Car Camping Tips | How to use a heater in your tent
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ต.ค. 2017
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Tips on how to use a portable heater inside a camping tent. I use a Mr Heater Buddy because it has a couple of good safety features like low oxygen sensor and tip over shut off.
Mr Heater Buddy on Amazon
www.primal-outdoors.com/mrhea...
THANK YOU
For pointing out safe distance from contact, ventilation, and basic running time.
None of it was mentioned in the 38 previous videos I watched. They want to sell the products without regard to safety or common sense.
Who wants to drag a generator outdoors? Some are even diesel? Not very creative to say the least. Pets are a great deal to consider. Short to the point, informative and safety oriented. Greatly appreciated from those of us on a budget.
I really like my little heater, a welders blanket would work great under the heater as well.
I have used the big buddy heater with dual 20# tanks connected to both sides in my eureka copper canyon tent for nearly a decade without issue. Granted, my tent is well vented with the roof being a screen under the rain fly. I do not hesitate using it on low throughout the night while sleeping. Have seen many test videos with the carbon monoxide monitor and 24 hour Timelapse where monitor never picked up carbon monoxide. Just my 2 cents.
This came in very handy as I am planning to camp outside this weekend. Your recommendations on safety inside of a tent was extremely helpful/useful Thank you for making this awesome video!
I used one last year, but was a bit paranoid the whole time. Good tips! I used a bungee cord on mine to keep it upright incase it were to get knocked over.
I love my heater, it works really well couldn't imagine winter camping without it.
Jason
It does not have a carbon monoxide detector, it has a low oxygen cutoff detector. The idea being to cut off if too low of an oxygen level is in the area to support complete combustion. The oxygen sensor is a good idea, and a good safety, and should provide you with a safety for running out of oxygen (C02 buildup) or conditions that would cause a non-malfunctioning heater to produce carbon monoxide. You should consider purchasing a CO detector (or two) to put into the tent with the heater.
Doesn’t need it. Would be pointless. If CO2 build up is happening, it’s because of the gas tank or loose connections that the person is responsible for, that’s why you keep the tank outside of the tent. CO2 can’t be emitted while it’s burning 😂. Only the gas tank can emit CO2 not the unit.
@@brooktech7869 C02 and water are both combustion products of propane im not sure what you’re talking about, the location of the tank has nothing to do with it. With a catalytic heater CO is generally not emitted unless oxygen levels get low enough in the tent for incomplete combustion to occur even with the catalyst.
@brooktech7869 I always keep my tank outside my tent,a propane leak would be bad. I run the buddy even when I'm sleeping. I always have a cross draft 🍺 🍺 🍺 welding blanket under it ...... I want to get a Chinese Diesel ⛽️ Heater
Thank you for sharing on the heater and the tips you use for camping.
Your welcome I hope it was somewhat helpful
Jason
Hello Jason, thanks for the tips. I just recently picked up that heater. Take Care and Keep Exploring The Outdoors.
We've been looking into one of these heaters for our sailboat, so when we sail to Catalina Island in the winter we can have some heat while on the hook. Thanks for this vid! It's really been helpful!
That is great I am really glad it helped.
Jason
I just picked up a Mr Heater Buddy last week. Can't wait to try it in the Cascades... Awesome stuff as always, Jason.
How do you like it now?
Makes sense to me. If you take all the measures possible you it should be safe and as far as venting a tent I do that in winter time anyway to cut down on condensation. Great vid.
Thank you, for the most part as long as you take a few precautions I think its pretty safe. Agreed on the venting.
Jason
Jason, thank you for sharing this! I ust moved to Spokane and am living in my car with 3 fur-children. We are looking at some 10 degree nights ahead and I don't want all my money to go for gas---waking up at nite to make sure it's warm enough for my babies. This is a much more reasonable option. I'll just wake up, heat the car up inside, turn off heater, and snooze back to dream land
Thanks for making this video! I’m looking at getting one of these Buddy Heaters soon for this very reason. I’m planning to use a wooden bed table without legs for my heater to sit on, and also a stable surface for making coffee inside the tent on cold mornings.
My son I sleep in a regular tent with our Mr heater and run it all night long in the coldest of weather's. Never had a issue. It's worth it's weight in gold!!
Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about getting one of these heaters for emergency use in case of power outages in the winter. I think hese concepts would apply there too.
They are a great heater you might want to look into the dual propane one for what your after.
