Propane furnace questions?

[Sawspa]

Hey all,
I currently have an infa-red fireplace in my bus just sitting on the sink. It is for 400sq/ft. Im not sure how its gonna do when it gets real cold. Plus it needs electricity. I have just re-installed my propane tank and would like to use it for boondocking. The heater that was in my bus from the PO was a gas heater that i never got working because it sketched me out. So, what is an affordable propane heater can i buy? Ive looked and am only coming across larger styles for big rvs. I wasjust hoping somebody knew of a good one that is commonly used in our beloved bays.
Thanks in advance!
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1978 Westfalia Campmobile 2.0L oversized ham heads and a stepped up cam, running points and a 76 exhaust "Lefty Loosy"

[Greg in GA]

a lot of people have had good luck with the Mr. Buddy line of heaters
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1969 Beetle
1974 Westy 1800cc FI conversion, L62H

Need a really good mechanic for your VW bus? Consider making an appointment with Colin (Amskeptic) next time he passes thru your area.

[Skoolieman]

X2. I have the compact Mr buddy heater and I love it-it keeps the bus nice and warm doesn't take up a lot of space and uses very little propane. in hindsight one of the larger versions might have been nicer because I believe it offers the ability to control the temperature but for what we use it for this little one is perfect.
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'69 Westfalia Camper~Cassidy
1600dp with H30/31 carb 009 distributor and alternator conversion

[Sawspa]

I have the bigger Mr. Buddy. I was afraid it would melt something. Where do you put it? Do you have it hooked ip to the on board propane. Do you carry a co detector? How much of a window do you keep open. Heating with propane is sorta sketchy to me.
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1978 Westfalia Campmobile 2.0L oversized ham heads and a stepped up cam, running points and a 76 exhaust "Lefty Loosy"

[DenverB]

I know folks who leave a window cracked and run the little buddy in their Vanagon with no issues -- the things have some pretty cool safety features that shut off the unit if it tips or if it detects low oxygen. I would think a crack in the top tent fabric would let hot air out and allow some cold (fresh) air to sink into the van and keep things totally safe.
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'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)

www.RockyMountainCampervans.com

[Xevin]

Buddy heaters are the way to go. I have the Big Buddy heater. It's a little big
But very versatile, has excellent tip over shutoff, and oxygen depletion sensor.
safety. Before my Bn4 was fully working I have used it indoor with just one element on. That's really all you need. So really that size is adequate. That size is called Buddy. However. The most use I've got from it is outside. The heat is nice while you build a fire. Or under a canopy when it rains. Also great when there is a burn restriction like The PNW did this year. You can really feel the heat retention under a canopy. So for outside its nice to have the Big Buddy.
I would never attempt to sleep with this thing on. Merely just a warm up before bed or in morning. And of course keep ventilation in mind. This is true even when not using a heater. Surprises me how many people don't vent a tent. Since you mentioned Boondocking. Get some nice rectangle North Face
Type sleeping bags that can be zipped together. Buy one of them rated 30 degree and one rated 15 degree. This allows you to flip them. They also pack down very small. If you ever need more warmth in the sleeping bag, layer blankets inside the bag. Not on top of the bag.

(Oh just saw the other replies) as to where to put it? What kind of layout do you have inside your bus. Your Ventilation question. Jalousie window? Pop top?
What ya got?

http://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater.html
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Keep on Busin'

[Xevin]

Ok Westy. Just saw your tag line.
Pop your top and unzip the window just enough to fit a basketball through
Open up the windows just enough to fit a fist through. Slider or Jalousie type Windows.

Just put it in on the floor or up on the counter top.

I don't recommend driving or sleeping with it on. Although I did one time drive with it on while it was on the floor in back by the Z bed. Pretty stable. But seemed like a dumb thing to do if I had to make an emergency maneuver. Happy trails.
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Keep on Busin'

[Xevin]

Ok Westy. Just saw your tag line.
Pop your top and unzip the window just enough to fit a basketball through
Open up the windows just enough to fit a fist through. Slider or Jalousie type Windows.

Just put it in on the floor or up on the counter top.

I don't recommend driving or sleeping with it on. Although I did one time drive with it on while it was on the floor in back by the Z bed. Pretty stable. But seemed like a dumb thing to do if I had to make an emergency maneuver. Happy trails.
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Keep on Busin'

[Abscate]

Please don't tempt me by using propane while sleeping or driving

-Mr Darwin
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.ssS!

[raygreenwood]

So you have/had a "gas" heater?...meaning gasoline as in the stock type...or gas meaning natural gas?

Natural gas is no more or less dangerous than propane.

If you have the stock gas furnace...fix it. Worth having. Ray

[Abscate]

[raygreenwood]

[Sawspa]

The heater that was in the bus was gasoline. It scared me. It was made in cleveland ohio. When i replaced the gas lines i took it out.
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1978 Westfalia Campmobile 2.0L oversized ham heads and a stepped up cam, running points and a 76 exhaust "Lefty Loosy"

[Busstom]

I too have the Big Buddy, and despite the low oxygen sensor and tip shut off, I still wouldn't want to go to sleep with it running.

Having said that, I would think that only running the single burner, on low, would heat up a Bay pretty quick and keep it at a nice comfortable level all night (unless you were in brutal cold temps, then scale up, I guess).

Personally, I would prefer (and intend to buy) an Espar Airtronic, which has a separate, isolated combustion chamber which is supplied and vented to the outside (much like a home furnace). I don't know anything about the early Eberspachers, but I presume they're similar in that respect.

But, yes, a new Airtronic is about 9x the cost of a Buddy heater.

By the way, I had an early Big Buddy, and it was one of the few products for which I actually submitted the registration card. Good thing I did! They experienced several explosions, and so recalled them and sent out a new one.

[Sawspa]

[Busstom]

Apparently about 10 years ago...this press release is making a liar out of me. I guess my memory is.....oh what's the word.....fading! I swear I thought there were some 'splosions involved!

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2005/CPSC-Mr-Heater...-Heaters-/

[Sawspa]

[LivinInnaVWBus]

Soooo... have any of you actually experienced a "real cold" night in a bus using the Mr. Buddy heater? I have the Big Buddy and under 40 degrees it will keep you alive but it won't keep you warm. Under 35 degrees and you can still see your breath, it will be a miserable nights sleep. A 1500 watt oil filled radiant heater keeps me warmer than the Big Buddy does, it's good until about 20 degrees.
Ultimately I decided to stop messing around and bought a Dickenson Marine P12,000. I haven't used it yet, with luck I'll be out of winter before I need it.

[Xevin]

[busdaddy]