Heating options in your tent (RTT or ground)

[chorky]

s. 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. Th

If I had a nice ground tent with cots I would probably go the Mr Buddy route - but being in the RTT - thats not something I want to do. Seems to me way too easy to knock over since the tent I have is smaller than a ground tent option.

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[Flyin6]

Here's what I use

Starts at reply #139

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[5adventurers]

If I had a nice ground tent with cots I would probably go the Mr Buddy route - but being in the RTT - thats not something I want to do. Seems to me way too easy to knock over since the tent I have is smaller than a ground tent option.

Fair point, makes sense. Unless you wanted to make some type of a small crate for it, or find a metal one that works...but still understand and get the thought process. We always put ours on a block and away from everyone.

 

[biplaneguy]

the issue with mr buddy is it puts hot air and CO2 in the same space.

And water vapor, which can lead to quite a bit of condensation inside the heated space.

I know some people do it, but I wouldn't be comfortable with an unvented heater that consumes oxygen and produces CO2 while sleeping in a closed space.

But last night I was looking at the Proven Tiger Adventure Vehicles.

That's Provan.

We have one and love it, but it's an older Chevy Astrovan based model. The newer truck based ones are beautiful, but my the prices are crazy.

 

[MPMB]

I'm my own heater. Lol. We've only hit low temps a few times, nothing sustained.

In the Tepui Autana we had 0* Teton Sports sleeping bags. I hate poly and have a hard time sleeping in nylon. I need my comfort flannel.

My wife has a... wearable sleeping bag. Inside another sleeping bag.

The option right now for her is a heated car blanket (they pull less watts) plugged into a EcoFlow River. Run that for a few minutes before bed and a few minutes in the morning works to stay warm.

We're looking into the diesel heaters as an option. You only have so much room, right?

 

[chorky]

n heater. Lol. We've only hit low temps a few times, nothing sustained.

In the Tepui Autana we had 0* Teton Sports sleeping bags. I hate poly and have a hard time sleeping in nylon. I need my comfort flannel.

My wife has a... wearable sleeping bag. Inside another sleeping bag.

A lot of the newer down bags are super nice and warm. but the problem there is you are warm but then water vapor freezes on the inside of the tent. My reasoning for wanting a heater is not only for body warmth but to also dry out the air so water stays in a vapor form and exits, and doesn't freeze. I dont have a way to dry out a tent at home - no garage. So if it got soaking wet inside just from your breath then unless there is a hot sunny day I'm kinda screwed. That happened a few times this year already and fortunately there were a few hot sunny days so I left it open for a couple work days and aired it out. But last week I opened it up for some work and noticed some frost on the inside so it never fully tried out. Last thing I want is to open it in spring and be all moldy.

 

[Turnswrench]

The Vevor diesel heater has been a great addition for us. It's overkill for a RTT. Even on the lowest setting it was burning up hot in the tent.

I do like the idea of an integrated system as long as it's useful for a large portion of the year. Wouldn't make sense to me to haul it around everywhere just for it to be used a couple times a year.

 

[chorky]

The Vevor diesel heater has been a great addition for us. It's overkill for a RTT. Even on the lowest setting it was burning up hot in the tent.

I do like the idea of an integrated system as long as it's useful for a large portion of the year. Wouldn't make sense to me to haul it around everywhere just for it to be used a couple

I'll have to look into that one I'm not familiar with it.

Yeah I agree - it would have to be used to be valuable. But for me theres only 1 month out of 4 months where temps dont get below 40 at night. So it would definable be used, and would extend camping abilities by 2 moths probably

 

[MPMB]

A lot of the newer down bags are super nice and warm. but the problem there is you are warm but then water vapor freezes on the inside of the tent. My reasoning for wanting a heater is not only for body warmth but to also dry out the air so water stays in a vapor form and exits, and doesn't freeze. I dont have a way to dry out a tent at home - no garage. So if it got soaking wet inside just from your breath then unless there is a hot sunny day I'm kinda screwed. That happened a few times this year already and fortunately there were a few hot sunny days so I left it open for a couple work days and aired it out. But last week I opened it up for some work and noticed some frost on the inside so it never fully tried out. Last thing I want is to open it in spring and be all moldy.

Surprisingly we had zero issues with our tent in WA. This included getting snowed on at Yellowstone (3"+ of wet snow), rain in Glacier, and a windy downpour on Banks Lake. I think the only time I've opened it up to dry at home was after a wet weekend at Fish Lake.

