Little Buddy-type portable heater for Van?

[indytriple]

We have a Buddy Heater and like it. We use the van all winter, and we go skiing a lot. We use it in ski resort parking lots and at campsites where we don't have access to electricity. I typically crack one of the slider windows about 3/4", which, oddly enough, is exactly the 9 square inches recommended in the instructions. When the top is up on the Westy I find that there is definitely more air exchange and the window can be cracked a bit less.

We have some minor moisture issues, but mostly just damp windshields on the inside, and a bit of ice/frost on the inside of windows. The more people we have in the van, the greater the moisture. When we have 4 in the van with 2 dogs it gets humid, but generally not unmanageable unless it is raining outside and the conditions are already very humid.

I'm in the process of switching from using 1lb cylinders to a small refillable propane tank to run my Westy stove, my Coleman 2-burner stove and the Heater Buddy. I'm tired of the cost and waste of the 1lb cylinders, but I want to retain a small, portable, flexible propane solution. I'm currently trying to decide between a Worthington 1.4 gallon aluminum propane cylinder (beautiful, but expensive at $150) or a Worthington 1 gallon steel propane cylinder (compact and practical at $53). I will probably opt for the 1 gallon as our propane usage is very low, and a one gallon tank would easily last us for a 3-5 day winter ski/camping trip. In the summer we'd just be cooking with it, and it would last us more like 1.5-2 weeks.

We use a $35 Holmes Heater Model HFH436WGL-UM plug-in fan when we have access to electricity (a Consumer Reports best buy). It's quiet, seems durable, and the ability to set a timer is nice when you want to sleep in the cold but want to wake up in a warm van.
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87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig

www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com

[Team WorldTour]

I posted before, but I guess that had no weight.
As I said before, my wife and I used the 'Portable Buddy' for a YEAR, traveling through Canada in our van, Domo.
Yes, we had the front window cracked (we had rain guards on). There was never any smell, there was never any wet anything. Our only real fear (unfounded) was kicking off the blankets and having them land on the heater. But, really, at those temps, wild horses couldn't have pulled those blankets off!
It has a fan to move air around. Twenty minutes on in the morning, and the van is toasty warm for brekky making. Put it on high, and you could lounge about in your undies.
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[RocketBox]

while i haven't camped in the vanagon and my big buddy heater yet - i used it for several years in an old pop-up and have used it as of later to do some interior work in the single digits and to warm the interior up when it's super cold and my heater blower motors weren't working.

in 8 degrees - it takes about 9 minutes to get the van pretty warm with the big buddy on high and the fan blowing.

i was surprised at the condensation produced. seriously - alot - way more than i expected... but if it came down to staying toasty warm & having moisture on my windows or freezing my ass off, i'd gladly pick staying warm.
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[bluefirefly]

[danfromsyr]

the little buddys are a great intro to cold weather camping
heck we'd use it to sit by with the door open on that semi-chilly mid july night (ie not winter) it's pleasant to have nearby.
but after a couple years of juggling it around in side then we got a dog (or child for some) and it's no longer as safe from bumps etc.. you get tired of the whiff of burned fur from a tail swish.
and the condensation.. was horrible during a mid-40's rainy night, the condensation on the windshield would screw up my DMV registration tag (paper)

I put a propex in this fall.
we run a RV furnace in my brother's van and installing on in Mom's camper this winter. the 12~16,000 BTU small RV furnaces aren't as efficient, but for that casual useage they're $1/2 initial costs.. but 75% efficient vs propex ~90% rating and occupy the full small cubby space near the water tank.
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[Jon_slider]

http://www.adventurerv.net/atwood-everest-star-8012-furnace-12000-btus-p-8605.html
Atwood Hydroflame, also used in the Adventurewagen, 12,000 BTU. Current draw of 1.8 amps, $537.00

http://westyventures.com/propex.html
Propex 2000, 6500btu, 1.4 amps, $695.00

Espar aka Airtronics aka Eberspacher D2 (diesel) Furnace, $1049.
http://www.esparparts.com/202820690285-p-25125.html

