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Mr. Heater Portable Buddy LP heater (supplemental while awake heat)

Red BarchettaRed BarchettaModaholic Lifetime Member

I realized recently that I hadn't mentioned one of our favorite fall & winter gadgets.

A Mr. Heater "Portable Buddy" propane heater -

http://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html



Ours is at least 12 years old and still going strong.



We almost exclusively dry camp so don't have electrical hook-up's when we are camping (which we are fortunate to do year 'round here).



Our 1575 (& our previous popup trailer) has a single-blower Atwood furnace (model 7920-II) which is fairly loud when running.

While it's not a bother when we're sleeping it's certainly loud enough to be a bother when playing games, reading, watching a movie, etc...

Not to mention, it's a battery hog(!).



We use the Portable Buddy heater in the evening while awake as well as in the morning to take the chill off.

It heats our 1575 up in minutes.

LP use is extremely minimal.

And best of all while dry camping - no battery use.



Although it's not necessarily needed we use a 12"x12" ceramic tile as a heat deflector underneath and in front of it as the trailer's linoleum floor does get pretty warm.

It's simple, light, fits inside the box, and takes all worry away of marring/melting the trailer floor.



The heater (& tile) can easily be moved around the trailer.



We are set up to use 1lb. canisters as well as to run off of a larger tank.



Everything fits inside the box when stored.



4 cautions -

- Open windows &/or ceiling vents when operating this heater for ventilation (we have 3 ceiling vents - bedroom, hall, & bathroom - & have all 3 partially opened when using this heater).

- In my/our opinion, this heater should not be used while asleep or away from the trailer for gas & fire reasons.

- Do not use this heater around little kids or skittish animals.

- Keep bedding, etc... away from this heater as they could catch fire if too close.



Here are a few shots -





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Last edited by Eric Dye
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R&V SpikerR&V SpikerLOA's Master Gabber King of LOALance AmbassadorLifetime MemberTrailmaster
Jeff, this looks like a worthy item but I do have one concern which you kind of addressed in your list of cautions. Since this heater does burn fuel and consumes oxygen, using it in an enclosed environment might be somewhat hazardous to one's health. The two examples of RVs you've used this in both have/had tenting material which is not as airtight. Hard sided trailers and TCs are definitely more sealed to outside air influence.

Am I being overly paranoid/cautious?
Bob RBob RLOA's Beach Bum In MemoryLifetime MemberTrailmaster

I have used the same thing in a tc for years and love it.  Run it for a hour or so and it heats up the camper interior and walls really quick.  I find I can get about 5 hours on low on a 1lb bottle.  It actually does not produce carbon monoxide but carbon dioxide so if you keep things closed up it gets damp inside.  We do crack a vent or window though.

Red BarchettaRed BarchettaModaholic Lifetime Member

All I can tell you is that we've used ours for 12+ years and have never had a problem.

 

And having the ceiling vents open also makes it so that no condensation builds up on the ceiling, walls, ... so you don't wake up to rain splattering you in the face in the morning.  

*This is something you learn quickly to address as a popup trailer owner.

wahooncwahooncCamp Host FreeLOAderLifetime Member
Originally Posted by Kent Smith:

I see the box says "indoor safe" but does that mean they expect you to open a window?

It comes with a low oxygen shutdown sensor IIRC. I have 3 or 4 of these that I have accumulated over the years. They are part of our emergency kits at home if the power goes out. I have a couple of 20# LP tanks in milk crates with brackets that can be hung on a window sill with the hose fed indoors to the heater. I also used one in my popup for several years of winter camping. I haven't used one in my current camper, but I may toss one in the truck on my next cold weather trip. 

 

I do crack a window when using it. I have no problem going to sleep with it on as long as it is set up in a proper manner. I also have a CO detector in my camper. I have never had a Buddy Heater set off a CO detector even when we had to use them during a power outage in the house.

 

Aaron

Terry GfellerTerry GfellerMaster Camper Lifetime Member

 I have two small ones and one big buddy, they see extensive use in my fish house (ice fishing) and during deer season I have a insulated enclosed deer stand on my property.

Other than melting a few things that brushed up against them I have never had any problems, but I would hesitate using too long in a very tightly sealed  space without a little ventilation.

 They are pretty much the standard in this area for icefishing so if there were any major problems with them I would have heard of it by now

setterssettersLOA's media master FreeLOAderKing of LOALifetime MemberTrailmaster
Jacster Trixter posted:

I really like the Buddy. Just crack a vent and use when you are awake. All will be well...unless of course you trip while carrying a large mixing bowl full of gasoline right next to it. In which case all will most definitely be well. Just sayin'.

 

Cheers!

Same as tripping with one of your margaritas.........

 Image result for picture of a gas explosion

and from what I get out of it, your margaritas can make one trip...literally....!

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Kent SmithKent SmithMod Maestro FreeLOAderLifetime Member

I remembered Jeff talking about his Mr. Heater Buddy last year commenting that it works great while boondocking (no electricity).

We are going on a 4-day camp out next week without hookups and I had always recharged my batteries with the solar and never worried about it. Now looking at the current forecast, we are supposed to have rain all 4 days. That means no recharging. 

With my Victron battery monitor I already know my furnace blower is a major battery hog. With my dual Group 29 batteries, during the summer (no furnace) I can easily go 24 hours and only consume <10% of the batteries. Therefore in 4 days I would be down 40%. However, in the winter I have the furnace blower going and in 24 hours on a cold day/night 30-40 degrees I can consume 25%. 

This looks like the perfect solution. 

I see there is a smaller version MH4B with 3800 BTU. It sits on the bottle so very compact.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heate...opane/dp/B001CFRF7I/

I assume the larger version you mentioned heats the area quicker if set on high (9K BTU), but consumes 2x the fuel.

I like the smaller size of this little guy and since I have the green bottle refill adapter I don't care about using many small bottles.

Anything else I should be thinking about before I pull the trigger here?

 

Terry GfellerTerry GfellerMaster Camper Lifetime Member

 I have been using the little 3800btu heater in my fish house this winter and it works fine. I also have been using the refill adaptor on the bottles. I do notice the refilled bottles only last me around 3 hours where a brand new one around 5. But the directions say to have the little tanks cold and the big tank room temperature and I have not been doing that, both tanks are ice cold outside

 A nice safety feature on it is if it gets tipped over or even bumped hard it goes out.

 

sealyinsealyinLife's A Beach Lifetime MemberTrailmaster

We have used the one in the OP for years.  Mostly out in the desert when we don't want to eat up the battery with the furnace blower at night.  Crack a window and a vent and all is good.  One of my projects is to plumb it to the trailer LP so I don't have to carry the bottles.

setterssettersLOA's media master FreeLOAderKing of LOALifetime MemberTrailmaster
Bob R posted:

Kent. Ed, I have the next size up but only run it on low and get about 5 hours on it.  Never leave home without it in the spring and fall.  Ed your only problem might be Quigly knocking it over. It has a auto shutoff and it works quick.

I think if I get one I would put it on the dinette table or up on the stove, be a lot harder for him to bump...

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