 

[Jglad15]

@chorky What rtt do you have? I have an ikamper xcover 2.0 and I recently bought ikampers insulation tent for it. It’s basically a quilted liner that’s in the tent. I have an electric blanket, and North faces’s dolomite one duo sleeping bag. I believe it’s a 15 degree bag. I have not used any of these yet, but I was going to see how they performed hopefully in January. We have a pretty busy month ahead of us for December, so it’s gonna be hard to get out somewhere. And at that point if I’m not satisfied with how they perform I was thinking of getting a diesel heater as well. I’m in the same boat as you that I don’t have a garage so a way to keep condensation out would be nice. Supposedly the liner does a pretty good job to help stay warm. Here’s just a lil clip of the inside.

 

[chorky]

@chorky What rtt do you have? I have an ikamper xcover 2.0 and I recently bought ikampers insulation tent for it. It’s basically a quilted liner that’s in the tent. I have an electric blanket, and North faces’s dolomite one duo sleeping bag. I believe it’s a 15 degree bag. I have not used any of these yet, but I was going to see how they performed hopefully in January. We have a pretty busy month ahead of us for December, so it’s gonna be hard to get out somewhere. And at that point if I’m not satisfied with how they perform I was thinking of getting a diesel heater as well. I’m in the same boat as you that I don’t have a garage so a way to keep condensation out would be nice. Supposedly the liner does a pretty good job to help stay warm. Here’s just a lil clip of the inside.

I have a Nimbus by 4x4Colorado. It's a good tent. I think even with a liner you will have condensation issues. Really the only way to get rid of condensation is cranking up the heat to keep moisture in vapor form, having crazy house like insulation, or not breathing haha. But in all seriousness, theres houses with 6" walls that have condensation issues. I think in a tent the only way to reduce it is keeping some windows open, and cranking up the heat. This past October I did a 3 night short camp trip, windows open, and a lot of condensation for all but one night - temps were only in the mid 40's but was below the dew point.

 

[Jglad15]

I have a Nimbus by 4x4Colorado. It's a good tent. I think even with a liner you will have condensation issues. Really the only way to get rid of condensation is cranking up the heat to keep moisture in vapor form, having crazy house like insulation, or not breathing haha. But in all seriousness, theres houses with 6" walls that have condensation issues. I think in a tent the only way to reduce it is keeping some windows open, and cranking up the heat. This past October I did a 3 night short camp trip, windows open, and a lot of condensation for all but one night - temps were only in the mid 40's but was below the dew point.

Right right, guess I lost track bout the condensation topic. Was more so talking bout some ways to stay warm. I think regardless like you said you’ll always get condensation unless you do a diesel heater. I keep going back and forth bout it. I’ve seen a few ppl now get those anti condensation square carpet tiles to put on the tent floors to help as well. I have been out in the 40s with the tent and knock on wood so far I have had a lil condensation under the mattress but that was bout it. Nothing crazy

 

[mx5red]

Our bodies produce or evaporate a lot of moisture just by breathing, so condensation is hard to avoid. Besides humidity, condensation with temperature drops, etc.
I don’t pretend to have a solution but if you want to avoid italmost seems like you need something to dry the air.

FWIW I camped in a RTT with liner, can’t remember if it was down to 40 or 50 degrees. We slept in light pajamas and thin blankets. I had a heated blanket I ran on lowest setting with 12v battery and we were plenty warm.
I just slept in an unlined tent, we were wearing coats and 40 degree sleeping bags and some light blankets and we were freezing (I forgot to bring the heated blanket?).
If you can run a battery I’d 100% do that as my plan if it’s really cold.
There is an investment cost and ongoing cost, whether that is battery/electricity, or heater/fuel.
If you’re doing it often I’d argue electricity is better because fuel costs go down. Can recharge with dc-dc charger and/or solar panels.

 

[MPMB]

Our bodies produce or evaporate a lot of moisture just by breathing, so condensation is hard to avoid. Besides humidity, condensation with temperature drops, etc.
I don’t pretend to have a solution but if you want to avoid italmost seems like you need something to dry the air.

CPAP mask and route the hose outside. Condensation problem solved.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Done alot of backpacking, including multiple in sub-freezing temps, in a ground tent each time (if you believe a rando on the internet).

Please stop using powered heaters in tents.

There is a phrase used here often, "buy once, cry once".

There is specific gear meant to keep you warm, it is not cheap, but it works. There is also gear meant to keep you warm enough to "survive" should you not want to spend enough money for option 1.

Heaters in tents are on borrowed time before someone kills themselves due to CO poisoning or burns down the forest. Both options are bad, and avoidable.

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