My Secret to Staying Warm While Truck Camping in Freezing Weather!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
- A quick review of some of the common methods of staying warm while clold weather truck camping, along with the method I found that works perfectly for my setup.
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Here's the heater (#bulletshaker) I talk about in this video:
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Here's the down booties that keep my feet snuggly warm in cold weather:
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Here's the hot water bottle in this video:
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Here's my Rockpals portable battery/generator (I LOVE this!):
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...and Here's the heating pad I use:
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I occasionally sleep in my estate car camping. I use cut-to-size bubble wrap on the windows if it's cold, or if in daylight I want some privacy in the car. It really helps retain heat while letting in reasonable light. The second bonus is that prevents condensation on the glass. All you need is s spray bottle of water. Lightly spray the glass and that holds the bubble wrap in place indefinitely. Easy to peel off. If you want to have a certain clear half window to view out where you sit, just cut the bubble wrap for that window to relevant size pieces. Bubblewrap used like this is brilliant for any single glass situation, not just in a car.
Shooster - what an inventive idea! Someone else mentioned using bubble wrap but didn't go into the detail that you provided. Thanks for watching and for leaving this comment - I'm sure others will find it useful as well! Happy camping!
Yes, I have used this in single pane rental house.
@@thewanderingway I got it from someone online years ago when I mentioned that my house had old large thin single glazed windows! It transformed my winters.. still using it on the house. Cheapest best value tip I ever got! Worth passing around.. good for greenhouses too.
@@thewanderingway People do this at home, at their windows.
I just shopped Amazon and am ordering. Thank you.
Just drive down to Florida and enjoy the winter.
If my home and my job weren't in Maryland, I just might!
Awesome post. You are correct. After viewing every possible heating source for truck camping, you have provided another viable option. My stove is exactly like yours, but runs on either butane or propane. Many thanks for a great post.
I use the same heater in my camper, I use it on the normal stove in the van using the vans refillable gas system so it's even more economical than the stove you have.
I have never had a problem with monoxide.
It's the best method of heating my van.
Nice!!
I have temt camped several times with temperatures down to 20 and I used fleece blankets, US Army wool blanket an army surplus sleeping bag. I put my next day clothes under my body while I slept so they would be warm the next morning. It reall did not matter how cold it got into the tent, I always slept well. I have slept in an office building with no electricity and did the same but, I lit big candles before I got out of bed and they warmed up the little room I was in quite nicely.
Great advice about sleeping on top of the next change of clothes.
I have a military surplus Arctic down filled sleeping bag supposed to be good into the subzero? Based on your experience I believe I could survive in my house without heat?
I wonder what would happen if you used a brick?
When I was a little kid there was a lady she was about 90 had old gas open space heaters that was about as old as she was the ceramic elements or whatever they made them out of was missing she had bricks in there place???
@@enemyofthestate9358 instead of red clay bricks, which can explode. I would go to the hardware store and buy a box of fire bricks. Can also be found at a fireplace store. Two types. One is thin and heavy, the other is thick and light. I would get the thin dense brick. Its used for lining kilns and can take quite a bit of abuse. The lighter ones disintegrate and will be a mess to clean up. Plus, who wants chunks of brick getting in the bed
@@theespjames4114 Probably, but a lot of the older army surplus bags, were filled with chicken feathers and not all that warm. Others can roast you out of bed. As far as outdoor gear goes high end consumer outdoor gear like North Face or Mt Hardware usually blows away army surplus.
That’s what I use on our butane stove too! It gets TOASTY!! Love it!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Nice!
A similar idea is use a metal cup or bowl and fill with sand. Put over a gas ring as you did. Once the sand is hot turn off the gas an the sand will keep warm for quite a while without the gas ring burning, A house brick can be used instead. These cost next to nothing.
Hi Peter! Nice idea, thanks for sharing.
I think a genuine wool cap would be better than a baseball cap - like lamb's wool or llama wool + and a dog. A dog's body temperature is 101° as I recall. If you have a campfire, heat up some fire bricks then wrap them in tin foil and place them inside some large wool socks. Then put them inside your sleeping bag. This might help when you can't boil water. Rather than blocking out light with Refectixs window coverings I use rolls of clear plastic popcorn (?) packaging. It blocks the view but lets light thru during daytime cold. Finally, bc heat rises and disappears, I would consider making a covering for the ceiling made out of a wool army blanket hung with mini bungee cords or carabiners or line your camper with cork panels. Whatever you do, don't give up your truck. I love my 1995 Tacoma with 300,000 miles. Happy Trails to you!
Carol, thanks for watching and for all of those good suggestions!
I have almost the identical heat set up that I’ve lived through winters with in a van. I had the same stove but the butane canisters were expensive and not always easy to locate. I switched to a Gas One stove. Can use propane or butane.looks identical. I can run it on a propane 2b grill tank.
I added a cast iron trivet to help absorb and spread heat. Also makes it a good stable cooking surface.
I then bought.a Walmart $3 stainless steel silverware holder. Place it upside down on the stove and trivet. Makes a good single wall heater.
Dale hey thanks for watching/commenting. Love your description of how you heat - thanks for the details.
A friend who converted his van put the smallest little solid fuel stove in it.. heats it great with little fuel.
