What is the last thing you bought and plan to buy?

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I had bought a mr buddy heater about ten years ago, very disappointed with it because it was worthless above 7,000 ft in altitude, which is where we would do 90% of our camping. And you're correct that for such a small space mr buddy heater would be to much. I watch a u-tuber (Chayote works), and he was doing a review on the heater I bought. I went through his link to the Co. That he got his through but couldn't find the heater. So I looked it up on e-bay ($85 free shipping)and Amazon ($$ higher). I hope it doesn't have the same safety shut off as mr. Buddy cause it is very compact and uses a butane/propane mix which should work well in winter weather conditions. I had a hard time locating the fuel in my area so I located a case of 28 unites ($58) and purchased them through another company I located on the net. There is a very nice compact stove ($20) that they sell at Walmart that uses the same fuel canisters. You will find that that same stove is found all over the net selling for between $35-$50. Both the heater and stove come in a very nice case.

Today I went to Home depot and purchased a Carbon monoxide detector ($15). That I'll mount just under the headliner. Once I get the heater I'll run a test on its effectiveness on warning me of any danger. Also got a -25° extra large sleeping bag from my wife for my birthday. I can't wait to try winter camping at the end of the month.

I will try to share what I think of this heater after it arrives and I get to put it through it's paces.

I didn't know altitude had anything to do with propane. A lot of my adventures will be in higher altitudes as well. I live @ 6000' asl now and have no problems with my propane.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Lack of sun (more like prevalence of clouds) is the predominant issue. Even on nice days, it feels like the tree canopy does it's best to limit how well solar works up here. I currently have a 100w panel connected to a small (12AH, I think) battery in a box with some USB ports a voltage meter, and a PWM charge controller. But I want to revamp what I'm doing to get more efficiency, so a newer MPPT controller, and better batteries.

I'm curious which battery you have.

This is it. Untried so far but should be fine from the info I have on solar set up's.

 

[armyRN]

I bought an 8 x 10' ground tent. It should be just the right size for when it is just me.

Browning Canyon Creek 8x10 5 Person Dome Tent

Browning Canyon Creek 8x10 Five Person Tent - The Browning Canyon Creek tent is the perfect hunting base camp and family camping tent on the market.

www.sportsmans.com

I have larger tents, and smaller tents (can't believe I bought another tent). The larger tents are a bit of a pain to set up (especially by one person) because you have to thread poles through the fabric when setting it up. Nice when it is all set up though, especially if I'm with the wife and/or kids. And the smaller tents don't have enough room to allow me to set up my oversized Army-type cot.

This one when you set it up, the tent (under the rain fly) clips to the poles, so it is easier and quicker to set up. The rain fly is actually easy to set-up too. This will be big enough for my cot, a chair, and a little table (and that's about it). It'll be just like home.

I have a trailer with a RTT (really just a double sized tent cot). It is fine for sleeping and on-the-go, but if you're going to be at one place for more than just a day (especially if the weather sucks) you're kinda stuck. At least with this tent, I can sit up in it, stand, and probably cook and eat in it. Seems like I'm going full circle tent-wise. The tent and cot can go inside the trailer.

I have a Mr. Buddy heater for the tent, but I've been looking at this Kovea Cupid Heater thingy. I have a single burner stove that uses either butane (like this Cupid Heater) or propane, so I'm already used to having a butane cartridge or two with me.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I bought an 8 x 10' ground tent. It should be just the right size for when it is just me.

Browning Canyon Creek 8x10 5 Person Dome Tent

Browning Canyon Creek 8x10 Five Person Tent - The Browning Canyon Creek tent is the perfect hunting base camp and family camping tent on the market.

www.sportsmans.com

I have larger tents, and smaller tents (can't believe I bought another tent). The larger tents are a bit of a pain to set up (especially by one person) because you have to thread poles through the fabric when setting it up. Nice when it is all set up though, especially if I'm with the wife and/or kids. And the smaller tents don't have enough room to allow me to set up my oversized Army-type cot.

