Wall tent heat source

[deerhunter_98520]

I know most go with wood stove but have been seeimg more people lean towards propane....what are the pros and cons that you  guys have between the 2...I like the idea of not getting up to stoke the fire a few times a night but its hard to beat the heat from a wood stove

[BULLBLASTER]

I have only used wood. But was always interested in a generator and using a elec fan heater. As for propane I can't say. I know the propane lantern adds a good amount of heat but propane can add moisture to the air. If it's too much I don't know...

[huntnphool]

The Mister Buddy heaters work very well, we had to limit it to only one of the two burners because it got too warm.

[deerhunter_98520]

The Mister Buddy heaters work very well, we had to limit it to only one of the two burners because it got too warm.

Thats exactly what I was going to try...the big buddy hooked to a 20lb tank....theres oone for  sale locally on craigslist for $100 with the hose

[loggerjim]

I have a kwik kamp stove in my tent and I never get up in the middle of the night to stoke it up. They are well worth the money imo.

[Crunchy]

We almost always use the woodstove to heat the 16x18 full canvas wall tent.  Last year cause of fire danger we tried the heater buddy for one or two nights.  It works but uses those propane bottles at least two a night.  And that is on low setting. 

[bobcat]

I don't know about propane but I do know I loved my wood stove this year during late archery season when temperatures were down in the low 20's at night. We had my Bighorn tent at about 75 degrees in the evening before we went to bed. Was nice being toasty warm and everything nice and dry. I did have to wake up a couple times each night to re-fill the stove with wood, but that wasn't a real big deal.

I used to use a propane heater years ago when I was camping in southeast Washington pheasant hunting, but I only used it in the morning to take the chill off a little bit before I got out of my sleeping bag in the morning to get dressed. I was afraid of leaving it run all night due to the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, even though the heater supposedly had a sensor for that and would shut off. I just didn't trust it.

[grundy53]

The Mister Buddy heaters work very well, we had to limit it to only one of the two burners because it got too warm.

I use a buddy heater. It works great.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[grundy53]

We almost always use the woodstove to heat the 16x18 full canvas wall tent.  Last year cause of fire danger we tried the heater buddy for one or two nights.  It works but uses those propane bottles at least two a night.  And that is on low setting.

I use a large propane tank with a hose. It will last several days.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[grundy53]

The propane heaters do put out moisture. But it isn't too bad.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[bearpaw]

Wood is the best heat no doubt, but propane will work for convenience and cleanliness or if getting wood is an issue. Propane can cause condensation especially in nylon tents, the vapors escape pretty good from canvas tents and is not as much of an issue.

[deerhunter_98520]

Pretty much what I was thinking but wanted first hand experience ..thanks guys  I used a wall tent for the first time this year with my cousin and now I'm starting to gather stuff for my own camp

[ipkus]

We always have the wood stove, and a double burner Mr. Heater.  When it's not that cold at night, the propane only gets used to quickly heat the tent up in the morning so it's warm getting dressed.  When the lows start getting to the teens and below we still stoke the stove before bed but we run one burner on the propane heater all night just to help regulate the temp and keep it from getting super cold if someone slacks off at stoking the stove.  We usually make sure there is at least a little opening at the bottom of the zipper to let out any CO, but we are always up on cots and it's never been an issue.  I have thought about getting one of the portable CO monitors just for peace of mind for those that might worry.

Propane heaters do generate CO, so don't take this as an endorsement that you are perfectly safe running one no matter what. 

[skeeter 20i]

We usually go with a big buddy heater for early deer season and a wood stove for late and elk camp.  Our tent is a 12x14 and the big buddy works just fine, we run ours from the time we come back for the night to the next morning.  We use one of those battery powered co2 monitors just to be safe also.  To give u an idea for consumption rate we usually change out a 20# tank every 4-5 days depending.

