Propane Wall Tent Stoves?

[WilliamWallace]

What is everyone's opinion on using propane stoves in a wall tent? We have a 16'X18' tent, the wood burning stove doesn't regulate the heat very well. Sometimes its hotter than hell and then a few hours later its colder than crap! So we were tossing ideas around and this was an unanswered idea.

-Does anyone use one during elk season?

-Any recommendations on our issue?

[Trailstrider]

  Great post! We have the same problem with our 15X20 and anything that works better than wood would be great! So all whats out there to use that keeps us all one temp through the night?

[Bulldozer]

Instead of a light wall tent stove, if you have room, go with a regular house woodstove. They will hold heat longer and are better regulated. Weight is the only problem with them.

[runningboard]

I think the big buddy heater works great but it usually runs out before morning if you don't use the hose and BBQ size bottle. sometimes have a hard time decidng which setting to use since it has 3, top setting too hot mid setting just not quite warm enough.

[wayner]

I have a three burner heater that sits on top of a propane tank. I have 2- 30 gal propane tanks that will easily last a week. It will heat you out of a wall tent. But you better be able to drive to your camp.

[Gamblin Guy]

The problem with propane is you end up with a lot of condensation on the inside of the tent.  I use a heater similar to this during archery season, if its needed, and to take the chill off if we are hunting when fires are legal.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332739_200332739

[Bigshooter]

Buy a better sleeping bag.

[ghosthunter]

I use a Big Buddy heater. And a wood stove. I have had no problem with moisture as long as we keep a window cracked.

[mtndew]

Spend more time playing with your wood stove, you should be able to bank it full of wood, damper it down, and have it last most of the night. With consistent heat output. Propane creates H2O when it burns. Hard to dry wet hunting clothes with a damp heat source. I'll take wood over propane any day of the week.

[TheHunt]

I agree I would take a dry heat source like a wood stove then a wet heat source. 

[Roost Run]

We have a 16x20, and the wood stove works just fine.  You have to make sure you are burning good wood.  Tamarack is what you are looking for.  We can stock the stove and it will burn most of the night.  You might have to stoke it once.  I usually end up sleeping on top of my bag because it is so warm

[Rainier10]

I have a 15x24 that I use a Cylinder stove in and had the same problem.  Two years ago at the sportsmans show I bought a wood pellet feeder attachment that they make for it.  When we used it this year I used the wood to get the tent warm before bed, all the corners and equipment and then used the wood pellets through the night, it kept the chill off and burned all night long.  In the morning we stoked up the wood to get it toasty in the tent again but the pellets kept the chill off and kept me from having to restoke the fire in the middle of the night.  A 3/4 of a bag of pellets lasted all night and they are cheap and clean.  I would recommend them as a good option.

[whacker1]

I have a 15x24 that I use a Cylinder stove in and had the same problem.  Two years ago at the sportsmans show I bought a wood pellet feeder attachment that they make for it.  When we used it this year I used the wood to get the tent warm before bed, all the corners and equipment and then used the wood pellets through the night, it kept the chill off and burned all night long.  In the morning we stoked up the wood to get it toasty in the tent again but the pellets kept the chill off and kept me from having to restoke the fire in the middle of the night.  A 3/4 of a bag of pellets lasted all night and they are cheap and clean.  I would recommend them as a good option.

The people I know that use propane heaters have a condensation problem. 

I would suggest the pellet feeder if you are looking to maintain the heat through the night vs switching over to propane.

[dad98684]

I go with a combination of my cook stove and a pellet stove.

[losdaddy7]

I have a two room 12X24 wall tent with 5 foot walls.  I originally used a Little Bear wood stove and it heated up the tent to sauna temperatures.... It was great, but a little too much work packing the stove each year and supplying the fuel daily.  I switched to a big buddy heater with a 5 gallon propane tank a few years ago and would NEVER go back to a wood stove.  I don't even use the battery powered fan on my big buddy and it still heats up my tent nicely.  On cooler nights (10-20 degrees) I'll cut it down to low and run it all night.  A 5 gallon bottle usually lasts 4-5 days. 

[WilliamWallace]

Thanks for all the input! Is the pellet feeder easy to add to an existing stove? I haven't done any research to see the process.

[RightPlace-RightTime]

With a wood stove,  A while ago I got some advice,  It works.

When you cut your wood for your stove.  Cut just a couple inches short, so you have the wood the full length of your stove.  Will make the world of a difference.

[Rainier10]

Cutting the wood to fill the stove is a great tip.  Another easy one for first thing in the morning is a simple Presto log.

The pellet feeder I got was very easy to install, they give you a template to cut the hole and it hangs off the back of the stove.  I used a drill and a jigsaw, took me about 15 minutes to modify my stove.  It comes with a cover plate to put back over the hole if you don't have the feeder with you.  You can burn pellets or close the chute on the feeder and burn wood in the main stove.  At one point I had the pellet feeder going along with the wood last year.  They also have an attachment that lets you burn diesel, kerosene or used motor oil.  I went with the pellets because they were easier for me to pack to where I hunt.  You can also buy the stove and the pellet feeder or oil drip as a package already fabbed up if you are not mechanically inclined or don't already have a stove that can be modified.

[WilliamWallace]

Cutting the wood to fill the stove is a great tip.  Another easy one for first thing in the morning is a simple Presto log.

The pellet feeder I got was very easy to install, they give you a template to cut the hole and it hangs off the back of the stove.  I used a drill and a jigsaw, took me about 15 minutes to modify my stove.  It comes with a cover plate to put back over the hole if you don't have the feeder with you.  You can burn pellets or close the chute on the feeder and burn wood in the main stove.  At one point I had the pellet feeder going along with the wood last year.  They also have an attachment that lets you burn diesel, kerosene or used motor oil.  I went with the pellets because they were easier for me to pack to where I hunt.  You can also buy the stove and the pellet feeder or oil drip as a package already fabbed up if you are not mechanically inclined or don't already have a stove that can be modified.

Where do you buy the feeder? Brand name? Ect...

[Rainier10]

PM sent with information on manufacturer.  I didn't want to break any rules about advertising.

[whacker1]

A couple manufacturers make gravity feeders designed for their own stoves, but the most commonly advertised is Cylinder Stoves brand.

[dad98684]

i have made a few pellet stoves, they are fairly easy to make if you have the tools.

[Rainier10]

A couple manufacturers make gravity feeders designed for their own stoves, but the most commonly advertised is Cylinder Stoves brand.

That is the one I use and have no complaints.