This one when you set it up, the tent (under the rain fly) clips to the poles, so it is easier and quicker to set up. The rain fly is actually easy to set-up too. This will be big enough for my cot, a chair, and a little table (and that's about it). It'll be just like home.

I have a trailer with a RTT (really just a double sized tent cot). It is fine for sleeping and on-the-go, but if you're going to be at one place for more than just a day (especially if the weather sucks) you're kinda stuck. At least with this tent, I can sit up in it, stand, and probably cook and eat in it. Seems like I'm going full circle tent-wise. The tent and cot can go inside the trailer.

I have a Mr. Buddy heater for the tent, but I've been looking at this Kovea Cupid Heater thingy. I have a single burner stove that uses either butane (like this Cupid Heater) or propane, so I'm already used to having a butane cartridge or two with me.

I think it may be a good choice and $50 cheaper than a Gazelle. I wonder how long it will last in comparison.

 

[JDGreens]

I didn't know altitude had anything to do with propane. A lot of my adventures will be in higher altitudes as well. I live @ 6000' asl now and have no problems with my propane.

Altitude doesn't, it's that straight butane in very cold temperatures sometimes doesn't flow where the mixture of 75%butane and 25%propane help it flow in those situations . The Mr. Buddy has a low Oxygen sensor that prevents the heater from working above 7000 ft. I wish I had saw the warning in small print on the box that states that.

 

[armyRN]

I think it may be a good choice and $50 cheaper than a Gazelle. I wonder how long it will last in comparison.

We'll see how long it lasts. The reviews were good, and it seems pretty sturdy (I set it up in the garage to practice setting it up, and to put some waterproofing spray on the seams) and it packs up nicely into a reasonably small bundle. I could have gone a little cheaper, but they didn't seem as heavy-duty. Unfortunately, I don't get to go camping/overlanding as much as I'd like - I'm lucky when I can be gone for a long weekend. The last long trip I took (a month long across the country, and another couple weeks going twice up into Canada) I was never in one place for more than one night, so I slept in the RTT on the trailer. So my tents usually last for years.

One thing I liked about this tent is that the tent itself isn't mostly screen like some are. So hopefully it'll stay just a little bit warmer and drier with the rain fly on.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Altitude doesn't, it's that straight butane in very cold temperatures sometimes doesn't flow where the mixture of 75%butane and 25%propane help it flow in those situations . The Mr. Buddy has a low Oxygen sensor that prevents the heater from working above 7000 ft. I wish I had saw the warning in small print on the box that states that.

That takes Mr. Buddy off my wish list. I just told my daughter to buy one and she did. Do the butane bottles have the 75-25% mixture ?

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

We'll see how long it lasts. The reviews were good, and it seems pretty sturdy (I set it up in the garage to practice setting it up, and to put some waterproofing spray on the seams) and it packs up nicely into a reasonably small bundle. I could have gone a little cheaper, but they didn't seem as heavy-duty. Unfortunately, I don't get to go camping/overlanding as much as I'd like - I'm lucky when I can be gone for a long weekend. The last long trip I took (a month long across the country, and another couple weeks going twice up into Canada) I was never in one place for more than one night, so I slept in the RTT on the trailer. So my tents usually last for years.

One thing I liked about this tent is that the tent itself isn't mostly screen like some are. So hopefully it'll stay just a little bit warmer and drier with the rain fly on.

Funny thing, I went to Amazon, e-bay, Sportsman guide and Browning web sites and none of them listed this Canyon Creek tent. The site you sent for Sportsman is the only place I could find that listed it. Strange huh ?

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Altitude doesn't, it's that straight butane in very cold temperatures sometimes doesn't flow where the mixture of 75%butane and 25%propane help it flow in those situations . The Mr. Buddy has a low Oxygen sensor that prevents the heater from working above 7000 ft. I wish I had saw the warning in small print on the box that states that.

Did you contact them and ask about getting a sensor that works above 7000' altitude.

