I love mine . Saved my ass many nights. Get a bungee to run thru the handle to the hooks or handles in the back seat so its basically "hanging" to prevent tipping over + Got a small usb fan to hang up in my SUV's ceiling to help circulate the heat . Good to go.
The propane bottles with the black plastic base do not fit very well. I look for the ones without the plastic or remove the plastic before inserting into the Buddy base. Much better fit. Never had one come loose.
Right never had an issue with all 4 of my buddy heaters I have. I have filters on them an cleaned regularly its common sense lol.people throw them around an hook up tanks that been thrown around an duh dirt will make its way intp the regulator an lines without filtration. Sick of seeing these dont by these heaters for thw my buddie heaters people are dumb as hell dude
@@KTT1985 i have one a POS sense new . 3 mins min. to lite just move it at all it cuts off. i think I got a lemon. ounce lit don't move it its ok. I lite my single burner stove and adjust it and it works for me. Recommendation : if your in the middle of nowhere MAKE SURE you have a secondary heat source!
Get a half cinder block for $2.00 to support the heater. If it turns over then, you've got bigger issues than the heater to worry about...like rolling down the side of a mountain.
It's a pretty basic observation. It's too tight with the plastic base. Some cylinders come without the plastic therefore it's not necessary so just remove it. Not rocket science.
I ordered one, but the Amazon driver still hadn't delivered it by 7pm so I got fed up and cancelled it. Next day I ordered the Flex version. Good thing I did. Stay warm from Canada.
I've seen the Flex on videos, but haven't tried it myself yet. I am back to the more common "Portable Buddy" now with the travel trailer. It was really overkill in a van with a minimum of 4000 BTU, but it works pretty well in the larger space of the trailer.
We use them when bank fishing in the cold and they work ok. You want butane, buy 2 when you go get them. I never run out. I keep at least three types of heat and light for example.
I have a kobalt one and it works good especially in - weather also if you take off the propane and put the heater in the box that it came in it will work each time tipping over too many times message them up they also have to be cleaned especially in dirty Dusty weather it works real good and my little wagon no problems if I'm going to drive I just make sure I have it stand up where it won't tip over with two boxes they're not made to run while you're driving only when you're sitting somewhere
Thanks for that tip. I need to make a summary sheet for all these great emergency tips. It just amazes me that with all this computer technology, we seem to be reverting back to basic survival. What good is the tech if we're going to become slaves?
@@vickieadams6648 LMAO Your exactly right. People are still worried about fumes in these things. The techs are very basic. Back in day although you inhaled it. I'm a Tent camper. I use them in tents. Heat went out in on Crown Victoria Retired P71. $20 fix and pretty much the whole dash has to come out. I'll do it but I actually through the portable in the front LMAO. Nice and Toasty. Just cant trust driving with it on. Then I got to thinking. 2022 and it takes 30 minutes to heat up a car. This propane heater is like 30 seconds lol. Something's not right. Do I even wanna fix the heat? Lol
I have a love/hate relationship with the Little Buddy. My primary heater is the Wave 3 and it’s awesome. No problems. I do have a Little Buddy which, theoretically, is to help with a quick warm up on a cold morning. Two problems, if you transport it on its side the bouncing will cause the tip over mechanism to stick. You need to pound on the sides to get to reset and light. The worst problem is, at the dew point, the gas will not atomize and no power on earth will get it to light. Consequently, it’s a nice warm weather heater. 😂😂 Oh, one last thing, you need to hold the ON button for a long time and, with its overly stiff spring, you’ll end up with the word ON embossed on your thumb. Nevertheless, on the occasion you ever get it to light, it works well. Good idea about the matches. Safe travels & wash your hands. 😊 -Mark
That is interesting about the Little Buddy. When my Portable Buddy quit last spring I had thought this might be a good option for a van. Definitely not impressed with it though - and lighting the thing is definitely a challenge even on a good day. I was thinking about a diesel heater for next winter, but at this point I don't have the power to reliably run one - and not sure I will by winter either. I'm alright on solar when I am boondocking, but if I'm in town and unable to deploy the portable panel I have to watch the battery levels closely. Actually hooked up to a battery charger now thanks to the snow and clouds the past couple of days!
Hey Robert..I started with the Mr Heater buddy. Works good for quick heat..no thermostat so you're turning it on and off. I've kept mine covered when not in use..over 3 years and no issues. I acquired a Wave 3..it does use much less propane and with the low setting..it can actually be used all the time. There is an adapter you can get at Home Depot that allows you to use the 1pd bottles..about 15.00. Personally for a long term solution..I'd go with one of the vented heaters..the diesel ones are much cheaper. Take care and keep warm !
Thanks for sharing your experiences with these heaters, Paul! I would love to go with a diesel heater now that they are becoming less expensive if I can manage to upgrade my electrical enough by then. The fiberglass roof on this van has proven to be a challenge for solar panels. LOL
I bought one of these little mr buddies back in 2019 when I towed my cargo trailer camper to Sturgis rally and then to the Tetons and Yellowstone. It was in late August/early September and it got down to the low 30's at night in West Yellowstone. I was lucky to find this thing as all the stores were sold out of all space heaters of any kind. It saved my butt! My camper is 7x14 and it heated it with no problem. I di wish it hade a high/low setting but beggars can't be choosers. You must have got a lemon because I have had none of the problems you are complaining about...
This is the best critique of the bunch. Even watched a fire chief’s opinion and he gave a caviot that it was ok in a house room on that particular day! Not my life. Thank you very, very much.🚐
I have all three of them the big buddy I use in my house for power outages. Add it does good in a tent no matter how cold it gets it can keep up .especially if you put moving blankets over the tent before you put on the fly. I use the little buddy in my truck cap camping set up take off that plastic thing on the bottom of the can and it will fit nicely in the base witch you secure with screws in a 2fx2f piece of plywood and it will not tip over.
The little heater is probably a good size for a truck I would think. I found it to be underpowered in a van when the weather was really cold - same as the Olympian Wave 3 though. Even with insulation it just couldn't keep up when it was really cold. Despite being a snowbird, I seem to end up in some winter weather each spring and fall in either Wyoming or Upstate NY! LOL
I like propane heaters that can serve multiple purposes. I like flat surface tops, so I can maybe warm water in a pan for wash-ups, warm small meals, or make coffee. That way it serves multiple purposes. I bought a large propane heater, but am looking for smaller models like the buddy. I like adaptable ones (can hook up to a 1 gallon OR a 20 gallon tank). That first heater looks like it can tip over easily. Thank you for that tip about the butane lighters not working at freezing temps. I did buy extra matches as well. It's good to get some waterproof matches and I also need to get a carbon dioxide alarm.
I have only recently seen videos where people have been cooking on propane heaters. That's a cool multi-purpose use! I do have carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in both the van and trailer just to be on the safe side, though it should not be a problem with adequate ventilation anyway. I just figure it's better to be safe.
OMG the snow! Cray cray. And those temps!! Hated that heater and the multiple portables I had over the years. Love my Wave 3 catalytic and with it for the first time in the 5 years I’ve been toasty cozy warm all night. I vent for air and also have the CO monitor but don’t have to worry about the open flame anymore either. Good idea about the matches. Thx for that. Glad you found fuel. Stay safe and warm Robert. Brrrr.
That snow and cold snap was a surprise as it has been fairly mild. I was not surprised to have some snow here in April - but that was a fairly significant storm. The cold was about a 30 degree drop from what it had been recently! It sounds like the Olympian might be the way to go for next winter. I really thought I was just about past needing heat for this year though so figured I could limp along with that little one a little longer. I would never have voluntarily faced near-zero temperatures with that little heater!
Figured I'd comment. The Portable Mr. Buddy I like best. 2 man tents or cars they can be a bit big. You'll want clearance. The blend door actuator went out on my Crown Vic other day. I thought the Portable Mr. buddy in their just to heat it up. I'd feel safer with the smaller version as theirs ways I can mount it. They definitely work. I am a Semi driver locally as well. Sometimes dead of winter heat goes and mechanic says 2 days but theirs no spare available. Toss in truck I have driven with them on just make sure you can mount them. Don't recommend driving with them on. Too many things can happen. But I've done it. Take 30 mins to heat a truck or car up. These guys 30 seconds lol. Your vehicle will retain heat once heated. I shut it off till I need it again similar to a tent.
I love my little buddy for my van and it helps in a pinch anywhere. I have a small t.e.g fan wired to the top and it does a great job of pushing the heat and reducing condensation to practically nothing, no batteries required. Plus, with a propane tee, you can put it on a larger cylinder. On 5 pounds it will run for about 27 hours, on a 20 pound cylinder, something like 108 hours, that's more than 4 days. I'm looking at the buddy flex and a 20 pounder for a backup in my house.