I use the largest single-burner Coleman gas stove. On top of that, I found that a very large old Revereware fying pan works wonders to catch and spread out the heat so that it doesn't go straight up. It keeps my cargo trailer conversion quite warm. I bought it for $5 at the Goodwill store.
Good video. The stove heater is nice-I am going to get one 🔥
The UCO Candolier is nice but the beeswax candles are pretty expensive. You it is possible to DIY the candles. I have an old UCO tea light lantern that I’ve had for 30 years. It supplies a little heat, but not really enough to heat up my SUV.
The single thing I’ve done that makes the most difference: INSULATION. I used an 80mm self adhesive butyl/closed cell foam and rag wool to fill gaps without spending hours custom cutting all the insulation. The temp difference is 10-20 degrees depending on other factors.
Being warm in bed is pretty easy to accomplish; having the ambient room temp be comfortable enough to be out of your sleeping bag is a game-changer in very cold weather.
The “combo platter” of insulation along with any of the various items and techniques you demonstrate is what will work the best.🌿
Hope, love all the info you shared almost as much as I love your username :-) Thanks for watching and Happy Camping!
@@thewanderingway Ditto TT. Gimme a holler if you head out West.
@@Swimdeep Will do!
I agree. It shouldn't cost very much to insulate that bed with Havlock wool, and I remember seeing a video of a guy making his own oil candles for one of those UCO lanterns/heaters out of mini booze bottles. I've always wanted to try it
@@dougtond1380 they used to be glass but I haven't seen any glass ones in years. I guess I need to watch the thrift stores. Interesting idea tho.
I got up at 5:30 this morning, Dec.16, 2021 and the temperature was 77°, going up to 81. Camping in my transit connect on Key West doesn't suck. Thanks for another excellent video.
I'm a little jealous Abbey! Take good care and happy camping!
The stove top burner or camping stove heater shown is actually a plasma burner. The dual chamber design produces such high temperatures that the gas is completely burned up emitting nothing but heat and water vapor. No combustion gases or carbon monoxide are emitted but it does use up the immediate area oxygen. So, an open air supply is needed!
Clifton, wow - hey thanks so much for for that explanation! I truly appreciate it. I do make sure to have a window cracked while using this heater, so I stumbled into doing something right. Thanks for your insight!
Thanks!
This is why I would never have used one inside.
I have lived up north here in ND most of my life. I have never seen these. I LOVE this idea. Thanks so much for sharing. Going to get one for sure. Maybe Two for my old Coleman stove.
Hey Tom thanks for watching - super glad this sounds like something that might work for you!
Thirty years ago I spent two months living like you are and we found that when we ended up replacing our curtains to homemade ones out of fuzzy blankets keep the cold out because we lost so much heat through the windows
Wow! That sounds like it was quite an adventure! I just camp in my truck for a few days at a time.
Back to old days..warm curtains and candles..any fat will burn
Reflectix on your ceiling (silver side in) will change everything in the winter.
@@timothysutton625 thanks for the tip Tim!
Good to have several ways to keep warm or cook. I want those down booties!
They are great! I really dislike having cold feet at night - problem solved!
Air flow is vital regardless of heat source in a confined space
Hi Patrick - 100% agree! Take care - thanks for watching!
I too been using this similar set up as my heater for over a year. First in my truck(72"l x 55"w x 47"h) and now inside my astro van( 84l x 68"w x 48"h). I also use my 3 way aluminum that fits perfectly around 3 sides of the stove and directs the heat of the mini heater. This year I've also added a $20 12v blanket from Walmart. So I turn on blanket, run my stove heater for 30 minutes then off goes the heater and I'm toasty inside my sleeping bag with heated blanket that my rockpals 300w will run most the night. Definitely use CO2 alarm and ventilation too!
Hey there Kari! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences - I just recently picked up one of those 12v heating blankets too, swapped it for the heating pad i was using when I made this video. Looks like some of us end up with the same solutions! Take good care, stay warm!
35°F is not bad. All you need is a good sleeping bag
100% agree! I don't use this while I'm in bed sleeping - no trouble staying warm while I'm in bed. This is for staying warm during long cold winter evenings when I'm hanging out for a few hrs before bed, and also to take the chill off in the mornings when I'm getting out from under the covers.
I stay in Wisconsin. To stay warm I just turn on my propane furnace in my van. It's safe ,it is a vented furnace, been in this van 15 years. Stay safe , stay warm, peace ✌️
Sounds like you have a great set-up 👍 thanks for watching!
And how much propane does your heater use in the winter..I have my heat,lighting and cooking down to 43 dollars a month.
@@larryhutton8776 I spent around$150 from November to April
You can buy dripless candles for the candle heater. Works beautifully. Also I have made little burners. Melt paraffin wax into a tuna can leaving about a 1/4. Cut a long thin piece of cardboard from a cereal box the width of the height of the tuna can. Lower it into the melted wax in a coil. When cooled and solid, you put it under that thing you have and it will burn hours and hours.
Thanks for the info Kathryn!
Wow! Great info, Kathryn! I'm saving my chicken and tuna cans and making some of those. Great idea!!
Those work good, but using like the corrugated boxes, with the little gaps works better. More nooks and crannies, and the material soaks it up real good. I save miscellaneous candles that have burned down too low to use to use for that.
We put a thermoelectric wood stove fan on top of the heater to circulate the air. We also do the same with a UCO Candolier with oil lamps. The fan on top for circulating the heat.
Clever idea.
