Base camp tent suggestions.

[5MilesBack]

I have always feared this as well, but I used a buddy heater inside my cabelas XWT for 10 days on Kodiak last fall and ran it for about 3-4 hours per day with no issues at all.

Interesting........what kind of venting is in that tent? And what is the BTU's on the Buddy Heater?

Oh, and they found a father and son dead in their tent in Colorado this past year. Died from CO poisoning. That's always been my biggest fear. I always take a CO detector on my trips with the tank top heaters in my wall tent. But there's pretty good ventilation in the wall tent.

 

[Matt W.]

http://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html
These heaters are designed for small places and tents. Had a buddy who lived in a small cheap apartment years ago. He used one of these heaters as his sole heat supply. I've used the heater I linked many a night in my family camping tent. Typically turn it off to go to sleep, but great for a quick warm up as needed.

 

[luke moffat]

Interesting........what kind of venting is in that tent? And what is the BTU's on the Buddy Heater?

Oh, and they found a father and son dead in their tent in Colorado this past year. Died from CO poisoning. That's always been my biggest fear. I always take a CO detector on my trips with the tank top heaters in my wall tent. But there's pretty good ventilation in the wall tent.

Not the big buddy..just the standard buddy. I never run it while sleeping. They have a shutdown supposedly to prevent such poisoning supposedly, but I don't trust it and only run it in the mornings and evenings. The sleeping bag keeps me warm at night as normal. It is nice to just click it on in the morning and crawl back in for 5 minutes while it warms up in there.

Obviously this is for heavy base camp camping via boat, or airplane drop off or atv, or truck trailhead, but it sure seems to work well. Especially when wood is scarce.

 

[5MilesBack]

It is nice to just click it on in the morning and crawl back in for 5 minutes while it warms up in there.

I agree. I wake up and start my coffee and turn on my 30k BTU tank top heater and climb back into bed. By the time I see steam coming from my pot, I can get up in my underwear and it's toasty warm in my 14x16. A heck of a lot easier than running the wood stove. The only time I run the wood stove anymore is when I absolutely know it's going to get cold or the weather's going to get bad.

 

[MontanaMarine]

We've used the Buddy Heater in a Cabelas 8-man dome. Pretty handy and comfy. Supposedly has a low oxygen shutoff, but I don't trust that for sleeping. We shut it off before going to sleep.

 

[MontanaMarine]

This is a big $650 budget buster, but I'll add it in for conversation.

12-man tipi from Seek Outside, and the cylinder stove from our wall tent. This is light and easy to put up. Sheds wind/rain. No issue with the dog paws tearing up the floor. We sometimes put down the floor tarp from our wall tent though, to cover the half we put cots on. Lots of room for 3-4 on cots. With the two of us, we sort of set up cots on one side, and put a table and woodpile on the other side. Lots of room for gear.

 

[couesbitten]

Nice looking set-up MM, exactly what I'm wanting to do.

 

[Live Montana]

Have you looked at tipi style tents. If you are using cots, have a dog and drag in a mess that seems to fit your situation. They are often overlooked, but really are super sweet. I have been researching for a while. Having a stove in them is one of the best things. The whole neighborhood can hang out in some of these things. They are a little spendy, but some are not bad at all... There are several companies that are on top of my list.

1. Kiraru
2. Go Lite
3. Titanium Goat - For the money this may be the ticket. They have a sweet stove to.

There are others.

 

[Dromsky]

Not to threadjack but does anyone have any experience with these buddy heaters @ or above 10,000'. I am hearing they wont work at that altitude?

 

[stephen b]

I use either a 10x10 Springbar tent and a Eureka Timberline 6 outfitter tent depending on situation for a basecamp truck camp. Have been really pleased with both. Have used the basic Mr Buddy heater in both of them for years for those situations when it is cold enough and it has worked well. Only have used it in those tents at night before turning in and upon waking up in AM.

