Buddy heater supplemental

YanniLazarus

i wanted to share my experience with a Buddy heater- and to hear more about other supplemental heat users experiences.  We'll camp year round in New England,  but our parameter is... got to be comfortable!  We like to stop for lunch and a nap daily, but have always found the Alde too slow to warm for brief stops.  We're also out, occasionally, in very cold weather- 9 degrees last night at our wonderful Harvest Host spot. So... we're trying the Buddy.  First thing, even on low the Buddy puts out too much heat to keep on the counter- most of the heat goes straight up... you can see my new blemish in the surface above the stove. (Darn learning curve). The spot on the floor of our 320 seems perfect. Next, the Buddy on low puts out enough heat for us to have our fan vent at 45 degrees and our front window open 1 inch- while maintaining 70 - with an outdoor temp of 10- so plenty of ventilation. Experimenting with raising the Buddy 6 inches or so above the bathroom floor, blocking the bathroom door open, and using it when the bed is made. Last thing... our Alde seems to be able to make a 50 degree difference interior/exterior.

CCC

I have used one of those in my unheated 1994 Scamp and it will get it warm. As I recall though, it seems the small propane tanks would run out after 3-4 hours.

YanniLazarus

I have a little more experience with that heater now. I think I will only be using it in the future when: 

1. Stopping roadside for lunch/ nap/ break as a way for a quick warm up without bothering to turn on the Alde at all.  

2. For the "heavy lifting" of getting my T@B from anywhere below 50ish degrees to 70 when wanting to occupy the T@B immediately. 

3.  For a quick morning warmup on a winter trip if I've been too lazy to raise the Alde thermostat an hour or so before getting out of bed. 

4.  If ( God forbid)  my Alde doesn't work I have backup/ emergency heat. 

Note that I am a HUGE fan of the Alde system... while realizing that the T@B is not designed for winter camping, so accommodations need to be made. 

(My preference for supplemental heat will always be a small plug in electric heater, on low,  set on my kitchen counter... but alas, I often don't have shore power!) 

For these limited seasonal uses, it seems worth bringing the Buddy heater along and using a few 1 pound canisters.