Great tip! Thanks for watching and sharing your solutions!
Great idea! Any particular one you can recommend?
Get the Tecumsa heat to electric fan..I use one on my cooking stove and my Mr. Buddy heater..I have one that's been running over a year now..quiet..just put a piece of flat metal on half the burner ..do not put your fan on direct flame it won't last long..
Be glad you didn't get the candle heater. Here's a review on it: Purchased one of these lanterns several years ago and it works flawlessly to this day. So I purchased 3 more, one for myself and two for a friend. Noticed something was different with the supplied candles as they were squared off on two sides. Thought perhaps a change had been made in manufacturing or third party supplier. Assembled lantern as per instructions the same way I have with my older model dozens of times. Everything seemed to function normally, springs working fine. Unfortunately once the candles were lit the flaw in the candle design resulted in catastrophic failure. The flattened sides on the candles allowed melted wax to pour down into the spring chamber causing the springs to seize. As the candle melted down inside the spring chamber it created even more heat accelerating the melting process compounding the problem. Within minutes all three candles had melted down half way and filled the base with wax. It took a good hour of work to get the remaining candle stubs out and mess cleaned up. I have a stockpile of original replacement candles (no squared sides) and I will try them in the new lantern. Hopefully this solves the problem. If not the lantern will have been a complete waste of time and money. At least I have the original unit from years ago which has never failed me. Unfortunately it looks like I won't be able to resupply with original candles as I have noticed in the reviews for the refills that they are the same misshapen candles as I got with this order. Too bad that a great product gets ruined by unnecessary cost cutting and poor quality control.
Wow, Peter. Thanks so much for sharing your experience - really good information here, and I'm sure others will find it useful as well.
hey, thanks! I'm just starting out in my camper and really appreciate your research. :)
Thanks for watching!
Thank God for menapause/hotflashes! But you can make your own heater, off-grid - just using a couple cans,cake mix tins, and a few other things. Methanol is a clean burning substance. Riverside Homestead has a good setup to make.
Good tip!
Great idea I have a small van that I plan to travel and live in and was really concerned about staying warm. The heater can be used to cook with make coffee with or warm the van. I love it. Put it on low at night to keep from freezing inside and kick it up higher when you get up and want to scoot around and stay warm.
Hiya Don, so glad you found the video useful!
Kudos to you for using the reflective aluminum. More reflective aluminum taped or velcro to the top of the shell and under your sleeping blankets/bag! On the Buddy Heaters, always ensure you use one rated for indoor usage. And, always use a Carbon Monoxide detector for safety. You will need a window slightly opened for air flow. Finally, I suggest an old (or new) cookie pan for under the heater to prevent possibility of fire. Take it a step further, by placing a silicone sheet under that as well! Finally, like to suggest a Thermal Fan for the Mr Buddy Heater, works off the heat, non-electric!
If you want dry heat, a thermostat, low propane usage and low current draw (1.4 amps when running) the Propex heaters are amazing. Expensive, but having a real propane furnace on a thermostat that doesn’t need a huge battery bank is a game changer for winter camping.
Sounds like a super comfortable setup!
Great video. I have purchased the little heater that sits on top of the Coleman stove, but have not yet used it. It’s good to hear that I made a good decision.
Good choice!
I have this heater, I think it’s great! You can also boil water the top of it as well.
Great tip!
I first saw this "heater" on a vanners channel and got one for my van and one for the mobile home thats my primary residence, I live in florida and have ac units at both ends of the place but NO heater, on chilly days I set my butane stove on my electric stove and set this on the butane stove, it does a good job of taking off the chill. It will quickly roast me out of the van even on our coldest nights.. Maybe you could rotate between 2 cans, warm the back up under your shirt or something.. My problem with the UCO is the cost of the replacement candles, I made 3 oil lamps from glass mini liquor bottles, they fit nicely in a pineapple or tomato juice can (if you can find them) that works well in my van or at my desk in the house
Hiya Doc! Thanks for watching and for your thoughtful comment :-) When I'm using butane (like in this video) I definitely do that swapping out trick until the ambient temperature gets warm enough to allow the butane to burn normally. This winter, I'm switching over to a dual fuel stove (butane & propane). Thinking I'll use propane to get the ambient temp up (and for cooking)and then switch over to butane if I want ongoing warmth.
WOW 😳 !! .....2 years!?
and this video is still worthy of watching and sharing.... I'm in Missouri and was looking for alternatives to simple tent/truck camp setups. You're very sweet and knowledgeable about how you present your ideas and honest reviews. Most sound like commercials for products. I already have a little Coleman stove (2 burner). This is a nice regulated way to heat a small space. If it's quite cold, I've been throwing a large moving blanket over my tent and then a tarp over that for my 'dbl-wall' insulation as well as the sleeping bags you described. My issue was during the day after I get up... How do I sit in a chair 🪑 without roasting from a gas-hog Buddy Heater and I don't use a battery pack.
I'll definitely be passing out your video....
Subscribed in Missouri
I would add one inch rigid foam to the top along with reflective material you used in your windows.
Hi Robert, thanks for watching and for this good tip!
I use the same heating unit inside my tent when winter fishing overnight in the Uk. The gas canisters i use are a butane/propane mix which is more effective as the temperature drops.
Hiya! Yeah I can imagine that mixture burns much better in the cold temps. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience!
