Big Buddy Heater?

[Dahitman44]

I have the little buddy and when it is really cold it does not put out enough heat to keep warm -- plus it is hard to keep going and get going in the cold.

I had one of the first BIG BUDDY heaters and boy did they have problems with those. I returned it along with a tone of other people and stuck with the little one.

Wondering who uses the BIG Buddy and if the new ones are working ok. I am also wondering if you use the small cylinders or the 20-pound tank. I understand the cylinders worked better, for some reason.

I hope to get one if the work ok now and use the 20-pound tank.

Thanks

Hitman

[Orlip]

I picked up the big buddy last year and hooked it up to a 20 lb tank and never had trouble even in -10 with strong winds. I did buy the filter they say to use. If you are going to get one and can hold off I got mine at Jimmy Johnson's hardware store for half price after Christmas.

[TimBuck2]

I have one and used it all last season with an 11 lb. pancake tank. No real issues. It does like to go out if there's a draft, but banking the sides of the portable solves that. The knob broke on me, but I gorilla glued it back together and banded it with some 18ga solid wire. Fixed that. I've been using it in the garage since October off of a 20 lb. tank and it runs like a champ. I found that it does make a difference which side you hook up the hose though. At least on mine it prefer's the Left side.

TB2

[Dahitman44]

Those things can be very tempermental.

Thanks for the info.

Everyone else's buddy is working ok?

[Fishing_Novice]

I purchased one of the reconditioned Big Buddy units this year and had problems with it. It would start great and run for about 5 minutes and then just shut off. I brought it back and exchanged it for a different one and I have ran this one problem free for about 6 hours. I use (2)-one pound tanks for now. It sure seems to throw out plenty of heat for my Clam 5600.

[Loogie]

I've had mine for 2 years and love it. I heat my dumpy 8ftx10ft perm. It can cook you out on high.

I use a 20lbs tank. Rarely use 1 lbs disposables.

Never really had a problem with it, although it can take a while to get lit. I have a 15ft hose between the tank and heater, so I figure it takes a while to purge the air from the line.

[dk]

I too run mine on a 20lb tank and have no regrets purchasing it. I also found it tough to light but mostly after I have left it in the back of the truck or out in the cold. I think moisture builds on the igniter. A match usually fixes the problems when this happens.

[Dahitman44]

You light it with a match? You can do that?

[Borch]

Mine works fine and I always run it off a 20 lb tank. It does take awhile to light when the gas has been purged from the hose but that's due to the pilot nit useing much gas. Kicks off plenty of heat for my Otter Lodge even on the coldest windiest days. Mine does not blow out easily. You can light it with a match and I have done that a few times since my son borrowed it for a few fishing trips and banged the heck out of it cracking the knob.

[Augusta]

I have twoBig Buddie heater for my 2 Otters. Both work very well, although it does take time to light them if I "drain" the 10 hose of propane. I have been out on some pretty colds days, bank the house right and you can sit wearing a t-shirt.

[EBass]

I think my bigbuddy is one of the originals. 3 yrs old?

I run mine on a 20lb with no filter and never have any issues. I have an otter cottage and I keep it hot

[hovermn]

Bought a big buddy last year. Used it all year with both 1 lbers and an 11 lb tank. Works great! When using the 11 lb tank, it's hooked up using the quick connect hose. Beauty is, no filter to worry about. It does take a few turns of the igniter to fire it off after it's been sitting for a while, and I never disconnect the house, but once lit, it's been great. Right now, it's keeping my 17' fish house toasty on the low setting. High is like turning a blast furnace on!

No problems with mine...yet