Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: king on October 11, 2010, 08:05:17 PM

Title: Tent Heater
Post by: king on October 11, 2010, 08:05:17 PM: Me and a buddy are heading out the last weekend of rifle season in Idaho (two weeks) and we're staying in a 6 person tent. Has anyone every used a Mr. Heater or something similar in a tent? It says it is safe indoors but gas poisoning scares me.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: sirfunkeybut on October 11, 2010, 08:09:08 PM: we used one in a isuzu trooper a few years ago. and thanks to my buddy he left it on all night not lit. but i think that they have a shut off device that stops the gas flow if it's not burning. like i said i think, but when we did use it we never felt drowsy or had headaches or anything like that.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: Ray on October 11, 2010, 08:19:34 PM: I got one - I make sure to get a draft inside the tent. I'm still alive.

BTW - Just checked. Mine has an automatic shutoff when low oxygen is detected...
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: mebco09 on October 11, 2010, 08:21:22 PM: What kind of tent material? Is it flame retard? If so, and if it has a stove jack, you can't beat a wood stove. I get freaked out with anything gas in a tent, problem is, you won't know what hit you. Going to be a cold one....
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: Mangy on October 11, 2010, 08:32:19 PM: Used one in a covered goose pit last year with no problems. It was rated for indoor use and had the low oxygen shut off also.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on October 11, 2010, 08:33:22 PM: The Mr. heater/ Mr. Buddy's work great. I leave mine on low all night with my wet clothes hung over to dry. Tent is 8 x 14. I got a hose adapter to attach it to a 5 gal. tank. It does use the gas. 5 gal/3-4 days.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: pods8 on October 11, 2010, 08:43:39 PM: Even though they have low oxygen shutoff I'd still ensure there is some ventilation going on, I wouldn't trust my life in an inexpensive device.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: bowtech721 on October 11, 2010, 09:03:18 PM: i have one that i use with my tent but i dont really trust my life to it even though it has the shut off... im set up for a woodstove in the tent but dont have one and am wondering if its worth packing a bunch more stuff with me. The mr buddy does work pretty good though i must say
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: tbrady on October 11, 2010, 09:04:48 PM: I've got the regular size buddy heater and it makes a huge difference. The 1lb bottle will only last about 5hours or so. We use the propane tank with a hose and it will last all week.

Definitely worth the money imo. Either that or buy one of those 2 person sleeping bags but my buddies feel a little awkward doing that. :P
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: buckreaper on October 11, 2010, 09:06:44 PM: I have the Buddy Heater and use it in a 6-person Alaskan tent. Works very well but I turn it off at night. Not willing to trust my life on an $80.00 heater. Tried drying clothes overnight in a 6x10 cargo trailer and it turned itself off. Realized I didn't open the roof vent. Tried the next night and it ran all night. Dry clothes to put on! But, parts like sensors can possibly fail. I have a very good bag so I don't need the heat all night. Actually sleep better.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: HUNT on October 11, 2010, 09:18:18 PM: Use the Mr. Heater in my wall tent. 14x17. Works like a charm....
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: ribka on October 11, 2010, 09:26:13 PM: I use the Mr. Heater in conjunction with a CO Detector. Can buy one at Lowes and Home Depot. Mr. Heater is supposed to have an automatic shut-off but it is made in China. Having extra insurance is worth it IMO
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: grundy53 on October 11, 2010, 09:32:23 PM: Quote from: wapiti hunter2 on October 11, 2010, 08:33:22 PM
The Mr. heater/ Mr. Buddy's work great. I leave mine on low all night with my wet clothes hung over to dry. Tent is 8 x 14. I got a hose adapter to attach it to a 5 gal. tank. It does use the gas. 5 gal/3-4 days.

Same here. Plus its nice and warm when you get out of your sleeping back in the morning. I use mine in Idaho thanksgiving week.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: spin05 on October 12, 2010, 01:33:10 AM: We used them last year in our wall tent. It seemed like we had way more condisation then when we use the wood stove....
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: ICEMAN on October 12, 2010, 05:28:21 AM: Quote from: spin05 on October 12, 2010, 01:33:10 AM
We used them last year in our wall tent. It seemed like we had way more condisation then when we use the wood stove....

Yep, burning propane will do that...
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: pods8 on October 12, 2010, 07:33:41 AM: Quote from: ribka on October 11, 2010, 09:26:13 PM
I use the Mr. Heater in conjunction with a CO Detector. Can buy one at Lowes and Home Depot. Mr. Heater is supposed to have an automatic shut-off but it is made in China. Having extra insurance is worth it IMO

A carbon monoxide detector doesn't do anything to protect you against an oxygen depleted environment, which is what folks main concern is with a catalytic heater. As I said before make sure you have some ventilation going on when running these otherwise you might just get sleepy and not wake up, which is exactly what happens in low O2 situations.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: Little Fish on October 12, 2010, 02:58:34 PM: ...I think its a higher concentration of CO2 relative to oxygen that kills you...so yes I think the CO2 detector is a good piece of equipment to add.

BTW...my buddy heater works great in the tent and boat, but I don't leave it on overnight.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: grundy53 on October 12, 2010, 03:03:39 PM: co2 is different then carbon monoxide which is just CO, make sure you get the right detector
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: pods8 on October 12, 2010, 03:12:27 PM: Quote from: Little Fish on October 12, 2010, 02:58:34 PM
...I think its a higher concentration of CO2 relative to oxygen that kills you...so yes I think the CO2 detector is a good piece of equipment to add.

CO2 (carbon dioxide) isn't the issue, CO (carbon monoxide) can be a concern with incomplete combustion but most of these heaters run fairly efficient so before those come into play you run into the problem people over look which I mentioned and that is low O2 (oxygen). The unit is burning the oxygen out of the air, that's just how combustion works, and if its not replaced you go do sleep and don't wake up. Other than someone else showing up and noticing you becoming sleepy/disoriented most people have no idea they are in an oxygen deplete environment. If its hovering boarder line a headache may be your clue.

Be prudent and keep some ventilation going. A CO detector sure isn't going to hurt the situation but don't get a false sense of security from it.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: Little Fish on October 12, 2010, 03:31:40 PM: What grundy and pods said. Do they even sell carbon dioxide testers? Its my understanding that its the carbon monoxide that kills you. Regardless some ventillation is always a good idea.
Title: Re: Tent Heater
Post by: royalbull on October 12, 2010, 07:02:14 PM: I have a clarry pellet stove if you would like to borrow it