Nice product review. I have the Portable buddy, I like it, it works well. I was thinking of trying the little buddy as well, but after seeing your video I decided against it. There's very little difference on run time between the two heaters anyways, and I didn't know the little buddy didn't have low setting. Thanks for sharing your experience with them! ✌️🇺🇲
Green and blooming would be nice! This area is weird in that they almost always have one (or a few) spring snowstorms - so the snow didn't surprise me too much. The cold temperatures were a shock though as it was about 30 degrees colder than it has been here recently.
I use it in my 2014 E350 XLT conversion. It's great to do a quick heat-up, but I wouldn't run it all night. There is no thermostat and the tipover mechanism is very sensitive. Get the refillable 1 lb bottles and refill kit. They are D.O. T. legal to carry.
A propane lantern may work as a heater for you. I have a small one that has 5 different levels. Coleman 5132 Lantern I have no idea how clean they burn, ( I assume pretty clean as the flame is pretty hot and never yellow), but keep a window cracked. Mine also hangs from a chain, so it will never tip over. A computer fan circulates heat back down.
Debra used a propane lantern for a while in her van and liked it better than the Mr. Heater units that she had used in the past. I know they do put out a lot of heat. Hanging it is a great idea for safety reasons. I'm always concerned about the risk of heaters tipping over inside such a small space.
K so, I use a buddy heater, and have had experience with the Olympian wave 3, I think ditch the the buddy as soon as economically possible, it creates way to much moisture which actually creates coldness sooner in a vehicle, the Olympian is also much more fuel efficient, but it is much more expensive but I personally will be upgrading to it before next winter and only recommend any buddy heaters as a short term solution , if you can afford it get an Olympian , they are much more practical and safe and use much less propane than a buddy, plus it is a drier heat source, which will keep you warmer in the long run, but remember it doesn't run off of 1 lb bottles so you will need to integrate a full sized bottle into your rig
Thanks for sharing that info, Jarrod! Everyone I know who has switched to the Olympian really likes them, but I didn't realize they use less fuel and are drier. The only time I have condensation issues in the van (I always keep both front windows cracked) is when using the Buddy heaters in inclement weather - and then the moisture is a huge problem. I do have a larger propane tank onboard already so all set with that. I had been thinking about a diesel heater for next winter, but am concerned about the power usage to run the pump and fan. Seems like the Olympian might be the way to go for me.
@@RobertWitham k Robert, the difference is that the buddy is only 60 percent efficient, the Olympian is 95 percent efficient, so there is less moisture because propane is a liquid. So it burns cleaner, plus the buddy is incapable of working above 8000 feet, Olympian will keep heating to 11000, but make sure you put a filter on your line, they are about 10 dollars . I don't know yet how long they last,but with out it the Olympian can fail. Safe journeys Robert, can't wait till your next video
And yes they use about 1 pound of propane every 16 hours on low compared to 1 pound of propane every 4 hours on a buddy on low, that is what I have seen, so in the long run Olympian is cheaper
Oh my Robert. You’re too funny. You always did love wooden matches!!! Stay warm and stay safe. Been in the 40’s here with rain and high wind here for a couple of days. Damp and cold.
I love mine, use it all over. Little small for double ice fish tent, but better than a kick in the ass, and yes, take off black plastic on tank the bottom stand fits great
My solution to heating my rig is simple at the same time as doing 2 jobs for the price of one. A good quility, small, oven kept on very low. While heating your rig or van it's allso cooking you a hot tasty meal. Roast potatoes, stews, and even a whole chicken, slowly cooked are so tasty. Just make certain you have your van well ventilated low and high vents take care of all the down sides of using LPG. Make certain you have a carbon monoxide, and smoke alarm fitted, and a fire blanket and fire extinguisher. When turning my oven off it stays hot for over one hour. Most of my life I've lived an alternative life style every thing I own must save me money or make me money. Never use the gas rings on top of oven as a heating source open flames can be dangerous. Even having a kettle of water on top of the oven heats up slowly and gives off heat, just, like a radiator. Often solutions are looking at us in our faces. A good reference for many things is research how people lived in war times. Farmers allso are a good reference as most are very careful with money, the old ways that work are past on. I enjoy your chanel and hope one day to start my own when I can find the time, to pass my life time knowledge on of been a traveler. Karl. 😎🐶
That is a good idea about the oven. I have heard of a few people doing that in RVs. Anything that does double duty is always welcome in a van or small RV!
Karl Gibson thank you for your information. Wow. I never thought about just using an oven for heat in a van. I do have a question though. When you say a good, quality, small oven, are you speaking of like, a toaster type oven (???) Or what type? I know you probably purchased your many years ago, but can you please give the brand name, and the type, and do you know the wattage of it? How do you keep it going and for how long?
That’s a riot! Normally I would still be down south since I know it is not safe from an April snow here, but obviously the pandemic messed up my usual routine. The single digit temps did surprise me in April though. Usually the extreme cold is done by now in this area so I figured it would be safe on that front. The good news is that it is supposed to start warming up tomorrow. Just have to get through the 1-2F temp tonight. LOL
Take the ring off the Coleman canister. Use a little fan to circulate the air. Good info on the longevity of the heater, not promising as I just got one. I bought an expensive personal CO monitor/alarm that pilots use with adjustable CO threshold. I bought the adapter to refill the Coleman cans from a common 20lb propane tank.
Take the black plastic case of the bottom of canister and it's a perfect fit!!!!!!!!!! Plus it has two rubber cords to wrap around neck of gas bottle. 😂😂😂😂
I bought a tee on ebay that allowed me to connected to a 20 lb propane tank. Solved two problems the overpriced little green tanks and it's more stable.
I have 2 of these heaters and both have been adapted to be attached to any size propane tank. I use them mostly on my 100 lb 26 gal tank. I also have them with a air compressor regulator to adjust them way down. Sadly, at 60 bucks each, yes they should have more adjustablity and at the cost of all the brass fittings and such, your at 85 to 90 bucks. But you can make them better then out of the box. They are great in a pinch but your correct, not very great for your use. Get yourself an old deerborn natural gas heater and convert it with simple slder and a 0.35 drill bit. Then your in a better heated space.
I have seen a few interesting tweaks done to these heaters since I made this video - and you mention a few more here in your comment. Seems like the kind of thing that might be most useful with some minor modifications.
I’ll pass on the bunnies, but would definitely welcome spring in April! Single digit temps this time of year are an anomaly here - or I wouldn’t be here coronavirus or not.
Looks like it will be back to more typical weather by tomorrow so it’s only a short cold snap. I expected it to snow again because it always snows here in April, but the single digit temps were a shock. LOL
This is great information to have. Thanks for the review. I’m thinking seriously about replacing my TT’s on-board heater with a Wave-8 because of its low propane use.
I know of a number of people in RVs who switched to the Olympian heaters because it saved both propane and electricity - both of which tend to be rationed for any off-grid camping. Sounds like that might be the best option for me to try for next year. I wasn't happy with this little one anyway, but never had to rely on it during real cold before so this was a test - and fail. LOL
I had two of the portable buddy's catch on fire, Mr heater wasn't very helpful, if you're going to use these don't leave them unattended, luckily I don't, and was there when it started to catch fire. Good Luck!.
That is scary! As a rule, I only run them during waking hours when I am present just because I am paranoid about them. There have only been a few times when I used them overnight (I was off-grid and temperatures were around zero) and I did not sleep well at all on those occasions.
@@RobertWitham Yeah, I know the feeling, I'm using this in my RV I try never leaving it unattended. When it works, it works well but when I leave the RV I turn it off. It's just a PITA when I come back, and have to heat the RV all over again, because I won't leave it running. After 5 cracks at these, I'm totally disappointed in the product, the recent service I received when I contacted Mr. Heater.
The wind down there makes it look tame up here in the northeast corner too! I expected at least one more snow in April as that almost always happens. The single digit temps were a surprise though. Usually those are done by this late in the year. Probably would have been planning differently if I had known that was coming earlier, but it was one of those deals where they kept revising the forecast with more snow and lower temperatures.
I drove through Wyoming in the winter on 1-80 and the wind was so bad that it was lifting my littlectruck enough that I didn't realize my rear tire was near flat. A trucker alerted me to it, then while fixing the flat, the Jack was so cold the metal turned brittle on the head and it broke off. I barely lifted the truck enough to put on the spare. I also saw hundreds of dead rabbits and antelope on the side of the highway either frozen to death or killed by vehicles.
