Little buddy heater??

[RJ Howell]

We're in the extended season here in NH. Getting much colder in the mornings! I'm seriously debating one of those 'Little Buddy' heaters to take the chill off in the morning. 3800 BTU seems about right to get the temp up fairly quickly in my 330 cubic foot cabin space. Or it seems like it should.. It claims to run 5.5hrs on a bottle and with the hoes of only running about a 1/2hr in the am, should work out fairly well.

Anyone use one? How do you like it? Performing as hoped?

 

[RJ Howell]

there are a couple threads on here already about the heaters and mixed emotions about them. i personally use one in a tear-drop camp trailer and like it pretty well...you will need good ventillation with it and expect it to produce a good bit of condensate. the first time i used one, i did not have proper ventilation and it kept shutting off...good thing because i would have gotten hit by the CO it produces. i also woke up and the walls and ceiling of the camper were soaked in condensate and it had run down to the floor and had small puddles, so the moisture is a big deal. it did keep me warm though and is easy and cheap to use and is pretty much the only option i have when there is no electricity available. i say get one and use it, but be sure to ventilate well and expect heavy condensate

Little Buddy you use? Do you see the tank lasting as long as they state? How many cubic feet you heat & how quickly? You insulated?

 

[RJ Howell]

Figure that toasts you out.. The Little Buddy is only 3800 Btu's..

 

[Berkshires]

I agree with everything grubworm said - I have the same single canister version and it works well for heating up a small space, but condensation is a big issue. I would never go to sleep with it running, though it has a low O2 shutoff, you should have a good CO detector in the cabin. I have a 5lb tank that I use with it, but on high it runs about 4 hours with the green canisters. I built a Propex heater in a toolkit, that works great in my AT Habitat, and sits and vents outside the truck, so no CO issues.

 

[RJ Howell]

Hey guys, I do appreciate the warnings, but please read what I said.. I only use heat for about a 1/2hr in the morning.

Very curious still if anyone actually has used the Little Buddy heater.

 

[Berkshires]

Did read it, but the "hoes" in the last sentence through me off as to when you were going to use it - I guess that should have read "hope". Even if only in the morning, condensation will be an issue and I would still have a good CO detector.

 

[Blue line overland]

I got the Mr heater Big Buddy, 18,000 but with hi, medium,low settings and a low oxygen safety shut off system. Works great in my smitty bilt XL rooftop with Annex. I open the vents in the rt and use a battery operated van to circulate the air so there is no condensation.

 

[PCO6]

I have the 4,000-9,000 unit and the smaller 3,800 unit as well. We used the larger one last weekend when we camped in our tear drop trailer. I ran it for about 5 minutes on the low setting before my wife went to bed and she complained about hot it was. The intent was to warm up the trailer and shut it off for the night. It worked great. I took it out of the trailer and turned it back on by my feet while I had a few nightcaps and it worked well for that too. I think the little one would have been fine for the trailer at almost any time of the year.

We were warm all night and didn't need it in the trailer in the morning. I have no doubt though that it would be good for that in cold weather though.

 

[Berkshires]

I also have the 3800 btu heater and I wasn't too happy with it, that's why I bought the larger one. I've tried both in my shed and also at our range shed and with ports closed to heat it up, the 3800 was inadequate, while the larger single canister was perfect for both my shed and the range shed. I don't think it will heat up your cabin and certainly not within 1/2 hr.

 

[LONO100]

I run the smaller unit in the dead of winter sturgeon fishing out of my boat that has a canopy and side curtains with an open stern. Air Temps can be anywhere from the high 30s to mid 50s during these winter fishing trips and I use that heater to heat up the deck where we are sitting still for hours on end and it does great. Like others have said, it'll run on high for about 4 hours, but on low it can go for much longer.

When we use it for camping, we will use it to briefly heat up the tent (8 × 8 x 5' with a mesh top for ventilation) in the morning, or if it gets really cold at night. In the tent we never have to run it more than the lowest setting and it will heat up the tent just fine.

I know I am in sunny California and our cold is not North East cold, but I hope I gave you a frame of reference for how it works for us. If you only need it for 1/2 hour in the morning, it should work well for you.

 

[M Rose]

Little Buddy you use? Do you see the tank lasting as long as they state? How many cubic feet you heat & how quickly? You insulated?

Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Propane Radiant Heater, Red-Black
I have this one. I use it to heat my T-4 Plus. Tank lasts about 5 hours on low. It heats my tent in 40 degree wether to a comfortable 65 degrees in about 10 minutes. in about 30 minutes I have to turn it off.
when temps get below 20 I need it on all night due to my arthritis flare ups, so the only complaint is that I can’t run it all night without getting an adapter for a larger propane tank.

 

[BCMoto]

I was happly with little buddy heater, when we were in moab in feb it helped in the tent with all the snow on the ground

 

[rustyhardwood]

i have the little buddy and it doesn't heat my 8x12 shed very well, but as far as camper or hot tent camping i think it would work well to take the chill off

 

[RJ Howell]

Some great responses here folks! Thank you! I see most of you understood the time length I hoped for and the Cubic feet I'm trying to warm up in the 'cabin' of the overlander.

Looks like I will purchase the Little Guy.

 

[RJ Howell]

i have the little buddy and it doesn't heat my 8x12 shed very well, but as far as camper or hot tent camping i think it would work well to take the chill off

Rusty, I may be heading out your direct on Wed/Thurs for some color! It's time now for east/west runs to see foliage! I think we'll try Pillsbury SP again for a quick overnight (and a test of the Little Buddy heater).

 

[Rath]

I have one on the way, should get it tuesday. Pretty excited to do some cooler weather camping

 

[rgallant]

As others have said be aware of the condensation even in 1/2 an hour it can be considerable

 

[Anak]

I have one and I do use it while sleeping.

I also use a battery operated CO detector and I made a base for the heater so it won't be so likely to get knocked over in the tent. It would appear I am still here to talk about it.

The tent with which I have used it is a Coleman Montana 8. Nothing fancy. Seems to have plenty of ventilation. Condensation is an issue, but no puddles to speak of.

My experience is that running on low a single tank of propane will almost make it through the night.

 

[Rath]

the amount of tests that have been done, even by trained professionals, including firefighters, show the Mr heater heaters don't give off CO, Of course, it's good to have a monitor, but the amount of fear-mongering around them is a bit ridiculous.

 

[LONO100]

I think for the OP's application, it should work fine. He said he would be using it for about 30 minutes in the morning, I'm guessing as he getting up for the day.

For me, my tent is all mesh on the top, and has a rain jacket that goes over so there is plenty of ventilation. When I run it on the tent at night, I am awake and running it, and heating up the cold tent until my family can warm up their bags with their body heat. Once everyone is all warm and out cold, I turn mine off. If it ever gets so cold that I wake up, I run it again.