Jason
You could make some metal brackets to attach to your tent poles and the heater to prevent tipover. A welders blanket would be better than the canvas to prevent fire. A piece of masonite board would make a good fireproof base for the heater. My first experience with a tent camper was in 1971 in the Adirondack Mountains of NYS in November deer camp at 20 below F. Woke up with ice in the water bucket, my boots frozen to the floor. A small apartment propane heater was barely adequate and shut off at night. My sleeping bag was inadequate. Ventilation was not a problem as the canvas tent covering was hardly air tight. Not a pleasant experience but a learning one. Used an Apache fiberglass popup the next 7 years which was better but still had issues. Eleven years in a cabin tent on a wooden platform and small homemade wood stove was the best and most comfortable.
I've been going thru the reviews for this on Amazon, as well as a few videos here. I was wondering what to set underneath it, since there is no way I'd be setting it directly on the tent floor. The cookie sheet tip sounds like a good cheap plan. When I get my truck cap, it'll work well in there also.
Love all the detailed information and clear video Thank you!
Great review, I've been considering buying one of these. Thanks for the tips.
I use a aluminum baking sheet to protect the floor plus when the propane tank sweats it's easier to clean the water from the cookie sheet.
That is great idea Don, the bottle sometimes freezes to my canvas sack, its not really a problem but like said sometimes you end up with a little puddle.
Jason
Same here
This is a great idea! Thank you
I use the hand warmers and body warmers in my sleeping bag. They have adhesive strips to keep them in place. Very safe. But running this in the AM is brilliant to cut the cold air outside the sleeping bag.
You have a chance of burning yourself with hand warmers. They say to not do that
Thanks for the tips Jason.
Your Welcome I hope you found it somewhat useful.
Jason
Great tips. I like that roof top tent. Keep up the great vids.
William I can't tell you how much I enjoy the RTT, it so simple and quick and now that I have the awning I can pull into a location and have a great camp setup in minutes and get to doing what I really want to do which is shooting video and photography and of course sit around the campfire with a little Pendleton ;)
Jason
Really enjoying your channel! Thank you.
I am glad Ken, thanks for watching.
Jason
Fantastic information!
Thank you, I hope you were able to get something of value out of it.
Jason
Okay, this is the most valuable tips I found.
I am planning to use a clay pot with candle over night. As I understand to keep a window open! So we are sure we will get a fresh air and not poison ourselves with CO2.
Also, interesting you mentioned that you never sleep with it works, my intention was to actually sleep with it. Well. Probably not anymore. thanks for the video.
I love my mr heater buddy,i use it the same as you,(sometimes instead of a camp fire) on those cold mornings I can reach over and turn it on and 3/4 min later the tent is warm as toast.
Its awesome it heats the tent so fast, I have even made coffee with mine :)
Jason
Good advice..that's just what I'm gonna do just have it while I'm awake. Thanks!
good, thoughtful information. Thank you.
Great advice! Thanks!
welders blanket (carbon mesh) would be good pad too. Same stuff most put in that fancy feast alcohol stove.
Totally agree that would be really good solution. I just already had the canvas sack on me, and I have just continued to use it.
Jason
Good advice, thank you mate.
Great tips! TY
Good advice
Love the advice brother. I usually run a wood stove in my tipi, but these rooftop tents are starting to sway me.
A wood stove in a tipi sounds really cool, great way to winter camp, probably not as quick to setup as my RTT, but still very fun.
Jason
Prepped For Life how do you use the stove safely ? 🤔
Thanks for the info!
Good tips. Also, give the heater enough room in the tent. Pay extra attention and watch for items that might roll or be kicked. I thought I cleared enough room in our tent but my son dropped his stuffed animal from his cot and it rolled across the tent to the heater and cought fire while we were sleeping.
Great advice
Great video
Thank you
Great thanks especially canvas
When I get up for a nature call. (which seems like I have more of those when camping} it is nice to pre warm the tent.
Thanks Jason!......Cheers
Thanks for the tips
Your welcome
Jason
Thanks for the video
Just got back home from camping in a tent when temperatures went down to 38 and 39 over night. As a precaution about CO I used my Buddy heater like you suggest in the video. While camping I wasn't sure as what to do; so your advice showed me I did the right thing to protect me and my dog Blaze.
How was it for you? Warm? Worth it?
@@ehansish It was warm and worth it. Now the next use will be ice fishing in my ice shelter. Then sitting in a deer blind during January rifle season.
@@charlesfurrey9340 excellent!