Has 4 automatic fan speeds and heat outputs; Boost 7,500 btu, 2.8amps. High 6,500 btu 1.8amps. Med 4,100btu, 1amp. Low 2,900 btu, .7amps. There is also a more rare, and more expensive, ~$1500, gasoline version Espar B1LC (in stock at) http://www.esparparts.com/espar-airtronic-b1lc-heater-truck-p-25393.html

The Atwood fills the cubby by the bench seat, and requires a hole through the body. The Propex is much smaller and fits next to, is less than half as tall as, or can replace, the stock rear heater, requires holes through the floor of the van. Espar is similar to Propex in length and installation.

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[Timwhy]

I have used my Heater Buddy under my BD EZ Awning with the flaps down and the door zipped up and
it heats the entire space. No need for ventilation as there are plenty of gaps and I have never smelled any
fumes.

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[MayorMcCheese]

[Jon_slider]

This manual for the Little Buddy

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Indoor-Safe/dp/B001CFRF7I says:
"This heater requires a vent area of 4 square inches (ex- ample 2” x 2” opening) minimum for adequate ventila- tion during operation."

This manual for the Portable Buddy

http://s3.amazonaws.com/szmanuals/01bd9542c0bb20c31d3770ee388f41fb says:
"Provide minimum fresh air opening of 9 square inches (example 3” x 3” opening)."

For the Big Buddy

the manual http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-MH18B-Portable-Propane/dp/B0002WRHE8 says:
"This heater requires a vent area of 18 square inches (example 4 1/4” x 4 1/4” opening) minimum for adequate ventilation during operation."
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[IdahoDoug]

Thanks for the update on venting. Will be sure to do that. Hoping to take my daughter snow shoeing, but temps warming today - grrr.
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[davevickery]

I doubt the venting changed. Maybe you are talking about different units. There is a standard of 1 inch per X BTUs for these type heaters. I doubt you needed any venting in a vanagon, more a matter of comfort and stuffiness. Imagine a completely sealed rubber box that only needed 18 sq inches of venting. Vs a west with gaps everywhere. I always had a window cracked but it didn't seem to help. These really work well as an awake only heater. If you need a sleeping heater buy a real RV furnace.

[WestyBob]

[photogdave]

[MarkWard]

We were in Yellowstone for 3 days at the end of May camping in the valley. It was sunny, rainy, snowy, and cold all in the same day. We used Mr Buddy to take the chill off of the van, not to heat it. Using it this way we got about 3 days out of a bottle. For the cost and ease of storage you can't really beat them. Well better that being wet and cold. Without it, the trip would have been close to miserable for us.

We have since upgraded to an Espar. If you want emergency type heat, Mr Buddy fits the bill. If you want central heat, you really need to consider one of the built in ones above.
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[tam_shops]

Thank you! Will check there first! It's so wet here right now!

[westyventures]

[Jon_slider]

Portland is an example of what I consider mild climate, and low altitude. Daytime temps never go below 45F, night never below 35F. Elevation 50 ft
Highest: 1,188 ft, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon

It is possible people who DO smell the fumes of a Heater Buddy, is a group that uses them above 6000ft.
Also, there is less oxygen at higher altitude, and this may increase the fumes odor from a Heater Buddy.

[IdahoDoug]

As much as I like my Buddy, a certain amount of condensation does come from combusting its fuel. Somebody smarter than me did the calculation as to how much compared to normal breathing condensation. Unless the kids are aboard, I would say we generally are not normal breathing - heh!!

Doug
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[WestyBob]

[Sodo]

Coffee warmer mod for a "Portable Buddy" heater.
An exercise in wire-bending.
The wire used is the handle from a 5-gallon plastic pail.

You have to set the coffeecup handle "away" (in the shadow).
And drink from the "shadow side" too.

Cuz you'll note that the coffee will boil on the hot side in a few minutes.

This mod is not for everyone, just for those who like classical coffee cups.
Perhaps the "air-cooled crowd"

Most folks should just use a modern "insulated mug" that doesn't need re-heating.
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