I found that Bob Wells Little Buddy heater conversion with a 11 lb Manchester propane tank works really nice! I also have a 'ice house' heater .. both of these are catalytic heaters .. no open flame! I do not like an open flame burning while I'm sleeping. I do have a monoxide detector too .. it's never gone off. The 11 lb tank costs $7.00 to fill .. quite a bit cheaper than 1 lb cylinders.
Al, interesting - thanks! I don't leave this set up on when I'm sleeping - I agree that wouldn't be smart. But it warms things up nicely before bed and in the morning.
What kinda gas you getting 11lb tanks filled with for seven and where
@@zacharychristian9762 Manchester makes propane tanks. A 20 pound tank is about 5 gallons so an 11 pound would be around 2.5 gallons and is totally in line with propane prices. I'll have to find Bob's video! Thanks for your question. You put me down another rabbit hole! 😆
A small eco fan on top of the chimney would help to move heat around and help with the condensation on the ceiling of the truck cap. An eco fan are the ones that you put on wood stoves for that exact use. They only require heat to work no electricity necessary. I use one with my catalytic heater in my cabin and it really helps. I think I will have to hunt down one of those chimney stoves for my stove. Thanks for sharing.
Janice, hey thanks for watching and dropping this comment. I've started looking into the kind of fans you're talking about - solid tip!
@@thewanderingway now that I have had a good look at the heater the eco fan might be too heavy to set on top of it but the heater probably gets hot enough that you could just set the fan beside it to activate the fan.
@@janicescragg2388 I have a little USB fan that I recently hung over top (and just off to the side) of the heated unit - it did a nice job of circulating the warm air around :-) I might still look into a heat activated fan sometime tho :-)
@@thewanderingway Awesome. Good idea. I always camp in my van but used to camp in the back of my truck like you do. In both during winter camping I have problems with moisture build up during winter camping. The difference with the van is I can run the motor with the heater running for short periods of time never sleeping with the motor running. This uses a lot of gasoline though and it is too easy to run it too low. A dangerous idea when remote camping. I like your idea better. I think I will come up with some kind of cage to put it in though. I am a restless sleeper and would be concerned about setting the blankets on fire. 😁 maybe a bird cage or small metal kennel?
@@janicescragg2388 get some damp rid and hang up. Works great!!!!
I would have liked to have seen you do the warm up on the canister. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I use an Olympian Wave3 catalytic heater in my Toyota sienna minivan. 3000 btu on high, 1600 btu on low, runs off the standard 20lb propane tank. Maintains 20 to 25 degree difference from outside temps. Catalytic pad puts out zero monoxide, but does produce carbon dioxide and water vapor. I built a sheetmetal hood to vent the hot gas plume out the window. From scratch the heater, tank, hose, regulator, will run between $300 to $400, plus materials to provide a solid fireproof mounting surface and any shielding required for fire safety.
Very important, is the amount of CO2 that builds up in a small space. I have both a monoxide meter and a CO2 meter, monoxide meter never shows anything unless I'm cooking on the propane stove. But I have seen the CO2 go above 3000 ppm (normal outdoor CO2 is around 450 ppm) when the doors are closed. I prop the doors open an inch or so to keep CO2 under 1200 ppm while I'm sleeping, and run heater at the 1600 btu setting. Extended high CO2 can cause a variety of health problems, the CO2 meters cost a little over $100, and are a really good investment.
Candles produce soot, and should be avoided, if possible.
Bee's wax and/or soy dont produce the black smoke/ soot, those are what I use and have never had any problems, they burn clean..
Great review and neat gadgets to have nowadays as well and the price is right! Thank you for sharing 💜
Thanks Debbe, for you kind comment!
You could put a heat/ electric fan on that lil stove furnace..circulates the heat to the floor..Amazon sells the Tecumsa fan..works great.
I really like this idea.... thanks Larry!
Great video. Having this utility on hand is probably the best for your situation (but not the safest) or having a small tent. Putting it on low with a few canisters gets you through the night with plenty of ventilation ofcourse. You could experiment though with a small kerosine heater (wick) that has more efficiency and a lot more adjustable heat. Using the right K-Kerosine that has no odor is a must. These have safety built-in. You can easily boil water on them and they have piezo ignition. These are portable and can be installed (fixated) on shelf in a corner somewhere. Near a windows probably is the best. You wont have to buried yourself in a lot of sleeping bags, keeping everything nice and tidy. I Recommend buying : Sengoku KeroHeat CTN-110
A great video demonstration; thank you. I love the idea of the stove b/c it works very well as you clearly demonstrated; thank you for mentioning ventilation, that's very important.
Bob Wells also uses this form of heating (his butane stove) and has a heat shield that he places around the back of the stove that focuses the heat inward instead of out the back toward the window; you may want to get one of those if you haven't already.
I thought about getting an electric blanket that is powered by rechargeable batteries; my thinking is that I would always recharge the batteries during the day using a solar powered generator. Have you ever tried that?
Also, I thought about the idea of purchasing an infrared heat bulb w/a hanging lamp to heat with; the reptile sections of pet stores have those in all kinds of wattages, so it's easy to get one that would be at a lower wattage but would still put out a significant and steady heat. (I got this particular idea whenever I used to have chickens :) Have you tried that yet?
As for me, I'm trying to purchase a Van to live inside of, so your video is very helpful to me - and I imagine life and cost saving for many :) I hope to hear back from you soon. Kind Regards.
