Mr Heater Big Buddy

[tramiot]

I recently obtained a Big Buddy heater. In lieu of having dozens of 1 lb tanks on hand, I am wanting to connect to a 20 lb tank. I already own a Weber adapter hose that I use on my camping grill that has the appropriate connectors. After reading the owner's manual from Mr Heater I noticed the "only use Mr Heater hose" warning. They also talk about a fuel filter that should be used when running on 20 lb tanks.

Looking for thoughts and experiences.

[20lbSloughShark]

If the connections fit, I don't see why it wouldn't work. I'm sure the warning is to avoid accidents. If your going to use a 20 lb tank, I think you would be much better off with a sunflower heater that attaches right to the tank. They get much warmer, and I found are easier to light. The buddy heaters are great because they are so light, and you don't need a lighter. They work ok, but on the coldest days they are just a little too cold.

[highlife4me]

If you are running a regulator between the tank and the hose no filter is needed.

[Lusid]

IMO - always use a filter if my memory is correct they run around 10bux. Propane is pretty dirty and will clog stuff over time.

[leech~~]

I think there has been a lot of posts on this subject in the past. I thought someone posted that the gas in the small tanks are filtered when made but the bulk gas in the big tanks is not filtered and you will have a lot of issues without adding a inline filter on it? I am thinking of doing the same thing this year and will be adding a filter!

[CaptainMusky]

The issue is this. If you use a "typical" hose and connect to the big buddy without a filter, you WILL have problems. It isnt a maybe, just a matter of how long. The high pressure hoses cause debris to plug up stuff in the Big Buddy.

To avoid this, do as the manual suggests and get the low pressure hose with the quick disconnect. You do NOT need a filter and the quick connect is VERY handy. Been using this hose with my Big Buddy for 7 years and never an issue.

[CaptainMusky]

If the connections fit, I don't see why it wouldn't work. I'm sure the warning is to avoid accidents.

Completely false. The warnings are NOT to prevent accidents but to prevent you from having the unit plug up and wanting to smash it into a million pieces.

Follow the manual, get the low pressure hose with quick disconnect and you will be golden.

Cannot even compare this to a sunflower heater. They are unsafe, dangerous and loud.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Use the R.V. Quick connect hose with the pressure regulator at the tank. No filter needed and recommended for the big buddy when using remote tanks. It's the setup I use and have had no issues with it. I have one of the original big buddies and have been using the quick connect almost the whole time I have had it.

[alleyesonme]

x3 on the quick connect hose, spend the extra on the good hose and it will run for years. have had mine now for over 6 years and is still running strong.

[CamozKool]

diddo on the hose, I use the 273704 with the regulator, as previously mentioned it doesn't need a filter.. the filter is needed because the hose material in some hoses leaches causing clogs in the pilot... been there done that... happy angling...

[gonehunting]

X4 on the rv quick connect hose. I have had no issues with any of my big buddies using these. Also use patience when lighting. It takes time to fill this hose because of it's length. If it doesn't light hold and let hose fill for a minute or two. It would be nice if they made a 6ft version of this hose.

[Northlander]

Use the R.V. Quick connect hose with the pressure regulator at the tank. No filter needed and recommended for the big buddy when using remote tanks. It's the setup I use and have had no issues with it. I have one of the original big buddies and have been using the quick connect almost the whole time I have had it.

That's exactly what I have and it works great.

[wishing for walleyes]

X4 on the rv quick connect hose. I have had no issues with any of my big buddies using these. Also use patience when lighting. It takes time to fill this hose because of it's length. If it doesn't light hold and let hose fill for a minute or two. It would be nice if they made a 6ft version of this hose.

I have 2 big buddies with the 12 ft. hoses. I spliced in manual shut off valves just after it comes out of the tank and that solved the air in the hose problem. Hoses stay full of propane after I unhook them from the tank. I have never used a filter and have never had a problem.

[401TE]

I have the quick connect 12 footer. Used to hate lighting my big buddy because it takes forever to fill the hose with gas if you follow the instructions. A shortcut is to use a key or something to depress the nipple at the heater end of the hose for a second. Do that, attach it to the heater and your heater will ignite immediately. Obviously, do this outside the house and you probably shouldn't do it with a lit cig nearby!

[20lbSloughShark]

Maybe my buddy heater came bad from the factory, but below zero degree temps, and you really want a sunflower. Its a little louder, but how is it more dangerous than a big buddy heater?

[CaptainMusky]

Carbon monoxide for one. Buddy has a pilot light and will shut off if CO gets too high. The other is all the hot surfaces that melt anything they touch. Not an issue with the buddy heaters.

[WTN4ICE]

Speaking of smashing one...been there done that !!!!

[aanderud]

Maybe my buddy heater came bad from the factory, but below zero degree temps, and you really want a sunflower. Its a little louder, but how is it more dangerous than a big buddy heater?

I fished with a friend's buddy heater in 2007, and our holes were freezing over left and right in about 5-10 degree weather. Not sure what was up with it, it just didn't want to put out much heat. I think it must have been plugged or something. It was very annoying and I wanted to beat it with a hammer.

Eventually I bought a big buddy after hearing so many other good reports. Have to say, my big buddy works great below zero, but I also have an insulated portable now (otter lodge thermal). It has like 3 heat settings or so, and I have actually only fished with it on high (two-burner mode) a handful of times.

[leech~~]

Carbon monoxide for one. Buddy has a pilot light and will shut off if CO gets too high. The other is all the hot surfaces that melt anything they touch. Not an issue with the buddy heaters.

I think it has a "low ox" shut off, not a CO shut off.

[tsande00]

X10 on the low pressure, 12' quick connect hose. No filter needed and it's quick and easy to use. I use to be a sunflower guy until I bought the big buddy for my 8x12 perm. I haven't used the sunflower since, although it's so small and compact it's easy to bring with as a spare heater.

[Turkeynate1]

How are you guys hauling your 20lb tanks? I hate hauling mine in the Otter. Beats the dump out of everything. Thinking of mounting a milk crate to my ATV and putting it in there. Then I would just need to run the 12' hose from the atv etc. anybody have pics of how they mount their tanks to an atv?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I run mine off a ten pound pancake style tank.

[Iceboy]

I have the quick connect 12 footer. Used to hate lighting my big buddy because it takes forever to fill the hose with gas if you follow the instructions. A shortcut is to use a key or something to depress the nipple at the heater end of the hose for a second. Do that, attach it to the heater and your heater will ignite immediately. Obviously, do this outside the house and you probably shouldn't do it with a lit cig nearby!

Great tip! Thanks!

[tsande00]

How are you guys hauling your 20lb tanks? I hate hauling mine in the Otter. Beats the dump out of everything. Thinking of mounting a milk crate to my ATV and putting it in there. Then I would just need to run the 12' hose from the atv etc. anybody have pics of how they mount their tanks to an atv?

I haul mine around in a milk crate, actually it's just a plastic bin that looks like a milk crate that I picked up at Walmart for a few bucks. I don't have the crate fastened to anything (just sits in my sled) and it stays in place pretty well. The crate also makes a grate depository for empty bee.....soda cans.