3″ Detachable Chimney Kit

How tall does a wood stove chimney need to be on a vehicle?

For vehicle installations like RVs, buses, and vans, we recommend using a 20″ detachable chimney for the best function of your wood stove.  Install the chimney pipe through your roof just high enough to allow the next piece of pipe to attach.  Then, deploy your detachable chimney when parked and using your wood stove.  Use our driving cap to cover the chimney stub while driving, or for off-season storage.

Is a detachable chimney required?

No, a detachable chimney is optional, but it’s usually a good idea.  Vehicle installations tend to be short, so an extra 20 inches of height can dramatically improve your wood stove’s performance.  The chimney is the “engine” of the wood stove, and more height means stronger draft.  A stove with a too-short chimney will be smoky, temperamental, hard to light, and hard to burn efficiently.

There is no official industry standard for wood stoves installed in vehicles like RVs, buses, or vans.  While a sticks and bricks house requires the chimney to be 3′ above the roof (or 2′ above anything within 10′, whichever is taller), following this rule isn’t usually practical for a vehicle.  The industry standard for wood stoves installed on boats only require that the chimney extends to some point above the deck.

We have seen countless vehicle installations, some with our recommended detachable chimneys, and some with stubby chimneys just clearing the roof.  Both usually work, but the ones with detachable chimneys burn more efficiently, are easier and more pleasant to use, and require less maintenance.

⚠ Warning: California Proposition 65

Use of this product can expose you to chemicals including soot, creosote, wood dust, and wood smoke containing carbon monoxide, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. For more information, visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.