Can I safely do this?

[AnnieSantiago]

Today I drove all the way to Parker from Quartzsite to buy a 5 gallon propane tank because I couldn’t find one in Quartzsite. I also bought a 5 foot hose which I thought would be plenty big. Note to self: read the directions before you go shopping. While I was hooking up my nice new propane tank to my Mr. buddy I saw the print that says do not ruin this heater with the propane tank inside a vehicle. In other words,  The propane tank has to sit outside and the Mr. Buddy sits inside. Well I just don’t see how that can work? The side vent windows aren’t big enough to run the hose through. The sliding door won’t allow it. And I guess if I want to read it over the top of the window and down I’d have to have a 12 foot long hose. And it would cost me almost as much gas to go back to Parker is it wood for another hose. So my question is do you guys think it’s safe for me to run this little Mr. buddy heater inside my van with the 5 gallon propane tank also inside?????

 

[John61CT]

Yes, less safe but done all the time.

I'm puzzled by your wording, could you quote (or link to) their wording?

Make sure to do proper leak testing with soapy water pretty frequently.

Crack windows, never use while sleeping, alarms etc.

If you didn't buy their special hose internally coated with teflon, next trip be sure to pick up their little $8 filter.

 

[Almost There]

I do all the time! Some people won't travel with a propane tank inside their vehicle but I do that too!

I have one of the 10' hoses so that the tank sits in the passenger foot well (my passenger seat is on a swivel base) and the heater sits in my living area.

Do NOT forget to turn off the heater before going to bed and don't forget to close the valve on the tank before you drive.

BTW, Ace Hardware in Blythe usually has all of the propane and Mr. Buddy filters that you need. No need to drive all the way to Parker unless you also need a WalMart and/or a trip to the casino...

 

[Jim Plow]

No worries about running a big or little buddy off a propane tank in you van.

      I have had my 10lb tank sitting where my passenger seat used to be for a couple years now.
There is a hose from it to my big buddy which is a foot or so away.  
I am happy enough with this set up I plan to tee off the tank this year and run a hose to my propane 2 burner stove also.
      The little green bottles cost to much and don't last long in a heater.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Thanks everyone, this really helps

 

[Reno]

Today I drove all the way to Parker from Quartzsite to buy a 5 gallon propane tank because I couldn’t find one in Quartzsite. I also bought a 5 foot hose which I thought would be plenty big. Note to self: read the directions before you go shopping. While I was hooking up my nice new propane tank to my Mr. buddy I saw the print that says do not ruin this heater with the propane tank inside a vehicle. In other words,  The propane tank has to sit outside and the Mr. Buddy sits inside. Well I just don’t see how that can work? The side vent windows aren’t big enough to run the hose through. The sliding door won’t allow it. And I guess if I want to read it over the top of the window and down I’d have to have a 12 foot long hose. And it would cost me almost as much gas to go back to Parker is it wood for another hose. So my question is do you guys think it’s safe for me to run this little Mr. buddy heater inside my van with the 5 gallon propane tank also inside?????

Where did you find the 5 gallon tank in Parker?

 

[John61CT]

The quote can be left out, or should be trimmed very short.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Good morning! This heater may be used in a recreational enclosure or temporary construction work in closure with a remote refillable propane cylinder ONLY when the cylinder is located outdoors. NEVER bring a refillable propane cylinder indoors. A fire or explosion can occur causing property damage, serious injury or death

 

[Weight]

Yes. Many of us keep a propane bottle inside the vehicle. But, it is dangerous, it is not 'no worry'.

 

[John61CT]

The disposable 1# coleman style should not even be refilled for #vanlife use. Way too dangerous, and illegal to carry across state lines.

There are proper bottles of that size designed to be refilled, whole kit, not expensive. Manchester's is better than Flame King.

Or, of course adapters let you go from a regular BBQ bottle's QCC1/ACME valve to the #1-20 connector.

 

[Stanvan]

The exposure to CO is far more dangerous than the bottle being inside the vehicle. A catalytic heater is does not produce CO, but it does consume oxygen (the propane does as well).

 

[Weight]

Catalytic propane will produce CO in a low oxygen atmosphere. ANY flame produces CO in the right conditions!

 

[John61CT]

Yes, just less, not none.

And sh1t goes wrong.

If burning inside the living space, always crack windows, always maintain alarms, never while sleeping.

Regularly check hoses for cracks and for leaks at connections.

Bottle inside can vent lpg when it gets hot. Best in a sealed box vented out the bottom to outside.

That's the law in more-developed countries, for good reason.

 

[Jim Plow]

Fortunately Ehrenberg is not a developed country.
It's just a Flying J and a laundry with great showers.

So we are, ok!

Oh!  And home to the "pre RTR".

 

[Stanvan]

Science disagrees. There are no oxides produced in the catalytic process. CO only occurs when actual flame is present(during start up). Once the flame is out, no CO.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Can it be done safely? Yep.

Can YOU do it safely?  Well we sure hope so.

Since the Mr Buddy is 4000 BTU on low, and it will heat that van up in 5 minutes, and will run you out of there in 10 minutes you won't be running that heater for very long anyway.

Just be sure to check for leaks after you hook things up, and, close the valve on the tank every time you shut down the heater.

 

[Weight]

The catalytic heaters are not science labs. They are burning hydrocarbons. If there is not enough oxygen for complete combustion, carbon monoxide is produced. Then the pilot flame gets short and the gas valve closes, maybe before there is too much CO. Why do so many on this forum post such dangerous advice? Beware kiddies.

 

[John61CT]

> Science disagrees

Get a CO detector, run in a sealed up space - you stay out - and see for yourself.

That is real science, not accepting marketing bs pseudo science.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Well, just for the record I have a CO2 alarm installed near the floor in the van. I also use the buddy heater every morning in five minute increments as needed and as someone said five minutes is all you need. I never run it at night because I like sleeping in a cold room, having grown up on a farm and lived in a cold farmhouse.

My concern is more about whether or not it’s safe to have the large propane container, 5 gallon, in the van. It’s obviously in the van when I’m driving, and I’m wondering if that is even more Of a safety issue than having it in the van while I’m running Mr. buddy.

I don’t want people to start fighting over what’s right and what’s wrong. I really just like to know if anybody has their 5 gallon propane tank inside their van while running Mr. buddy, how long they’ve been doing it, and what things I need to do to be sure it remains safe.

If people are running a hose from a large tank into the van for the Mr. buddy I’d appreciate instructions on set up. Is there some reason I do need the filter. Is there some reason I do need a special hose?

Thanks.

I don’t want to start a fight here

 

[John61CT]

Problem is there is no objective consensus on these questions, some people are more cautious than others, tolerate more or less risk. So disagreement is inevitable, educate yourself from it, maybe learn to judge who to listen to, but make up your own mind.

I had a close family member die from CO (is carbon monoxide not CO2) poisoning in a tent, and have kids, so am on the more cautious side.