Yes there is some associated moisture with propane but it isn't that bad.  Everything is relative between wood/propane yes wood is a better kind of heat in my opinion but we are substituting propane for its ease and safety during a high fire danger time of year. 

[Mark Brenckle]

We usually go with a big buddy heater for early deer season and a wood stove for late and elk camp.  Our tent is a 12x14 and the big buddy works just fine, we run ours from the time we come back for the night to the next morning.  We use one of those battery powered co2 monitors just to be safe also.  To give u an idea for consumption rate we usually change out a 20# tank every 4-5 days depending.

Yes there is some associated moisture with propane but it isn't that bad.  Everything is relative between wood/propane yes wood is a better kind of heat in my opinion but we are substituting propane for its ease and safety during a high fire danger time of year.

  Just to be clear, you're monitoring CO or CO2?  CO is what will kill you and is produced by burning propane.

[skeeter 20i]

We usually go with a big buddy heater for early deer season and a wood stove for late and elk camp.  Our tent is a 12x14 and the big buddy works just fine, we run ours from the time we come back for the night to the next morning.  We use one of those battery powered co2 monitors just to be safe also.  To give u an idea for consumption rate we usually change out a 20# tank every 4-5 days depending.

Yes there is some associated moisture with propane but it isn't that bad.  Everything is relative between wood/propane yes wood is a better kind of heat in my opinion but we are substituting propane for its ease and safety during a high fire danger time of year.

  Just to be clear, you're monitoring CO or CO2?  CO is what will kill you and is produced by burning propane.

nope i know what i mean, we're  monitoring the bubbles in our drinks  .  Yes we're monitoring the stuff that could kill you thanks for that    Never had a monitor  chirp once and we run 2 to be safe.

[deerhunter_98520]

Good idea on the monitors  Ill pick one of those up too

[JimmyHoffa]

moisture was the biggie from what I remember.  When using propane the air didn't dry out so there was lots of condensation and clothes were tougher to dry.  For the woodstove, it would dry so well that people would leave a pot of water to keep from getting to dry inside (except when hanging clothes).

[ghosthunter]

I am using both. Used just the Big Buddy for years. If you are out for a week at a time and its raining the propane doesn't cut it.  Your clothes will feel clammy. The wood stove is the best option.

One thing you should not do with either is seal your tent up tight. Leave a window unzipped a ways and have a little cross breeze all the time.

We never run the Buddy all night. If you have a good bag you don't need too. Just in the am and bedtime.

You can sleep comfortable all night long in a good bag regardless of the temps we get in this state with one little trick.

A $12.00 hot water bottle from any pharmacy. Before bed boil up a pan of water ,dump in the bottle, Wrap the bottle in  clothing or pillow case and put it in the bottom of your bag before bed.

Stays warm all night.

reuse the same water each night. 

[deerhunter_98520]

That's a great tip ghost  thanks

[Hunting7mm]

The Mister Buddy heaters work very well, we had to limit it to only one of the two burners because it got too warm.

 
 Hunted Idaho in 7 degree weather and it kept our tent nice and warm.

[bearpaw]

kerosene space heater and a good ventilation, inexpensive, easy to haul in fuel, and capable of knocking back any winter temp.

I've got a whole shelf of old kerosene heaters I quit using. The wicks are a pain to maintain and kerosene is a pain to fill every night. I like wood stoves or propane heaters better, personal preference I guess.

We usually go with a big buddy heater for early deer season and a wood stove for late and elk camp.  Our tent is a 12x14 and the big buddy works just fine, we run ours from the time we come back for the night to the next morning.  We use one of those battery powered co2 monitors just to be safe also.  To give u an idea for consumption rate we usually change out a 20# tank every 4-5 days depending.

Yes there is some associated moisture with propane but it isn't that bad.  Everything is relative between wood/propane yes wood is a better kind of heat in my opinion but we are substituting propane for its ease and safety during a high fire danger time of year.

  Just to be clear, you're monitoring CO or CO2?  CO is what will kill you and is produced by burning propane.

