Moving the Big Buddies

[Hardyboy]

My question is with a wheeler and flip house in tow how do you guys haul your big buddies without damaging them? do you attach them to wheeler/sled? do you let them ride in the flip house and bounce around or did you mount them somehow so they didn't get abused. I have used a sunflower for years but just got a big buddy after gift card and sale price for $45. I want to know how you guys are hauling them or if they are durable enough to take some bouncing.

[Toba]

I try to be very careful with my equipment because it takes time to replace things. I will try to pack the big buddy tightly in the yukon or if I'm pulling it with the 4 wheeler it will go in the utility box with my flasher. It may be overkill but things can get expensive and taking a little extra caution just takes a few extra seconds.

[fishwater]

I beat the hell out of mine, usually put it in my trap wedged between a couple five gallon buckets (at best.) It gets banged around and looks pretty beat up, I've been lucky and haven't had any problems heating it up.

I know folks that took care of them and they don't work.. who knows? I threaten mine all the time that I'll throw it in the trash if it doesn't light...

[gonehunting]

The Big C store sells a zippered padded case for around $25.00. They usually clearance them out about now. If you have the ability to strap it on the rack of the ATV I would do that otherwise make sure it just doesn't have room to bounce around in the sled. The cases are nice for the money. Keep the dust out in the off season also.

[jwhjr]

I use the case mentioned by gonehunting. I leave the quick-connect hose hooked up (to the heater only) and it rolls up and fits in the case as well.

[mtbucket]

I use the padded case which is also handy as it has pockets to carry 1# bottles for back up and batteries for the fan and there is room to wrap the hose around the heater for transport. The padded case does a good job of protecting the heater and keeps most of the snow out of it. I usually run mine off a 20# tank and bought the proper hose and filter right away. It has worked flawlessly for me for the last 4 years and I heat an 8 X 10 portable with it, even at well below zero. I used to get severe headaches when I used a sunflower, but after switching to the Big Buddy,I only suffer from them occasionally after a night of catching too many bottle bass. I also find that my bibs and fishing line no longer get melted.

[live4chrome]

meh, i got my buddy heater in the sixth grade...that makes it 11 years old, never put it in a case and it still works

[GotALunker]

hardyboy, my zimmtown friend,

funny that this subject comes up because just this morning I had to order parts from enerco for my little heater b/c some plastic parts broke during my trip to Ely last weekend. that's what too much bouncing around will do.

Nice thing is that the parts cost less than the shipping. still it was 15 to fix it.

parts will be here in 2-4 days.

[joneshat11]

At the ice fishing show in Dec. Dave Genz had in his trap a bracket that locked his buddy heater for traveling. Anyone know how he did that as it was pretty slick?

[zamboni]

Nice thing is that the parts cost less than the shipping. still it was 15 to fix it.

parts will be here in 2-4 days.

Yeah my dad busted his knob on his and his inability to use a computer made me the guy to order him a new one. Shipping was a flat rate, so he had me get him 3 knobs and shipping was same as if he had ordered just one. Now he has 2 extras in case he decides to bust another one

[BehindtheHead]

in the otter house i put my 20 lb tank in a milk crate with the buddy heater next to it. it wedges in there good but it still is going to get beat up. mine is missing both the doors on the side and the grate on the front is busted up. but it still works every time.

[Ed Carlson]

It's just wise to protect them in a tow-able from bouncing and the like. As critical as heat is on a trip one would not wish to encourage heater failure through carelessness or negligence.

Personally for an individual heater case, I like the Coleman case's for both the Buddy and the Big Buddy. Coleman has a large padded case that is a nice fit for the Big Buddy, and there are others too, including the Buddy Case by Mr. Heater. I seen just recently these Fold-N-Go case's on clearance at some major sporting retails. Often found in the camping section.

A while back I found a good deal on a sturdy ATV accessory case that is padded fully, and this has proven to be the best overall choice for me.

The ATV accessory case has plenty of room for my Buddy 4000 or the Big Buddy, spare 1# tanks, hose, and even the back-up Mr. Heater Cooker and some chow if I like. This has proven to be a handy and durable case for my Frabill shacks, and a very nice fit. The ATV accessory case keeps my heating/cooking gear well protected and organized.

(Example)

All that must have stuff that one brings with can be conveniently organized in one of these ATV case's, and keeps the sled or shack less cluttered. The case becomes a "kit", and can easily be transferred to the camp or out on a hunt or summer trip, or the boat. There is lots of 4 season utility to it is also why I like this system the best.

[WTN4ICE]

I modded my Voyager to create a place for everything. I leave the quick connect hose attached coiled behind the heater. I pull the shack with a snowmobile and after 3-4 seasons the heater works fine. It's a snug fit and there is a piece of foam under it to help smooth out the bumps.

[ozzie]

I have a X2 fish house and I leave the heater and the 20# propane tank connected in the back of the house and then put my back-up heater next to them and make a snug fit so they don't slide around. I have not had one bump or bust on my heater doing it this way but it is a pretty snug fit so it doesn't move around alot.

[vikingmeatwad]

I just leave it in the box with the protective foam it came in when I'm pulling the sled with the atc.

[Crazy4 Ice]

I needed to invest in the padded cover to keep snow off the face of the Buddy while pulling behind a wheeler. Less expensive then the sled cover but also helped protect from the bouncing. I've pulled my Big Buddy in my Frabill many, many miles on LOTW faster than I should have but all is well.

[topcat3820]

Quote:

Yeah my dad busted his knob on his

Now, that must've hurt !!! Hope he's okay .

Back to the OP, I use the padded bag from Cabela's... 5 yrs. of hard use, not one problem from 0 degrees to -50 .