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Title: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 01:00:52 PM
I am going to Wyoming again this fall, and taking the tent instead of staying in hotels. Plan is to rent out a space at a campground. I don't want to have to haul enough wood for 8 nights worth of wood stove use.

My first thought was, no problem, the space will have electricity. The more I think of it though, the less I think a 1500w heater will keep the tent warm if it gets cold at night.

I have a few buddy heaters, but wouldn't want to run them all the time, as my alaknak turns into a sweat lodge with them burning, itll rain on you after 1 night trying to heat with propane.

Kind of thought maybe take the stove, and a pile of energy logs to burn in it, but that's still a added step of tending the fire, needing some wood to get it started etc.

if you were going to try to heat a 12x20 tent, how would you do it? is 1500w enough to keep it warm? can I run 2 1500w heaters off a single 30amp rv plug? how do I convert the 30amp rv plug to a pair of 15/20? Im mostly wanting it to stay comfortable in the evenings, if it cools off some during the night that's ok. I figure we will have a few waking hours a day inside the tent though, and id like to have it comfortable inside at that point.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: vandeman17 on May 29, 2018, 01:13:22 PM
If you have access to power could you use just an electric heater? What about the buddy heater ran just enough to keep the edge off and then an electric blanket?
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: skinzner on May 29, 2018, 02:47:03 PM
What about a nuway propane heater its vented out the stove jack so you dont have the moisture problem . I dont own one personally but have read alot of good stuff about them.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: Stein on May 29, 2018, 02:47:11 PM
Is Fall September, October or November?

On a 30 A circuit, you could run two 1500 W electric heaters.  Either that or go a day early and cut up enough wood to get you through the week. 
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: jamesfromseattle on May 29, 2018, 03:12:30 PM
Not really an alternative, but pressed sawdust logs are an excellent lazy alternative to real wood and much easier to transport.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: 6haase6 on May 29, 2018, 03:28:05 PM
What about coal?
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: 2MANY on May 29, 2018, 03:35:06 PM
Honey?
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: bearpaw on May 29, 2018, 04:01:38 PM
I've used several tent heating options, depending how cold it is makes a difference on what it seems will get you by.

Wood
This is the best option by far, puts out the most heat and the fewest little issues. If it was me I would call ahead and arrange to buy wood locally if you don't want to cut it. You can probably have it delivered to your camp cheaper than setting up with another heat source. If you are going to be early in the season you might be fine using propane or kerosene.

Propane
I use Buddy and Big Buddy heaters quite often. For a tent that size you probably need the two Big Buddy's. Hook them to 1 or 2 big propane tanks with hoses that are available for them for doing that. One big 100# tank, two 40#, or four 20# tanks should run heaters and cook stoves for a week and there will probably be left over propane. If it's not real cold they will get the job done as long as you aren't getting over the 8000 foot elevation. At 8000 feet they are touch and go to keep them running, at 8500 a real hassle.

Kerosene 30,000 BTU Size
These put out more heat than propane and two big ones will warm a good sized tent in December or January unless it dips below zero, then wood is the only good option. You can get kerosene cheap at bulk stations that supply gas stations in your area. I usually had to pay about $1 or $2 more than diesel. Be sure and have an extra wick on hand! Kerosene is messy to handle and it's a pain changing wicks, so I've quit using them on a mass basis. But they would probably work fine for you.

Pellet Stove
I haven't tried pellets but I may someday. You can buy them in just about any town nowadays.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 04:09:29 PM
If you have access to power could you use just an electric heater? What about the buddy heater ran just enough to keep the edge off and then an electric blanket?

I don't know if electric is enough, id much rather use a couple space heaters and call it a day!

sleeping I don't mind it getting cold. I just want to be able to dry clothes if needed, and lounge around in a t shirt without freezing if it does get cold.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 04:10:02 PM
What about a nuway propane heater its vented out the stove jack so you dont have the moisture problem . I dont own one personally but have read alot of good stuff about them.

forgot about the nu-way, gonna look into them some more, could pull double duty with my travel trailer I imagine.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 04:14:26 PM
Fall is first or 2nd week of October, haven't decided on a date yet. Last year it wasn't to bad, but it could be this year.
 
 Never thought about burning coal. is coal handy to get? I don't know anywhere that sells it in tri-cities, id like to find a source though, even when burning wood, a couple chunks of coal would be nice to get through the night.