I won't say for certain but it seems propane fumes escape canvas better and aren't so much an issue as in a closed space. I've heard of numerous campers dieing from CO in a camper with closed windows. I would also be more cautious in a nylon tent that doesn't breath as well. Definitely a good idea to have a monitor. I think I remember reading that the propane heaters with the newer infrared burners are cleaner burning than the older style heaters without the infrared burners or the space heaters. I always recommend that you do not sleep with propane heaters burning, run them while you are awake and shut them off till you get up in the morning. 

[Buzz2401]

We use a kwik camp stove in our 16x24 and it burns all night just fine.  I use a little buddy in my smaller tent but I really don't like the heat or the condensation that comes with its use and I also never sleep as well cause I am always paranoid of the CO gases.  I have a hard time trusting my wife and I's lives to a $30 chinese made CO monitor.

[jeepster]

Don't know if somebody has mentioned this, but the by product of burning propane is moisture. Running a Mr buddy or similar unit, can potentially make your tent similar to a steam room. I own an Alaknak 12x12 and I run a cylinder stove. I wish mine was bigger, as I can't stoke it and have it run till morning. The alaknaks are very vulnerable to condensation as they aren't canvas, the they have alot of vents and don't hold heat as well, but with my experience with propane, whether camping or on boats or rvs I think it's the worst heat source. Even building boats, we would use a bunch of catalytic heaters hooked to a BBQ bottle and the walls would drip. Personally, I would get a big cylinder stove, you can stoke it, and if you add a stack robber or chimney oven and inmprove the dampner system, you can have a very efficient stove that will run hot all night. Another option is a cylinder stove modified to run on pellets.

Honestly, a good heavy stove, a thermoelectric fan, and a wool blanket makes for the best nights sleep in the world, at least for me.

However, you could make a flue for a marine propane furnace like the Dickenson Newport, and make it externally vented so you wouldn't run into condensation issues would still need a chimney, but you would have dry heat

[Larry S.]

The byproducts of burning propane are carbon dioxide and water vapor. I have and use a propane heater when there's a fire danger in the area and don't want to take a chance on a spark arrestor not catching all of the sparks from my wood stove - which produces a dry heat. The downside of a propane heater is that, in a cold environment, your tent walls will quickly become cold too and, when the water vapor comes in contact with those walls, it will condense and the walls will get damp. I usually have to use a towel to dry my Alaknak Tent walls after using the propane heater overnight.

One way or another, though, it's always better to be warm. Propane heaters are convenient, but I prefer a wood stove for its dry heat...even if it means feeding the beast at night.

Larry S.

[deerhunter_98520]

I've been looking at the gravity fed pellet stoves latey and I'm contemplating trying to build one myself and try it out...I like the idea of the pellets and one bag burining all night...anyone else try this? Or any suggestions to build one?

[3dvapor]

I built this one.   It works awesome here but have had to make some changes when hunting out of state in high altitude areas.  8000ft.  This picture is without the hopper.

[Jaques Bonet]

I like to use coal when I can get it , last longer than wood. Also have a big buddy with large tank that I put out in a dome ten. If you have ever hunted in below zero temp coal is awesome , also load it up before going out to hunt and damper down you will come back to a warm tent. I have hunted eastern Montana over 20 times and have never had a problem. Happy Hunting, Jaques Bonet

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Growing up we had an old 8' truck camper which did not have a heater. The Old Man would start one stove top burner. Propane. And place a small to medium clay pot over the burner. It acted as a heat exchanger and I don't remember any condensation issues? Don't see why you couldn't do this with the Mr. Heater in a wall tent?

[bobcat]

But isn't a propane stove in a camper vented to the outside?

[deerhunter_98520]

Been doin some research on these pellet stoves and they look like they would be good....I'm gonna look some some square tubing and try to make one and see how it goes

[scoyoc5]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,170072.0.html

I made this one and works awesome...

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

But isn't a propane stove in a camper vented to the outside?

