Portable Heaters

[More-Gas]

We will be boondocking in the Q this winter, been looking at portable propane heaters and looking for suggestions on what others are using.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Dutch Star Don]

There are two ways to go. If you plan to be there for several months and have a need to use a propane heater in the future, then something like a wall mount Olympian Catalytic heater is a good way to go. You can connect it directly to your propane tank and it doesn't require any power.

The other way to go, is something we use when we boon dock once a year for a week at Yosemite. It's called the Buddy Heater and comes in two sizes. Here is a link...https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F23...s=buddy+heater

Quartzsite is warm enough during the day, that you'll probably only need the heat in the evening. The Buddy heater can be operated with the disposable green propane canisters or off of a propane tank. In a coach your size, you can probably get about 4-5 hours on the low setting, per propane canister.

You can bring a BBQ size propane tank and buy a refill valve from Harbor Freight that allows you to refill the small green canisters. In an emergency two years ago, my daughter's heater quit in her trailer while we were at Yosemite. I took one of those propane poles where you can attach multiple propane operated items, attached it to a BBQ sized propane tank and placed it outside their kitchen window. With a BBQ hose, we attached the Buddy Heat, through the window, with the BBQ hose. It gave her the use of a large tank while keeping it outside.

The Buddy Heat has a tip over switch and CO sensor, so it won't kill you in your sleep. With that said, a window(s) should always be left ajar for fresh air flow.

[530ktm]

Originally Posted by More-Gas

We will be boondocking in the Q this winter, been looking at portable propane heaters and looking for suggestions on what others are using.
Thanks in advance for your help.

We also use the Buddy Heater and it works great. I buy a few of the green cans and can go for a couple of days easy if only using low for a couple hours in the mornings. It is nice because you can move it around inside the coach if needed.

[vsheetz]

Big Buddy here as well. Plumbed to the large onboard propane tank. Works well. Crack open a couple windows and ceiling vent for ventilation.

[Isaac-1]

Just be careful for leaks on the Buddy heaters where the canister screws in, I had one catch fire and melt when there was a leak around the canister about 20 years ago.

[Mike Thomas]

I have been in the plumbing and heating business for many years. Unvented heaters, as described in earlier posts work well. Opening a window is also good advise.

But all of those heaters will fail at some time, and produce carbon monoxide. The open window will vent the carbon monoxide, but the wind can change direction, and keep those gases in the vehicle.

Why not just use the vented furnace in your rv? Being cheap and dead is not my future. Being in the business for this long, I have buried more than one good friend who died of carbon monoxide.

Just cause somebody sells it, doesn't mean you have to buy it.

[TdogKing]

I've used the Big Buddy heater for years with zero problems. We only use it in the mornings as we have enough bedding to stay nice and warm during the night. We have Boondocked for 30 + years playing in the So Cal deserts and at Quartzsite too ! I think if your going to use hoses etc to double check for leaks with a little bowl of water and a drop of liquid soap. Use a old toothbrush to brush solution on fittings for your own piece of mind. Quartzsite is usually only nippy just a little in morning and then warms right up. Got to have a lot of Solar/Batteries to use 12volt RV heater all night. I have enough Solar/Batteries to run mine but that constant switching on and off keeps me awake. But you could easily run your 12volt heater for a hour or so in morning with no problems. Run generator at dinner time to keep things charged up.

[jackfish]

Vented Catalytic Heater

http://ventedcatheater.com/6.html

[Smitty77]

Big Buddy, attached to a dedicated stubbed out quick disconnect below our refrigerator. (Note: Our large on board propane bottle now only feeds our stove top. We changed to residential fridge, and use HydroHot and Electric Floor Heat for heating purposes. So plenty of propane!)

We crack the windows, open the kitchen roof vent about 2", place the Big Buddy on the table. When boon docking in 34-36 or below temps. We use it on high with the fan on for about 10 minute to remove the chill, then loafing along on the lowest setting for as long as needed.

We have added additional smoke and carbon detectors in the coach. Front and bedroom areas, plus the coaches OEM units.

Another benefit of the Buddy, is you can take it outside to keep you toasty while watching the stars at night. We often will have our Amazing Campfire in A Can going, and the Buddy on and set behind us pointing towards the rear of our chairs. (Teton's, Yellowstone, Cody, Borrego, etc. - watching the stars when bundled up in temperatures down into the 20's, with assisted human safe consumable anti freeze - are some of our favorite RV'ing memories!)

Have fun, be safe, best to all,
Smitty

[Vibiojj83]

Using a Catalytic Infrared Heater is the best but they are expensive. Your next choice should be a Ceramic Infrared Heater. They are great so long as you have space as touching the front of the unit will be hot enough to burn. Your third choice should be a Blue Flame Heater.
I would not use a Heater Buddy unless it was a Vent Free model.
I also wonder, why not just use your furnace?

[gruelens]

We use a blue flame heater, with thermostat. It works well for us.

[puttin]

We use an electric one that has a fireplace feature. It's been good for 8 years now...I like the look of it while it's on. If without hookups it might not be a good option though, most of the time we have an electric hookup.

[Clay L]

I installed a Stay A While tee so I could connect a 20 pound bottle to the motor home. That way I could refill the tank and didn't have to move the motor home. After a couple of years I started carrying a 20 pound bottle so I didn't have to fill it as often. I also started turning the water heater off at night to save propane.

[J Birder]

Originally Posted by Mike Thomas

I have been in the plumbing and heating business for many years. Unvented heaters, as described in earlier posts work well. Opening a window is also good advise.

But all of those heaters will fail at some time, and produce carbon monoxide. The open window will vent the carbon monoxide, but the wind can change direction, and keep those gases in the vehicle.

Why not just use the vented furnace in your rv? Being cheap and dead is not my future. Being in the business for this long, I have buried more than one good friend who died of carbon monoxide.

Just cause somebody sells it, doesn't mean you have to buy it.

The fan in the vented furnace can quickly run down the batteries. Not a big deal if you are on shore power, but the OP said he is boondocking. Having a heater that doesn't use electricity is a big plus.

The ventless heaters don't emit CO when they go bad. The emit CO right from day one, when working perfectly. Your propane stoves also emit CO, but we haven't quit cooking.

I guess the second friend who died didn't learn anything from the first. He didn't leave a window open, and he didn't have a working CO detector.

Phony scare tactics really aren't helpful.

Joel