The Hcalory TB MAX2 8KW diesel heater is an all-in-one toolbox unit that runs on 12V, 24V or 240V. It is the 2026 upgrade of the Toolbox Max and gives a 47% boost in heating efficiency. It heats 20 to 27m², which suits a garage, workshop, tent, caravan, boat or van.
How fast does it warm up? You feel heat after 3.5 minutes and the outlet reaches 100°C within 5 minutes. The glow plug starts reliably down to -20°C.
The 7.9L tank runs for up to 65 hours at 0.12L/h. You can control it from the panel, the remote or the Hcalory app. It also has auto start-stop, IPX4 splash protection and altitude mode.
Rapid heating - The upgraded SUS310S alloy core and 2.0kg aluminium body give a 47% efficiency boost over the Toolbox Max. What does that mean in use? You feel warmth in 3.5 minutes and the outlet hits 100°C within 5 minutes. The glow plug preheats for 1 minute and runs 30 seconds more, so ignition stays stable at -20°C.
65 hour runtime - The 7.9L tank lasts up to 65 hours on the lowest setting, which burns 0.12L an hour. Why does this matter? You refill less often on a long weekend or an off-grid trip. One reviewer put roughly 5L of red diesel through the heater and it still gave good heat on a medium setting.
20 to 27m² coverage - The heater warms 20 to 27 square metres. That covers a van, caravan, tent, boat, shed or single garage. A reviewer with a small garage found half power was all they needed. Another used it to hold a 4 by 5 extension at about half power when it was 0°C outside.
Triple safety protection - Overheat, overvoltage and flame-out cut-off shut the system down instantly. The included exhaust heat wrap blocks 400°C heat to protect floors and wiring. A dual-valve fuel cap stops leaks and pressure build-up on bumpy ground. The exhaust pipe must vent outdoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Smart thermostat and quieter running - The wireless remote senses the actual room temperature rather than the chassis. You set 18-24°C with ±2°C adjustment from the panel, remote or app. The silent oil filter pump and muffler bring noise down to 54.6 dBA, which is 30% quieter. Charge the remote with a USB-A to USB-C cable only.
One-tap carbon cleaning and altitude mode - The CLEA cycle takes 20 minutes and burns soot off at 1000°C. It needs no tools and no disassembly. It also protects the alloy core, glow plug and motor. Altitude mode adjusts combustion automatically up to 5,000 metres, so fuel economy and heat hold up in thin air.
The listing gives a heating coverage of 20 to 27 square metres. That suits a single garage, a garden workshop, a cabin, a shed, a tent or a van. The 8KW (8000 watt) output is also rated for caravans, motorhomes, boats and trucks.
One customer used it to heat a 4 by 5 extension. They ran it at about half power with zero degrees outside. Another customer with a single garage said half power was all they needed. So the TB MAX2 8KW diesel heater rarely needs full power in a space of that size.
The glow plug preheats for 1 minute before ignition. It then runs for 30 more seconds so the flame stays stable. You should feel warmth after about 3.5 minutes. The outlet reaches 100°C within 5 minutes.
Will it start in the cold? Yes. The heater is rated for a stable ignition at -20°C.
The tank holds 7.9 litres. On the minimum setting the heater burns 0.12 litres an hour. That gives up to 65 hours of continuous heat from one fill. Higher settings use more fuel so the runtime will be shorter.
A long runtime means fewer refills over a weekend away or a few nights of workshop use. One customer said diesel use was moderate on the low setting.
There are three ways. You can use the panel on the unit or the wireless remote. You can also use the Hcalory app on your phone. The remote works as a thermostat and reads the actual room temperature rather than the temperature of the heater body.
You can set a target between 18°C and 24°C with ±2°C adjustment. There are 10 temperature gears. Time settings and auto start-stop are also included. A customer said the app shows battery voltage and room temperature plus the run speed. It also gives spoken prompts at start-up and shut-down. Charge the remote with a USB-A to USB-C cable only.
The noise level is 54.6 dBA. That is 30% quieter than the previous Toolbox Max. An oil filter silent pump and a muffler are built in. The pump is the source of the ticking sound that many diesel heaters make. This design aims to remove that sound so it is easier to sleep in a van or cabin.
A customer who used an earlier 8KW model said it was quieter inside than a normal electric turbo heater.
Yes but only with the exhaust pipe routed to the outdoors. If you don't do this there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. A diesel air heater burns fuel in a sealed chamber. It does not release fumes into the room the way a gas fire would.
Safety features include:
An exhaust heat wrap that blocks 400°C heat to protect floors and wiring. Triple protection that cuts out on overheat, overvoltage and flame-out. An IPX4 splash-proof housing that resists rain and mud. A dual-valve fuel cap that stops leaks and pressure build-up on bumpy ground.
Soot builds up in any diesel heater over time. This one has a One-Tap CLEA cycle. It runs for 20 minutes and burns soot off at 1000℃. You don't need tools and you don't need to take anything apart. The cycle restores quick ignition and the 0.12 litre an hour economy. It also protects the alloy core and extends the life of the glow plug and motor.