Thanks for the tips ! I bought the buddy portable heater and took it with me when I went camping with my three dogs up to the Ocala National Forest. It did fine. It got down in the low 30s one night but we were warm. Looking to upgrade to the olympic wave you mention. Stay warm. You are in the best place to be - very low number of infected. Things are scary here. Reason I say that is that so many people are not heading the warnings. Stay safe buddy thanks for the content !
I have had a couple of the Portable Buddy heaters over the years and they always put out plenty of heat - usually more than enough. It would have worked fine these past few days though I think. The little one was just too underpowered - in addition to the other things I don't like about it. I keep thinking it is an advantage here with fewer cases than most places and the state being mostly rural. Trying to figure out some options to at least get out of town though as there is a "no camping" ordinance citywide here and I figure it is only a matter of time until a neighbor notices and complains or something. Trying to balance not traveling any more than necessary with being able to legally park, etc.
Another option in catalytic heat is the Wave 3. Not the easiest to light time-wise but once lit, can keep it on low all night and not have sleep interruptions. I have the Wave 8 in a small RV and love it. Same precautions you describe. Thank you for clear explanations and great info Robert. Stay safe and warm out there.
@@RobertWitham just make sure when you upgrade to take the plastic off the bottom of the tank so it fits snug in the base. My little buddy I use for hunting it’s taken a major beating over the years with no issues.
Informative video. I wholeheartedly disagree with your assessment though. I live in cold western Pennsylvania and utilize the heater in multiple uses. The only thing I agree on is that it is top heavy. The heater is not meant to be used anywhere but on a flat surface. Hopefully people looking to buy this heater watch other videos before deciding.
Matches and candles are a must in my van and my backpack. And I want to buy or build a gasifying wood stove for cooking outdoors if needed. Because you're right butane doesn't always light in the winter. I only use candles and my cook stove to heat my van. I am not a fan of any catalytic heater. If I were to get one it would be one of the Olympian ones. I have been experimenting with building candle heaters for years now and my designs do take the chill off but if it's real cold I still have to light up my cook stove. If I had a bigger rig I would love to have a little wood stove. I'm a wood stove snob so it would have to be a marine stove of some kind. So that's not going to happen too soon. Thanks so much for the video. I hope that it warms up soon! It's still cold where I am too not as cold as where you are thank goodness but it's still in the 30s at night! BERRRRRR! Stay safe and warm!😊👍👍🐌🚙🚐🐌🌻
I would definitely consider a tiny wood stove if I had the space. I suppose I could make one fit in here, but it would require moving some things around. Of course, I try not to be anywhere too cold - but this year is sort of messed up. LOL Hopefully that is the last of the real cold, but I will be keeping a close eye on the weather now.
At least we have a heat wave here in the UK, but we can't go outside, we're in lockdown as well, but it will soon be over and we can all , get back to normal, I hope, stay safe and healthy 😀🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇸
I got butane at Amazon. Took about a week. U may want to try that. Sorry about ur weather. It was 71 in Memphis area today. Worked in the yard.most of the day.
That is good to know about the butane! I am used to it being hard to find at times in the desert where there are lots of nomads, but have never had trouble finding it up here in Wyoming. Of course, the stores are out of just about everything these days. LOL We are slowly seeing store inventory recover here, but there are still a lot of empty shelves.
Ohhh nooo! I just ordered this same weird looking heater for absolute emergency scenarios only. Stay and brix in Tn, experiencing 3rd (rare) snow storm within a 2 week period. Concerned may lose power due to sleet/ice under snow...on power lines. Lighting this little heater scares me! The cylinder has a black plastic cap, does it unscrew, pull straight upward to get off, ? Hope your well Robert! 🕊
Some people do like these, but I wasn’t impressed (obviously). It may be easier to work with in a house than in a van possibly. With the extra space you may be able to light it from behind which was hard to do in the van - and leaning over it from the front to reach the lighter button in the back always worried me. Trying to turn it after lighting it is possible but can be tricky due to the tip over safety. The one pound propane cylinders (green bottles) do have a plastic cap that sometimes is a pain to remove. You should be able to pull it straight up to remove it (being careful not to squeeze it against the threads), but sometimes it takes a bit of twisting too. It’s not really a screw-on cap though. Sometimes a bit of prying action from beneath helps get it moving. They will usually run for a few hours on a green bottle - but definitely not all day or all night. You’ll want to plan for how many you may need because those green bottles are usually available, but can be hard to find (or overpriced) during a natural disaster or lengthy power outage.
@@RobertWitham Thanx Robert! If temps get down in the teens again...I'll use it in my kitchen to hopefully prevent my pipes from freezing. Room is about 10' x 10', with a 9' ceiling. Will I need to crack a window?
That should work well enough to at least keep pipes from freezing in a room that size I would think. One good thing about it is you can aim the heat in the direction you want. Obviously just not too close to anything combustible as it does get quite hot. You do want some ventilation with any of these heaters as they consume oxygen while running. If the room is sealed fairly well that just cracking a window a bit should be adequate. In the van I would usually lower each front window about a half inch. In moderate cold they put out enough heat that the ventilation isn’t much of a problem. These heaters are equipped with tip over and low oxygen sensors so should shut down if either sensor is activated. It’s easy to test the top over protection by grabbing the handle firmly and moving the heater. They are not supposed to produce carbon monoxide, but I always have a carbon monicker alarm anyway just to be safe. Similarly, I always have a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher.
Mine quit lighting, I put a new tank on it and it doese not heat up, but there is a blue pilot but it doese not ignight the white thing. Is it replaceable or what???
I was wondering about that earlier. I had never had trouble with it until coming back to WY last month, but then it had been mile enough again that it was not a problem. Kind of caught me off guard with this couple days of extreme weather! LOL
I drilled through the base plus a lid for 5 gallon buchet.i placed 2 one gallon milk jugs with water in bucket for stability. I use it 15 mins. at a time on cold nights. 5.5 hrs. per 1lb. canister.
I don’t think you read the igniting instructions well. It’s tell you how to light the pilot light. Hold for 20-30 secs release, then hold again for 30 sec. I use mine on the kayak even. Works great.
You said at the outset that you do not recommend the Little Buddy for the van -- and you said you would tell us WHICH heater you DO recommend, but you never did. So which heater WOULD you recommend for use in a van in emergency situations. I am from Buffalo, NY, and we just got hit with the worst blizzard in a long time. I was safe, but I could have been one of the 40 people who lost their lives in their stuck vehicles, which were stuck for a few days. In that kind of situation, which heater system would you recommend I carry in my van during the winter months -- for emergency multi-day use.
Probably the all-around best emergency-type heater that I could recommend based on experience would be one of the larger Mr. Heater products - Portable Buddy, Big Buddy, etc. Any of the larger units would put out a fair bit of heat in a pinch and can run on either one pound “green bottles” of propane or on a larger, refillable cylinder via a hose. If you’re planning to use it a lot the larger cylinder is the way to go. The Portable Buddy (4,000-9,000 BTU) will burn through a green bottle in about 2-3 hours on low so that would add up fast over a few days. The Olympian Wave series of heaters are very good and produce less moisture. They’re also more expensive and must be run connected to a larger cylinder or RV propane system. The Wave 3 would be far too small for a house though so you would probably want to be looking at the Wave 6 if not the Wave 8.
I've had my heater for 7 months now and it's hasn't been a problem for me. The only thing I honestly don't like about it is the the whole thing facing up at the sky. LMFAO
You will have problems. Put a couple drops of alcohol in the gas line(both ends) cause the line will get to the point of residue not letting gas thru. This happened with mine after a year of use.
if you pop that black plastic cap off the bottom of the 1 lb tanks it fits in perfect. But if you use in one of those for winter you got to run it off of a 20 lb bottle. those little 1 lb bottles last about 5 hours I run my little buddy for like 12 hours a night in Arizona desert dead of winter.
I really wish I had seen your video before I purchased the Mr heater because I've used it for less than a month and it doesn't work. I agree with everything you said but would add if hand / wrists are weak at all it's really hard to even start the damn thing. Overall I think it's just a cheap piece of crap.
I didn't think about dexterity/strength for lighting this heater, but I can definitely see that being an issue as well. It's hard enough to light without any limitations. I'm back with a Portable Buddy now. It was overkill in the van, but seems to be sized pretty well for the travel trailer. I have heard of people making modifications to the Little Buddy to make it work better, but I don't think I should need to modify it to be usable and functional.