Wow that's a couple of fantastic ideas! Thank you for watching and thanks for all the good info you shared. Have been thinking about a 9volt heated blanket, and may incorporate that into this Winters camping! ❄️
Also, 🙏 thanks so much for watching!!
Thank you so much. I have the stove you were Talking about and I just ordered one of the heaters to check it out.
Hi Jim! I hope this solution works well for you - happy camping and stay warm! 😁
im in an 89 dodge ramcharger. about same space as you have. ive used each method you have mentioned except the UCO and im getting ready to get that stovetop heater you're showing. its amazing how hothands
(18 hour) packets radiate heat under covers. they do get hot enough to cause immediate discomfort if skin contact is made.
20 bucks often is a Lot of money. i was able to get the Chinese Diesel heater. its about the size of 2 footballs. runs very quiet and only sips fuel. diesel has to be on board. i use almost 1 gallon plastic container and carry a 1 1/2 gallon extra fuel. i highly recommend this. i have to have truck running to start the thermostat controlled heater. it takes approximately 5 minutes to get going then truck can be turned off. a great difference is this puts out DRY heat compared to wet heat of propane or butane. love having it blast hot air when i get back in truk from cold outside. Amazon is where i got mine for very close to 120.oo. (Chinese Diesel Parking Heater) i was inspired to this from youtube videos on them.
5 kw is what i ordered; (supposed to be most economical) but what arrived was smaller but it heats my small space extremely well and quik. chek vids out on youtube. one last thing. i did have to cut a 1 inch hole in floor for exhaust pipe to exit vehicle. getting ready to stuff steel wool around small gap to prevent skeeters and other crawleys commin in there.it is mounted in small plastic toolbox. it does not get hot inside toolbox.😃😚💖
Hiya Justin! Thanks for all that info about your set up is working for you. The diesel heaters are super popular - several folks have suggested that route for heating - for now, I'm pretty comfortable with the set up I've got - but there may come a point in the future when I opt for a diesel heater. Thanks again and take good care!
Thank you! I'm going into my third winter, snow and cold, and I thought this winter I'd try it with heat
Hey thanks so much for watching! I wish you many warm and cozy nights!
Very cool idea i’ve seen someone else on TH-cam use one of these definitely works in a pinch 🤏
It's been working pretty well for me :-) Thanks for watching and dropping a comment!
Thanks for the information and God bless you. Move to a warmer climate.
Hi Shirley! I actually kind of enjoy cold weather camping :-)
Mount a mini size (computer) fan above the heater canister to allow it to circulate the heat also hand warmers work great inside the sleeping bag for heating cold feet.
Great tip!
Yep a USB powered fan typically used for cooling folks in vehicles or offices works great in my apartment with the exact same setup, I normally use it a few times a year in blackouts but with everything else that's going on in the world 🤔 being nomadic again might be a good thing.
I 100% Agree PC fans work awesome & are relatively quiet...moving the airs important but not to quickly..why the PC fans work xlt .I mounted few in coffee cans n served well...now I'm caregiving my mom in South Florida I'm trying to learn ways to stay cool ..
@@scottconnors8419 i wish you and your mother the best. 🙏
@@jamesweiser252 thank you very much,it's tough thing....stay warm....
Thanks for the info, I have 2 of the stove heaters in my stash of SHTF stuff ! 🤗
Hi Patti! You're so welcome! Glad you liked this one and I think it's wise to gather a SHTF stash. Take good care 👍
Inside any camper, in cold weather, there WILL be condensation just from breathing in there.
Propane emits a bunch of humidity too..be careful about using propane that’s Not vented..the little heaters are great, & better than nothing, but, all your cloth will get damp, making you more vulnerable to cold.
Note that any flame is the result of combining heated oxygen and hydrogen atoms - which results in H2O, commonly called water. Between that, and condensation from your breath, in a small space it can get pretty damp quickly. I do like the battery and heating pad idea - it adds zero moisture and is provides heat directly to you body which gives more bang for the energy dollar.
Blake, you are on point with the science! Thanks for chiming in. I haven't noticed that using this heating solution on the stove top adds any noticeable additional condensation. There's always some, like you said, from breathing and the temperature difference between outside and inside - but its never been enough that has created a damp feeling on my clothes or blankets/sleeping bag. I only use it for a bit at night and then a bit again in the morning though - so I don't have it going for hours on end.
@Blake Reiner , @Tacoma Traveler , maybe, the non-vented LP blue flame unit we tried, just put out too much liquid.
The yurt we tried it in, was 30’ d., with double layer of a reflectix-like insulation. Sited at about 300’ elevation, about 35 miles from Olympia, WA, to give general conditions.
But, still, a kinda well-ventilated tent, even “buttoned-up”. It was never tempered unless people stayed in it. Generally, nothing stored inside ever felt damp, even after winter rains or long fogs.
We set that thing up to warm up the interior while we did chores outside.
Outside, it was mid-to low 40’s*F.
When we came back in a few hours later, there was a “diamond necklace” of water droplets hanging from the edge of the roof liner all around the tent’s circumference, cloth stuff was damp, layers-deep, the poly windows (5) were all covered in condensate. The entire liner felt damp.
It was literally starting to “rain” indoors.
That heater was running off a..what are those..5-gal, or 20# LP tank, & the tank still had a decent supply in it.