The pressed wood logs is feasible, but ive ever had luck burning them without having a bed of coals and fire already going.

how much water vapor does a 30k btu kerosense stove put out? I wouldn't mind owning a kerosense heater, but never have run one in a tent or small enclosed space before.

Pellet stove was my original intention, but ive read to many mixed reviews to justify the price. if there was a place to rent one for a week or so at a time id be all over I think.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 04:27:43 PM
oh, and I don't think there is anywhere handy to get wood where we are going. (as far as cutting myself)

My best option may be to buy a nicer tent stove, and truck wood in....
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: elkaholic123 on May 29, 2018, 04:51:00 PM
http://www.qstoves.com

I saw these at the Puyallup Sportsman’s show, if I didn’t have a new 4dog stove I would have bought one.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: bearpaw on May 29, 2018, 04:51:43 PM
Fall is first or 2nd week of October, haven't decided on a date yet. Last year it wasn't to bad, but it could be this year.
 
 Never thought about burning coal. is coal handy to get? I don't know anywhere that sells it in tri-cities, id like to find a source though, even when burning wood, a couple chunks of coal would be nice to get through the night.

The pressed wood logs is feasible, but ive ever had luck burning them without having a bed of coals and fire already going.

how much water vapor does a 30k btu kerosense stove put out? I wouldn't mind owning a kerosense heater, but never have run one in a tent or small enclosed space before.

Pellet stove was my original intention, but ive read to many mixed reviews to justify the price. if there was a place to rent one for a week or so at a time id be all over I think.

We didn't find moisture to be a problem in wall tents, I think because they breath. I think the propane puts out more moisture but still hasn't been a problem in a wall tent. The keroseene heaters I used were approved for indoor use, some are not.

I've used the dynaglow, duro heat, and heatmate 23,000 size. (saying 30,000 was a mistake) It seems like I disliked the heatmate, can't remember why, it seems like maybe the wick was harder to change? On a short 1 week trip you shouldn't have to change a wick but better have a spare.
https://www.walmart.com/browse/home-improvement/kerosene-heaters/1072864_133032_1231142_1231102

That coal idea in a wood stove might be a good option, will some wood get the coal burning? There should be plenty of coal in WY!  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: bearpaw on May 29, 2018, 04:57:12 PM
http://www.qstoves.com

I saw these at the Puyallup Sportsman’s show, if I didn’t have a new 4dog stove I would have bought one.

They look interesting, do you remember cost?
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: elkaholic123 on May 29, 2018, 05:24:33 PM
http://www.qstoves.com

I saw these at the Puyallup Sportsman’s show, if I didn’t have a new 4dog stove I would have bought one.

They look interesting, do you remember cost?
Dale, Home Depot sells them for $449.00, at the show he said he has sold several to hunters for their wall tents, there is a bbq attachment for them too but they would have to be used out of tent I believe. They are built in Bellevue Wa.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 07:32:59 PM
Those look great really, any idea what size pipe that is?

I'm not in a canvas tent, and only have a 5" hole. Itd be tough to modify it bigger (cabelas alaknak)

Im gonna look deeper into kerosene, it sounds like it has some drawbacks certainly, but it still may be the most convienent.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: pd on May 29, 2018, 08:13:59 PM
Any coal available in the Tri Cities probably came from Wyoming. Don’t transport your fuel!
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: ghosthunter on May 29, 2018, 08:34:31 PM
I would use press logs and buy them over there. I would take just enough for the first two nights and than go into town some where and by press logs.
You could buy some bundled wood to mix in.

Coal
I wish I new where to get it. It is great in a wood stove and you can leave it out in the rain no problem. Couple big chunks burn a long time.

I load my wood stoves with what I need for the first night so I don’t have to worry about wood the first day.
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: syoungs on May 29, 2018, 08:53:01 PM
What about military stoves?
The h45 diesel burner looks like it would do the job, not terribly expensive on Ebay
 But maybe they are terrible. Never seen one before  :dunno:
Title: Re: Woodless wall tent heating?
Post by: Fl0und3rz on May 29, 2018, 11:20:07 PM
Tagging to see experiences, but I've been interested in waste oil burner designs to add on to a wood stove.  Similar to the military diesel stoves.
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