It does work, but I think it's probably better suited to other applications. I also think for the extra $10 it's probably a better deal to just opt for the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy and have some temperature adjustments and an easy way to connect to a refillable bulk tank.
Thank you so much this was very helpful sir ! I just bought little buddy heather, but i want to change with the big one , because watched your video. I had a plan camping on Wyoming this winter and need big one for sure . I got a question how much gas propane for heather , and cooking for 3 days without electricity ? are 5 lbs good enough please I need suggestion ? I am driving with my minivan
What are you going to be cooking with? I'd go with the regular Portable Buddy model unless you need to heat a fairly large area or it's going to be super cold all the time. A 1 lb tank on a Portable Buddy only gets you about 6 hours on low and a bit under 3 on high. I honestly don't think 5 lbs will be enough but if you only use it when absolutely necessary it might be. You're best bet might be to get a 20 lb tank with the proper hose and adapters to use it with the heater and whatever it is you'll be cooking with. You'll probably spend less in the end as 1 lb prefilled tanks are way over priced. You'd probably return with some propane to use at a later date.
@@STEVEWONDA1976 Thank you so much ! I'm going to buy 20 lbs probably use boiled water for coffee and do light cook . Definitely use more for heather because of the winter
Hi Robert Like they say you get what you pay for. I had a Mr. Buddy I did not like it at all. Purchased a wave3 and I’m literally a happy camper!! Keep warm and well vented. Safe travels🙏🏽
I've been hearing great things about the Olympian heaters. Sounds like that might be the way to go when I replace this little one. I probably would have done it already had I known I was going to be stuck in that kind of weather! LOL
Hey Robert .. my off button will not turn the heater off anymore. It doesn't feel broken though. It works fine but I have to tip it over to turn it off. What do think? Good video
Oh no! I have had several Mr. Heater units fail, but they usually go at least a year in my experience. I know a few people who actually repair them when they quit, but that's more than I am comfortable doing. Hopefully you are able to return or exchange it.
I have heard from a few people who do like these heaters, but I wasn't impressed enough to recommend it. I have since gone back to the larger unit - and at the moment a borrowed Olympian Wave 3 while I am traveling in snow country.
I didn't have any candles on hand to try, but I did turn the stovetop on a few times to boost the temperatures. during the day. I don't like doing that too long, but I do have a CO alarm and kept the front windows cracked for ventilation. Typically the coldest temperatures I see are upper 20s at night and even that is somewhat unusual - maybe a few nights per year. This extreme cold showed that I need some margin in heating capacity for these unusual times.
A fourteen minute video to tell me not to use a heater. I don't think any of the Mr Heaters "shoot" the heat. The instructions specifically warn nit to use these kinds of heaters in enclosed areas like van.
I had one of those and a similar model. Even for a temp solution or casual use. It is basically useless and a waste of money. I am a Canadian with plenty cold weather experience.
Pretty much my thought now. LOL I picked it up last spring when the larger one quit working and only had to use it a few times before summer. This winter I have used it off and on in the desert, but have never been happy with it. I never needed to use it for very long though before now either. Definitely not up to the job when the weather turns really cold!
@@RobertWitham gave mine to my son for his garage. It kinda sorta helps a little bit if you stand/sit directly in front of it and slowly turn yourself around, like a hot dog on a rotisserie. LOL
I keep seeing great reviews for Mr. Buddy heaters everywhere but my little buddies that I bought they always conked out on me within a year and I just now bought the Mr. heater and I've had it less than a week and I'm already having problems with it. Not a good thing when you're in a tent and it's freezing cold and you're here just conks out for no reason.
@@Totrch29 not using anything. Just the heater. I think the oxygen sensor is set way too high. I know I don’t want carbon monoxide poisoning, but having to keep the tent flap open, to let in air that’s cold, kinda contradicts the point of the heater.
I know some people really like them so it's possible I had a not-so-great unit. I ended up switching to a Portable Buddy as it has more temperature control and has the higher heat output for really cold weather. Now that I'm in a travel trailer the Portable Buddy seems appropriately-sized for this interior space.
I think it is the fact that I was reasonably happy with the larger one that made me so disappointed with the Little Buddy. I'm back with a Portable Buddy in my travel trailer running on a 10-pound cylinder and it works great.
I think that may be something they added after I had this model. I'm sure it would help with stability. My experience was that sometime removing the base worked well enough, but other times it was then too loose. There are definitely hacks that can solve a lot of the things I don't like about this heater, but ultimately I just switched back to the Portable Buddy and am now seriously considering trying a diesel heater for next winter.
3,800 BTUs is enough but you need to know how to take the whole damn thing apart to clean and repair. It is a POS. People that say it’s fine have never used it long term.
I like the idea of it, but just was never impressed with it overall. I think the Portable Buddy is a better value at only about $10 more. Some of the issues (like needing to lean over it to light) might not be as much of an issue in a shop, etc where you have room to move around.
I hope you got a wave 3 for this winter. 1600 to 3k btu is a good range. Might not be hot enough for the absolutely coldest of winter nights but would be great for spring, fall and 9 out of 10 winter nights. It's probably the most versatile portable heater on the market.
Hi James, I actually have a brand new update video coming out tomorrow afternoon reviewing both the Mr Heater Portable Buddy and the Olympian Wave 3. I've had the opportunity to use both over this winter season!
@@RobertWitham awesome. I'm sure that's made life much better. The wave heater's are worth switching to for the lack of propane smell alone. And I dont have to have a fan to keep the heat down off the ceiling as much. I pretty much retired my big buddy after I scored a great deal on a wave 6 this year. I've been using them for a few year's to take a load off my heatpump and have been valuable For when heat goes down or power goes out in my house or a rental. I want to get a wave 3 for truck, van or tent camping. Almost bought a Coleman catalytic tent heater on ebay that's 1500 to 3k btu but after researching why they discontinued them I decided I'd probably hold out and go for the wave 3 when I can afford it. I'll be sure to watch your video.
I've been hearing great things about those units. I had been thinking about trying a diesel heater for next winter, but I don't have the power now to run one reliably - and am not certain I will have that solved before winter. An Olympian might just be the way to go.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 90 | คู่เอก "ก้องไกล vs แอนตาร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VugIvOstzRI/mqdefault.jpg)
I love mine . Saved my ass many nights.
Get a bungee to run thru the handle to the hooks or handles in the back seat so its basically "hanging" to prevent tipping over + Got a small usb fan to hang up in my SUV's ceiling to help circulate the heat . Good to go.
The propane bottles with the black plastic base do not fit very well. I look for the ones without the plastic or remove the plastic before inserting into the Buddy base. Much better fit. Never had one come loose.
I have had my Mr. Buddy heaters for over 5 years and no problems. Just standard maintenance and cleaning.
Right never had an issue with all 4 of my buddy heaters I have. I have filters on them an cleaned regularly its common sense lol.people throw them around an hook up tanks that been thrown around an duh dirt will make its way intp the regulator an lines without filtration. Sick of seeing these dont by these heaters for thw my buddie heaters people are dumb as hell dude
@@KTT1985 little buddy is horrible, the rest are awesome 👌
@@KTT1985 i have one a POS sense new . 3 mins min. to lite just move it at all it cuts off. i think I got a lemon. ounce lit don't move it its ok. I lite my single burner stove and adjust it and it works for me. Recommendation : if your in the middle of nowhere MAKE SURE you have a secondary heat source!
Get a half cinder block for $2.00 to support the heater. If it turns over then, you've got bigger issues than the heater to worry about...like rolling down the side of a mountain.
You have to take the black base off of the coleman cylinder before you put the heater base on. It's common sense.
Yea I figured t hat out by accident myself. They should include that bit of common sense in the introductions.
If it's common sense then why should it be included in instructions??
@@jd-zu5ok cause common sense is not that common
I noticed that too
It's a pretty basic observation. It's too tight with the plastic base. Some cylinders come without the plastic therefore it's not necessary so just remove it. Not rocket science.
I ordered one, but the Amazon driver still hadn't delivered it by 7pm so I got fed up and cancelled it. Next day I ordered the Flex version. Good thing I did. Stay warm from Canada.
I've seen the Flex on videos, but haven't tried it myself yet. I am back to the more common "Portable Buddy" now with the travel trailer. It was really overkill in a van with a minimum of 4000 BTU, but it works pretty well in the larger space of the trailer.
We use them when bank fishing in the cold and they work ok. You want butane, buy 2 when you go get them. I never run out. I keep at least three types of heat and light for example.
