Westy in the cold

I've been ruminating for some time about these and am considering one as a long-term project/camper/snow vehicle.

I'm looking for knowledge from PNW folk on how well these things camp in cold weather.
Does the propane heater keep up?
Does the thing need a massive insulation overhaul?
Are truck campers better at these things for significantly cheaper?

I have a westy and have done a ton of camping in the winter. I use a "little buddy" heater and it heats up the inside fast and warm. I also use old therma rests to insulate the windows. works great! let me know if you have any specific questions and i'll be happy to help.

Don't some of these have built in propane heaters or is that an aftermarket thing people are adding?

Ya, but if your looking at a 20-40 year old Vanagon or Bay window it may not only be a propane tank it may be a bomb if you can get it filled. I have owned all generations of V.W. Campers Splity to Euro and have always ditched any factory propane and used a new 20# tank with a long hose and adaptor to my Lil' Buddy heater or similar. It's also handy to run your stove/bbq and anything else. Much cheaper than buying throw away canisters. Always leave a window cracked of course. I'm not sure driving around with a 20# tank inside is the best idea ever, but it worked for me.

Re: the propane heater, also consider a carbon monoxide detector and a propane detector if they're not already installed...

Be cautious with those heaters. Just after I installed an aftermarket propane heater in my Westfalia back in 1994 tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane space heater. Then I dropped a pillow from the upper bunk onto the heater and started a fire. I was too skittish to use it after that.