Heaters for Vans

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today is payday! &nbsp;Wahoo! &nbsp;I'm going to order a small heater for my van. &nbsp;I've heard a lot of good things about Mr. Buddy. &nbsp;I pulled it up through this site's Store, and it showed several Mr. Buddy heaters. &nbsp;I saw 2 small portable heaters, and many large ones. &nbsp;Which one would you recommend for a conversion van? &nbsp;...For those of you who have one, which one would you suggest?</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks, &nbsp;Katie</span></font></div>

 

[twokniveskatie]

i have the mr. buddy portable heater, specifically the "tough buddy" style that is exclusive to lowe's. i just bought the newer version which is one handed lighting and has a folding handle. i paid $79 (full price) but like the idea that if i have a problem, i can take it to any lowe's to exchange. this newest version is also a little more compact htan the old one i had.<div><br></div><div>on e thing i love about mine, is that in the van, running just the pilot light will take of the chill enough for me.</div>

 

[KatieinKansas]

Does it run on propane?<div><br></div>

 

[twokniveskatie]

<b>yep, 1# green bottles and a larger 20# tank with the hose and filter connector. there is also a small (5#?) bulk tank i think about getting....</b>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you, Katie! &nbsp;I need those specific instructions about what I need... &nbsp;(hose, filter connector, etc. &nbsp; ...I'm a rank beginner. &nbsp;...And I have a Lowe's less than a mile away.</span></font>

 

[wheelsoffreedom1776]

I heat with a Mr.Heater buddy series (MH9B). Items to get with it are carbon monoxide detector with digital readout (I use a Kidde brand from walmart), the little silver inline filter, the extension hose, and at least a 20lb lp bottle. If your van doesn't have a roof vent, I'd highly suggest one. With the roof vent open slightly some heat will go out creating a draw from a lower window creating fresh air supply. If your local supplier doesn't carry the green hard extension hose and your stuck with the standard black one.......you must not leave lp tank valve open while heater not in use as the standard black hose will release an oily substance (plasticiser from hose rubber) into your heater and make things interesting if pressure is left on it. The Mr.Heater inline fuel gauge is another great item to pick up so you know at a glance if your heater will run out of fuel before morning. During the last winter storm the temperature got as cold as -20 degrees and I stayed toasty warm with just my buddy heater. &nbsp;

 

[akrvbob]

There are now 3 sizes of the Mr Buddy Portable Heater. The smallest screws directly onto the green propane bottles and is about 4000 btu. The middle one has two heat settings of 4000 and 9000 btu's. The big one has two settings, 9000 and 18,000 btu's. You want the middle size. The small one won't let you use a bulk bottle, and the big one is much to hot for a small space like a van. My boss heats his 35 foot 5th wheel with the big one with no problem. Bob<br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are they made to be left on all night? &nbsp;</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...And, no, I don't have a roof vent.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is it safe to use it without a roof vent?</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div>

 

[oldnjung]

Hi KnK! I recently bought the two setting Mr. Buddy Heater. It puts out a LOT of heat. Walmart has the small propane canisters. . .2 for $5.75. They are 5.75 EACH at Target. Costco may be cheaper than either. On High setting one canister lasted only an hour or so. But had to turn it off in our van after about 5 minutes. Too hot!&nbsp; 15 minutes, at the most, to heat a van or small trailer in 0 degrees depending on the insulation. It has a handle, and "no battery necessary spark-pilot-light-starter". Pretty cool.<br>jb<br>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks so much, Katie, Wheels, Bob, JB, and one of the Drifters&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif"></span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You're making this so much easier for me to find what I need.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Katie</span></font></div>

 

[twokniveskatie]

<div><br></div><div>If your local supplier doesn't carry the green hard extension hose and your stuck with the standard black one.......you must not leave lp tank valve open while heater not in use as the standard black hose will release an oily substance (plasticiser from hose rubber) into your heater and make things interesting if pressure is left on it.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;

</div><div><br></div><div>yikes! i'm glad to find this out. i have been using the black hose with the silver inline filter, and never turn the tank off. &nbsp;what will happen? am i ruining my new heater as we speak????</div><div><br></div><div>i've never seen the green hoses. i'll have to start searching.</div><div><br></div><div>i understand there is a version of the connector hose that doesn't need an inline filter. haven't found one yet.</div>

 

[Mouldy]

I might be going this route also if I find out my furnace doesn't work in my trailer. I've had one for ice fishing for years now and I found out that it doesn't head a 8x12 fishhouse all that well at 9000btu. Of course that's when it was below zero. <br>Sorry to change the subject slightly but has anyone heard of the <a target="_blank" href="http://ventedcatheater.com/2.html">Cat Vented Heater</a>, good bad or otherwise? Not sure where I first saw it, could have very well been this site.... Seems to me as if it would be real nice. Too bad it runs about 500 bones. <br><br>

