Buddy Heaters.. Not impressed.

[fishergurl]

This is a great topic! I just bought a 11 lb propane tank,hooked it up to my Buddy heater last night, and it took forever to get the heater to light. Then once it was lit, it was not throwing off any heat. I was wondering if it was getting enough propane? I have a 1" - 5 ft hose, a Buddy heater, and 11 LB propane tank. Any ideas I may try, or helpful hints?

[DTro]

I've heard that you can have issues if you are not using the correct hose/filter setup with those big buddies. From what I hear they are finicky, but once you have all that figured out they work great.

I'd sure like to get rid of the "jet engine" in my house, but man those cookers are rock solid and dependable.

[FWA]

This is a great topic! I just bought a 11 lb propane tank,hooked it up to my Buddy heater last night, and it took forever to get the heater to light. Then once it was lit, it was not throwing off any heat. I was wondering if it was getting enough propane? I have a 1" - 5 ft hose, a Buddy heater, and 11 LB propane tank. Any ideas I may try, or helpful hints?

I just bought one earlier this spring and was a bit confused as well.

When you first hook it up, regardless if it's brand new or seasoned, there is no LP in the hose or heater itself. Therefore, you need to turn the knob to light and hold it down for like 30 seconds to a minute to allow the LP to fill the system. Then push the ignitor. Once it lights, depress the knob, and you're good to go.

[401TE]

Jet engine is right! My set-up for a long time was a Mr. Cooker, Vex FL-8, and a lantern after dark! Man was that loud and I'd come home with dry eyes/skin and a headache frequently. I switched to an LX-5 last year, am getting a Big Buddy next weekend, and am rigging up some LED lights after Xmas when I get them! I'm going health/stealth mode!

[SkitterPopper]

I have a Big Buddy and it does a very fine job heating my Clam X2. I would have yours looked at because I can go down to a long sleeved shirt in my X2 with the temps in the teens. I don't have any alternative heat sources as I run LED lights.

The only complaint I have is that it's so quiet I have to listen to the guys close to me yelling over the sound of a sunflower heater.

[CAMAN]

The only complaint I have is that it's so quiet I have to listen to the guys close to me yelling over the sound of a sunflower heater.

^^^^THIS^^^^

I've had a Tough Buddy (same as Portable Buddy, just more steel construction I believe) since around the time they came out. Never let me down. I've ran it off 1 lb, 11 lb, and 20 lb tanks with no issues. Yeah they are kinda touchy if you bump them or a big wind gust comes along, but I'd rather have that than a dangerous blast furnace and headaches at the end of the day. And no they don't get super hot but I never understood why some have expectations of sitting in a portable in shorts and a t-shirt. It's winter and you're ICE fishing. I stay in my bibs and a hoodie most days, and my Otter isn't one of those fancy new insulated ones. Expect them to get the chill off and keep everything from freezing up, not to heat like a sauna.

[KG243]

I fish in a trekker with a big buddy and ALWAYS fish in a t-shirt and jeans.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I would bet I have one of the oldest big buddies of anyone here. My original one was replaced after the recall and I have had this one at least 6 or seven years. I currently run a ten pounder with the regulated RV quick disconnect hose. The Ideal setup in my opinion. The hose is low pressure and no filter is needed! I always keep a couple one pounders just in case I run out of bulk and Have never had an issue with them as well.

I have always fished with my bibs on and a sweatshirt. High is usually to warm and on most days low is perfectly fine. I have installed emergency blankets in my Otter Lodge and have since fished the coldest days Southern Mn can offer. -30 on the St. Croix and medium was all I needed.

When I use The Otter Cottage it very rarely come off from low.

[IamZombie]

I want to get a buddy heater.

I have a Mr.Heater/Cooker, and it's way too much for my Nanook Thermal on low.

That, and the thing howls like a trumpet.

[Chris Barlage]

I would get the big buddy, when you need extra you cant get it from the smaller one

[Jeremy airjer W]

I think the Big buddy is worth the extra cash as well.

[dairyman]

I just picked one up at L&M Fleet in DL----------$99.99 --on sale until the 10th----------THATS TOMORROW

[ozzie]

I have a big buddy and 2 regular buddies (one still in the box). The only real problem I have ever had is starting it for the first time in the winter and that was resolved by putting on a new filter on the big buddy. The regular buddy I have has been thru it all and that is why I bought a new one but the original one just keeps working so the other one stays in a box just waiting to be used.