Altitude mode adjusts combustion on its own up to 5,000 metres. Thin air normally reduces output and wastes fuel. This mode corrects for that.
The heater is an all-in-one toolbox design. It measures 49 cm deep by 47 cm wide by 35 cm high and weighs 12.7kg. The body is aluminium at 2.0kg and the core is SUS310S alloy. It can be used indoors or outdoors. A customer fitted theirs in a box outside a workshop and ran the hot air feed and controller through the wall.
The title and bullet points state 12V, 24V and 240V supply. The specification table lists 12 volts DC only. Check the manual or ask the seller before wiring it to a different supply. The listing shows no warranty. The TB MAX2 8KW diesel heater comes with the heater only. One customer advised buying a better fuel line than the one included.
The Hcalory TB MAX2 (model TB MAX 2) is an 8KW diesel air heater in an all-in-one toolbox case. It is the 2026 upgrade of the Toolbox Max. It runs on 12V, 24V or 240V. It is black and has a 7.9L fuel tank. It costs £239.99 including VAT. The box holds one diesel heater. The listing states no product warranty.
The heater is rated at 8000 watts. It heats 20 to 27m², which suits an RV, garage, tent, camper, boat, motorhome, caravan, cabin, shed, van or truck. It can be used indoors and outdoors. Hcalory says the upgraded SUS310S alloy core and 2.0kg aluminium body give a 47% boost in heating efficiency over the Toolbox Max.
The glow plug preheats for 1 minute before ignition. It then runs for 30 more seconds to keep ignition stable. Ignition stays stable at -20°C. You feel warmth after about 3.5 minutes. The outlet reaches 100°C within 5 minutes. It has 10 temperature gears.
One reviewer fitted a similar Hcalory 8KW unit outside a garden workshop. It took the room from 4°C to 18°C in around an hour. They put the fuel cost at 3 to 5 pence an hour. Another reviewer said half power is enough for a single garage. They said you cannot hold your hand within 30cm of the hot end at full power. A third kept a 4 by 5 extension warm at about half power with 0°C outside. These reviews date from 2022 to 2024 and may come from an earlier listing of the 8KW heater.
The 7.9L tank gives up to 65 hours of continuous heat on one fill. This is at the lowest setting of 0.12L/h. A dual-valve fuel cap stops leaks and pressure build-up on bumpy ground. The heater also has an eco fuel hose. One reviewer advised swapping the supplied fuel line for a better one.
You can control the heater from the panel or the remote. You can also use the Hcalory app. The wireless remote works as a thermostat and reads the room temperature rather than the temperature of the chassis. The thermostat range is 18 to 24°C with ±2°C adjustment. The heater has auto start/stop and time settings. Charge the remote with a USB-A to USB-C cable only. One reviewer said their remote arrived without a battery. A reviewer who used the app said it shows battery voltage and room temperature. It also shows run speed and gives spoken prompts at start-up and shut-down.
An integrated oil filter silent pump and a muffler cut noise to 54.6 dBA. This is 30% quieter and removes the ticking sound of the pump. One reviewer found it quieter indoors than a normal electric turbo heater.
The housing is IPX4 splash-proof and resists rain and mud. The exhaust heat wrap blocks 400°C heat to protect floors and wiring. Three protections shut the system down: overheat, overvoltage and flame-out. Warning: the exhaust pipe must vent outdoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Altitude mode adjusts combustion automatically up to 5,000 metres. This keeps heat output and fuel economy at height. The One-Tap CLEA cycle takes 20 minutes. It burns soot off at 1000°C with no disassembly and no tools. Hcalory says this restores fast ignition and 47% efficiency. It also restores the 0.12L/h fuel use. It protects the alloy core and extends the life of the glow plug and motor.
| Brand | HCALORY |
| Model | TB MAX 2 |
| Part number | TB max 2 |
| Colour | Black |
| Form factor | All-in-one toolbox |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Heat output | 8000 W (8KW) |
| Supply voltage | 12V / 24V / 240V |
| Fuel tank capacity | 7.9L |
| Minimum fuel consumption | 0.12L/h |
| Maximum runtime | Up to 65 hours per fill |
| Heating coverage | 20 to 27m² |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 49 x 47 x 35 cm |
| Weight | 12.7kg |
| Core material | SUS310S alloy |
| Body material | Aluminium (2.0kg) |
| Heating efficiency boost | 47% over Toolbox Max |
| Glow plug preheat | 1 minute plus 30 seconds |
| Cold start | Stable ignition at -20°C |
| Time to feel warmth | 3.5 minutes |
| Outlet temperature | 100°C within 5 minutes |
| Thermostat range | 18 to 24°C (±2°C) |
| Temperature gears | 10 |
| Control methods | Panel, remote, Hcalory app |
| Noise level | 54.6 dBA |
| Maximum altitude | 5,000 metres |
| Carbon cleaning | One-Tap CLEA, 20 minutes at 1000°C |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
| Exhaust heat wrap | Blocks 400°C |
| Safety protections | Overheat, overvoltage, flame-out cut-off |
| Included | Diesel heater |