 

[wheelsoffreedom1776]

If your van is reasonably air tight, even when the buddy heater is properly adjusted you will reach levels of 20-30ppm or higher of carbon monoxide. When they say it is rated as indoor safe or approved for heating enclosures, they made the assumption that said enclosure would have air leaks and drafts to negate the minimal carbon monoxide produced by the catalytic process. I have found opening roof vent and a lower window reduces this to average 0-10ppm. For referance a properly adjusted indoor furnace may have as much as 15ppm in the direct vicinity of it. Buy a digital carbon monoxide meter and figure out just how airtight your vehicle is, and what venting you must maintain at all times. Another note of interest is the control valve setting versus catalytic efficiency. The catalyst element must be glowing all the way to the edges with no flame or blue visible other than pilot light. With the inline filter installed and when lp tank cold, on the low setting you can experience incomplete catalytic reaction resulting in large amounts of carbon monoxide being released. (30-40 ppm in my camper). Upon experimenting with control knob settings i determined by watching the catalyst element and the digital carbon monioxide meter and established a safe setting of thermostat that would create complete catalytic conversion of the lp. I have learned to set the control valve by watching the element and listening to the heater, and also verify my setting by the digital meter. I hope this helps anyone considering the buddy heater or already using one. Stay warm and be safe.

 

[Les H]

I have the "big buddy" 4/9000 heater in my 14' travel trailer, it is connected to the twin 20# tanks via the existing furnace line and black hose kit from ace hardware.. It is "adequate"
At 20 ish degrees, but my tt is 43 yrs old , and has the original 1/2" fiberglass insulation, about r factor 1.5 . On open vent or window is a must, even with the low oxygen shutoff feature, because propane puts out a " wet" heat, that is , there is a lot of condensation. An airflow will help cut down on the wetness inside your van. Without starting a huge fight, I HAVE left it running all night , quite often. As I said, my trailer is about as airtight as a colander, and 28 degrees inside beats 10 or 5 outside, and it does just fine when the temps outside are 25-30 or above.
Les

 

[akrvbob]

The key to safety with every fuel burning device is to follow the owners manual 100%. It will tell you exactly how much ventilation you need and where. I will also tell you exactly how much clearance you need all around the heater. FOLLOW ITS INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY AND YOU WILL BE SAFE. Fail to follow the instructions, and you are at risk. Bob<br>

 

[mountaintramp]

i just took my new Buddy Heater&nbsp; out for a week of camping. it works really good for heating a small 15 foot trailer, maybe too good. one night i had it on for about an hour or so and the ceiling of the trailer became almost too hot to touch, above the heater. <br><br>the&nbsp; whole heater got really hot, the bottle was sweating, and worst of all, and very weird was the rotory on/off switch became non-functional!! it was stuck on HI and wouldn't budge. i had to put the heater outside and let it run out of propane. in the morning the switch worked fine.<br><br>anyone else experience this?<br><br><br><br>

 

[Guest]

Here is a good report on the Olympian wave....I thiunk this would be a choice for me if I were fulltiming in a larger vehicle than my Chinookie...<br><br>http://vagabonders-supreme.net/olympian.htm<br><br>Bri<br><br>

 

[She]

Has anyone used the Little buddy?

 

[4x4tour]

I have the little buddy but it gets the van hot by not having a thermostat (even on the low setting).&nbsp; Maybe in an Alaska winter it would be perfect, but Im in Norcal and I may camp in the low 40's...lol<br><br>&nbsp;Depending on the vehicle, I would get the smallest coleman catalytic heat (which I had and sold with my G20, darn it).&nbsp; Im going to buy another.&nbsp; I can leave it on all night and not get blasted with heat. <br><br>&nbsp;http://www.coleman.com/coleman/Cole...D=3000&amp;product_id=2000004164#.Tn4sVtTe7fs<br><br><br><br>

 

[VanFan]

We purchased the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy a few weeks ago with the idea of using it in the van if it got uncomfortably cold on the trip we just finished.&nbsp; Temps never dipped below the upper 30's and quickly warmed after sunrise, so we didn't try it out.<br><br>Did you see the post above about the switch sticking?&nbsp; When we tested the heater in our backyard, we hard a bit of a problem with it.&nbsp; I had to refer to the instructions to get the "technique".&nbsp; I hope that was the extent of the problem.<br><br>A vandweller I met said he had used one, but it produced a lot of condensation.&nbsp; I'm pretty sure other forum members have used the Buddy, and hope they will chime in with their experience.<br><br>Vickie<br><br>