No 100-watt humans nor 50-watt pets emitting humidity, were in there, just the stored stuff in there as the heater did it’s job.
Maybe it’s a matter of size of tank, & size of heater. Or, maybe related to humid climate where we were.
Also, a vet friend lives in a 5th whelp, & one major issue is moisture always consenting on walls inside. He keeps heat to minimum, due to being very low income, so that might be part of it.
We’re you doing your thing in a drier, &/ or bit warmer temp area?
A pro tip that I learned during navy winter survival training in the 1980's at -20F : Sleep naked and you will be warmer. A hat helps.
I usually try to go down to long johns - and I always sleep with a nice warm hat on when its cold! Thank you for your service (and thanks so much for watching!)
Naked not good if there is an emergency I use a large fleece one zee. . with a slit at the bottom for peeing ( female ) it is like a portable bag liner and can wear it outside in the morning and evening also plus it has robots printed on it. Very bitchen
Many a frozen body has been found inside a down sleeping bag bc the well intentioned camper thought layers of clothing would help. Not so. The body heat can't reach the down feathers. If you feel too vulnerable sleeping naked, then try some thin flannel pajamas.
In basic training at Ft Sill.....we got to play outside just when it was starting to get cold....the drill Sgt told us to strip down in our sleeping bag....i nearly froze to death ! You quickly find out that if you are freezing you can't sleep ...so lesson learned is i always bundled up inside my sleeping bag
Old wives tale.....or crazy campers tale!
Heat some H20 in a small can and place your gas canister in the can . This will warm up the inner liquid fuel and aids in it becomming a gaseous state . This allows a better burn ...
Excellent tip! Thanks!
Great video! Lots of great information and I will check out the rest of your videos! I have an aframe and I would like to do more winter camping...
Hi! Thanks for watching and I'm super glad you found the video useful. Winter camping has its challenges, but also its charms :-)
Been using my buddy heater for 18 years you can control the heat from low to high so that you don't burn yourself out works off one pound canisters or you can hook it up to a 20 lb tank. Safe for indoors are out and admits no almost no carbon dioxide that's the way to go in my opinion been using it in my tents camping tents Huntington's campers for years and years. And you don't have to worry about venting and letting all the cold air in to defeat your purpose of warming. I get about 6 to 8 hours off of 1 lb tank
Hey thanks for watching and for the comment! Buddy heaters are a really popular heating solution.
You can purchase a similar stove that runs on butane or propane. It comes with a short hose, which allows you to hook up to a 1 lb propane cylinder. This would eliminate the cold effects on butane and because the cylinder is a bit larger, would give you a longer burn time.
Wayne! Hi, thanks for watching! You and I were thinking right along the same lines. I just bought one of the stoves you are talking about. Used it for the first time this last weekend, video will be up shortly if you'd like to take a look. Short version - cautiously optimistic about switching over to propane for the colder months. Thanks again!
Thank you for making this video. I have been looking at tons of TH-cams trying to find how to keep my living quarters tolerably warm. Fifty degrees would be great!! (I have a City Promaster which is the tiniest van around) This looks like a great solution for me plus I already have that stove!
Hi there Vivian! So very glad you found it useful 🙂 thanks much for watching and for dropping a comment 🙏👍
Great info.
I've had the same thing happen. If you leave fuel door open on the stove it helps a little with the canister frosting up.
Cool, thanks for sharing your experience Smitty!
Cool , I need that last camping season 🥶 I was putting a cut up beer can on my little stove ... I knew I had something there 🤔😅
Sounds like you are a master at macgyvering camping equipment! Maybe this'll make things a little easier on you :-)
Thanks so much for watching and dropping a comment!
You can also use 2 litter soda pop bottles. I heat the water to between 160° to about 180°F. Bottles which are under the pile of bedding I use stay hot all night. Wearing socks or wrapping the bottles with a towel or a shirt is a plus to keep from to much heat.
Nice tip!
Couldn't imagine those would keep heat below freezing for 8 hours.
and use a little cling film to cover top and threads before screwing cap back on. Stops leaks from eventual temp. change : )
Put the bottles in a quilted bag or wrap in a wool sweater and keep the hot water bottles close to you. I use a 64 oz growler that way because the cap locks down really nice. I often fill it at a coffee bar at a truck stop. Usually it is warm enough to wash up with in the morning.
Aluminum or stainless water steel bottles with -rings work better and if your socks are damp from perspiration , putting your bottles in your socks will keep your feet from being burned until the socks are dry. Great for winter camping in Canada😊
Your hot water bottle dresses better than I do. 😂
Right?! I'd like to see some studies about that sweater and it's heat-retaining capabilities. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's all for aesthetics but I bought it anyway 😉
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I would like to start camping in my camper shell as winter is approaching, and it's nice to hear about the trials and errors of someone else. Ima fan, just subscribed!!!
Hi Mark! Thanks so much for the encouragement. Truck camping has given me more than I could have ever anticipated and I love sharing those experiences here. Don't put off getting started too long - just dive in, you'll have a blast!
I believe the UCO candle lanterns use beeswax candles that basically burn completely leaving little or no residue. You should try candles in your heater, I have the same heater and have read recommendations about it, just haven't tried it yet. I would definitely put some Reflectix (silver foil insulation sheets, cheap from Home Depot, etc) over your large windows ,which is probably your main heat loss area.