I have a kobalt one and it works good especially in - weather also if you take off the propane and put the heater in the box that it came in it will work each time tipping over too many times message them up they also have to be cleaned especially in dirty Dusty weather it works real good and my little wagon no problems if I'm going to drive I just make sure I have it stand up where it won't tip over with two boxes they're not made to run while you're driving only when you're sitting somewhere
If you pop off the plastic bottom on the propane bottle, the bottle will fit perfectly in the base
Yup!
Thanks for that tip. I need to make a summary sheet for all these great emergency tips. It just amazes me that with all this computer technology, we seem to be reverting back to basic survival. What good is the tech if we're going to become slaves?
@@vickieadams6648 LMAO Your exactly right. People are still worried about fumes in these things. The techs are very basic. Back in day although you inhaled it. I'm a Tent camper. I use them in tents. Heat went out in on Crown Victoria Retired P71. $20 fix and pretty much the whole dash has to come out. I'll do it but I actually through the portable in the front LMAO. Nice and Toasty. Just cant trust driving with it on.
Then I got to thinking. 2022 and it takes 30 minutes to heat up a car. This propane heater is like 30 seconds lol. Something's not right. Do I even wanna fix the heat? Lol
I have a love/hate relationship with the Little Buddy. My primary heater is the Wave 3 and it’s awesome. No problems. I do have a Little Buddy which, theoretically, is to help with a quick warm up on a cold morning. Two problems, if you transport it on its side the bouncing will cause the tip over mechanism to stick. You need to pound on the sides to get to reset and light. The worst problem is, at the dew point, the gas will not atomize and no power on earth will get it to light. Consequently, it’s a nice warm weather heater. 😂😂 Oh, one last thing, you need to hold the ON button for a long time and, with its overly stiff spring, you’ll end up with the word ON embossed on your thumb. Nevertheless, on the occasion you ever get it to light, it works well. Good idea about the matches. Safe travels & wash your hands. 😊 -Mark
That is interesting about the Little Buddy. When my Portable Buddy quit last spring I had thought this might be a good option for a van. Definitely not impressed with it though - and lighting the thing is definitely a challenge even on a good day. I was thinking about a diesel heater for next winter, but at this point I don't have the power to reliably run one - and not sure I will by winter either. I'm alright on solar when I am boondocking, but if I'm in town and unable to deploy the portable panel I have to watch the battery levels closely. Actually hooked up to a battery charger now thanks to the snow and clouds the past couple of days!
If you apply a flame to the metal piping and valves inside the heater then it will start working when it’s cold.
Hey Robert..I started with the Mr Heater buddy. Works good for quick heat..no thermostat so you're turning it on and off. I've kept mine covered when not in use..over 3 years and no issues. I acquired a Wave 3..it does use much less propane and with the low setting..it can actually be used all the time. There is an adapter you can get at Home Depot that allows you to use the 1pd bottles..about 15.00. Personally for a long term solution..I'd go with one of the vented heaters..the diesel ones are much cheaper. Take care and keep warm !
Thanks for sharing your experiences with these heaters, Paul! I would love to go with a diesel heater now that they are becoming less expensive if I can manage to upgrade my electrical enough by then. The fiberglass roof on this van has proven to be a challenge for solar panels. LOL
I bought one of these little mr buddies back in 2019 when I towed my cargo trailer camper to Sturgis rally and then to the Tetons and Yellowstone. It was in late August/early September and it got down to the low 30's at night in West Yellowstone. I was lucky to find this thing as all the stores were sold out of all space heaters of any kind. It saved my butt! My camper is 7x14 and it heated it with no problem. I di wish it hade a high/low setting but beggars can't be choosers. You must have got a lemon because I have had none of the problems you are complaining about...
This is the best critique of the bunch. Even watched a fire chief’s opinion and he gave a caviot that it was ok in a house room on that particular day! Not my life. Thank you very, very much.🚐
I have all three of them the big buddy I use in my house for power outages. Add it does good in a tent no matter how cold it gets it can keep up .especially if you put moving blankets over the tent before you put on the fly. I use the little buddy in my truck cap camping set up take off that plastic thing on the bottom of the can and it will fit nicely in the base witch you secure with screws in a 2fx2f piece of plywood and it will not tip over.
The little heater is probably a good size for a truck I would think. I found it to be underpowered in a van when the weather was really cold - same as the Olympian Wave 3 though. Even with insulation it just couldn't keep up when it was really cold. Despite being a snowbird, I seem to end up in some winter weather each spring and fall in either Wyoming or Upstate NY! LOL
Dude - excellent video show how the thing works and things to know that you may or may not like!
I like propane heaters that can serve multiple purposes. I like flat surface tops, so I can maybe warm water in a pan for wash-ups, warm small meals, or make coffee. That way it serves multiple purposes. I bought a large propane heater, but am looking for smaller models like the buddy. I like adaptable ones (can hook up to a 1 gallon OR a 20 gallon tank). That first heater looks like it can tip over easily. Thank you for that tip about the butane lighters not working at freezing temps. I did buy extra matches as well. It's good to get some waterproof matches and I also need to get a carbon dioxide alarm.
I have only recently seen videos where people have been cooking on propane heaters. That's a cool multi-purpose use! I do have carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in both the van and trailer just to be on the safe side, though it should not be a problem with adequate ventilation anyway. I just figure it's better to be safe.
OMG the snow! Cray cray. And those temps!! Hated that heater and the multiple portables I had over the years. Love my Wave 3 catalytic and with it for the first time in the 5 years I’ve been toasty cozy warm all night. I vent for air and also have the CO monitor but don’t have to worry about the open flame anymore either. Good idea about the matches. Thx for that. Glad you found fuel. Stay safe and warm Robert. Brrrr.
That snow and cold snap was a surprise as it has been fairly mild. I was not surprised to have some snow here in April - but that was a fairly significant storm. The cold was about a 30 degree drop from what it had been recently! It sounds like the Olympian might be the way to go for next winter. I really thought I was just about past needing heat for this year though so figured I could limp along with that little one a little longer. I would never have voluntarily faced near-zero temperatures with that little heater!
Figured I'd comment. The Portable Mr. Buddy I like best. 2 man tents or cars they can be a bit big. You'll want clearance. The blend door actuator went out on my Crown Vic other day. I thought the Portable Mr. buddy in their just to heat it up. I'd feel safer with the smaller version as theirs ways I can mount it.
They definitely work. I am a Semi driver locally as well. Sometimes dead of winter heat goes and mechanic says 2 days but theirs no spare available. Toss in truck I have driven with them on just make sure you can mount them.
Don't recommend driving with them on. Too many things can happen. But I've done it. Take 30 mins to heat a truck or car up. These guys 30 seconds lol. Your vehicle will retain heat once heated. I shut it off till I need it again similar to a tent.
This is super incredibly helpful. Thank you soooo much for posting.
I love my little buddy for my van and it helps in a pinch anywhere. I have a small t.e.g fan wired to the top and it does a great job of pushing the heat and reducing condensation to practically nothing, no batteries required. Plus, with a propane tee, you can put it on a larger cylinder. On 5 pounds it will run for about 27 hours, on a 20 pound cylinder, something like 108 hours, that's more than 4 days. I'm looking at the buddy flex and a 20 pounder for a backup in my house.
Nice product review. I have the Portable buddy, I like it, it works well. I was thinking of trying the little buddy as well, but after seeing your video I decided against it. There's very little
difference on run time between the two heaters anyways, and I didn't know the little buddy didn't have low setting. Thanks for sharing your experience with them! ✌️🇺🇲
I cannot even fathom April snow! Everything is green and blooming here! Arkansas! 😀 be well!
Green and blooming would be nice! This area is weird in that they almost always have one (or a few) spring snowstorms - so the snow didn't surprise me too much. The cold temperatures were a shock though as it was about 30 degrees colder than it has been here recently.
I’ve heard that the base fits better if you remove the black plastic ring from the propane bottle.
Yes, remove the black plastic ring and the bottle will nestle much better.
I use it in my 2014 E350 XLT conversion. It's great to do a quick heat-up, but I wouldn't run it all night. There is no thermostat and the tipover mechanism is very sensitive. Get the refillable 1 lb bottles and refill kit. They are D.O. T. legal to carry.
A propane lantern may work as a heater for you. I have a small one that has 5 different levels. Coleman 5132 Lantern I have no idea how clean they burn, ( I assume pretty clean as the flame is pretty hot and never yellow), but keep a window cracked. Mine also hangs from a chain, so it will never tip over.
A computer fan circulates heat back down.
Debra used a propane lantern for a while in her van and liked it better than the Mr. Heater units that she had used in the past. I know they do put out a lot of heat. Hanging it is a great idea for safety reasons. I'm always concerned about the risk of heaters tipping over inside such a small space.
