Can-Am Defender & Defender MAX HD10 Cab Heater with Defrost, 14,600 BTU, Front or 2nd-Row, Optional Grille Cover, Quick-Start Flow Valve and Idle Pump

A Defender HD10 with a closed cab is a great winter machine until you realize the factory cab only blocks the wind. This cab heater turns it into a warm, fog-free work truck. It pulls heat from the engine's coolant just like a car or pickup heater, then pushes it through adjustable vents and a dash-mounted defrost vent, so you can feed cattle, plow the drive or run fence lines in January without losing feeling in your fingers.

Highlights

• Up to 14,600 BTU at 135 CFM
• Adjustable temperature and fan speed
• 360-degree adjustable vents in the heater unit
• Defrost hose and vent included to keep the windshield clear
• High-grade radiator hoses rated from -40°F to 285°F
• Built-in shutoff valve
• Draws 3.4 amps at 13.7 volts
• Uses the Defender's own key-on and power terminals for simple wiring
• Defender HD10-specific mounting plates, hoses and drill bits included
• Optional second-row heater, grille cover, quick-start flow valve and idle flow pump

Heat the Way a Truck Does It

The heater taps into the Defender's coolant lines, so it uses heat the engine already makes. There is no fuel-burning box and no big battery draw: the fan moves warm air off a heater core, and you set the temperature and fan speed to suit the weather. The heater mounts under the dash, out of the way of your knees, and the control box measures 10" x 4.5" x 11.75".

A Clear Windshield in Any Weather

Fog and frost on the inside of the windshield are a big safety problem in a closed cab. Along with the two vents in the heater itself, the kit includes a defrost vent and hose routed through the dash, so it looks factory-installed and keeps snow, ice and fog off the glass while you drive.

Wiring Without Headaches

The kit connects to the Defender HD10's key-on and power terminals, so the heater only runs with the key on and you won't come back to a dead battery. Machine-specific plates, all hoses and the exact drill bits you need are included.

Keep the Back Row Warm Too

On a Defender MAX HD10, the second-row riders get cold fast. Choose "Rear (2nd Row)" for a second heater that mounts in front of the middle rear seat where passengers can reach the controls, or choose "Front and Rear (2nd Row)" to heat the whole cab. The second-row heater may limit room for a center-rear passenger.

Get Heat Faster

Quick-Start Flow Valve

At low engine temperature, the valve sends all of the engine's coolant to the heater core instead of the radiator, cutting warm-up time roughly in half. When the engine is warm it opens automatically and sends coolant through the radiator too. One valve serves both front and second-row heaters.

Idle Flow Pump Coolant barely moves at idle, which is when you need heat the most on a slow work day. The idle flow pump actively circulates coolant so heated air starts flowing in about 30 seconds and stays warm at idle and low speed. One pump serves both front and second-row heaters.

Combine the valve and pump for the fastest possible heat when you are moving slowly or sitting still.

Add a Grille Cover

A grille cover blocks freezing air from rushing across the radiator, which raises coolant temperature and makes the heater warm up faster. It is PVC-backed polyester and goes on or off in minutes. It works so well that it must not be used above freezing, or the machine can overheat.

Choose Your Setup

- Style: heater only, or heater plus grille cover - Location: front, rear (2nd row), or front and rear - Quick-start flow valve: yes or no - Idle flow pump: yes or no Each add-on raises the price; the front heater alone is the base price.

What's in the Box

• Heater unit with adjustable vents
• Defrost vent and hose
• High-grade radiator hoses
• Defender HD10-specific mounting plates
• Drill bits
• Wiring components and all installation hardware
• Instructions
• Grille cover, second-row heater, flow valve and idle pump when selected

Who It's For and What Pairs Well

For Defender HD10 and MAX HD10 owners who ride, hunt, plow or do chores in cold weather. A heater works best in a sealed cab, so add a windshield from Defender windshields, doors from Defender doors and a top from Defender roofs. If you push snow, see Defender snow plows.

FAQ

How much heat does it put out?

Up to 14,600 BTU at 135 CFM, from engine coolant, the same way a truck heater works.

Is drilling required? Yes, a few holes through plastic. The correct drill bits are included.

Will it drain my battery? It is wired to key-on power, so it only runs with the key on, drawing 3.4 amps at 13.7 volts.

Does it heat both sides of the cab? Yes. The vents swivel 360 degrees so you can aim heat at the driver, the passenger or the windshield.

How fast does it warm up? Without add-ons it warms up as the engine comes to temperature. The quick-start flow valve roughly halves the wait, and the idle flow pump gets warm air moving in about 30 seconds.

Can I use the grille cover all year? No. Use it only below freezing, or the engine can overheat.

Coolant Heat vs. Other UTV Heaters

Some cab heaters burn fuel or run off electric elements. Fuel heaters need their own tank, exhaust and maintenance, and electric heaters draw far more current than a UTV charging system likes to give. A coolant heater uses heat the engine is already throwing away, so it adds very little load and works for as long as the engine runs. That is why it is the same design trucks and cars have used for decades.

Getting the Most Heat

• Close up the cab: doors, a roof and front and rear windshields keep warm air inside
• Use the defrost vent at startup to clear the glass, then switch airflow to the riders
• Add the grille cover below freezing so the engine runs warmer
• Add the idle flow pump if you spend a lot of time idling, plowing or feeding livestock
• Check coolant level and hoses at the start of every winter

Cold-Weather Riding Checklist

• Use a winter-rated coolant mix and keep it topped off
• Warm the engine for a few minutes before working it hard
• Keep the radiator and the grille cover free of packed snow
• Carry a tow strap, gloves and a light for long winter rides
• Remove the grille cover as soon as temperatures rise above freezing

Will the heater keep the windshield clear while I drive? Yes. The included defrost vent and hose route through the dash and blow on the windshield to clear snow, ice and fog.

Does the second-row heater need its own flow valve or pump? No. One quick-start flow valve and one idle flow pump serve both the front and second-row heaters.

Can I add the second-row heater later? Yes, though ordering the front and rear package together keeps the install to one job.

Fitment

• Drilling through plastic required. All necessary bits are included.
• Second-row heater may limit space to the center-rear passenger.

Installation Notes

Most riders with basic hand tools can install the heater in an afternoon. Plan to drill a few holes in plastic panels (bits included), splice into the coolant lines with the supplied hoses, mount the unit under the dash, route the defrost hose and connect to the key-on terminal. Top off and bleed air from the cooling system afterward and check for leaks after the first run. Instructions for the heater, the second-row heater, the flow valve and the idle pump are linked below.

• Installation instructions (HTR-CA-DEF, PDF)
• Installation instructions (HTR-CA-DEFMAX, PDF)
• Installation instructions (HTR-U-QSFV, PDF)
• Installation instructions (HTR-U-IFP, PDF)