 

[armyRN]

Funny thing, I went to Amazon, e-bay, Sportsman guide and Browning web sites and none of them listed this Canyon Creek tent. The site you sent for Sportsman is the only place I could find that listed it. Strange huh ?

That is strange. I bought it in-store at the Sportsman's Warehouse here locally, so that's where I went to find a link. You'd think you could find it elsewhere.

I think it'll be just right size for when I'm going solo and will be based somewhere for more than a day-or-two, and don't want to sleep in the little RTT on my trailer. The tent is not too big (8' x 10'); not too small; fairly easy to set up; and I can put my oversized cot and camp chair inside it and still have a little bit of room left over. It just doesn't have that cool "Overlander" look that we all crave.

On my last trip up to Canada, I got stuck in Ft Nelson for a few days (needed a rear driveshaft U-Joint, and the only parts store didn't open till Monday morning, and I got in to town Friday evening just after they closed). It was August, but rain and snow was predicted (and it did - cold and wet). So I had to make-due with what I had. Fortunately I had one of those Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarps that I hadn't even tried out yet, but I used it to make my long weekend bearable. Also had a cheap canopy mounted on the Jeep's roof that I could sit under. But that experience made me miss having a tent for when I'm parked somewhere for more than just a night or two.

 

[Overland Ewack]

The last thing i bought for my Tacoma was a Bed Rack. It was made by RCI and i can say it looks and feels very durable. The next thing i plan to buy is a roof top tent.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

That is strange. I bought it in-store at the Sportsman's Warehouse here locally, so that's where I went to find a link. You'd think you could find it elsewhere.

I think it'll be just right size for when I'm going solo and will be based somewhere for more than a day-or-two, and don't want to sleep in the little RTT on my trailer. The tent is not too big (8' x 10'); not too small; fairly easy to set up; and I can put my oversized cot and camp chair inside it and still have a little bit of room left over. It just doesn't have that cool "Overlander" look that we all crave.

On my last trip up to Canada, I got stuck in Ft Nelson for a few days (needed a rear driveshaft U-Joint, and the only parts store didn't open till Monday morning, and I got in to town Friday evening just after they closed). It was August, but rain and snow was predicted (and it did - cold and wet). So I had to make-due with what I had. Fortunately I had one of those Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarps that I hadn't even tried out yet, but I used it to make my long weekend bearable. Also had a cheap canopy mounted on the Jeep's roof that I could sit under. But that experience made me miss having a tent for when I'm parked somewhere for more than just a night or two.
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I agree with your solution. You have confirmed my reasoning for a tent of that size and for wanting a tent for my creature comforts as well. I'll add a potty to my furniture even though I have a pop up potty room I use for day time use. The set up I am talking about is for disbursed camping which is my favorite adventure.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

That is strange. I bought it in-store at the Sportsman's Warehouse here locally, so that's where I went to find a link. You'd think you could find it elsewhere.

I think it'll be just right size for when I'm going solo and will be based somewhere for more than a day-or-two, and don't want to sleep in the little RTT on my trailer. The tent is not too big (8' x 10'); not too small; fairly easy to set up; and I can put my oversized cot and camp chair inside it and still have a little bit of room left over. It just doesn't have that cool "Overlander" look that we all crave.

On my last trip up to Canada, I got stuck in Ft Nelson for a few days (needed a rear driveshaft U-Joint, and the only parts store didn't open till Monday morning, and I got in to town Friday evening just after they closed). It was August, but rain and snow was predicted (and it did - cold and wet). So I had to make-due with what I had. Fortunately I had one of those Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarps that I hadn't even tried out yet, but I used it to make my long weekend bearable. Also had a cheap canopy mounted on the Jeep's roof that I could sit under. But that experience made me miss having a tent for when I'm parked somewhere for more than just a night or two.
View attachment 140494View attachment 140495

Will you be going to PNW Rally in June 18-21 ? They have set aside 20x20 parking spots for OB members.

 

[armyRN]

Will you be going to PNW Rally in June 18-21 ? They have set aside 20x20 parking spots for OB members.