Old time RVs had a propane lamp built in.
You remind me of the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Steve Martin asks, “What do you suppose the temperature is?” And John Candy says, “1!”
The base now comes with stretch cords to secure it to the tank.
K so, I use a buddy heater, and have had experience with the Olympian wave 3, I think ditch the the buddy as soon as economically possible, it creates way to much moisture which actually creates coldness sooner in a vehicle, the Olympian is also much more fuel efficient, but it is much more expensive but I personally will be upgrading to it before next winter and only recommend any buddy heaters as a short term solution , if you can afford it get an Olympian , they are much more practical and safe and use much less propane than a buddy, plus it is a drier heat source, which will keep you warmer in the long run, but remember it doesn't run off of 1 lb bottles so you will need to integrate a full sized bottle into your rig
Thanks for sharing that info, Jarrod! Everyone I know who has switched to the Olympian really likes them, but I didn't realize they use less fuel and are drier. The only time I have condensation issues in the van (I always keep both front windows cracked) is when using the Buddy heaters in inclement weather - and then the moisture is a huge problem. I do have a larger propane tank onboard already so all set with that. I had been thinking about a diesel heater for next winter, but am concerned about the power usage to run the pump and fan. Seems like the Olympian might be the way to go for me.
@@RobertWitham k Robert, the difference is that the buddy is only 60 percent efficient, the Olympian is 95 percent efficient, so there is less moisture because propane is a liquid. So it burns cleaner, plus the buddy is incapable of working above 8000 feet, Olympian will keep heating to 11000, but make sure you put a filter on your line, they are about 10 dollars . I don't know yet how long they last,but with out it the Olympian can fail. Safe journeys Robert, can't wait till your next video
And yes they use about 1 pound of propane every 16 hours on low compared to 1 pound of propane every 4 hours on a buddy on low, that is what I have seen, so in the long run Olympian is cheaper
Actually you can use the 1pd bottles..Home Depot sells an adapter for around 15.00.
@@paulhunter546 I didn't know that there was an adapter, thanks for the info, and correction.
Great tips. Thank you , sir.🙏🏽
Oh my Robert. You’re too funny. You always did love wooden matches!!! Stay warm and stay safe. Been in the 40’s here with rain and high wind here for a couple of days. Damp and cold.
Stop kissing ass
@@illkid86 bro chill 🤣
I love mine, use it all over. Little small for double ice fish tent, but better than a kick in the ass, and yes, take off black plastic on tank the bottom stand fits great
My solution to heating my rig is simple at the same time as doing 2 jobs for the price of one. A good quility, small, oven kept on very low. While heating your rig or van it's allso cooking you a hot tasty meal. Roast potatoes, stews, and even a whole chicken, slowly cooked are so tasty. Just make certain you have your van well ventilated low and high vents take care of all the down sides of using LPG. Make certain you have a carbon monoxide, and smoke alarm fitted, and a fire blanket and fire extinguisher. When turning my oven off it stays hot for over one hour. Most of my life I've lived an alternative life style every thing I own must save me money or make me money. Never use the gas rings on top of oven as a heating source open flames can be dangerous. Even having a kettle of water on top of the oven heats up slowly and gives off heat, just, like a radiator. Often solutions are looking at us in our faces. A good reference for many things is research how people lived in war times. Farmers allso are a good reference as most are very careful with money, the old ways that work are past on. I enjoy your chanel and hope one day to start my own when I can find the time, to pass my life time knowledge on of been a traveler. Karl. 😎🐶
That is a good idea about the oven. I have heard of a few people doing that in RVs. Anything that does double duty is always welcome in a van or small RV!
Karl Gibson thank you for your information. Wow. I never thought about just using an oven for heat in a van. I do have a question though. When you say a good, quality, small oven, are you speaking of like, a toaster type oven (???) Or what type? I know you probably purchased your many years ago, but can you please give the brand name, and the type, and do you know the wattage of it? How do you keep it going and for how long?
Thanks for the video Robert! You guys have snow, and we haven't had any this winter over here in Massachusetts.
That’s a riot! Normally I would still be down south since I know it is not safe from an April snow here, but obviously the pandemic messed up my usual routine. The single digit temps did surprise me in April though. Usually the extreme cold is done by now in this area so I figured it would be safe on that front. The good news is that it is supposed to start warming up tomorrow. Just have to get through the 1-2F temp tonight. LOL
Take the plastic base off the canister
Take the ring off the Coleman canister.
Use a little fan to circulate the air.
Good info on the longevity of the heater, not promising as I just got one.
I bought an expensive personal CO monitor/alarm that pilots use with adjustable CO threshold.
I bought the adapter to refill the Coleman cans from a common 20lb propane tank.
Take the black plastic case of the bottom of canister and it's a perfect fit!!!!!!!!!! Plus it has two rubber cords to wrap around neck of gas bottle. 😂😂😂😂
I bought a tee on ebay that allowed me to connected to a 20 lb propane tank. Solved two problems the overpriced little green tanks and it's more stable.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. You look like Richard Dreyfuss⭐️🦈🎬.
I have 2 of these heaters and both have been adapted to be attached to any size propane tank. I use them mostly on my 100 lb 26 gal tank. I also have them with a air compressor regulator to adjust them way down. Sadly, at 60 bucks each, yes they should have more adjustablity and at the cost of all the brass fittings and such, your at 85 to 90 bucks. But you can make them better then out of the box. They are great in a pinch but your correct, not very great for your use. Get yourself an old deerborn natural gas heater and convert it with simple slder and a 0.35 drill bit. Then your in a better heated space.
I have seen a few interesting tweaks done to these heaters since I made this video - and you mention a few more here in your comment. Seems like the kind of thing that might be most useful with some minor modifications.
April snow!
So sorry, you can’t have Spring and bunnies. Be safe and healthy!
MommaFaye
I’ll pass on the bunnies, but would definitely welcome spring in April! Single digit temps this time of year are an anomaly here - or I wouldn’t be here coronavirus or not.
Thanks for the PSA. That heater doesn't look like a good design at all. Stay warm and try not to go stir crazy!!
Looks like it will be back to more typical weather by tomorrow so it’s only a short cold snap. I expected it to snow again because it always snows here in April, but the single digit temps were a shock. LOL
This is great information to have. Thanks for the review. I’m thinking seriously about replacing my TT’s on-board heater with a Wave-8 because of its low propane use.
I know of a number of people in RVs who switched to the Olympian heaters because it saved both propane and electricity - both of which tend to be rationed for any off-grid camping. Sounds like that might be the best option for me to try for next year. I wasn't happy with this little one anyway, but never had to rely on it during real cold before so this was a test - and fail. LOL
I had two of the portable buddy's catch on fire, Mr heater wasn't very helpful, if you're going to use these don't leave them unattended, luckily I don't, and was there when it started to catch fire. Good Luck!.
That is scary! As a rule, I only run them during waking hours when I am present just because I am paranoid about them. There have only been a few times when I used them overnight (I was off-grid and temperatures were around zero) and I did not sleep well at all on those occasions.
@@RobertWitham Yeah, I know the feeling, I'm using this in my RV I try never leaving it unattended. When it works, it works well but when I leave the RV I turn it off. It's just a PITA when I come back, and have to heat the RV all over again, because I won't leave it running. After 5 cracks at these, I'm totally disappointed in the product, the recent service I received when I contacted Mr. Heater.
My son lives in Cheyenne. I don’t know how he gets through the cold weather and wind and snow. It’s gorgeous in AUGUST.
The wind down there makes it look tame up here in the northeast corner too! I expected at least one more snow in April as that almost always happens. The single digit temps were a surprise though. Usually those are done by this late in the year. Probably would have been planning differently if I had known that was coming earlier, but it was one of those deals where they kept revising the forecast with more snow and lower temperatures.
I drove through Wyoming in the winter on 1-80 and the wind was so bad that it was lifting my littlectruck enough that I didn't realize my rear tire was near flat. A trucker alerted me to it, then while fixing the flat, the Jack was so cold the metal turned brittle on the head and it broke off. I barely lifted the truck enough to put on the spare. I also saw hundreds of dead rabbits and antelope on the side of the highway either frozen to death or killed by vehicles.
There are 2 rubber straps on the base. They go up and over the the nozzle of the canister. This secures the base in place. Hope it helps.
I wonder if that is a new feature they have added. Mine did not come with that.