Buddy heater does NOT have carbon monoxide detector, get one please. I live in the mountains, a father and son died last year from it. I do use mine sometimes inside the tent but just please take precautions do your due diligence and you’ll fin out no built in CO detector. Welders mat instead of blanket under in case of tipping is a good idea too.
Nice informative video, I just bought one of these. Nice package...
Baking tray under heater helps with tank condensation damping other surfaces
Yup I flip a sheet pan upside down and place The heater on it
@Harry Wang and?
Very helpful. Thnx
good to know Mr buddy has carbon monox shutoff as well as tipover shutoff...
pan and bungee make sense
I use the smaller Mr. Buddy, it's round and has a handle. Its got a smaller base than yours and is less stable, but I run a cord through the handle and string it to the uprights so when I occasionally bump it, it just hangs and the hot grate won't fall on anything. At 28 degrees, I still can't run it more than 10 minutes at a time without the tent turning into an oven.
I have seen those, I am glad it working out well for you, Mr Heater seems to make good product.
Jason
Good words to camp by!
Thank you, John.
Jason
Thanks for making the video, would you know or have recommendations for using one for camping in a truck camper shell?
Should be fine just make sure you keep some windows cracked to allow fresh air to get in.
Jason
Good video. I like the setup. Any condensation issues either on the fabric or on the sleeping pad ?I've seen some people have set up electric blankets plugged into aux power, these setups look pretty slick.... I don't know how you get along without your truck cap ! I remember as a kid i never put them on my trucks because I was convinced that was for old men, now I'll never take my truck cap off, haha
My wife and I use a Mr. Heater Big Buddy in our tents, we have the Kodiak 9 x 12 Cabin tent with awning and enclosure, and the 10 x 10 Kodiak Flex-Bow tent. We have a battery operated smoke detector and a battery operated carbon monoxide detector in the tent also.
We have used the heater with small screw on tanks and a hose with a 20 lb. outside tank. Since most tent camping in campgrounds and other places is away from power we use a jump starter power pack from the big W*** M*** store in town that has jumper cables, a light, 4 USB ports, 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC along with an air compressor. It is chargeable from the car while driving or 120 volt AC. We run a 12 volt camping fan in the tent off it all night to keep the warm air circulating around the tent instead of all gathering at the top plus charging electronics and rechargeable lights. We get about 2 nights out of it with the fan, before it needs charging.
Love your videos, both the content and filming expertise. They look great.
To my knowledge. The Buddy Heater does NOT have a CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector built into it. I believe you mean it has a built in Low Oxygen sensor.
Good intel TY
Thanks for the tips on the Mr. Heater Buddy.
Your welcome Jonathan, I really hope you found some useful out of it.
Jason
You have a great setup and that is one hot heater. Takes no time at all to get the tent toasty hot.
Have you ever purposely tested the auto shutoff, and the heat that the canvas bag can take from the hot grill face, say in your garage?
I have had the heater shutoff just by moving so I am very confident in the auto shutoff, but no I have not tested the canvas bag.
Jason
Thank you for a GREAT safety tip. I'm about to do a hunting trip in my RTT and was worried about heat, now feel better. Question, what do you do to cut down on condensation? Do you have or will be getting a condensation pad?
I am glad you found it useful. To be honest I haven't had too much condensation problems in my tent, when I do though I notice it under the pad. I have thought about a anti condensation pad, but I have pulled the trigger yet.
Jason
Good stuff to know.
Thank you for watching I hope you found some value in it.
Jason
I recently bought and used this heater works great i only have one problem the heat stays at the top of my tent when you lay down its freezing i recently bought a small fan to blow the heat down to floor level not sure if this will work or not but any ideas would be a great help
I use the fan too, but never go to sleep with the heater on..
Hello 🙋 full video 👍
I'm Korean
Thank you so much 🙆 friend
Pin a welding blanket behind the heater so it goes down the wall and under the heater. It is fire-proof and reflects heat.
Thank you such a great tip
Thank you
Thanks for the informative info Primal guy. in case you did not know propane burns clean and does not give of carbon monoxide the only way you would die is affixation from the lack of oxygen in the vicinity enclosed. unless something else is burning from the heater other than propane.
All combustion gives of Carbon Monoxide.
a firm that it does give off carbon monoxide
it does a little.
I got the long hose ,filter, and 25 pound tank for mine. Tank stays outside away from the tent. I have noticed that running it on high all night there is a fair amount of condensation on the interior walls.
That is interesting, I have never needed to run mine on high all night but I have ran it on low lots of times and I have never had condensation caused by this heater in my RTT.
