Tent heater ideas please

FIVESPDDISCO

FIVESPDDISCO

2
Apr 29, 2004
6,776
2
Clarence center
www.lucky8LLc.com
In November I'm going to take my three-year-old son camping with me. We will be in upstate New York were the temperatures can range anywhere from 40? at night all the way down to below zero. If it stays close to 40 he will be okay but anything below that's going to make it very uncomfortable for the little guy that still doesn't understand how a sleeping bag works.

The first thing I was going for was the mister heater little guy heater, But fear of starving my son brain of oxygen has pushed me away from this idea.

This is what we got going on
Were staying in a Oz tent Rv4. I think this tent is to our advantage the thick canvas walls will help hold in the heat.
We will also be sleeping on cots. This is a disadvantage as the cold air will be able to circulate underneath.

I was thinking of the heater buddy as mentioned earlier but I'm afraid of the CO problem. I have an Inverter and was also thinking about hooking it up to run a 120 V little heater but I don't know if that will make the night.

Please let me know what you guys think And thanks for your help in advance.
 
Jake1996D1

Jake1996D1

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2011
3,363
1
West Des Moines IA
Last year at ROTR I used the "little buddy" but it only lasts 5-6hrs on one lb canisters.. Hope you can find a better solution.. It would be nice to find something for those who camp in their trucks on trips..
 
barnass

barnass

Well-known member
Mar 11, 2007
117
0
NY
Little buddies have an O2 sensor built in. Or carbon monoxide sensor. They shut off when things get sketchy...or so they say.

I'm taking my badass battery pack & getting a heating blanket from Wally World. It draws like 50 watts and by my math should hold for about 5-6 hours.

Inverters running heaters will draw too much. Kill your battery quick.
 
ArmyRover

ArmyRover

Well-known member
Dec 4, 2007
3,230
1
Augusta, GA
I've found a couple of hot females keep you warm all night.


edit: just noticed your taking your 3 year old son with you, please disregard my advice.
 
FIVESPDDISCO

FIVESPDDISCO

2
Apr 29, 2004
6,776
2
Clarence center
www.lucky8LLc.com
barnass said:
Little buddies have an O2 sensor built in. Or carbon monoxide sensor. They shut off when things get sketchy...or so they say.

I'm taking my badass battery pack & getting a heating blanket from Wally World. It draws like 50 watts and by my math should hold for about 5-6 hours.

Inverters running heaters will draw too much. Kill your battery quick.
Click to expand...

I have to run the numbers but My theory is Higher voltage from the output of the inverter will allow the heater to run at lower amp draw.
 
msggunny

msggunny

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2007
2,978
3
Holly Ridge, NC
Use an inflatable sleeping pad, like the one you let me use only with out a hole in it, on the cots. This will keep you insulated and warmer.

What are your bags rated to? Bring bags at are rated below what the low is supposed to be for the area. Bring a light fleece blanket for the inside of them. I use a poncho liner but the fleece is warmer to the touch initially.

The Oz tent doesnt have a chimney so that rules out any type of combustion heating, what do you have for power gen?

I would watch out for anything that gives off CO while your sleeping. Maybe have something that will warm up the tent in the morning, just dont run it all day. That is always the bitch, getting out of a nice warm sleeping bag into the cold.
 
Rover_Hokie

Rover_Hokie

Well-known member
Jun 7, 2008
355
0
Roanoke Valley, VA
This will not solve all the problem, but when I camp without the camping trailer with my wife in a tent, I always put a few of the larger Instant Heat pocket type warmers that you activate either by exposure to air or crunching the contents around. I put 2 or 3 in her sleeping bag, the larger MEGA warmers and body warmers that are made for your back that can be taped inside the back of your jacket. They stay warm for 10-12 hours. May not be enough alone, but may improve whatever other method you come up with.

http://www.warmers.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemid=MWES10&pkey=Mega+Warmers%2c+12+Hour+%281+Big+Pack+of+10%29&pval=MWES10&pIds=itemid

http://www.warmers.com/Category.aspx?Cat=70&pkey=Body+Warmers&pval=70&pIds=CategoryID
 
Last edited:
Tugela

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,765
564
Seattle
x2 on putting a sleeping pad on top of the cot, that will make a big difference. Another low tech stay warm technique is to put boiling water in a Nalgene or other type of water bottle, pull a couple socks over it, and shove them in the sleeping bag. Other simple things to stay warm:

wear a hat
be hydrated
eat a high calorie dinner

It's harder for kids to stay warm because they are usually swimming in sleeping bags that are way too big for them. It takes a lot of energy to heat a space that big with just your body. The better you can insulate, the warmer he'll be. Hence the pad underneath, the extra loft in or on top of the bag, and hot water bottles.

