Heating options in your tent (RTT or ground)

[chorky]

Ok let's talk heating options - specific to tent/sleeping arrangements. I know theres a lot of ideas out there all over the forum but thought it would be nice to have a thread specific to them rather than being all spread out - and to help me choose a direction.

So theres lots of options - here is a short list of some

• Mr Buddy
• Diesel heater (cheap Chinese option)
• Diesel heater (onboard expensive option)
• Gas heater (gasoline version of diesel)
• Propane (such as propex)
• Mr Buddy or other
• Electric blanket
• Hot water bottle (remember the 1800's?)
• Or nothings, be a man!

Now, for myself, I am considering one of three options

1. Cheap amazon diesel option (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM5M4BV...01DZNUUG&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
2. On board dedicated gas version (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X6H2TM...O9WGFCU5&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
3. Propane option (propex??)

Lets break them down a little more

Cheap amazon option
What I like about this is it can be used with the Gladiator, my TJ, or any other option really. it is self contained. Reviews I have found seem to be pretty decent. And most importantly is it is compact. A lot of the other diesel heaters I have seen are large and bulky. I dont want bulk, at all, and will rather just be cold or not camp. The point of things, for me, is ease of use - in this case, that means light and not bulky. What I dont like is it is diesel. I really do not want a diesel heater if I can avoid it. Mostly because then I have to carry around another fuel source. Which is doable - but also just sucky. Now I have no doubt I can find a way to make it less sucky but I would just rather not use diesel if I could. Which brings me to the next option....

On board Gas heater
I like this option a lot. It is on board, hard mounted, always there and ready. It will (or can) pair well with my aux tank which is on the way. And it's one less thing to load and unload every time I go on a trip. But there are two major downfalls. 1 - it is expensive! very expensive... but its from a reputable manufacturer. 2 - it pulls from the aux tank if wired that way. Which means I still have to be mindful of gas. Not that it consumes very much, like the diesel option it is very efficient - but it still consumes. So with this situation I would have to be careful not to transfer over to the main tank all of my aux tank fuel in order to maintain the ability to have fuel in the aux tank for the heater. It also means custom work to pickup to to feed the heater. Epic Family Roadtrip did this with their setup though so I know it's possible. And the next option I am considering....

Propex or similar LP heater
Honestly, if I can find the right heater this is probably the option I will go with. Because it is the easiest. A heater can still be hard mounted. I do have room for another propane tank (although I'm getting heavy). The biggest issue here is I cannot find any information on them. Revere Overland - forget his name - did a review on one once, but I dont think he had it for very long. I'm really struggling to find solid info on them. And to find if there is another similar propane option that is not a standard 200 pound RV furnace. The major downfall of this option, if I can even find a heater, is calculating how much propane it will consume and making sure I have enough for the heater at night, the cook stove, and the water heater. I can reasonably carry two 10# propane tanks. But past that - if I need more this option simply will not work for what I want to do.




So - now I propose a question and challenge. Can anyone out there suggest a propane option or provide more detailed info about the propex heater? Including propane consumption rates? I need an option that will work in cool 30-40 degree nights for up to 4 nights, and similarly down to 20 degree days and 0 degree nights for a short 2 night trip. Struggling to find a solution.

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[DanW]

I was thinking of doing a tent with an annex and then set the Mr. Buddy heater in the annex. The heat would then rise up into the sleeping area.

Has anyone tried that? Of course, if at a site with electricity, I'd just use a simple fan forced electric heater.

 

[chorky]

That might work depending on temps but the issue with mr buddy is it puts hot air and CO2 in the same space. A propex or similar exhausts fumes away from the heating area.

electric heaters could work but you would be restricted to actual campground then. I rarely go to a campground.

 

[ColoradoDennis]

That might work depending on temps but the issue with mr buddy is it puts hot air and CO2 in the same space.

Presuming that you meant CO (carbon monoxide) and not CO₂ (carbon dioxide), that’s a valid concern for a heater in the annex to heat the sleeping area above. CO is slight less dense than air, so it would rise to the sleeping area. While breathing a mixture unnaturally rich in CO₂ would not be healthy, at least CO₂ is heavier than air, so it wouldn’t immediately rise to the sleeping area like CO would.

 

[chorky]

eant CO (carbon monoxide) and not CO₂ (carbon dioxide), that’s a valid concern for a heater in the annex to heat the sleeping area above. CO is slight less dense than air, so it would rise to the sleeping area. While breathing a mixture unnaturally rich in CO₂ would not be healthy, at least CO₂ is heavier than air, so it wouldn’t immediately rise to the sleeping a

Good catch, brain isn't fully functioning today. But, now if in a tent, CO2 does play a role if one is only heating the tent area and doesn't leave some windows open.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

We went with the duel burner Mr Buddy propane heater for our Gazelle T8 with 11 lb tank. We were nowhere near freezing temps but still cold enough at night to be uncomfortable if we didn’t have it. As long as we cracked open a zipper window to let in fresh air, it was all good. Both of us and the dog were nice and toasty.
What sucks with the propane heater is when it’s about to run out. It stinks and probably not good to breathe.