Im going winter camping with this heater !
Hi Jason. Your channel gets better with each new video! I wanted to get one of these but I read that you cannot use it over 7000 ft above sea level. I do a lot of car camping in Sierra Nevadas of California at over 10,000 ft. sometimes. Anyone know of one that can be used at higher altitudes?
That is interesting I know propane can have issues at high altitudes and extreme cold, I will be curious to see if anyone chimes in on this.
Jason
I think it senses low oxygen levels at high altitude and the unit shuts itself off. Maybe others can confirm or comment.
P.S. Thx for turning me on to Lord Huron! Awesome travel tunes.
That makes sense, still would be very curious to see if anyone has tried it.
That link isn't working for the Mr. Buddy heater , but I did find a few different styles on Amazon. Thank you
Yeah, appears Amazon changed the link, and now have cranked the price of them up. I did fix the link but you can find cheaper elsewhere at the moment.
Jason
Great video. Thank you. You may have just saved a life.
I just got the little buddy heater and I have a 4 person Ozark trail tent. I’m hoping it won’t be angled so much so that it burns a hole in the top of the tent... I kinda like the looks of the regular buddy heater in this video but it was $20 more... still tempted to return it to get this one... but do you think it’s be ok in my tent? How much clearance does it need on the sides and top and back of it?
I did run mine for 15 min inside my room and got dizzy. It doesn't have carbon monoxide detector, It will turn off or not lit if there's too little oxygen around, but by that time we are gone. I would certainly invest in a $30 CO detector. Garrison makes a nice one. Excellent tip about tipping over while still hot, I haven't thought about that and Buddy doesn't warn in the instructions about this potential danger. Buddy also says to remove the bottle if storing the heater inside (& keep the bottle outside). Don't forget to put the handle down when it's on so it don't toast it
The heater comes with low oxygen sensor. As far as I know it does not come with a built in CO monitor.
You are correct I miss spoke on that and I meant the Oxygen sensor.
Jason
It also turns itself off it it tips tips 45° so not much worry about it tipping over. But that's because Mr.Heater is top of the line. Cheaper heaters are potentially more dangerous.
Mine shut off at Whitney portal at 3 am. Could not relight it. So thankful it did.
Thanks for the video. My tent is a 9x7 4.5 tall tent. It has a total mesh roof with a rain fly on top. Would this heater be safe for me?
I don't claim to be an expert but if you're asking if the mesh roof would supply enough oxygen for the heater to function, I would say yes. I have this same style tent but I still crack the widow open a bit just to be safe. I also feel safe not running it all night but instead just heating before bedtime and in the morning like Primal guy suggests. Cookie sheet is a great idea for a solid heater base and condensation catcher. Happy camping !! ( I run my heater with a 20 lb. bottle......little greenie bottles are ridiculously priced these days.)
If I have my heater buddy in low and I go to sleep do you think I would be safe? Also once it runs out of propane do I have anything to worry about if I’m a sleep and did not disconnect the propane tank once it is empty?
can you do another video on comparing heaters
I also have a RTT. What do you think of putting a mr buddy in the annex and keep the door to the annex open?
ALSO PEOPLE GO BUY A 20.00 CO DOCTOR FROM HOME DEPOT AND JUST PUT IT IN YOUR TENT. SECONDARY SAFTY PRE CAUTION.
PEOPLE STILL USE ALL CAPS?!!!!!! 🤦♀️
You mean Primary Saf*e*ty Precaution
There's no integrated carbon monoxide detector or cutoff in this heater. It has a "low oxygen" cutoff which relies on the pilot flame becoming smaller due to lack of oxygen and it cuts off when that smaller flame can no longer maintain adequate heat on the thermocouple that drives the solenoid open. It's very similar to how other pilot light cutoffs work on gas fireplaces, gas heaters, etc. except those are simply made to cutoff gas flow if the flame goes out. I don't think they're sensitive enough to cutoff due to low oxygen.
Great video mr heaters are a great heater that’s designed for indoor use, approximately how much fuel does this heater use in a tent your size overnight if left on all night
I am sorry I wouldn't know that as I have never ran it straight all night. The one night I ran while I slept was a couple hours here and there but not the whole night.
Jason
I have a Coleman cabin instant tent with the open top but with a rain fly on it, would that be enough ventilation or should I crack a window also?
I like your truck I would also like to know what motor it has, and if you can do a video about your dogs?