Hey there JD - thanks for watching! I do have reflectix up on my front and back windows - more for privacy than anything, but probably helps out with heat retention. Good info about the beeswax candles - thanks!
@@thewanderingway q
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful information on how to stay 😊 warm 😀
Vinnette, truly my pleasure! Thank YOU for watching and for your kind words. Take good care!
Awesome. I knew something like this must exist! Thank you for the intel. D😎🇺🇸PDX
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
Hey there, new sub here, I used to live in Gig Harbor and had a VW Bus I camped in, love that area.
I'm now in the Appalachians in NC (home) and live in a 28ft.skoolie, great and informative info ❤
Hi there Candise! So glad you liked the video and thanks for subscribing😁. Color me jealous of you, living in a skoolie!
I have the little buddy,works great,just the pilot is all you need,just open 2 windows a inch,to ventilate,but buddy heaters have 02 sensor,it shuts off also if it tilts,so secure it ,
Good tips! Thanks Aida.
Your method of keeping warm looks to be very effective 👍
Keeps me cozy and toasty! There's a lot of different heating solutions out there - this one works well for me👍👍
Ive tried the candles under pottery heater, not a noticeable improvement so that lantern would likely be as useful as that, wouldn't waste my money.
Hi there H.O.W. - thanks for watching and for sharing your experience! Stay warm out there :-)
I am using one of those heaters right now. They are fantastic! Rather than wait time, warming up canisters, I get out 2 or 3 cans and just swap them out each time one freezes up.
Smart!
I bought this for emergency power outages I figured I could set the tent up indoors and heat this and place it in the tent . Its larger then I expected.
Hope that setup works out if you ever need to use it during a power outage! Thanks for watching 😃
For $99 Flame King makes a thermostatly controlled propane heater that would suit the situation fine. Set the temperature and forget it. Just add propane when needed.
I just ordered a 20,000 btu for my camper cap and RV.
Hi Joseph! Thanks for watching and commenting. I think another commenter mentioned the Flame King too. Might have to look into that at some point. Thanks for the idea!
@@thewanderingway I hear endlessly about people needing a source of controllable heat for eather van life, car or RV use that doesn't sweat them out. Well the flame King fits the bill. It'll turn on at a present temperture and maintain it. The unit is just $10 more then a buddy heater. That's cheap for a therostat feature.
You should test one. I ordered the 20,000 btu model figuring it'll maintain the temperature with heat to spare. They have a 10,000 btu model that's just $99. Great deal for controlable heat. 💫
You could even get a small USB rechargable fan and use it near that heater to circulate the air inside the cab. forced air movemet vs radiant.
I like this idea! And I have the fan already :-)
@@thewanderingway Yeah it doesnt even have to be on high. Just enough to push the warm air around the cab. It’s a small area so it won’t take long at all.
Great vid, ill be looking into one of these. Also the UCO lanterns produce near zero wax, i have the single candle. It brought my 4 person ground tent up about 10°f with outside temp around 45°f. The cost to performance ratio is not great but it gives better peace of mind for some not being a gas heat source.
Hiya Maverick! Thanks for the info on those candle lanterns :-)
They work great in a tent for dim light. The wax is consumed so no drips.
@@bendeleted9155 good point!
There is a dual-fuel version of that stove too. The propane adapter hose is one more possible failure point, but I'll bet you can find just that hose if you prefer propane.
Hey there Ben :-) Great username btw! I actually recently switched over the dual-fuel stove and its quickly winning me over :-)
I live on a boat in the uk and love my hot water bottle but you’re right, under to winter 2 duvets it can get too warm but I’m lucky as I have 4ft wide bed so can push it to the side and it’s there if I do start to feel the cold.
Matt, that sounds amazing!! The living on the boat part, although the wider bed sounds pretty nice too. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience - stay warm out there!
Try leaving the canister door open. It might pickup some radiated heat from the heater.
I'm always afraid to do that LOL I don't know why. My follow-the-rules instinct say - the door is supposed to be closed when stove is in operation. But you make a good point, the butane can probably would stay a bit warmer.
@@thewanderingway Open till it gets warm enough to keep going on it's own. Don't try this at home.
@@rc3291 "Don't try this at home" 😉😆 will keep that in mind! Thanks RC
They also make those miniature steel stoves.
Yeah there are a ton of options out there 🙂
i also have the Gas One Duel fuel stove. Love it. i need to create a twist lock on butane cover cause it flops around most anytime i move it around. (small problems) 🤪😎
I've switched over recently from the straight butane stove that is in this video to the gas one duel fuel and it has won me over pretty quickly! I like the versatility and its nice to have the reliability of propane when the temps go really low and I know I'd be struggling to keep the butane burning. Stay warm out there!
Very informative, thx
Glad it was helpful!
Hot water bottle! Yes! So simple, so effective. Add one or two dogs and no worries about cold…lol!
Yes, sometimes its the simple things that work the best, right?? Thanks for watching and dropping a comment Mary :-)
Strait up balmy above freezing outside! Lol! I’m in a cargo van in New England, this is my 2nd winter full time. I’ve got a nice down comforter for on top and a fleece under. I have a winter sleeping bag I use too but I tend to warm the cab before bed. If it gets bellow 40 in the cab I normally wake up. Then I’ll run the heater in the van again. I also have a diesel heater and electrics heater I run off my battery system. Propane heater buddy I have as well but it’s so hot in the small space that I keep my windows open. I suppose that’s a good thing as with propane ventilation is required and it’s a wet heat so the condensation becomes an issue. I have a 3000w inverter on 11v 200ah battery that will run my shore power electric hot oil heater for 3 hours. I tend to use that only when I’m plugged into an outlet. Did you insulate the cap at all? I did so much insulating in the van. Have fun!
