Colman focus 5 or little buddy heater

[JSK76]

looking to get a smaller, lighter weight heater for my portable, I already have a buddy, big buddy and at one time not so long ago a focus five that I thought I didn't need any more because of the buddy heater so I sold it for $25.00 and now you cant buy them new.

I just bought an insulated Canvas craft so I don't need a lot of btu's and I'm trying to offset the heaver weight of the CC by reducing some of the weight of my gear. I liked the focus 5 and I know it doesn't have any safety features but I have vents and don't plan on sleeping in the portable but accidents happen. I never used a little buddy before and I'm concerned the little buddy will have the same faults as it's bigger brothers with lighting and staying lit.

[picksbigwagon]

I have a little buddy and as long as you keep it somewhat level, you're good to go. What I did to help with keeping it level is take one of those 1 pound propane tank base/holders that you get with lanterns, and secured that base to the wood shelve I made for my solo otter house.

the shelf is basically a board that fits the width of the tub. I used two screws in the front that fit into holes that I put in the lip of the tub. Make sense? My otter is insulated with reflectix and that heater kicks out more than enough heat. at night it gets really warm with a lantern going as well......Get the little buddy, you won't be disappointed

[RebelSS]

I've had my 2 Little Buddy heaters for 5 years, and never had a problem. Like picksbigwagon said, they do have to be fairly level, or the tip over switch will shut them off. I just set mine on flat piece of masonite I bring along. I was lucky enough that when I bought the two at the same time, one didn't have the tip switch...so I get to enjoy best of "both worlds".

[Get'n Jiggy]

I have a Canvas Craft insulated magnum single that I heat with a Little Buddy. It's all thats needed. I think a larger heater is overkill, and might be too much. The insulated portables are very easy to heat.

[pulleye16]

I've actually just used a coleman lantern (white gas) and even that has kept me warm in most portables. If your looking to save weight and are bringing a lght source anyways, give it a try!

[Bullwinkled]

Little Buddy, has worked great before I did the Insultex addition, now It is very nice even at -10. I have the Clam Pro one man. I would never get anything bigger.

[curtistodd]

just a single burner camping stove works well in small houses. 10,000 btu's! It heats a clam2000 (2 man) up just fine. when the tank gets low you get a little cold, but just screw a new propane cylinder on and crank it up and yer good to go. I think they are $20 tops. FF has them, so does G.M.

[picksbigwagon]

That is a lot of carbon monoxide you're breathing in curtistodd

[Jim Almquist]

That is a lot of carbon monoxide you're breathing in curtistodd

And Pulleye16

Just be careful because both of these methods produce carbon monoxide and with out the proper ventilation the results can be fatal and at the least cause a very bad headache.

[JSK76]

So, does the little buddy have a high and low heat setting?

[picksbigwagon]

I can't remember....mine is in storage, but i think it does

[jdog]

yes it does i use mine in my clam scout and ive used the high only once it was 5 below on mille lacs and windy still kept warm

[pulleye16]

Thanks Jimalm for the warning. I do work with CO poisonings all year. With all equipment that burns fuel there is a risk. You should always follow proper precautions with heaters in a fish house regardless of make and model. I believe the buddy heaters have low O2 shut off and thats a GREAT feature but removing yourself to fresh air and having a CO alram in permos should be a must. The lantern I described is a great way to heat up a small fish house while having a light load, but yes, ventilation and fresh air is a must...with all devices!

[Ed Carlson]

The new Mr. Heater MH9BX Buddy (4,000-9,000-BTU) has a much wider range of adjustment then the original did. I bought the new version last season and run it in my Frabill R2-Tec Commando....I needed to turn it way down...and then down some more..I can get it down to 2000 bto +/-, about half the 1st setting and it will not go out with good gas flow from a mostly full tank....it did well and I have the option to crank it up as needed.

I think it may be the best option for you, more range/flexibility than the 2000 btu Focus had, and a lot safer.

[JSK76]

Hey Ed, I just found this on Mr. Heaters web site on the MH9BX and thought I would pass it along.

DO NOT OPERATE HEATER UNLESS CONTROL KNOB IS LOCKED IN A POSITION MARKED “HI”, “LO” or “PILOT”.NEVER SET CONTROL KNOB BETWEEN LOCKED POSITIONS. POOR COMBUSTION AND HIGHER LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE MAY RESULT

[Ed Carlson]

I appreciate the heads up, I already seen that in the instructions. I watch to see if the color of the combustion chamber is correct, if not, I turn it up. Full pressure and a mostly full tank has a lot to do with the burn at a lower setting.

Thanks for the heads up.

[JSK76]

Can someone weigh there little buddy and the plastic base for me? I just weighed my buddy heater and it's 8 lbs 2oz and I think a little buddy is around 6 lbs, but maybe thats shipping weight.