About 10 years ago I used a Mr Buddy one time all night in a 12x16 wall tent when the temps were below 15 F that night. Thought it was OK with the "breathability" of the wall tent. Well early in the AM I was having some trouble getting the 2 burner Coleman propane stove lit. After a few times, my buddy said- "Wonder if O2 is low in the tent", and he opened up one of the side windows and the stove fired right up. Do not know for sure if that was the issue, but after that situation, I never ran the heater while sleeping. I thought if it could have lowered the O2 content in the tent enough to possibly affect the lighting of the stove; well that was enough reason for me not to trust it for sleeping.

 

[stephen b]

This is a big $650 budget buster, but I'll add it in for conversation.

12-man tipi from Seek Outside, and the cylinder stove from our wall tent. This is light and easy to put up. Sheds wind/rain. No issue with the dog paws tearing up the floor. We sometimes put down the floor tarp from our wall tent though, to cover the half we put cots on. Lots of room for 3-4 on cots. With the two of us, we sort of set up cots on one side, and put a table and woodpile on the other side. Lots of room for gear.

MM-

Very nice set up!

 

[hflier]

We've used the Buddy Heater in a Cabelas 8-man dome. Pretty handy and comfy. Supposedly has a low oxygen shutoff, but I don't trust that for sleeping. We shut it off before going to sleep.

That Camo is pretty cool. Do they still sell that color?

 

[elkguide]

Those look so good. Is it fall yet?

 

[MontanaMarine]

That Camo is pretty cool. Do they still sell that color?

I'm not sure to be honest.

We bought that tent back around 2000. Just sold it last year, and went in for the 12-person tipi.

 

[dotman]

Not the big buddy..just the standard buddy. I never run it while sleeping. They have a shutdown supposedly to prevent such poisoning supposedly, but I don't trust it and only run it in the mornings and evenings. The sleeping bag keeps me warm at night as normal. It is nice to just click it on in the morning and crawl back in for 5 minutes while it warms up in there.

Obviously this is for heavy base camp camping via boat, or airplane drop off or atv, or truck trailhead, but it sure seems to work well. Especially when wood is scarce.

Any condensation issues? Have really been thinking about using a mr. Buddy in the XWT. How well does it keep the heat when not using the nest?

 

[dotman]

Have you looked at tipi style tents. If you are using cots, have a dog and drag in a mess that seems to fit your situation. They are often overlooked, but really are super sweet. I have been researching for a while. Having a stove in them is one of the best things. The whole neighborhood can hang out in some of these things. They are a little spendy, but some are not bad at all... There are several companies that are on top of my list.

1. Kiraru
2. Go Lite
3. Titanium Goat - For the money this may be the ticket. They have a sweet stove to.

There are others.

My favorite flourless large setup is my Cabelas XWT, just leave out the nest and my 12x12 becomes a 16x20 or so floor less that I can easily walk around in. Too bad they discontinued it as it is a great setup. I believe they still sell the smaller version at decent price.

 

[moxford]

I have a new Cabela's Alaskan Guide 6-person dome up in the Classifieds if you're interested. It's never even been set up but has just sitting in my garage.

Retails for $650, asking $550 ... put the extra towards the stove/jack!

Let me know if you're interested ... =)

-mox

 

[JasonWi]

Thank you everyone for the ideas and feedback. I ended up buying the 10x10 XWT from Cabela's. I was able to get it on sale for $230 off normal price. I haven't had a chance to set it up yet but I think it's going to make a great base tent.

I've owned a couple different tipis (Kifaru and Seek Outdoors). I really liked the tipis, but decided I needed a spotting scope more than the tipi at the time.

Mox: Thank you for the offer.

 

[dotman]

Thank you everyone for the ideas and feedback. I ended up buying the 10x10 XWT from Cabela's. I was able to get it on sale for $230 off normal price. I haven't had a chance to set it up yet but I think it's going to make a great base tent.

I've owned a couple different tipis (Kifaru and Seek Outdoors). I really liked the tipis, but decided I needed a spotting scope more than the tipi at the time.

Mox: Thank you for the offer.

You'll like it, get the pitch kit so you can set it up without the nest.

 

[hflier]

That Camo is pretty cool. Do they still sell that color?

I had the same question. I can't find it on their website.