Official Test Results: Five Ways to Heat a Tent
- Thread starter MattJ
- Start date
MattJ
Adventurer
Yes - the secret to making the Propex system work is to 1) have it very close to the tent, and 2) use well-insulated hoses for both intake and output.
mep1811
Gentleman Adventurer
Some slight progress on the Mr. Heater Buddy set up while I wait for Propex parts to arrive. I bought at 12v fan with a directional vent that will blow the heat from the Buddy away from the ceiling directly above. I need to figure out a simple quick-mount bracket for it. Or I might just use zip ties. I have a 12v outlet hub with a 25-ft cord that powers the LED light strips and other accessories.
Could you post up a link to that heater ? Thanks
chet6.7
Explorer
The "Mr.Heater Buddy"? If so,just google it,they are sold in many places,hardware stores,Amazon,Wal-Mart,ect.
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If you have a 2000 W generator these work great. They are not you run of the mill space heaters. Designed as work tent heaters in Finland they will heat a RTT and annex really fast. Small and simple. I've had mine for about 3 years now. This is a pretty good price on them also. https://www.allsunsolarproducts.com/pae1elsphe.html
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I was/am considering a similar build. Mine would be to heat the inside of my tow/sleeping truck - a 2003 Yukon XL - but should work in a RTT/tent as well. I have a portable hot water/shower rig built from an on-demand propane water heater and an on-demand water pump. I was thinking to just add a way to route the hot water through an exchanger with a fan. Add a thermostat to turn the pump on & off (which will in turn turn the heater on/off and it should work. Ideally a permanent mount/bulkhead fitting path for the water to get in/out of the truck but a simple panel to go into a partially lowered window would work.
MattJ
Adventurer
Interesting - how do you use it? Can you post some pictures? Do you run it with a separate generator and place the unit inside a roof-top tent?
Yes..I run it off my 2000W gen...I just run an extension cord into the annex and it sits on the floor in a corner. The heat rises into the main tent. I keep the gen pretty much for the heater alone. All my other electric power is 12V. It gets used around the house also..very good at heating small rooms. I've never taken pics of it inside the tent. I have used it in the teens and it keeps the whole tent in the mid 60's. In the 30's you have to use the thermostat. I have never camped with it in single digits. I have a 10x10 popup also with the zip on walls and during the day in bad weather it heats up that space also and makes cooking more comfortable. Its small and portable so moving it around is easy.
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Why is this heater any different/better than a cheapie Holmes ceramic heater?
MattJ
Adventurer
Here you go. Haven't tested it with the heater yet, but I did plug it in. It seemed quiet and plenty strong enough for my purpose (pushing the heat down, away from the ceiling).
The fan circulates more air. I have one of those also and it does not distribute as much heat. What is strange is the coil does not glow red and it does not feel that hot but the temp inside wherever you use it comes down and pretty fast.
MattJ
Adventurer
I was very excited to receive my final shipment of components today so I could build my Propex extension hose! Well, after two hours of sweat, blisters, cuts and profane language, I gave up. The 60mm inner ducting will not work with the 2.5" thermoplastic tubing. And like an idiot, I cut the tubing apart to try and jam the ducting into it as separate sections. So now I can't return the 2.5" tubing. I plan to purchase some 3" tubing and try again. At this point, I'm just hoping to get my Propex heating system completed . . . by summer.