Thanks for the tips ! I bought the buddy portable heater and took it with me when I went camping with my three dogs up to the Ocala National Forest. It did fine. It got down in the low 30s one night but we were warm. Looking to upgrade to the olympic wave you mention. Stay warm. You are in the best place to be - very low number of infected. Things are scary here. Reason I say that is that so many people are not heading the warnings. Stay safe buddy thanks for the content !
I have had a couple of the Portable Buddy heaters over the years and they always put out plenty of heat - usually more than enough. It would have worked fine these past few days though I think. The little one was just too underpowered - in addition to the other things I don't like about it.
I keep thinking it is an advantage here with fewer cases than most places and the state being mostly rural. Trying to figure out some options to at least get out of town though as there is a "no camping" ordinance citywide here and I figure it is only a matter of time until a neighbor notices and complains or something. Trying to balance not traveling any more than necessary with being able to legally park, etc.
Another option in catalytic heat is the Wave 3. Not the easiest to light time-wise but once lit, can keep it on low all night and not have sleep interruptions. I have the Wave 8 in a small RV and love it. Same precautions you describe. Thank you for clear explanations and great info Robert. Stay safe and warm out there.
I've been hearing great things about the Olympian heaters in vans and RVs. I'm thinking that might be my best option for next winter.
@@RobertWitham just make sure when you upgrade to take the plastic off the bottom of the tank so it fits snug in the base. My little buddy I use for hunting it’s taken a major beating over the years with no issues.
One of the best presentations I've ever seen. Thanks for making it. Good luck in staying warm & finding supplies.
Evan though he is wrong on most points.
Informative video. I wholeheartedly disagree with your assessment though. I live in cold western Pennsylvania and utilize the heater in multiple uses. The only thing I agree on is that it is top heavy. The heater is not meant to be used anywhere but on a flat surface. Hopefully people looking to buy this heater watch other videos before deciding.
Matches and candles are a must in my van and my backpack. And I want to buy or build a gasifying wood stove for cooking outdoors if needed. Because you're right butane doesn't always light in the winter. I only use candles and my cook stove to heat my van. I am not a fan of any catalytic heater. If I were to get one it would be one of the Olympian ones. I have been experimenting with building candle heaters for years now and my designs do take the chill off but if it's real cold I still have to light up my cook stove. If I had a bigger rig I would love to have a little wood stove. I'm a wood stove snob so it would have to be a marine stove of some kind. So that's not going to happen too soon.
Thanks so much for the video. I hope that it warms up soon! It's still cold where I am too not as cold as where you are thank goodness but it's still in the 30s at night! BERRRRRR! Stay safe and warm!😊👍👍🐌🚙🚐🐌🌻
I would definitely consider a tiny wood stove if I had the space. I suppose I could make one fit in here, but it would require moving some things around. Of course, I try not to be anywhere too cold - but this year is sort of messed up. LOL Hopefully that is the last of the real cold, but I will be keeping a close eye on the weather now.
@@RobertWitham me too! It's going to be wet and cold again here tomorrow! I AM SO OVER IT!😂🤣😂
At least we have a heat wave here in the UK, but we can't go outside, we're in lockdown as well, but it will soon be over and we can all , get back to normal, I hope, stay safe and healthy 😀🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸
🇸
I got butane at Amazon. Took about a week. U may want to try that.
Sorry about ur weather. It was 71 in Memphis area today. Worked in the yard.most of the day.
That is good to know about the butane! I am used to it being hard to find at times in the desert where there are lots of nomads, but have never had trouble finding it up here in Wyoming. Of course, the stores are out of just about everything these days. LOL We are slowly seeing store inventory recover here, but there are still a lot of empty shelves.
I will. Never buy another one. You are so right.
another one.
Ohhh nooo! I just ordered this same weird looking heater for absolute emergency scenarios only. Stay and brix in Tn, experiencing 3rd (rare) snow storm within a 2 week period. Concerned may lose power due to sleet/ice under snow...on power lines. Lighting this little heater scares me! The cylinder has a black plastic cap, does it unscrew, pull straight upward to get off, ? Hope your well Robert! 🕊
Some people do like these, but I wasn’t impressed (obviously). It may be easier to work with in a house than in a van possibly. With the extra space you may be able to light it from behind which was hard to do in the van - and leaning over it from the front to reach the lighter button in the back always worried me. Trying to turn it after lighting it is possible but can be tricky due to the tip over safety.
The one pound propane cylinders (green bottles) do have a plastic cap that sometimes is a pain to remove. You should be able to pull it straight up to remove it (being careful not to squeeze it against the threads), but sometimes it takes a bit of twisting too. It’s not really a screw-on cap though. Sometimes a bit of prying action from beneath helps get it moving.
They will usually run for a few hours on a green bottle - but definitely not all day or all night. You’ll want to plan for how many you may need because those green bottles are usually available, but can be hard to find (or overpriced) during a natural disaster or lengthy power outage.
@@RobertWitham Thanx Robert! If temps get down in the teens again...I'll use it in my kitchen to hopefully prevent my pipes from freezing. Room is about 10' x 10', with a 9' ceiling. Will I need to crack a window?
@@RobertWitham And yes... I way way over paid for 5 cylinders online. Zero available locally.
@@RobertWitham Do I need to test for leaks?
That should work well enough to at least keep pipes from freezing in a room that size I would think. One good thing about it is you can aim the heat in the direction you want. Obviously just not too close to anything combustible as it does get quite hot.
You do want some ventilation with any of these heaters as they consume oxygen while running. If the room is sealed fairly well that just cracking a window a bit should be adequate. In the van I would usually lower each front window about a half inch. In moderate cold they put out enough heat that the ventilation isn’t much of a problem.
These heaters are equipped with tip over and low oxygen sensors so should shut down if either sensor is activated. It’s easy to test the top over protection by grabbing the handle firmly and moving the heater. They are not supposed to produce carbon monoxide, but I always have a carbon monicker alarm anyway just to be safe. Similarly, I always have a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher.
Good analysis, thanks
Love your disposition wish I had someone like you as a friend to go camping with if u ever want u can camp at our lake
Mine quit lighting, I put a new tank on it and it doese not heat up, but there is a blue pilot but it doese not ignight the white thing. Is it replaceable or what???
Can you wrap a heat tape around your water line to keep it from freezing, unplug when not needed?
I was wondering about that earlier. I had never had trouble with it until coming back to WY last month, but then it had been mile enough again that it was not a problem. Kind of caught me off guard with this couple days of extreme weather! LOL
Nancy Parker, I was wondering the same thing. 🙂
Love your van really cozy
Good information.
Thank you.
Unless I’m in a real pinch, this is off my list.😁
Don’t discount this product. Most of the information presented is not correct.
I drilled through the base plus a lid for 5 gallon buchet.i placed 2 one gallon milk jugs with water in bucket for
stability. I use it 15 mins. at a time on cold nights. 5.5 hrs. per 1lb. canister.
Love the vids stay warm my brother
Thanks, Bill!
I bought a discontinued Coleman catalytic heater, a little smaller than yours, no open flame
I don’t think you read the igniting instructions well. It’s tell you how to light the pilot light. Hold for 20-30 secs release, then hold again for 30 sec. I use mine on the kayak even. Works great.
You said at the outset that you do not recommend the Little Buddy for the van -- and you said you would tell us WHICH heater you DO recommend, but you never did. So which heater WOULD you recommend for use in a van in emergency situations. I am from Buffalo, NY, and we just got hit with the worst blizzard in a long time. I was safe, but I could have been one of the 40 people who lost their lives in their stuck vehicles, which were stuck for a few days. In that kind of situation, which heater system would you recommend I carry in my van during the winter months -- for emergency multi-day use.
Probably the all-around best emergency-type heater that I could recommend based on experience would be one of the larger Mr. Heater products - Portable Buddy, Big Buddy, etc. Any of the larger units would put out a fair bit of heat in a pinch and can run on either one pound “green bottles” of propane or on a larger, refillable cylinder via a hose. If you’re planning to use it a lot the larger cylinder is the way to go. The Portable Buddy (4,000-9,000 BTU) will burn through a green bottle in about 2-3 hours on low so that would add up fast over a few days.
The Olympian Wave series of heaters are very good and produce less moisture. They’re also more expensive and must be run connected to a larger cylinder or RV propane system. The Wave 3 would be far too small for a house though so you would probably want to be looking at the Wave 6 if not the Wave 8.
