paigenmarc
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Post by paigenmarc on Oct 5, 2013 14:01:34 GMT -8
I'm planning a camping trip in November, but I don't have a heater, and I really can't afford to spend $250 on one right now. Is it safe to run a freestanding gas heater in the closed-up camper? Do you need to ventilate it? Are there other options? Sorry this is such a basic question. I welcome all ideas and suggestions.
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Oct 5, 2013 15:19:41 GMT -8
Buy yourself a small ceramic heater (Walmart, etc) that runs on 125V house current. It will cost you 25-30 dollars and will keep your camper warm. When we went to St Paul, MN to get Tallulah Belle, the first night homeward bound we stayed in Iowa, in 34F temp with rain drizzling, and our small ceramic heater kept the inside warm and cozy, even with a broken dinette window covered with cardboard. Cheap and convienent, no open flame to worry about.
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Post by universalexports on Oct 5, 2013 17:44:43 GMT -8
check out the "buddy" or big buddy propane heater from wal-mart, indoor safe, Automatic low oxygen shutoff tilt over protection, adjustable temp uses the small 1 pound propane bottles and they fit inside it, I have 2 of them. with any type of heat you need a small amount of ventilation, it's like 1 square inch for each thousand BTU's or something like that, I forget. www.walmart.com/ip/Mr.-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater/14710768
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61 Shasta
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Post by 61 Shasta on Oct 5, 2013 18:27:22 GMT -8
I second universals suggestion. We camped in a 101/2 pickup camper last winter in Pullman, Wa at about 20 degree's. We had the big buddy with 2 bottles. It worked great and we were cozy all night. The neat part was the 2 bottles lasted all night on the low setting and did the job. Good luck
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Post by bigbill on Oct 5, 2013 20:10:23 GMT -8
I personally like electric heaters, cheaper to buy and cheaper to operate. Propane heaters that are unvented always leave a taste in my mouth even with a vent open. Propane just keeps going up in cost. I am going total electric in my unit, safer and cleaner of course I plan to do very little camping off grid.
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shastabear
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Post by shastabear on Oct 6, 2013 4:33:22 GMT -8
I purchased a ceramic heater for 35 bucks at that WMart store that I loathe so much and it works great!!!! And if your camper has a gas light, you'll be amazed at how much heat those suckers throw as well.
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Post by vikx on Oct 6, 2013 23:18:30 GMT -8
The Buddy heaters really use a LOT OF GAS. Not worth it, unless an emergency in my opinion. Electric or a Wave would be the way to go.
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gonekayaking
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Post by gonekayaking on Oct 7, 2013 8:16:08 GMT -8
I think for occasional use the lil buddy is fine, heats the trailer up pretty fast, and then turn it off until needed again. We only need it once in a while our here in CA and it's been great. And if you are dry camping an electric heater (as suggested) sucks way too much juice from the batteries.
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paigenmarc
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Post by paigenmarc on Oct 9, 2013 11:26:00 GMT -8
Thanks for all the great advice all! Some good things to consider for sure.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 11, 2013 20:49:52 GMT -8
One thing you should know about the Buddy with the low O2 sensor is that they don't work above 7000 feet asl.
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Oct 12, 2013 6:52:38 GMT -8
One thing you should know about the Buddy with the low O2 sensor is that they don't work above 7000 feet asl. 7000 feet??? Holy Toledo, the only time I go over 7000 feet is when I am flying to work pffshore! Living here at sea level in South Lousiana, we tend to forget that places with elevation DO exist elsewhere...
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 12, 2013 7:27:06 GMT -8
I was in Colorado for a month straight and the lowest point there is 7000 feet. I was camped at 8500 feet and used my little Sport Cat propane heater for cold nights in the tent. This was during the month of June and July and I still needed the heater up there about half the time.
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skipnwendy
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Post by skipnwendy on Oct 13, 2013 5:04:36 GMT -8
We have the big buddy propane heater and last November I had to get up in the night and shut it off because it was so hot in the camper it worked that well in 35 degree weather
we had stayed at 2 campgrounds that week and the first one had electric/sewer hookups and we used a small electric space heater there and it worked great to
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boandsusan
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Post by boandsusan on Oct 31, 2013 17:21:05 GMT -8
We use a small electric ceramic heater from Wal-mart. Keeps us really toasty.
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Post by bigbill on Oct 31, 2013 19:48:32 GMT -8
Yes and with the electric heater you most likely will wake up the next morning. I just don't like portable gas heaters in anything tighter than a tent.
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