Buddy Heaters

[Justbryguy]

Hey there- I see that Cabela's has their Buddy Heaters on sale, and was wondering which size-Big Buddy or the smaller Buddy- are the most used in the A-Frames? Thanks for your thoughts!

[donanddona]

As a full timer in a 5th wheel I use the Honeywell HZ-817. Our Bunkhouse slider is converted to a sitting room with rocker recliners and we suplement it with a Milkhouse Heater. Both are electric. Im curious is to why you use propane in the RV?

[Justbryguy]

Originally Posted by donanddona

As a full timer in a 5th wheel I use the Honeywell HZ-817. Our Bunkhouse slider is converted to a sitting room with rocker recliners and we suplement it with a Milkhouse Heater. Both are electric. Im curious is to why you use propane in the RV?

Thanks for the response! We will be camping in Yosemite in January with no hook-ups. Buddy Heaters were recommended to take the chill off without constantly using the furnace.

[MotocrossCamper]

When we use to Offroad in Waldon Colorado we had a coleman pop-up with no hook ups. We used the smaller Buddy heater and had no problem with Carbon Monoxide. We always kept the roof vent cracked and only used it when we weren't sleeping. I would still make sure your CM detector is in good working order.

[jerryliving]

When dry camping, we have used the small Buddy heater in both the motorhome and now the travel trailer. Works great!

[Great Horned Owl]

You should be aware that the oxygen sensor in the Buddy Heater will prevent it from operating above about 7,000 ft. If you will be in Yosemite Valley, that should not be a problem. At some of their other camp grounds, you might have trouble.

The Camco Wave series heaters do not have an altitude problem. I have used mine at just under 11,000 ft.

Joel

[MtnGuy]

All of the Buddy's put out about the same BTUs at the lowest settings.....which should be plenty for an A-Frame. But, if you want the heater to last all nite (10 hours), then I think the Big Buddy is the only 1 that would fit that criteria.....and then only on low.

I used my Big Buddy last nite in my camper with the temperatures in the low 40s. Cracking a couple of windows, the camper stayed comfy all nite. I started it on low at 9p, and it flamed out at 7a this morning.

[Justbryguy]

Yeah- we will be in the valley at 4,000 ft. Thanks for the suggestions!

[RenFaire Camper]

the little buddy kept my old popup warm but never used it with temp below 40.

[daveinpickerington]

I use a Coleman SportCat, which is similar to the Little Buddy. It works well for temps down to 45. I have not been in colder weather so I cannot say how low it would be effective.

I also have a Buddy Heater (single cartridge) for home emergency use. It should be more than enough to keep the trailer livable even in below freezing temps.

[handbuilder]

I have a Little Buddy that I used when tent camping but havent needed it for the A-Frame....I just use the cool cat heater in the morning to warm up.

[backpacker3]

Used the Little Buddy Heater on a trip to Yellowstone a few years back. Had temps in the low to mid 30's every night, only used when awake but did a very good job. Just remember to ventilate camper. Have a good trip and safe trip.

[Herk7769]

While Buddy heaters are very efficient and they are extremely low in CO, they are not perfect combustors. Crack a window a tiny bit and open a vent a crack as well.

Also it should prevent or limit moisture on the walls and ceilings from the efficient conversion of propane into heat, water vapor and CO2.

[HONDAMAN174]

We ended up getting the smaller buddy because our furnace is on the other side of the trailer and we were cold while our daughter was melting! I see no reason to get the big buddy because any setting other than low will most likely melt something. Ran it right next to the CM detector and haven't had any problems.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

I see no reason to get the big buddy because any setting other than low will most likely melt something.

Low on the Buddy and the Big Buddy are both 4000 BTUs. The advantage of the Big Buddy is that it has 2 gas canisters, which means double the run time at the identical settings. So instead of getting up in the middle of the night, go outside and change the canister, come back in and light the Buddy, I don't have to mess with that on the Big Buddy....that gives me about a 10 hour run time. I did have a Buddy before my Big Buddy, and the 2 o'clock treks out in the cold to change canisters was not fun.

[Tinsu]

Is a Buddy Heater better than an electric ceramic heater if you are camping where there is electricity?

[HONDAMAN174]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Low on the Buddy and the Big Buddy are both 4000 BTUs. The advantage of the Big Buddy is that it has 2 gas canisters, which means double the run time at the identical settings. So instead of getting up in the middle of the night, go outside and change the canister, come back in and light the Buddy, I don't have to mess with that on the Big Buddy....that gives me about a 10 hour run time. I did have a Buddy before my Big Buddy, and the 2 o'clock treks out in the cold to change canisters was not fun.

Excellent point! I bought the 12ft hose to go on one of my 20lb drs if its really cold.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Tinsu

Is a Buddy Heater better than an electric ceramic heater if you are camping where there is electricity?

If I had electricity, I don't think I would mess with a Buddy Heater.

Plus, you can run your furnace any ol' time you want.

[Justbryguy]

Yeah- the whole point is that there will be no electricity. Seems to me that there are a lot of campgrounds in other parts of the country where hook ups are common. We have yet to camp at one in California!