[BoxMN]

The only issue I have with my Big Buddy is the first time I light it after attaching the 12' hose (with filter) to a big tank - takes time to get gas to the unit, as mentioned above. Otherwise, they have worked great. I have Tough Buddy as well, and the only prob there is the knob broke - super gluded it and it works, but it won't stay tight to the shaft, so I have a piece of duct tape to "hold it on" The older tough buddy works great in deer stand too, put it next to a steel folding chair and it heats the metal, which heats my tush perfect!!!!

Also won a newer Buddy Heater at the Brainerd costest, and that is great with folding handle a bit taller.

Best part is you can put these right next to the fabric and it won't melt/burn holes. Big Buddy heats my old (really old) Voyager just fine even on well below zero days. I do have reflectix in ceiling, and wear bibs, but only with my dickies hoodie or even just a underlayer type shirt. Kids take their jackets off as well. Can't even put the Big Buddy on high in my Otter Cabin, it will cook you out!

So, sorry for rambling post, but my three Buddies work great.

[EBass]

I've had my Big Buddy for years (5-6) and it still works fine and keeps my otter cabin really warm. 1lb and 20lb tanks. Prefer the 20lb though

[MJBaldwin]

I had a small buddy heater from many yeArs ago I bought a big buddy on float and it almost cooks me out of my house. If you look at the specs on the big buddy it's 4 9 and 18k btu's for the setting the old sunflower heaters are 10 to 15k btu's this is for the top of a tank. I guess with that being said I don't know how you guys are not gettin enough heat from a bug buddy when they produce abou three thousand more btu's... Never had a problem only wish there was more settings that low med and high

[Beegreen111]

I bought a big buddy about 4-5 years ago and tried it with the (2) 1 lbs tanks and didn't think it worked very well. i went back to the mr. heater. Last year I bought a filter and hose with the quick connect for a 20 lb tank and tried agian. It worked great. I was always sweetshirt and jeans warm and no weird feeling when done fishing.Not sure what really changed with the bigger tank but it helped for me.

[Loogie]

I've used my Big Buddy for 5 or 6 years now in my 8x10 shack. I start out on high then kick it down to low otherwise it will cook ya. I did have a problem the first year with the pilot blowing out, but that was a super easy fix by repositioning the flame on the sensor. Haven't had a problem since. Love it!!!

[88fan]

This is a great topic! I just bought a 11 lb propane tank,hooked it up to my Buddy heater last night, and it took forever to get the heater to light. Then once it was lit, it was not throwing off any heat. I was wondering if it was getting enough propane? I have a 1" - 5 ft hose, a Buddy heater, and 11 LB propane tank. Any ideas I may try, or helpful hints?

If it was a new tank did they purge it when they filled it? Air can get trapped in a new tank and cause issues like this.

[Jeremy airjer W]

only wish there was more settings that low med and high

A medium high (both burners on low) IMO, would be a great option?

[CAMAN]

Quote:

only wish there was more settings that low med and high

Agreed, installing a stove style regulator that is infinitely variable shouldn't be too much hassle for them, or add that much to the cost. I'd buy one with it even if it were slightly more expensive.

[dairyman]

I just started the big buddy that I bought today and all I can say is the spark ignitor system on this one ---SUCKS. The push button one on the little one is sooooooooo much better!!

[WTN4ICE]

Do you need me to "FIX" that unit for you. Remember the pic of how I "FIXED" my first one.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I just started the big buddy that I bought today and all I can say is the spark ignitor system on this one ---SUCKS. The push button one on the little one is sooooooooo much better!!

One thing I have learned is to always have a butane fire starter with me at all times. I couldn't tell you how many times I have gone through the car wash and had the orifice for the pilot light filled with frozen water.

I agree that a push button igniter would be better.

[Knoc]

Knoc you must be a freeze baby, cause with my Big Buddy in a Frabill Ranger XL 20 deg days it is on low and I'm sweatshirt with my sleeves rolled up. Around zero on high I am still down to my sweatshirt.

Im exactly the opposite. I rarely get "cold" and have been told many times I have ice in my veins.

With both of these heaters I wouldnt say I was "cold", But I wouldnt say I was hot either. I had both of them on full blast, sitting in a Artic Armor suit and could still see my breath the whole time. I just figured for a $80 heater and a $120 heater it would get pretty toasty. Maybe my expectations were a little high. I could live with the Big buddy, but the portable buddy puts out as much heat as my lantern does. I do however like the portability of the Buddies though. Thats the main reason why I wanted to try these out.

Im not looking to have a sweat lodge, I just like fishing in a hoody ir tee when I can.