both hoses, tees came in the kit 3/4 to 5/8 made it simple, works great, heater came from motoalliance, just had to modify the mount for under dash mount because it hit the cup holder, just shortened the mount and re drilled holes, no problem with the mount if your rhino is 07 or back, 08 and up needs the mod....

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I ran mine strait thru the heater core right off the engine before the radiator. I cut my hose & used a reducer. I would like to find the hoses at NAPA with the correct ends on them. 

Part numbers would be nice if anyone has them.

I finally got the heater installed today. I cut one rad hose and ran the heater core in series, when getting the air out of the system I noticed that the flow through the rad was quite slow and the fan would run longer than before. I then decided to cut the other rad hose and run the heater in parallel with a Tee in each rad hose. The flow is much better through the rad and the fan doesn't run as long. Either way with a thermometer probe in the fins of the heater, measured around 48C degrees. Not sure if one way is better than the other, so I left it with a Tee in each rad hose for now.
I will try it both ways when I get back out on the trails. Don't see any difference in temp either way when I check it in the shop, but will let you know after I try it. Thanks for your help so far.

Ready to ride all winter, would you put in a valve to shut off the flow for summer?

If the heater works good in parallel than I would like to put a car type valve controlled by a cable ( Dodge/ Chrysler ), that would also allow me to control the heat level also. If the heater ends up in series, I will have to remove it in the summer.
Working on doors tomorrow, gonna keep the stock bottoms, and add a suicide upper half. Probably going to make them out of puckboard.

Sounds good.

123.bert0621 wrote:

Ready to ride all winter, would you put in a valve to shut off the flow for summer?

really no need for that....think of it as a "mini" second radiator.  You can even turn the fan on ,  to help with cooling , when your radiator gets a little dirty.

scottwv wrote:

123.bert0621 wrote:

Ready to ride all winter, would you put in a valve to shut off the flow for summer?

really no need for that....think of it as a "mini" second radiator.  You can even turn the fan on ,  to help with cooling , when your radiator gets a little dirty.

Good thinking. Folks are upgrading there rads to bigger ones, why not use the heater. It really helps to have input from the members here, helps you think outside the box. Thanks scottwv.

Quadog wrote:

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I ran mine strait thru the heater core right off the engine before the radiator. I cut my hose & used a reducer. I would like to find the hoses at NAPA with the correct ends on them. 

Part numbers would be nice if anyone has them.

That's what mine looks like too, only my drink holders are where your aluminum plate is. I went with Tees in both rad hoses. Thanks for the pics.

It would be cool if the heater would have fit where the aluminum plate is. It was close but ...nope.

I was going to try that with mine. A 660 has no air box between the front frame rails, so I could have put the heater under the hood. It would have to be boxed in and have an air intake run to it from inside the cab, it is easier to heat already warm air. Under the dash, is way easier install, I'm going to try a 12v fan mounted on the roll cage to defrost the windshield with. Our outdoor forklift at work has a similar setup. A vinyl graphic that looks like a fireplace would look pretty cool, on the front of the heater box. Not many Rhino's with the wood stove option. 

Cozy and warm.

Here's a pic of the heater and the hose connection. Also Tee'd on the other rad hose but can't see it in the pic.

Tidy doesn't take up much room,it might be a little tighter in the 700 because of the cup holder.

How that Pine Tree air freshener holding up...keep us posted. lol

Until the heater, the air freshener was the only mod I had. I also built a 2" lift kit for it this weekend, closed in the back of the cab, and got a template made, so I am starting on doors for it now. Excuse my shop, it's a freaking mess, here's what else I did this weekend.

Holy chit how you gonna look both ways before crossing a road!!  
I really like the back and those doors are gonna look real good too!

I noticed the lift on the front.. looks like your gonna be nice and dry and smelling like pine...Nice work.

I may use 1/4" Lexan for the doors but that stuff is expen$ive. Probably going to use UHMW like the back and cut a window that can go up and down on a strap. Need a way to toss the beer cans in the box.