Heater and a Tent
- Thread starter Big Daddy Chia
- Start date
I just want to bring this tread back for more comments. I am heading to Pismo camping tomorrow with my 2 kids. I will bring my Coleman propane catalytic heater just in case the weather gets cold at night.
I found this tread by using "Search" and think it's worth to bring it back.
I found this tread by using "Search" and think it's worth to bring it back.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:smileeek: Kinda glad you did bring it back up
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We have the little propane htr also, but never let it run late into the sleep mode, BUT
Almost all tents have a net opening top, which is great during the summer (you know heat rises)
Well, for that same physics principle, when it starts getting cold at night, you should attach the tent rain fly to COVER AT LEAST THE TOP and probably 3 of the four netted windows
This alone, will help trap BODY heat inside the tent and make it much more comfy, works for us VERY WELL also comfy head caps
:safari-rig: :camping: JIMBO
net4n6 said:
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We have the little propane htr also, but never let it run late into the sleep mode, BUT
Almost all tents have a net opening top, which is great during the summer (you know heat rises)
Well, for that same physics principle, when it starts getting cold at night, you should attach the tent rain fly to COVER AT LEAST THE TOP and probably 3 of the four netted windows
This alone, will help trap BODY heat inside the tent and make it much more comfy, works for us VERY WELL also comfy head caps
:safari-rig: :camping: JIMBO
Big Daddy Chia
Adventurer
I ended up buying a coleman propane catalytic heater. We used it all night with no problems. While it didnt keep the tempers super toasty in out tent when the propane ran out in the middle of the night it got real cold real quick.
7wt
Expedition Leader
I did this route a long time ago and I still have the hole in my sleeping bag to prove it. In my sleep I pushed my bag against the Catalyst and it melted about a 10" hole through the shell of my bag. The smell of melting insulation woke me up. No telling how many brain cells were ruined that night.Big Daddy Chia said:
TheGillz
Explorer
We use the Buddy Heater, I find one or two large rocks to prop it up on so that its above foot level and so it doesn't heat the tent floor up too hot. It has an emergency shut off if the CO2 levels get too high or if its tipped at an angle, been happy with it so far.
Just be careful!
Just be careful!
Pad
Adventurer
They sell 12v. electric blankets now too.
My mom got me a couple for x-mas last year (how'd she know the heater doesn't work in my truck).
Anyways I've used them with a batt. jumper pack and laid them under me while camping in colder months.
They have a 30/45 min timer so you dont over due it. Used one for 5-nights on the same charge and still had power.
Ran it a couple times before sleep and once in the morning sure helps take the morning edge off.
You could even make your own jumper pack with a small deep cycle batt. to get more run time.
Pad
My mom got me a couple for x-mas last year (how'd she know the heater doesn't work in my truck).
Anyways I've used them with a batt. jumper pack and laid them under me while camping in colder months.
They have a 30/45 min timer so you dont over due it. Used one for 5-nights on the same charge and still had power.
Ran it a couple times before sleep and once in the morning sure helps take the morning edge off.
You could even make your own jumper pack with a small deep cycle batt. to get more run time.
Pad
fetus
Observer
I bought one of the Coleman propane heaters, their biggest model. I used it on a trip to Yosemite last spring. The tent was a Eureka 1210 dome. I also brought a carbon monoxide detector with me. The temps dipped to around 38 or so at night and my better half, she likes to complain about being cold. For a tent our size, you would need two heaters. It didn't really make much of a difference with just one.
The heater only has two settings. Off and On. No thermostat to control the heat. You add 4 D cell batteries to power the fan. Then a small propane tank that burns out in 6 hours. When you first turn it on, a small fireball erupts from the face of it. Then it was hard to tell if it was on or not.
I couldn't sleep thinking I would kick it with my sleeping bag and start a small fire in the tent.
I returned it when I got home from the trip.
The heater only has two settings. Off and On. No thermostat to control the heat. You add 4 D cell batteries to power the fan. Then a small propane tank that burns out in 6 hours. When you first turn it on, a small fireball erupts from the face of it. Then it was hard to tell if it was on or not.
I couldn't sleep thinking I would kick it with my sleeping bag and start a small fire in the tent.
I returned it when I got home from the trip.
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
TheGillz said:
Still using our Buddy too. Works great to burn the cold off. We usually use it 20-30 minute before we crawl into bed and then again right when we wake up before we crawl out of our bags. Winter camping only.
cjmitchell5
Adventurer
Pad said:
Actually Cabelas sells one too. I just saw it in the catalogue tonight. I think it was $29. I've been pretty pleased with the quality of everything from Cabelas so far.
GCRad1
Adventurer
I like the idea and or thought of maybe using in early in the morning to knock the chill off, but I too have kids and would worry about having this thing running at night.
With the great options for sleeping bags today, the best thing is having the right sleeping bag and making sure it is in the temp range of what you expect to camp in. Not trying to sway you away from your direction, but just work it through before you get there. I would not have "safe-space" for this in my tent, so you may want to think about setting up your tent and just looking at the space available.
I took my girls up to Big Bear, CA last weekend, Oct 4-5th and we had half the night with rain and then it got CHILLY!!! I think it dipped down to 30-degree's plus we had frost on the ground in the morning. But, in the bags, it's all warm! Again, your situation is a bit different, but REI rents all types of sleeping bags for various weather conditions.
Big Bear Camping in the ADV80 - Oct 4-5th, 2008
With the great options for sleeping bags today, the best thing is having the right sleeping bag and making sure it is in the temp range of what you expect to camp in. Not trying to sway you away from your direction, but just work it through before you get there. I would not have "safe-space" for this in my tent, so you may want to think about setting up your tent and just looking at the space available.
I took my girls up to Big Bear, CA last weekend, Oct 4-5th and we had half the night with rain and then it got CHILLY!!! I think it dipped down to 30-degree's plus we had frost on the ground in the morning. But, in the bags, it's all warm! Again, your situation is a bit different, but REI rents all types of sleeping bags for various weather conditions.
Big Bear Camping in the ADV80 - Oct 4-5th, 2008
lx450landcruiser
Explorer
boknows said:Trying mine out this weekend, mounted it on center cross bar on my EA 1800 to keep away from ground and tent walls. Will only be using at night and in morning and am going to buy a CO2 detector after reading this thread.
can you run that upside down like that? its propane right? so doesnt it run off the gas? and in your case youd be getting liquid? Please let us know how that turns out as these are now at costco.