Thanks for the details of your set up, sounds like you have all your bases covered! 🙂
@@thewanderingway still wish I had a single source that was reliable enough to use when I’m at work. Hasn’t been to much of an issue but the cold makes me feel like my water would freeze.
Number one..get the heck down south where it's warmer dureing the winter.
I actually enjoy cold weather camping! 😁
I suppose you have to be aware of the dangers of knocking the heater over and the problems that could cause, especially in a confined space. But looks like a good solution. Thanks for the video.
Thank you Andy! Yeah, I have to be careful with it. Can't imagine the chaos if I tipped it over.
i have been thru much outdoor sub freezing temps overnight. RV tent & vehicle. floor being cold aint fun. so i would say insulate under & around good. windows do radiate cold so coverings for those. carbon monoxide is a gas concern. with oil & candle use as it evaporates its in the air you intake. a good heating blanket with power supply to last till you are done is good but recharge will be long the next day. theres lots of moisture that builds up above where ever you sleep that can drip down no fun there. air flow is a good thing as is noise so a fan is good also its a good mosquito killer. seems just as you get all warm & comfy feet all warm in a good sleeping bag is when you need a bathroom lol. the best heat since heat rises is a good under floor heat.
All good points! And so so true about having to use the bathroom 😂
diesel heaters can run a long time on a golf cart battery.. no condensate build up... jat
They seem to be a very popular option! Thanks for watching.
Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Got mine. Thanks
Fantastic! Hope it works out well for you :-)
Staying warm while sleeping in a campervan...5 years ago...in Canada!
Nice Carl!
I use a 6inch terra cotta pot in my stove. I had to burn in the pot first to get read of the smell but after that it works fine.
Hiya Chief! That sounds like a pretty good idea - thanks for dropping the tip 😁
Use 2 butane canisters. Just rotate between them when one freezes up.
Great tip - I did learn to do this last winter :-)
Creates moisture and mold
Haven't noticed that as an issue after using it a year, but I use it sparingly and generally make sure there is good air circulation through the space.
*Another option is the small Kovea Cupid heater. It uses the same butane canisters as your stove you have there.*
Great suggestion - thanks!
Get those WOOLarmy blankets. on top of a flannel sheet and whatever other covers keeps you warm. Also pure down blank et.👍👍
Great idea!!
I had to put bubble wrap on my apartment windows. I needed the light from the east windows. Can't deal Sith darkness. If works FABULOUSLY. No one can tell. The windows just look normal from the outside. The blinds cover it if company comes !!
Hi Cheryl - What a great solution for you! I think some other folks have talked about using bubble wrap, I might have to look into that when the weather turns cool again.
Thanks so much 🙏 💓
Hey you are so welcome! Thanks for watching:-)
It can be a struggle to keep warm while snow camping etc.
The Chinese diesel air heater uses diesel and vents the exhaust outside the vehicle.
It costs about 100 to 150 $ and once installed works great. Uses some electricity to start up
the ignition phase and some to keep the air moving past the heat exchanger. Many videos on installation.
Good news, no condensation and no diesel smell as all fuel lines, exhaust and tank are run outside the vehicle. I use it mainly in winter
or sometimes on chilly nights ... No problems in almost three years. Fuel consumption depends on how hot you need it, the area being heated and the outside temp along with vehicle insulation etc.
Hi Dave! Those heaters are super popular, lots of folks suggesting them. Thanks for your detailed description of how it works for you - that's really useful. Thanks too for watching, of course!
Dave Wallace, could you please give more information about this heater? Brand name, where you bought it, etc. Thanks!
I use a diesel heater they are the best 👌 I can get 2 weeks or more on 5 gallons and they are hot 🔥
Hiya John! Thanks for watching and sharing your solution 😊 diesel heaters are definitely a popular option. Take good care and happy new year!
The Lil buddy heater is a 👌 option. Only warning if you fall asleep with it on not being automatic to shut off, it will consume all of the oxygen in the room and leave you dying for air. Learned that myself camping in a shelled long bed. Carbon monoxide detector is a must.
Couldn't agree more, I've always got a detector running and windows cracked. So very glad things turned out okay for you!
Doesnt theThe buddy heater have a built in cm detector?
@@l.r9655 don't think so. Not the lil' buddy. I've used it in some crazy dangerous places and situations, it runs like a champ that won't slow down. Either mine is default, older model, or it just didn't have a cmm installed? Thread on click start and go heat.
Actually, the little buddy heaters are shown to be safe and NOT putting out carbon monoxide time and time again. There's a bunch of videos that show this.
@@qntmxiii So, you haven't actually used one or seen others use them in enclosed spaces. Mine's sealed pretty good, and I'm still here. Like I said, there's lot's of vids on youtube specifically about the little buddy and carbon monoxide. Check it out.
Nice way to get warm in your camper
Hi Joseph - this really works well for me. I'm now in my second winter of camping with it.
Nice little deal 👍👍
Thanks!