I’d go with what you’re most leaning toward and that sounds like the gas heater. If you are not budgeting ever drop of gas to go from point A to B and you can fill up somewhere before you head off road to your camping spot, I’d not worry about how much gas your heater will use for the 3-4 days for sitting there doing the camping thing.

You’ve got your propane for cooking and lanterns and what not and with all the gas you’ll have with an auxiliary tank, if you think your gas heater will suck a gallon or two too much gas and prevent you from getting home …IDK ??.

 

[DanW]

That might work depending on temps but the issue with mr buddy is it puts hot air and CO2 in the same space. A propex or similar exhausts fumes away from the heating area.

electric heaters could work but you would be restricted to actual campground then. I rarely go to a campground.

Really? I thought they have an O2 sensor? And a tent is very porous.

 

[chorky]

t to be uncomfortable if we didn’t have it. As long as we cracked open a zipper window to let in fresh air, it was all good. Both of us and the dog were nice and toasty.
What sucks with the propane heater is when it’s about to run out. It stinks and probably not good to breathe.

I’d go with what you’re most leaning toward and that sounds like the gas heater. If you are not budgeting ever drop of gas to go from point A to B and you can fill up somewhere before you head off road to your camping spot, I’d not worry about how much gas your heater will use for the 3-4 days for sitting there doing the camping thing.

You’ve got your propane for cooking and lanterns and what not and with all the gas you’ll have with an auxiliary tank, if you think your gas heater will suck a gallon or two too much

I think the gasoline heater is the best 'integrated' option. But honestly if I could find a good propane option like a propex or a small forced air heater and it didn't consume too much I would prefer that. It's just easier. and cheaper.

 

[Blitzinger]

Vevor diesel heater for. Amazon. 1 gallon on medium setting gets me through the night and then some (10-12 hours). Camping in 29, I started it half hour before bed, when I climbed in, was a nice 60 degrees. That plus my down tent was sublime.

 

[RubiconDONN]

What sucks with the propane heater is when it’s about to run out. It stinks and probably not good to breathe.

I’d go with what you’re most leaning toward and that sounds like the gas heater.

That is the very reason I don't take the heater with me anymore on trips or camping. It stays in the garage with my monitored systems. Found an alternate life for it which is nice.

Definitely wouldn't hurt to snag a gas system to warm yourself up or as others do eventually, the diesel route. As mentioned though, stops beforehand for refueling aren't bad or taking away if you have an auxiliary tank or routes in between before take-off or near camping spots.

 

[chorky]

Definitely wouldn't hurt to snag a gas system to warm yourself up or as others do eventually, the diesel route. As mentioned though, stops beforehand for refueling aren't bad or taking away if you have an auxiliary tank or routes in between before take-off or near camp

I will end up having a LRA aux tank before spring - it's on the way. Which is why I would be ok with a gas heater. So far though I only know one company that makes them and I have read on other forums they have had some issues, and theres compatibility issues since it's a UK version. More research into that is needed.

The diesel heaters are nice and the knockoffs are cheap - however, to me this is the last possible option. I really do not want to be dealing with a different fuel source. I am ok with the gas version because I can plumb it into the LRA aux tank. Can't do that with diesel - and so it requires another fuel source, and carrying more fuel.- just not something I want to do. The only saving part about it is it is cheap compared to all others.

But - I can't seem to really find a lot of very in depth solid information on the gas heaters, nor the propex. Most people who seem to have them are not DIY'ers and have some shop do the install, so I have found it difficult to get good info on them.

 

[JTGuy]

Back in the day I just threw my sleeping bag down on a tarp in a wash. Now I prefer to throw my Visa card down in the hotel office.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

You can always toss in the emergency siphon hose if you’re running low on gas or diesel so while your wife is wining and dinning the new neighbours around the bonfire you can excuse yourself to the “bathroom” and go fill up the heater. ?

 

[chorky]

Back in the day I just threw my sleeping bag down on a tarp in a wash. Now I prefer to throw my Visa card down in the hotel office.

Lol I have a few more years for that yet - all this work on the JT is hopefully going to extend those years a little. But last night I was looking at the Proven Tiger Adventure Vehicles. That I think will be the retirement plan. But for now....

 

[5adventurers]

The heater options have me curious as well. However....we have used a dual buddy heater for about 5+ years now, no issues. We have a Kodiak canvas 10x14 ground tent, with top vents we open. A family of 5 sleeps comfortably even when it's just 15 degrees. We don't often see much lower in southeastern VA.

But since it works, why would I buy something else....even though the gas heater makes sense...if the buddy dies, I'd happily investigate that route. The buddy heater is also virtually silent.

Oh, and I believe it also doesn't emit the CO2 and is safe for enclosed spaces.... (My cousin and I have used them in our garages for years too)But I do keep open the top vents to be safe, cause why not, right?

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