This camper was so old it had a flap you manually opened when you needed it.

[follow maggie]

I have a portable buddy heater I use in my camper and love it. I got a hose to connect a 30 pound bulk tank that lasts forevver, it seems. I haven't used in my wall tent, but will probably try it this year. I'm not sure if moisture would be concern in a tent, propane heat tends to have a good amount of moisture in it.

[Rainier10]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,170072.0.html

I made this one and works awesome...

Cylinder stoves has an attachment similar to this that I got for my stove.  It works great if it isn't too cold out.  Unfortunately I use it during the late season and the temp outside never gets above 25degrees during the day and is about 8-10degrees at night. Mine just doesn't feed enough pellets in to keep it warm in the tent at night when it is that cold outside.

[bobcat]

Another advantage of a wood stove versus a propane heater is that you can cook on a wood stove.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Another advantage of a wood stove versus a propane heater is that you can cook on a wood stove.

You can cook a a Mr. HEATER.

[scoyoc5]

Rainier,
Pellets also make a big difference. I learned a hard lesson in Montana a few years ago. I will only use "clean burn" brand pellets.

[ghosthunter]

One thing to remember with the Buddy heaters is , If you run them on a balk tank you have to install a filter at tanks and hose.
Otherwise you run the risk of destroying the Buddy heater. They make a filter for it and you can buy them wherever to purchase the heater. 


Note:
Dot my words. But good info.


First of all, the filter is unnecessary if you're using the hose with attached regulator; the regulator will remove any contaminants in the propane (Apparently the Amazon package unnecessarily included both the hose attached regulator AND the filter...)

Beyond that, if you're using a hose that does NOT have an attached regulator you absolutely must use the filer! I've been using Mr. Buddy Heaters for years and can attest that if you use a hose and don't use the filter, you'll end up tearing down your heater, buying new internal parts, and rebuilding it (or just throwing it out and buying a new heater, if they're on sale...)

The filter removes oily contaminants that are present to a greater or lesser degree in the all 5 gallon propane tanks (the degree of contamination depends on your source of propane). Mostly the contamination is the oderant (mercaptin oil) they add to the propane. Over time (maybe 5 to 15 tanks, depending on how bad your propane is contaminated), the oil will build up and clog up the heater's internal parts, rendering some useless and requiring cleaning of everything else.

It's impossible, by law, to buy propane refills that are mercaptin free; therefore you will ALWAYS have contaminants in your refillable propane tanks.

You can also get contamination if you're using the older style black hoses. They contain a plasticizer that will bleed out of the hose if you turn off the heater before shutting off the tank valve; the pressure builds up in the hose and forces the plasticizer out of the hose material and into the void of the hose. When you re-start your heater, all that stuff gets sucked right into your heater, and it seems that it's even more damaging than the oil in the propane. Even worse, it's my experience that the filters do not do a very good job of filtering the plasticizer; perhaps because the higher pressure in the hose when you first turn on your heater blows it right past the filter.

That means that, even if you're using a filter, if you're using the older-style black hose, you still have to turn off the tank before turning off the heater. If I'm using a black hose, I usually turn off the tank and just let the heater go out by itself.

But nowadays I usually use the Plasticizer-free Green Hose that Enerco sells, so I don't have the plasticizer problem. The advantage of the Green Hose is that since I no longer have to turn off the tank and then allow the heater to just go out, I can now leave the tank outside my tent trailer and just turn the heater on and off without bothering with the tank.

Some sources say that, with the Green Hose, you don't need to use the filter. I still use the filter though, due to the problems with contamination from propane mentioned above. It's still necessary to use the filter because your propane is still going to contain contaminants that will need to be filtered.

I have 3 heaters - I date my filters (using indelible markers) when I put them on a heater and change them out after a year. I've had no problems at all since I started this system.