I've actually gone to the PNW Rally the last two summers. Had a blast both times. This last time I took my wife - she did not have as good a time (although on one day she went into Leavenworth for the day, so it kinda made up for it). I brought one of my larger tents this second time and put a tall inflatable mattress in it and set a canopy up outside the tent, but she complained of being cold on the mattress (it was chilly out), and the freeze dried meal she had for dinner the first night didn't set well with her.

So if I go again this year (I'd like to if I can coordinate it with work), it will be instead to the one in BC Canada that is either the weekend before or after the PNW event. Just to go somewhere different - I'm sure the vendors are 90% going to be the same at each one. Then maybe the next year do the one in Colorado as part of a larger trip. We'll see.

And one nice thing (or interesting thing) about that Browning 8x10' Browning tent we talked about earlier, is there are two doors on it; one on each long side.

 

[JDGreens]

Did you contact them and ask about getting a sensor that works above 7000' altitude.

I don't think they would ever risk a lawsuit due to death. The nice thing about the Mr buddy heater is that safety switch, although I wouldn't rely solely rely on it I would always use a Carbon monoxide monitor. The only thing is the air is so thin above 7,000 feet that switch is already shutting things down. I got the idea heater today. Looks and feels very solid. The main draw back is there is no directions in English so I have searched out info from reviews. They state that there is no safety except that the gas supply will shut down in the event the flame goes out. Just waiting for my fuel canisters to arrive can't wait to test it out.

If this little heater work the way I think it will, Mr buddy heater will become garage sale fodder. Cause it will work well in other states just not in the Rocky mnt states.

 

[JDGreens]

I've actually gone to the PNW Rally the last two summers. Had a blast both times. This last time I took my wife - she did not have as good a time (although on one day she went into Leavenworth for the day, so it kinda made up for it). I brought one of my larger tents this second time and put a tall inflatable mattress in it and set a canopy up outside the tent, but she complained of being cold on the mattress (it was chilly out), and the freeze dried meal she had for dinner the first night didn't set well with her.

So if I go again this year (I'd like to if I can coordinate it with work), it will be instead to the one in BC Canada that is either the weekend before or after the PNW event. Just to go somewhere different - I'm sure the vendors are 90% going to be the same at each one. Then maybe the next year do the one in Colorado as part of a larger trip. We'll see.

View attachment 140558

Very nice set-up we have the same ozark tent. Looks so familiar.

 

[armyRN]

Very nice set-up we have the same ozark tent. Looks so familiar.

Yup. It is a 10x13' tent. I've had it at least 10 years, and it has served me well all across the country and up into Canada and Alaska (picture below is from Alaska about 10 years ago). Never leaked... can't say anything bad about it when in use. I've got my money's worth out of it. Still have it, and I'm sure I'll be using it again down the road when it isn't just me going. It is a nice size for two people (two large cots, or a queen-sized inflatable mattress).

However, it is a bit of a pain to set-up - you really need two people or you'll be cursing before you're done. You've got to lay the long fiberglass tent poles on the ground starting at one corner, and thread the poles through the fabric tunnels along the corner seams to the other corner (you have to do both poles before you go to lift). And the metal connections between the sections of fiberglass poles get stuck so you have to crawl on the flattened tent to unstuck them And then when that's done you need two people (one on each end) to lift the ends of the poles up and place them in the metal spikes. But once up, there's enough space for two big-boy cots and a folding fabric topped table between the two cots. And you can put your baggage under the cots, so it makes for a nice set-up. Taking it down is also a pain trying to get the fiberglass poles out of the fabric tunnels (again; the metal connections will get caught and you have to relieve them).

So years ago when I discovered tents that clipped to the poles vs. having to thread the poles through the fabric tunnels, I told myself my next tent would be all clips. The one I just bought and mentioned in a previous post (8x10' by Browning) is all clips. So word-to-the-wise when looking to buy a tent; find out if you have to thread the poles through fabric tunnels, or does the tent attach to the poles with clips. Clips are so much easier - see second picture (shown without rain fly). They don't teach you this stuff in school - you sometimes have to learn it the hard way like I did.