I've had my heater for 7 months now and it's hasn't been a problem for me. The only thing I honestly don't like about it is the the whole thing facing up at the sky. LMFAO
You will have problems. Put a couple drops of alcohol in the gas line(both ends) cause the line will get to the point of residue not letting gas thru. This happened with mine after a year of use.
if you pop that black plastic cap off the bottom of the 1 lb tanks it fits in perfect. But if you use in one of those for winter you got to run it off of a 20 lb bottle. those little 1 lb bottles last about 5 hours I run my little buddy for like 12 hours a night in Arizona desert dead of winter.
I really wish I had seen your video before I purchased the Mr heater because I've used it for less than a month and it doesn't work. I agree with everything you said but would add if hand / wrists are weak at all it's really hard to even start the damn thing. Overall I think it's just a cheap piece of crap.
I didn't think about dexterity/strength for lighting this heater, but I can definitely see that being an issue as well. It's hard enough to light without any limitations. I'm back with a Portable Buddy now. It was overkill in the van, but seems to be sized pretty well for the travel trailer. I have heard of people making modifications to the Little Buddy to make it work better, but I don't think I should need to modify it to be usable and functional.
thanks good idea
It does work, but I think it's probably better suited to other applications. I also think for the extra $10 it's probably a better deal to just opt for the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy and have some temperature adjustments and an easy way to connect to a refillable bulk tank.
There ratting in my heater! I s it damaged? I just took out of the box brand new! Thanks
Thank you so much this was very helpful sir ! I just bought little buddy heather, but i want to change with the big one , because watched your video. I had a plan camping on Wyoming this winter and need big one for sure . I got a question how much gas propane for heather , and cooking for 3 days without electricity ? are 5 lbs good enough please I need suggestion ? I am driving with my minivan
What are you going to be cooking with? I'd go with the regular Portable Buddy model unless you need to heat a fairly large area or it's going to be super cold all the time. A 1 lb tank on a Portable Buddy only gets you about 6 hours on low and a bit under 3 on high. I honestly don't think 5 lbs will be enough but if you only use it when absolutely necessary it might be. You're best bet might be to get a 20 lb tank with the proper hose and adapters to use it with the heater and whatever it is you'll be cooking with. You'll probably spend less in the end as 1 lb prefilled tanks are way over priced. You'd probably return with some propane to use at a later date.
@@STEVEWONDA1976 Thank you so much ! I'm going to buy 20 lbs probably use boiled water for coffee and do light cook . Definitely use more for heather because of the winter
Hi Robert
Like they say you get what you pay for. I had a Mr. Buddy I did not like it at all. Purchased a wave3 and I’m literally a happy camper!! Keep warm and well vented. Safe travels🙏🏽
I've been hearing great things about the Olympian heaters. Sounds like that might be the way to go when I replace this little one. I probably would have done it already had I known I was going to be stuck in that kind of weather! LOL
Bro if take of that black plastic off the tank it will fits perfectly
I had one 2 or three years only used it a few times
3 or 4 Went to use it wouldn’t work?????????? “;-(“
Hey Robert .. my off button will not turn the heater off anymore. It doesn't feel broken though. It works fine but I have to tip it over to turn it off. What do think? Good video
That sounds frustrating! Mine always turned off alright, though I find it's not always convenient to access the button.
I usually just shake mine (gently)a couple times to turn off
If you take off the black bottom ring on the bottle it will fit the ring snug.
I bought the little one yesterday from home hardware for $151 bucks. It worked for one canister then wont work.
Oh no! I have had several Mr. Heater units fail, but they usually go at least a year in my experience. I know a few people who actually repair them when they quit, but that's more than I am comfortable doing. Hopefully you are able to return or exchange it.
I have this. Warms a space very quickly but badly designed. It's unstable and that switch is hard to reach and hard to click.
Does it take European gas canister
Love mine. I don't care what the temperature is.
I have heard from a few people who do like these heaters, but I wasn't impressed enough to recommend it. I have since gone back to the larger unit - and at the moment a borrowed Olympian Wave 3 while I am traveling in snow country.
Maybe a few candles as long as you are insulated well
I didn't have any candles on hand to try, but I did turn the stovetop on a few times to boost the temperatures. during the day. I don't like doing that too long, but I do have a CO alarm and kept the front windows cracked for ventilation. Typically the coldest temperatures I see are upper 20s at night and even that is somewhat unusual - maybe a few nights per year. This extreme cold showed that I need some margin in heating capacity for these unusual times.
A fourteen minute video to tell me not to use a heater. I don't think any of the Mr Heaters "shoot" the heat. The instructions specifically warn nit to use these kinds of heaters in enclosed areas like van.
I had one of those and a similar model. Even for a temp solution or casual use. It is basically useless and a waste of money. I am a Canadian with plenty cold weather experience.
Pretty much my thought now. LOL I picked it up last spring when the larger one quit working and only had to use it a few times before summer. This winter I have used it off and on in the desert, but have never been happy with it. I never needed to use it for very long though before now either. Definitely not up to the job when the weather turns really cold!
@@RobertWitham gave mine to my son for his garage. It kinda sorta helps a little bit if you stand/sit directly in front of it and slowly turn yourself around, like a hot dog on a rotisserie. LOL
I keep seeing great reviews for Mr. Buddy heaters everywhere but my little buddies that I bought they always conked out on me within a year and I just now bought the Mr. heater and I've had it less than a week and I'm already having problems with it. Not a good thing when you're in a tent and it's freezing cold and you're here just conks out for no reason.
Are you using a filter in your line? Oils in the line will make it stop working if you use the large propane tanks.
@@Totrch29 not using anything. Just the heater. I think the oxygen sensor is set way too high. I know I don’t want carbon monoxide poisoning, but having to keep the tent flap open, to let in air that’s cold, kinda contradicts the point of the heater.
I have two that work very well!!
I know some people really like them so it's possible I had a not-so-great unit. I ended up switching to a Portable Buddy as it has more temperature control and has the higher heat output for really cold weather. Now that I'm in a travel trailer the Portable Buddy seems appropriately-sized for this interior space.
I have all the buddy heaters and no question the little buddy is horrible compared to the rest.
I think it is the fact that I was reasonably happy with the larger one that made me so disappointed with the Little Buddy. I'm back with a Portable Buddy in my travel trailer running on a 10-pound cylinder and it works great.
Looks like you failed to remove the base from the propane cylinder. The models I've seen have elastic straps to secure bottle to the base.
I think that may be something they added after I had this model. I'm sure it would help with stability. My experience was that sometime removing the base worked well enough, but other times it was then too loose. There are definitely hacks that can solve a lot of the things I don't like about this heater, but ultimately I just switched back to the Portable Buddy and am now seriously considering trying a diesel heater for next winter.
Take the plastic ring off the propane canister. It will fit fine.
Propane is dirty. Mr buddy fuel filter should be used. Watch all the videos. Be safe
3,800 BTUs is enough but you need to know how to take the whole damn thing apart to clean and repair. It is a POS. People that say it’s fine have never used it long term.
Thank brother i was just a click away from buying it
I like the idea of it, but just was never impressed with it overall. I think the Portable Buddy is a better value at only about $10 more. Some of the issues (like needing to lean over it to light) might not be as much of an issue in a shop, etc where you have room to move around.
Thanks Robert. !
I hope you got a wave 3 for this winter. 1600 to 3k btu is a good range. Might not be hot enough for the absolutely coldest of winter nights but would be great for spring, fall and 9 out of 10 winter nights.
It's probably the most versatile portable heater on the market.
Hi James, I actually have a brand new update video coming out tomorrow afternoon reviewing both the Mr Heater Portable Buddy and the Olympian Wave 3. I've had the opportunity to use both over this winter season!
@@RobertWitham awesome. I'm sure that's made life much better. The wave heater's are worth switching to for the lack of propane smell alone. And I dont have to have a fan to keep the heat down off the ceiling as much. I pretty much retired my big buddy after I scored a great deal on a wave 6 this year. I've been using them for a few year's to take a load off my heatpump and have been valuable For when heat goes down or power goes out in my house or a rental.
I want to get a wave 3 for truck, van or tent camping. Almost bought a Coleman catalytic tent heater on ebay that's 1500 to 3k btu but after researching why they discontinued them I decided I'd probably hold out and go for the wave 3 when I can afford it.
I'll be sure to watch your video.
Omgoodness crazy weather, you poor thing!
You're humorous.
Good info
Good info. Thanks. Havagudun Robert.
Do not store the tank with the machine, they leak and they clog it and they will not work.
❄️❄️❄️
Olympic Wave 3 heater works great in a van!!
I've been hearing great things about those units. I had been thinking about trying a diesel heater for next winter, but I don't have the power now to run one reliably - and am not certain I will have that solved before winter. An Olympian might just be the way to go.