Heater Choices for van - Need your opinion, please

[Reno]

Outfitting the Savana for it's first trip and need your knowledge helping me pick a suitable heater.<br>The choices:<br><br>Coleman 1500 BTU, 14 hours on 1lb tank, $40+ on ebay<br><br>Mr Heater Big Buddy, 18000BTU, $100+ Amazon.com<br><br>Mr Heater Buddy, 4000-9000 BTU, $90 Free Shipping, Amazon<br><br>Mr Buddy 3800 BTU $65 Amazon<br><br>Some Thoughts:<br>Is 1500 BTU enough to heat a van?&nbsp; I love the idea of 14 hours on a 1LB tank<br>Big Buddy runs as low as 4000 BTU and holds TWO tanks<br>Mr Heater Buddy only holds only one tank<br><br>Overnight temps will be 20 to 35 degrees.<br><br>Which do you recommend?<br><br>Next: Best way to make the fold down sofa a comfortable bed!<br><br>Thanks, y'all... I love this place!

 

[peacetara]

Everyone here pretty much recommends the "Portable Buddy" by Mr. Heater hooked to a refillable tank (i.e. not the 1lb green bottles).&nbsp; Or for long runs and more money, the Olympic catalytic heater.<br><br>I have 72 sq ft van (12' long, 6' wide, 4' tall), and a "Portable Buddy" It heats the whole place up in &lt;10 minutes on high.&nbsp; I can't leave it on for very long, I have to turn it off, and then wait a while and then turn it back on again. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>When I was in Montana with it, down to 0 degrees F (the coldest night while I was there), I had a window cracked, and I turned that thing on, and it did a really good job of keeping my van warm.&nbsp; Warm enough that I wanted a t-shirt inside the van!<br><br>In the mountains (high elevation), or without a window cracked for ventilation right near the heater, it gets fussy, and goes out a lot.&nbsp; It's really annoying when that happens.<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara<br><br><br>

 

[gp]

Reno, I tried the 1500 btu coleman sport cat in my van, and at 35 degrees, it was very cold&nbsp;still. &nbsp;I took it back and now use the 3000 btu black cat catalytic heater which heats the van very well. The catalytic heaters do not put out co2, but they do deplete oxygen so you have to leave a vent cracked somewhere. Also, the catalytic heaters do not create as much moisture as do those where you can see the flame. A 1 lb bottle of propane lasts about 7-8 hours on high. You do have to place the heater on the floor. If you place it on a counter top, the ceiling gets too hot.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Actually, they DO put out some CO2.. but not very much and it only becomes a problem when there's inadequate ventilation. There was an earlier post about this, and here's the study quoted: &nbsp; http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/os/co03.pdf&nbsp;

 

[Les H]

I personally have 2 of the regular Mr Buddy heaters, one in my bus and one in my 14' travel trailer. Both are connected to 20 lb tanks in one way or another. Last week my always cold wife and I camped for 4 days in the mountains of N Georgia, with the overnight temps in the low-mid 20's. On low, the camper stayed around 55 degrees and we used about 1/3 of a tank. ( at $20 a fill for a tank exchange , thats $6.50 for the four nights, or about $1.35 a night, plus we used he stove too) FAR more economical than the 1lb throwaways. Propane is a "wet" heat , so Co2 or Co notwithstanding,venting a little with moisture buildup.

 

[akrvbob]

I also vote for the Mr. Buddy. But do NOT recommend the Big Buddy, 18,000 BTU) much too big for a van!

 

[Reno]

I also vote for the Mr. Buddy. But do NOT recommend the Big Buddy, 18,000 BTU) much too big for a van!

<br><br>Good advise, Bob. Mr Buddy portable it is, then. The hose and big tank will come later.<br><br>PS: Just read your book, Bob... sorry to make you repeat yourself!

 

[longjohn]

Not sure if it's a nationwide thing but&nbsp;a Walmart&nbsp;I visited yesterday has the portable buddy heater on sale for $79, regularly $89.

 

[Les H]

if you can sit tight for a bit, Tractor Supply stores will put them on clearance sale in a month and a half or so. Mine for the bus cost me $59.99 last year

 

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hey Reno<br><br>If you get free hot water from the camp place , &nbsp;you can collect 20 gallons at 120 deg in some 5 gallon Jerry cans or home depot buckets &nbsp;- it will also keep you snug as a bug in a rug. Need more heat use more hot water.<br><br>or 10 gallons at 180 works the same effect.