[MADMAX]

Growing up we had an old 8' truck camper which did not have a heater. The Old Man would start one stove top burner. Propane. And place a small to medium clay pot over the burner. It acted as a heat exchanger and I don't remember any condensation issues? Don't see why you couldn't do this with the Mr. Heater in a wall tent?

 
done it for years, especially back before I had 2K  honda generator

my bumper mount  RV and also the cabover camper both have clay pots in them right now

[Rainier10]

Rainier,
Pellets also make a big difference. I learned a hard lesson in Montana a few years ago. I will only use "clean burn" brand pellets.

I didn't think of that, PM sent for more information.

[Buzz2401]

Hmm I didn't know that about Mr. Buddy heaters and bulk tanks.  I have never used nothing but bulk tanks on mine and never had a issue and it is almost ten years old.    Great now its gonna go tits up since I seen this.

[follow maggie]

I asked them about filter or regulator being necessary with a 10' hose, and they told me no, it's not necessary. Doens't hurt, though, I guess.

[grundy53]

Hmm I didn't know that about Mr. Buddy heaters and bulk tanks.  I have never used nothing but bulk tanks on mine and never had a issue and it is almost ten years old.    Great now its gonna go tits up since I seen this.

We've never had a problem either.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

One thing to remember with the Buddy heaters is , If you run them on a balk tank you have to install a filter at tanks and hose.
Otherwise you run the risk of destroying the Buddy heater. They make a filter for it and you can buy them wherever to purchase the heater. 


Note:
Dot my words. But good info.





First of all, the filter is unnecessary if you're using the hose with attached regulator; the regulator will remove any contaminants in the propane (Apparently the Amazon package unnecessarily included both the hose attached regulator AND the filter...)

Beyond that, if you're using a hose that does NOT have an attached regulator you absolutely must use the filer! I've been using Mr. Buddy Heaters for years and can attest that if you use a hose and don't use the filter, you'll end up tearing down your heater, buying new internal parts, and rebuilding it (or just throwing it out and buying a new heater, if they're on sale...)

The filter removes oily contaminants that are present to a greater or lesser degree in the all 5 gallon propane tanks (the degree of contamination depends on your source of propane). Mostly the contamination is the oderant (mercaptin oil) they add to the propane. Over time (maybe 5 to 15 tanks, depending on how bad your propane is contaminated), the oil will build up and clog up the heater's internal parts, rendering some useless and requiring cleaning of everything else.

It's impossible, by law, to buy propane refills that are mercaptin free; therefore you will ALWAYS have contaminants in your refillable propane tanks.

You can also get contamination if you're using the older style black hoses. They contain a plasticizer that will bleed out of the hose if you turn off the heater before shutting off the tank valve; the pressure builds up in the hose and forces the plasticizer out of the hose material and into the void of the hose. When you re-start your heater, all that stuff gets sucked right into your heater, and it seems that it's even more damaging than the oil in the propane. Even worse, it's my experience that the filters do not do a very good job of filtering the plasticizer; perhaps because the higher pressure in the hose when you first turn on your heater blows it right past the filter.

That means that, even if you're using a filter, if you're using the older-style black hose, you still have to turn off the tank before turning off the heater. If I'm using a black hose, I usually turn off the tank and just let the heater go out by itself.

But nowadays I usually use the Plasticizer-free Green Hose that Enerco sells, so I don't have the plasticizer problem. The advantage of the Green Hose is that since I no longer have to turn off the tank and then allow the heater to just go out, I can now leave the tank outside my tent trailer and just turn the heater on and off without bothering with the tank.

Some sources say that, with the Green Hose, you don't need to use the filter. I still use the filter though, due to the problems with contamination from propane mentioned above. It's still necessary to use the filter because your propane is still going to contain contaminants that will need to be filtered.

I have 3 heaters - I date my filters (using indelible markers) when I put them on a heater and change them out after a year. I've had no problems at all since I started this system.

Thanks again Ghost!!! Dug this up from 2016. Forgot about the Green Hose Deal.......