Heating unit for portable!

[Dewski]

Last year I used a sunflower heater with the door cracked. I found that it was not the easiest thing to keep enough fresh air in without letting to much cold in. What products are out there? I would prefer something that fit on a 20lb propane tank. Any suggestions????

Bret A. Hanson

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have been using a Buddy Heater.. Not nearly as much heat as the sunflour.. but I found it to be enough most days.

[stick]

I agree with the Portable Buddy. I'm thinking about upgrading to the Big Buddy. I originally went with the Buddy for the low oxygen cutout. I like that safety feature. I find that -10 + makes it a bit cold for the Portable Buddy, as does wind. The wind forces the cold air into the house. That is why I'm thinking about the upgrade to the Big Buddy that goes up to 15,000 BTU (I think). What does everybody else think?

[WalleyeStriker]

I have had a Buddy heater for a couple of years. I have the Clam 6800 and when I have the heater going i wear a t-shirt and sweatpants regaurdless of the weather.

[hanson]

The Big Buddy had a world of problems that led to a recall last winter. Many people were unhappy with it.

BUT, that doesn't mean that will be the case this winter. Hopefully Mr. Heater got the bugs worked out. It should be a pretty nice little heater

Myself, sunflower head on an 11lb tank in my portable. The portables have enough ventilation to keep you thinking clearly in my opinion.

[Matt Johnson]

Mr. Heater makes a very good product. I use the Mr. Heater Cooker for most of my heating needs, but the Big Buddy and Portable Buddy are both excellent choices for portable fish houses as well. It depends on how warm you like it inside your portable when choosing a heater though. I've been fine with the cooker, but sometimes up-sizing to a little extra heat can go a long ways when the temps turn arctic

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Captain B.R.K]

Quote:

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Last year I used a sunflower heater with the door cracked. I found that it was not the easiest thing to keep enough fresh air in without letting to much cold in. What products are out there? I would prefer something that fit on a 20lb propane tank. Any suggestions????

Bret A. Hanson

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Bret- I find a 20 lb propane cylinder just isn't "portable" in my book. I would take the advise from some of these guys, as well as mine, and look into a Mr. Heater Cooker with the 1lb or downgrade to a 10lb tank w/hose OR go with the Mr.Buddy heater.

I have both and have to admit each year my Mr.Heater Cooker collects more dust. The Mr.Buddy heater is just lite weight, could be used with a 10lb tank w/hose and does keep me warm in my Fishtrap Pro unit. It even keeps me toasty in my Otter Medium house (can't remember the exact name, but you get the point w/size).

Hope this helps.

[gvg_uwec]

i use the my heater cooker in my frabil xltwin and i normally only need it on low to medium. i think i only used it once or twice last year on high and that was because i was sick of wearing my heavy coat i wore for the ride out to the spot. I used the hose attachment and used less than a 20lb cylinder all season. this year i have gotten an 11lb cylinder and it takes up much less space. from all of the problems that i have heard about the buddys blowing out unless they have a wind screen put on them has shyed me away from "upgrading" to the buddy line. (and i like that i can put it on high and be toasty in a minute or two.) just my opinion

[redrocketangler]

I use the big buddy with 1lb cylinders alot nicer than luggin around a big tank and keep two spare tanks with me. If you heat up the house on high and then turn it to low i can easily get a day of fishin out of two tanks. And no more burnin the canvas

Sometimes I bring the big tank with me and set it outside the house and run the same hose to it that i use for my webber q grill works real slick not havin the tank in the house. and yes i have the blowin out problem but not that often only if the winds are more than 20mph the little buddy will blow out thats why i upgraded to the big buddy.my opinion is go with the big buddy.

[augernaut]

Seems like alot of guys like to be able to take off all their outdoor clothing and be in a t-shirt when fishing. My style of fishing is much different - I'm moving, outside as much as possible, drilling holes, searching, etc. I use a buddy heater, and it's perfect. I don't want my portable to be too warm - why sweat and have to lose clothes, etc? On a moderately cold day, I only use the low setting, on a very cold day (-20, etc) I can use the high setting and be comfortable - not too warm, but warm enough to have good dexterity, etc. Comes down to what you want to do on the ice - but keep an eye on those open flamed heaters, they eat oxygen at a rapid pace and are more prone to burning things up, shanty walls, etc!

[Animal]

When the Buddy first came out I bought one. After a couple of trips I dumped it because there was not enough heat. I do most of my fishing in northern Mn and in southern Ontario, but rarely fish if the temps below -10f. I went back to the sunflower and 20 pounder if I'm truck fishing and use a 10 when I'm on the snowmobile. I've never had a problem burning anything up, but I've wrecked a couple thermocouples transportiing it with the snowmobile.

