Kodiak Canvas/Buddy Heater

[BLJ]

Have a a couple 10x10’s. I’ve read of people using the Buddy Heaters in them.
Any tips? What size? Moisture issues? Do you use a full size bottle or the smaller green ones? All related to truck camping so weight is not a big issue. Thanks.

 

[cnelk]

If you use a 20lb tank and hose, be sure to use a propane filter. It screws into the Buddy Heater and then the hose screws into that.
Bulk propane from the tanks is really dirty, along with the hose contaminants will cause problems in the Buddy Heater

Mr. Heater Universal Propane Fuel Filter F273699 - The Home Depot

Keep your hands comfortable with this Mr HeaterUniversal Fuel Filter.

www.homedepot.com

 

[MuleyFever]

If its going to be cold and you want a Buddy heater get the Big Buddy. I ran the regular one on a hunt and it takes the edge off but that tent loses heat fast. The next late season hunt I did I got one of the heaters that goes right on the top of the tank and it was much better.

 

[eamyrick]

Used one in CO down to -9 with two guys in a 10x10 Kodiak. Could only run it on low or it was too warm. Kept a small crack in the door just to be extra safe. Would run for a an hour or so before bed and cut off when I got up to pee. Cut back on in the morning making coffee and getting ready.

 

[svivian]

Im a diesel heater user... much better than a mr buddy Just my .02

 

[CorbLand]

If you are going to run it while you sleep, get a CO alarm. Any time you run propane in a closed area, make sure that you vent it.

If weight and size isnt a concern, I would look at the diesel heaters. Only down side is the need of a battery to run them.

 

[ezwy]

Skip the buddy heater and go straight to the diesel heater.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I bought a nicely packaged diesel heater after season this year and plan for that to be an option next year.

Having said that, wife and I don't like to sleep with any kind of heater going really. For me partially I don't want to have to rely on any system that could fail, wanna be able to sleep without comfortably. We still bring the buddy heater and we'll run it for 15 mins or so before crawling into the sleeping bags and turning it off. Then in the morning when the alarm goes off I'll snooze it and fire up the heater, tent is toasty by the time snooze is up (10 minute snooze) for getting dressed. As stated previously do get a filter if running it on a big tank and stating the obvious be sure it's not too close to the tent walls or cots and sleeping bags to melt. They'll heat up a 10x14 flexbow or a 6 man Alaskan Guide in a hurry so might be too much unless you're dealing with some bitter cold or some wind. You can get battery powered CO2/Smoke detectors and throw them in a tent pocket or up in a loft.

 

[Scoggin12]

Normal Buddy heater with a 30lb tank lasts about 7 nights on low. It’s perfect. For 15 degrees up ( no experience colder than that)

 

[BLJ]

Thanks.

Definitely in for a CO2 alarm. And the filter for a 20# tank.

I’ll probably not invest in a diesel heater. This will be for short trips only.

Any particular setup in the tent? Just in the floor? Thanks again.

 

[shtrbc]

Another diesel heater fan here. We make our own enclosures so they are more durable. Overall, like having a forced air furnace for your tent. Dry heat with lots of circulation. We switched over to lithium battery packs put together from Amazon components and couldn't be happier. 1/3 the price of a Dakota Lithium setup and provides enough power for a week long trip.

 

[fmyth]

I have the 10x14 Kodiak and have used a Buddy Heater attached to a 20lb bottle for 5 years now. I've camped in it down into the single digits. I do have a wood stove fan that sits on the top of the Buddy Heater. No issues with keeping the tent warm, no issues with condensation. I do have a very nice diesel heater but take the Buddy instead because it does not need electricity/battery to run.

 

[Gone_fishin29]

Yea definitely want a filter. I use a 20lb and didn't have a filter. Not a good experience lol

 

[CorbLand]

Thanks.

Definitely in for a CO2 alarm. And the filter for a 20# tank.

I’ll probably not invest in a diesel heater. This will be for short trips only.

Any particular setup in the tent? Just in the floor? Thanks again.

Unless you already have a buddy heater, the cost to get a diesel heater is about the same. Only extra expense would be a battery to run it. If its short trips, you wouldnt need a lithium battery.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=diesel+heater&crid=GNN5GEVVLMHH&sprefix=diesel+heater%2Caps%2C125&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Another diesel heater fan here. We make our own enclosures so they are more durable. Overall, like having a forced air furnace for your tent. Dry heat with lots of circulation. We switched over to lithium battery packs put together from Amazon components and couldn't be happier. 1/3 the price of a Dakota Lithium setup and provides enough power for a week long trip.

Have you done a write up on how you build your batteries?

 

[MuleyFever]

If you use a 20lb tank and hose, be sure to use a propane filter. It screws into the Buddy Heater and then the hose screws into that.
Bulk propane from the tanks is really dirty, along with the hose contaminants will cause problems in the Buddy Heater

Mr. Heater Universal Propane Fuel Filter F273699 - The Home Depot

Keep your hands comfortable with this Mr HeaterUniversal Fuel Filter.

www.homedepot.com

What problems do you usually see when not running a filter off a tank? I wonder if this is why my experience using mine was bad. Ill have get one of these and try it again.

 

[Legend]

Have a a couple 10x10’s. I’ve read of people using the Buddy Heaters in them.
Any tips? What size? Moisture issues? Do you use a full size bottle or the smaller green ones? All related to truck camping so weight is not a big issue. Thanks.

Tip: don't blow yourself up!

There is a guy in MT who learned this lesson the hard way in 2024. Not sure what heater it was but check valve failed and he blewup his trailer and himself. He lived but it doesn't sound good.

 

[cnelk]

What problems do you usually see when not running a filter off a tank? I wonder if this is why my experience using mine was bad. Ill have get one of these and try it again.

The fuel lines get all gunked up. And it won’t stay lit
My friend had a buddy heater that wouldn’t work so I took it all apart and cleaned the lines.
Works like a champ now.

There’s some videos on YouTube how to do it

 

[Tahoe1305]

We ran one in MT last year in our 12x12. We had the full size tank in the front porch attachment with a 10’ hose. Concur with getting the Big buddy heater. We had it on the middle setting and it kept us as warm as the fire did…..but I didn’t have to get up every two hours.

We had a CO detector on the ice chest next to the cots. Never an issue.

 

[cnelk]

I made a little bracket for one of my Buddy heaters to hold a heat induced fan.
Man, that works slick. Instead of the heat going straight up it distributes it out and away.

 

[fmyth]

Tip: don't blow yourself up!

There is a guy in MT who learned this lesson the hard way in 2024. Not sure what heater it was but check valve failed and he blewup his trailer and himself. He lived but it doesn't sound good.

I heard about this incident but couldn't find any evidence that he was using a Buddy Heater. Do you have anything you can share? I've searched and searched and can't find any deaths/injuries caused by a Buddy Heater.