Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Buddy portable propane heater

Been looking at the little buddy portable propane heaters that use the screw in 1 pound propane tanks. Has anyone used these and do you have any feed back? Thanks

BAD for putting out Carbon-monoxide, there was a tag on the last bottle of propane saying to stop using them.

Yes, I have one and they work great. If using a small tank carry a spare so you are sure to have enough to last all day.

I haven't used that one, but the "Black Cat" works well and lasts a long time in adverse conditions.

http://store.rogerssportinggoods.com/servlet/-strse-1971/Detail

I have both the portable and the big buddy. The main problem I've had, and many others if you search the net, is keeping it burning on high. It tends to go for a while and then shutoff even with a good air supply. Cleaning the orifice seems to help. They will run forever on low. I also got surprising life out of the D batteries that run the fan on the large one.

Do you really need to remove the little tank when not in use? Or is that just a CYA thing?

I have a Big buddy and have never had issues with it. If you have problems with it shutting off I bet its the low oxygen shutoff doing it. I had this problem on a Standard buddy.
I run mine of 20lb tanks and pretty much have it on high all the time during deer season and when ice fishing.

I have the big buddy with fan, and it works great in the boat. I also procured the fittings to make a long hose for bulk tank use, more convenient than the little bottles and cheaper.

They were sold a year ago as ok for enclosed spaces, has that changed?

Allen

The reason I was asking questions is I just purchased one to use 5 or 6 hours at a time, couple of times a week in an enclosed 10 x 20 foot size room. Just was curious to others knowledge of this product. Thanks again.

We have six of the Mr. Heater Buddies for our enclosed blinds and they have worked great. Keeps the old toes nice and toasty even in below zero temps.

Mike

No way it will heat a 10 x 20 room IMO.

Mike

We use ours in a 12X14 wall tent. We run them off of a 20# tank.When I started having problems, I did some Googling and found that some have the same problem and others don't. I suspect that the O2 sensor is a bit too sensitive on my Big Buddy.

I use one in my boys blind. I had a 20 ft. hose made to connect it to a gas grill size tank. The tank sits at the base of the blind. I also disconnected the "clicker" that works the igniter as it was too loud. I light the heater with a long butane grill lighter. I don't worry about carbon-monoxide as we always have open windows. It keeps us warm.

You can see the tank here, it's sitting in a milk crate.

We have a couple at the lease. We use at least one in the mornings to knock the chill off inside the trailer (no elec, no heater).
Box says ok for indoor use, but I still don't think I could bring myself to use it all night.....I might wake up dead.

Used one for years in my converted carge/camp trailer until I installed a 30,000 BTU blue flame heater by the same manufacturer. I used mine in the trailer and a tent all night long. Just make sure you have a vent or window open. It will shut off as it has a low oxygen sensor if you don't allow it to breathe. A 1 lb bottle won't last all night even on low. When I used mine like that I hooked it up to a bulk tank.

I have one and have had it for a while, it's a pre CO2 sensor model. The small bottles are good if you want to warm up your tent or camper for a few minutes before you jump in bed or first thing in the morning, but won't last long.

Anyone else used these?

I have an older small one. I always use a bulk tank but it's a bugger to hook up the hose. You can't get a hand in there to turn the fitting. I cut out part of the side to make it easier to hook up. It does a good job of heating my 12' round army tent but I never trust it at night. I would suggest getting a CO sensor to hang in the tent if you do use it.

I tent camped in a 6-man tent one-only night with a propane burner going on low. Next morning, everything inside my tent was soaking wet.

They work nice. Some i've used are tough to light not all of them, but they work great after.