Good luck, have fun, and no matter how warm or cold your kid is you can make it into an exciting adventure.
 
kennith

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
You've got a Land Rover. Heat it up, shut it off, and sleep.

Still...

Setting things up properly will drastically reduce the need to add heat to the interior space of a tent. Avoid all forms of "active" technology that you can.

1: The safest way to have a warmer tent is to create another barrier inside it. The idea is to create a space of dead air within the tent. This can be accomplished in many ways. Some are easy, some are not.

Be sure sure it doesn't cut off your air supply. Simply hanging a blanket partially over you or on either side is enough. Don't let it touch the ceiling, and don't let it touch the ground. Note your tent's ventilation arrangement, and keep it in mind.

If you can't be bothered, fitting the rain fly will help quite a bit. Align the tent's most narrow and impermeable end with any breeze or wind (no matter how light), and build up a small wall of leaves, brush or dirt around the base.

Using the vehicle in concert with this practice will help, especially if you can place the tent between it and a safe rise in the terrain.

I'd personally not put hot water in a tent with a three-year old, unless it's in a sealed container designed for heating humans. The water will eventually cool, and can have the exact opposite effect if the container isn't properly chosen.

2: The easiest path to a warmer bed is a Thermarest on top of a reflective surface. If you don't have one, any foam mattress topper will work. The simple space blanket can be your best friend, in this arrangement. All it's got to do is help keep the heat in the pad from below.

An airbed works better in concert with such things, if you mean to use an airbed. As for the cot, drape a blanket or similar covering over it to deaden the air underneath. Instant non-cot. This was the original purpose of bed skirts. For hundreds of years, people have had sense enough to use them.:)

I personally never bother with any of that. I'm content to be uncomfortable.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
rnewman

rnewman

Well-known member
Apr 27, 2011
320
0
Unionville, Va
We used a large buddy heater when we take our tents (RTT or ground). Never had an issue with the O2 either way. I picked up the "coleman" #20 tank adaptor and the hose kit with it. That allows to run the heater, and the stove in the am to make breakfast sandwiches with out worrying about the tank....oh and a light to!
 
msggunny

msggunny

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2007
2,978
3
Holly Ridge, NC
mjbrox said:
Have you seen these?
http://www.zodi.com/Dealer/zodidealermedia9173.html

just layer the little bugger up and put him in a good bag
Click to expand...

That looks like a mini version of the kind we used to use on our large GP style tents. Should work, but I am worried about how long a bottle of propane will last.

Maybe use it just for the morning. Those OZ tents have a high celling, so your hot air will rise and stay up there negating the efficiency of the heater though.
 
LRflip

LRflip

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2006
5,741
25
none of your fucking business
kennith said:
You've got a Land Rover. Heat it up, shut it off, and sleep.

Cheers,

Kennith
Click to expand...

He's got a soft top defender...not only can't he sleep in it, but he can't keep it warm.

I use a golfcat or cart cat or whatever...it lasts all night on 3/4 of a pound bottle but I am always weary of carbon monoxide poisoning. I look at it this way, if it takes me....atleast I died doing something I love. I don't want it to kill my wife however so I usually make sure it vents well.

I've had it in my 3 season tent in Uwharrie in December and its unbearable for my wife...I am perfectly fine but, I fill a sleeping bag much better than she does and I am now big boned so I like sleeping in the cold. She is miserable and refuses to camp after October now.

I like the idea of the heating pad or a low draw electric option to run off a battery...

I just stay miserable but, I need to start exploring these options if I ever expect my family to enjoy the great outdoors like I do.
 
Devildog01

Devildog01

1
Jan 25, 2010
3,544
4
your moms bed
Or you could just not take him camping when its 0 degrees out.Isn't he like 3? Just take him camping in the back yard.If it gets to cold go in the house.
 
dcarr1971

dcarr1971

Well-known member
Jun 16, 2010
610
0
Pittsburgh, PA USA
Bah! Just tell him he's Canadian. They laugh at winter.

Case in point: I'm betting Randy will be wearing shorts, his crocks, and a sweat shirt no matter how cold it is.
 
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