Last winter I was at LOW and decided to fish down the road from my fish house. After I set my portable up I found that my hose for the heater had a leak. I went back to the house and got my 3 burner Coleman stove. The temp as hovering around 0 and just one burner kept the Otter warm. I couldn't help but get to thinking that the stove with the steel box would be a great design for a ice fishing heater. Everyone knows those Colemans are rugged and you would only have to open the lid and light it up. I'm sure it could be adapted to an excellent heater design.

[Northlander]

Buddy heater when out on normal days and when it gets fridged I go with either the Mr.Heater Cooker or the Mr.Heater on a 11# tank. I like to be warm but not sweating.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I use a Big buddy heater. I was one of the fortunate ones who didn't have any problems with mine. I just had it replaced with a brand new one because of the recall. I use a pancake style 11 pound tank and always bring along a couple of 1lbs just in case. These will put out 18,000 btu's which keeps me plenty happy in the otter magnum lodge. I've never had a problem with the flame blowing out because of wind. I also like the built in fan and use it often esspecially when its really cold.

It is big and heavy but it will keep you warm!

[Jim Hudson]

For my Fish Trap Scout, the Mr Heater Cooker gets the nod with 1lb tanks... Most of the time I only need to keep the setting on low to keep me warm.. And it doesnt take up much space in the tub while traveling or on the ice while fishing...

With my Fish Trap Voyager, I go with a Sunflower heater on top of a 11lb tank... Works very well and uses very little propane as I am usually only running it on medium.... I will say this though, if you are going to run a sunflower type heater on a tank, bring a piece of cardboard or a regular board with you to put your tank on (eliminates ice build up on the bottom of the tank).

[mnvikingsfreak]

Im thinking about getting a HT one man flipover ice shelter is ther enough room for 2 holes and a sunflower heater with a 20lb tank?

[shorefisher]

I HAD a big buddy last year and it was JUNK. May be they got the bugs worked out this year but I found that it use up 1# tanks quite fast and if I need to have a 20# tank the sunflower is smaller/lighter and for me has been fool proof for 25 years. I have never burned my fish house with it. And it is nice to be able to cook/heat things when out for the day.

[Moose-Hunter]

To those of you that still have one of the first-run Big Buddy Heaters... Get in touch with Mr. Heater to see if the recall is still going on. If you own one of the "bad" heaters, last spring they were still swapping them out for the new models.

The newly designed internals of the Big Buddy work like a charm!! Extended the run time of the 1lb tanks and no more safety issues to worry about. I've used both types of bulk tank hoses (quick connect and screw type) and have had ZERO issues. 5lb, 10lb pancake, and 20lb tanks all function properly.

I've used my Big Buddy heater down to -13f in my Otter Lodge and was toasty warm. I even use it to heat my 8 x 8 perm. The forced air heat is really nice for keeping the holes open. And best of all... NO STINKY FUMES!!

Sure it's a bit bulky. This alone makes it a "not so perfect choice" for some. However, for this ice fanatic... It's the hot ticket!!

[Perchpapa]

I like my Mr. Heater/Cooker. It keeps my trap nice and toasty. I love ice fishing but I still don't like to get too cold. I put the tank outside and run the 5' hose inside and put the heater by my feet if I can. Plus you can cook on it, which is great so you can stay on the ice all day and have hot meals.

[Captain B.R.K]

I like the Mr.Heater Cooker too.

The only problem is that it does get my Fishtrap Pro a bit on the warm side. Wish there was a setting in between low and medium. I say that on a COLD day.

The other thing you have to keep in mind is that the flame is a bit more exposed than on a , say, Mr.Buddy Heater. Just have to be mindful of the tarp, jacket, line, etc. that might be hanging around the flame.

You'll have to pick what situation you'll find yourself more in and buy the heater to what your needs will be then.

[wally20]

Quote:

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The Big Buddy had a world of problems that led to a recall last winter. Many people were unhappy with it.

BUT, that doesn't mean that will be the case this winter. Hopefully Mr. Heater got the bugs worked out. It should be a pretty nice little heater

Myself, sunflower head on an 11lb tank in my portable. The portables have enough ventilation to keep you thinking clearly in my opinion. [/quote

I have a big buddy heater and have had no problems, but wondering about the recall? A friend of mine had one and dropped it when it was about -10 and it shattered!

[Jeremy airjer W]

wally, just go to the mrheater HSOforum. You'll see a red box in the upper left labeled with "big buddy/tuff buddy recall". click on it and you'll find all you need to know. As far as the one that shattered it can't hurt to send it back if it is the ones that require an exchange. I know several people including myself that had to exchange the unit and the ones we sent in where in no way "like new", but they sent us back new ones anyway!