Propane space heaters

[Hyland]

Any recommendations for a propane space heater.

 

[pconroy]

Any recommendations for a propane space heater.

I guess it depends on how much oooomph you want. I've tent camped with a Lil' Buddy heater. I've got a big one (60K BTU) to warm my shop.

I don't use one in the RV because of the moisture issue.

 

[Hyland]

Thanks

 

[Jagiven]

I've got a Buddy Heater too. What everyone get make sure it has an oxygen depletion sensor.

 

[Hyland]

Thanks.I’ve got a buddy heater just don’t think it’s big enough for 30 degree weather.but I will try

 

[RogerR]

I am curious why you don't use the built in furnace that most modern RVs come built in? In doing that you have all potential problems out the vent, carbon monoxide, oxygen depletion and excess moisture causing dripping windows or worse. Plus avoids the chance of fire or burns from the heater in a crowded RV floor.
I have a space heater for my garage to work on cars but rarely use it for long. So old I don't even remember the name!

 

[Hyland]

Will use main heater just looking for a backup if needed

 

[CAG-JAY]

Thanks.I’ve got a buddy heater just don’t think it’s big enough for 30 degree weather.but I will try

Used this heater in the RV (toyhauler) for years with temps outside down to 10 while elk hunting. My son-in-law who slept on the top bunk in the garage said he would have to strip to underwear if it was set anything above low.

 

[CAG-JAY]

I am curious why you don't use the built in furnace that most modern RVs come built in? In doing that you have all potential problems out the vent, carbon monoxide, oxygen depletion and excess moisture causing dripping windows or worse. Plus avoids the chance of fire or burns from the heater in a crowded RV floor.
I have a space heater for my garage to work on cars but rarely use it for long. So old I don't even remember the name!

Never had any of those issues simply because you have to crack a window in low temps to cut down the condensation and no one ever died from using the "Big Buddy Heater".

If you are boondocking, using a space heater that require electric in not an option.

 

[Camper_bob]

In the camper, we use a small electric heater to supplement the furnace when needed (not very often where we typically camp). It works VERY well, and is (IMO) safer than a stand alone propane heater. But it does need power, so can only use it when on shore power or generator.

In the deer blind, we use a Buddy heater, but we always crack the windows for safety. My dad likes to try to cook us to death with that thing, but it is a VERY small space.

 

[pconroy]

Will use main heater just looking for a backup if needed

I put the Lil' Buddy in ours once when I needed to get some work done inside in the winter. Couldn't run the furnace. Our motorhome is 32' bumper to bumper and the Lil' Buddy made almost no difference.

I suspect if your RV is big enough, and as poorly insulated as ours, you'd need to go with the larger one.

 

[CAG-JAY]

I put the Lil' Buddy in ours once when I needed to get some work done inside in the winter. Couldn't run the furnace. Our motorhome is 32' bumper to bumper and the Lil' Buddy made almost no difference.

I suspect if your RV is big enough, and as poorly insulated as ours, you'd need to go with the larger one.

Don't know about the little one but the big one will heat a 37 foot toyhauler with no problem. We did, however, need to keep the furnace going to supply heat to the basement.

 

[pconroy]

Don't know about the little one but the big one will heat a 37 foot toyhauler with no problem. We did, however, need to keep the furnace going to supply heat to the basement.

Good to know. I put a small fan behind the heater to help circulate the air. But I think the poor lil' thing was just too small and the weather too cold that day. It was a nice place to warm the hands however.

I was surprised how fast the little one burned thru the 1# cylinders. I spent the $15 for a cylinder refill adapter and felt a bit better knowing that it was a tad more affordable to keep fed w/ propane.

 

[Camper_bob]

Yeah, I would imagine if the Little Buddy was your ONLY heater, it wouldn't do great in a large trailer? The furnace has the benefit of a fan and ducts, not so with a propane space heater.

Our little ceramic cube heater does a fantastic job though. Surprisingly good in fact. But it has the benefit of a small fan in it, and not being the sole source of heat for the camper.

 

[Jagiven]

I've had two different Buddy Heaters over the years. A monster one I used in the garage. Gave that one away, when I put in forced air. My other one is a small 4k to 9k unit. I have a hose I connect to a 11 or 20 pound propane tank. Works nice. If I knew now what I didn't then, I would have bought the 18k model.

 

[Paul B-FRF]

Buddy heater keeps me warm in a deer blind 4x6 with windows open down to 15° so far.
Great units....
PaulB12

 

[CAG-JAY]

Good to know. I put a small fan behind the heater to help circulate the air. But I think the poor lil' thing was just too small and the weather too cold that day. It was a nice place to warm the hands however.

I was surprised how fast the little one burned thru the 1# cylinders. I spent the $15 for a cylinder refill adapter and felt a bit better knowing that it was a tad more affordable to keep fed w/ propane.

Buy the hoses and specifically the filter for larger tanks. If you run the large tanks and do not run the filter you will plug the heater system with oil from the propane and ruin the heater. I found the 20lb tank hooked to the heater with the filter on the line runs for 4-5 days on low. Trying to run it on med or high will drive people out of the RV because it gets too hot. We were elk hunting in 10F and lower with no issues.

 

[Camper_bob]

Buy the hoses and specifically the filter for larger tanks. If you run the large tanks and do not run the filter you will plug the heater system with oil from the propane and ruin the heater. I found the 20lb tank hooked to the heater with the filter on the line runs for 4-5 days on low. Trying to run it on med or high will drive people out of the RV because it gets too hot. We were elk hunting in 10F and lower with no issues.

Filter is a good tip! My dad runs his to a 20lb tank below the blind. Don't know if he has a filter, but I'm pretty sure he's had to clean it out more than once.

 

[pconroy]

Since we've moved a bit to the hoses, there were a few articles from the makers of the Buddy Heaters saying that we needed to buy their hoses. IIRC, something about other hoses exuding contaminants that would clog the orifice in the heater and render it dead.

 

[Jagiven]

Since we've moved a bit to the hoses, there were a few articles from the makers of the Buddy Heaters saying that we needed to buy their hoses. IIRC, something about other hoses exuding contaminants that would clog the orifice in the heater and render it dead.

I have read that, but I have been using hoses I had custom made. I also do not run a filter. So far, I have not had any issues. I will admit, I do not use my Buddy Heater alot anymore.