 

[JDGreens]

Yup. It is a 10x13' tent. I've had it at least 10 years, and it has served me well all across the country and up into Canada and Alaska (picture below is from Alaska about 10 years ago). Never leaked... can't say anything bad about it when in use. I've got my money's worth out of it. Still have it, and I'm sure I'll be using it again down the road when it isn't just me going. It is a nice size for two people (two large cots, or a queen-sized inflatable mattress).

However, it is a bit of a pain to set-up - you really need two people or you'll be cursing before you're done. You've got to lay the long fiberglass tent poles on the ground starting at one corner, and thread the poles through the fabric tunnels along the corner seams to the other corner (you have to do both poles before you go to lift). And the metal connections between the sections of fiberglass poles get stuck so you have to crawl on the flattened tent to unstuck them And then when that's done you need two people (one on each end) to lift the ends of the poles up and place them in the metal spikes. But once up, there's enough space for two big-boy cots and a folding fabric topped table between the two cots. And you can put your baggage under the cots, so it makes for a nice set-up. Taking it down is also a pain trying to get the fiberglass poles out of the fabric tunnels (again; the metal connections will get caught and you have to relieve them).

So years ago when I discovered tents that clipped to the poles vs. having to thread the poles through the fabric tunnels, I told myself my next tent would be all clips. The one I just bought and mentioned in a previous post (8x10' by Browning) is all clips. So word-to-the-wise when looking to buy a tent; find out if you have to thread the poles through fabric tunnels, or does the tent attach to the poles with clips. Clips are so much easier.

View attachment 140564

Yeah the tent is a PITA for sure. But it's paid for and the only time we will need it is when we are staying put. My wife and I are very budget minded, so even though I would love a Gazzel tent we will wait. The Ozark tent has been all we need until it's destroyed from use. When we overland we don't use a tent anyways.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I've actually gone to the PNW Rally the last two summers. Had a blast both times. This last time I took my wife - she did not have as good a time (although on one day she went into Leavenworth for the day, so it kinda made up for it). I brought one of my larger tents this second time and put a tall inflatable mattress in it and set a canopy up outside the tent, but she complained of being cold on the mattress (it was chilly out), and the freeze dried meal she had for dinner the first night didn't set well with her.

So if I go again this year (I'd like to if I can coordinate it with work), it will be instead to the one in BC Canada that is either the weekend before or after the PNW event. Just to go somewhere different - I'm sure the vendors are 90% going to be the same at each one. Then maybe the next year do the one in Colorado as part of a larger trip. We'll see.

And one nice thing (or interesting thing) about that Browning 8x10' Browning tent we talked about earlier, is there are two doors on it; one on each long side.

View attachment 140558

I don't like the air mattress either. There must be some way to eliminate the cold from them with an insulated blanket or battery powered heat blanket.
I will use a cot which doubles as a couch in the day time and plenty of seating area.
I like your set up just fine, I hope mine can be as comfortable. LOL when I went hunting or camping many years ago, I had to check my wife in to a nice Motel with swimming pool and restaurant. She didn't care if I was gone a month, she liked her comforts and I didn't have to listen to complaints.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I don't think they would ever risk a lawsuit due to death. The nice thing about the Mr buddy heater is that safety switch, although I wouldn't rely solely rely on it I would always use a Carbon monoxide monitor. The only thing is the air is so thin above 7,000 feet that switch is already shutting things down. I got the idea heater today. Looks and feels very solid. The main draw back is there is no directions in English so I have searched out info from reviews. They state that there is no safety except that the gas supply will shut down in the event the flame goes out. Just waiting for my fuel canisters to arrive can't wait to test it out.

If this little heater work the way I think it will, Mr buddy heater will become garage sale fodder. Cause it will work well in other states just not in the Rocky mnt states.

Keep us posted. This is important info for us high altitude guys.