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Old 08-03-2014, 09:35 PM   #1
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Propane heater

Hello. I am looking forward to camping as it gets cooler here in Arizona. I was talking with neighbor at campground and he used a lil space heater not his heater in his camper. He said the fan really drains the system.
Does anyone have a small space heater they use inside their camper ?
I plan on plumbing it to use my 30 pound bottle.
Once again I am open to suggestions. Iknow alot of you have lived this way longer than we have.
THANKS for your input.
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Old 08-03-2014, 09:39 PM   #2
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I assume you are talking about using a heater when you're not hooked to electric since you're concerned about the drain.
In those situations, I really like my Mr Buddy heater.
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Old 08-04-2014, 06:18 AM   #3
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I have not used my furnace in 4 years just use a big buddy heater..
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Old 08-04-2014, 12:11 PM   #4
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Just be aware that using a flame or catalytic heater inside a closed camper can kill you. All heaters using gas or oil produce carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide when running. All non-vented heaters dump the combustion gases into the surrounding space. These gases are deadly as they make you sleepy and can kill you if are exposed long enough. I don't recommend them. Get a second battery if you are worried about the drain.
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Old 08-04-2014, 01:21 PM   #5
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Have been using a Big Buddy for several years. Its always a good idea to crack a couple of windows when using a propane heat like Big Buddy. They are a equipped with a oxygen sensor that shuts them down when there is a low oxygen condition but a little caution is warranted. I put a T in the line that feeds the kitchen stove. Thats tied into a 12 ft. rubber line that we connect to the heater. Works great!!!!
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Old 08-04-2014, 01:44 PM   #6
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Do you have a problem with water freezing while using this or do you only use it above freezing?
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Old 08-04-2014, 04:52 PM   #7
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I have used the MR BUDDY in my OFF-ROAD CAMPER POPUP but I don't think I would use it in a trailer with hard sides... Too much of risk...

This is what you need to engineer which is vented to the outside and runs from your propane setup...





When we are on shore power I still don't use my PROPANE FURNACE... Way too heat for our liking and the fan is very noisy. It also draws too much current when camping off the power grid. The rule of thumb is one battery one night running the fan...

We use a couple of these low profile OIL-FILLED heaters available from AMAZON...

Photos from GOOGLE IMAGES

works just fine for us in the OFF-ROAD POPUP.
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Old 08-04-2014, 08:40 PM   #8
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Big Buddy heaters are safe as long as you follow the manufacturer recommendations. The manual even tells you how many square inches of opening are required for ventilation. I keep one window cracked open an inch or so (next to my bed), and the roof vent in the bathroom opened about the same.

Heat from the Buddy rises, goes out the roof vent, which pulls fresh air in from the bedside window. Fresh air is constantly flowing into my TT when I use my Big Buddy. I sleep with confidence.
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Old 08-04-2014, 10:50 PM   #9
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Serious question here. I used an electric space heater last month (it was in the 40's in MI at night) but in past years I've used the camper furnace. It's harder to control the temp but it worked. Why are we scaring posters away from using a furnace installed in their camper? I'm not using mine now but it is a viable option.
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Old 08-04-2014, 11:35 PM   #10
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For winter camping in Az we use our Kozy World heater. You do have to crack open a couple of windows to control moisture and to provide for air used in the combustion process.
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Old 08-05-2014, 06:30 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snake Plissken View Post
Serious question here. I used an electric space heater last month (it was in the 40's in MI at night) but in past years I've used the camper furnace. It's harder to control the temp but it worked. Why are we scaring posters away from using a furnace installed in their camper? I'm not using mine now but it is a viable option.
I think the built in furnace is great, especially with a digital thermo upgrade, and just prefer to use the portable propane heater for sake of economy and conserving battery charge. It uses a lot less propane for the same amount of heating- a lot of the furnace heat blows out the exhaust port. And the furnace is a big draw on the batteries, which when boondocking, requires more generator run time to recharge.

If I had deeper pockets, I'd use the furnace exclusively.
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Old 08-06-2014, 05:09 AM   #12
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I have used my furnace every winter at my home base since 2010 and it works great. I have upgraded the thermostat to digital and I also use an external 150 gallon propane tank. I plumb it to the trailer via a copper line and hook it into the trailer plumbing after the trailer regulator since the external tank has a regulator. I did have the tank regulator checked for proper pressure prior to using it. This has worked well for me for 4 winters and buying propane that is delivered to me 100+ gallons at a time (gallons not pounds) is a lot cheaper and much easier than buying it 30 pounds at a time in the little tanks. I probably haven't filled my built in tanks more than a half dozen times in 4 years of full time use and I'm talking about a half dozen total, not for each tank. Now my propane usage isn't that little. This past winter was cold where I home base. I saw 8 degrees several mornings with the daily temp never getting above freezing. I was nice and toasty inside, but I burned a little over 200 gallons of propane over the entire winter.

I keep my fresh water tank full during the winter and operate off of it. I only hook up the water hose to fill the onboard tank when necessary. Otherwise the hose is drained and ready for use even if the outside temp is below freezing.

My home base is in central Alabama, but where I am now.
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