The truck has the 5.4L engine in it which is a bit under powered for this size vehicle. I will definitely put some thought into a video about my dogs.
Jason
How long would you run the heater? You mentioned not a long time, but how long... 15 minutes?
I saw a indoor buddy heater at the store. You might want to check it out.
The Mr Heater Buddy I have is rated for the indoors, that is why it has the great safety features I like.
Jason
I just bought one of these to use while camping... I read all the info in the manual, and have watched some videos about this heater, but I still have a question, maybe you can help? When you use the heater for a short while to warm things up and you shut it off, can you leave the little propane tank attached until your next use, like the following morning or evening?? It says to remove the tank when not in use, but I would assume that means after your trip is over, and you are storing the heater until your next trip, right? Thanks for any help with this info...I just want to make sure I use it correctly and stay safe!
Honestly the only time I take the tank off is to replace it, even when storing it, I don't know why the recommend taking it off but I never do.
Jason
Thanks Jason! That's kind of what I thought, too...I usually keep a propane tank attached to my Coleman cookstove during my trip, so I thought this heater should work about the same way... :-)
thats a good heater. i remember one winter when my trucks heater failed and i was driving over an hour to work at 3 a.m. i had a no. 10 can with a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of rubbing alchohol burning in the floorboard. it worked but not the smartest thing.
Haha, as long as it worked. I have been really happy with the Mr Heater so far, definitely makes the winter trips a bit more pleasurable
Jason
There are no risks of mold coming from moisture?
Jason, quick question. Do you open both sides of your tent for ventilation or is one side enough? And after you shut the heater off, can you immediately shut the windows to keep heat in?
I usually open the sun roof windows and I typically leave them open a bit to help with condensation.
jason
What brand of tent is that your in and what are the dimensions. Can you stand in it?
My next purchase.
They are good little heater I have been very impressed with mine.
Jason
I have a hot tub in my tent I leave it on at night that alright I'm not in there should I shut it off and then turn it back on in the morning I have to leave the heat on so my hot tub don't freeze so would it be good to leave it on low I do not know 👍
Yes I would do it but leave it on low just remember nothing is 100% safe so checking on it from time to time wouldn't hurt if it's going to be left alone smoke detector wound not hurt either good luck
My tent has a screen roof with a rain fly. Do you think that’s enough ventilation?
I would think so, Holly.
Jason
Yes definitely
hello ive never heard or read that mr buddy has a carbon monoxide detector, do you have any references for this?
Have you or any subscribers ever put the heater in the annex and let the heat rise? Probable work pretty well prior to climbing up into the tent at which time you would turn it off.
Does not come with Carbon Monoxide detector. I use the same heater when camping. I leave the flap open alittle on the side windows of my tent for air ventilation.
How long does one tank of propane last ?
Man I just bought this on Amazon. Had it on low on my 12 people tent..didn't have any affect :(
All I know is that the Mr.Buddy makes a hell of a burrito warmer
I will have to give that a try, lol
Jason
What kind of tent is this
At the point I need a heater in a tent, I'm putting a topper on my truck bed and going with a 'heated water radiator' or 'oil radiator' type design...and saying 'forget the tent'...and while I have tent-camped down to -15F, I have a bag actually rated to -25F, used a cot with two sleep pads under it, and STILL had to throw a handwarmer into the foot area of my bag, to keep my feet from freezing. Again, just takes too much gear at that temp to be tent camping...unless you are packing in with walled tents, 2-horses, 8-burros and a full tent stove with water heater!
Right there at minute 3 he says it has a carbon monoxide detector. It does NOT. It has a low oxygen sensor. The particular catalyst used in this heater does not produce carbon monoxide (CO). CO is poison. The heater will produce Carbon Dioxide CO2, which is harmless by itself, but it eventually will displace the oxygen in a closed room or tent. The heater also produces lots of water vapor which will make for condensation on cold surfaces, like a tent. Or even a car.
The recommended ventilation is 12 sq inches. This could be one opening, or divided into two or more openings. For instance,
two 6 sq in openings. One six at the bottom of the tent, and one 6 near the top. If your tent has mesh, I figure mesh blocks half
or the ventilation, so you may want a 6in sq hose at the bottom and 12 sq in mesh on top. You can do the math. A 3" diameter
hose has 7 in sq. Could also be a chunk of 3" PVC or ABS pipe. Or Dryer vent.
Nu Way makes a vented tent heater. Has a 3" stovepipe. Takes care of Water Vapor, condensation, CO, CO2. Lovely unit.