Big Buddy, Big Dissapointment…

I have used a tanktop sunflower heater for years and while it had its downfalls it always worked. This year i finally decided to try a big buddy heater so i spent the 170$ (bought the hose extension for the 20# hookup too) for the big buddy and i am dissapointed. So my friend gave me the laundry list of negatives about this heater before i bought it which included: doesnt like to start when its cold, will turn off if you tip it or bump it on occassion, sometimes the pilot doesnt work the best, release the propane super slow or it wont work. He has used one for years and claims its the best. i am looking at his laundry list and saying to myself, “with everything you just mentioned how is this the best”. Well yesterday i finally tried my big buddy out in my portable with my friend with me and guess what? it sucked. It took 45 minutes to get it lit, thats with using both the hose and a 20# tank and with the propane bottles. We had to use a lighter and when we finally did get it lit after 45 minutes of messing with it it would stay lit for about 20 minutes and then shut off. This cycle repeated itself for the next 3 hours of fishing before we packed it up. So, another problem we found out is that i use an old clam fish trap 2 portable and it was windy that day, these portables do not have a zipper door so they are hard to bank in if not impossible, so wind can come in through the floor. Add another negative to the list – it was too windy to keep it lit. So now the negatives list for my 170$ heater is getting longer:

doesnt stay lit or lite at all in the wind
turns off randomly and especially if moved/bumped/no reason
will not start without lighter or at all
propane connection is sensitive
does not start when its cold

I bought this heater because i was sick of getting the fume blast to the face with my sunflower but at least i stayed warm with that and i didnt have to deal with such a tempermental unit. I am inclined to accept that no heater is perfect and the consumer does not have a flawless product to choose from, but that doesnt change my frustration at this unit, for the price of this thing it should work better. I understand this is a small sample size but ive read the same things happening for others on reviews so i dont expect much to change.

The newer a heater the more finicky that are because of safety concerns. I still like my mini sunflowers with no safety devices. They can kill you but they work great!

I have the smaller buddy heater and although it does have a few of the problems listed I still like mine better than the old Sunflower one. I like that you can place the back of the unit right up against the house material and not have to worry about it getting Burned. It does not make the high pitched squeeling sound when the tank is less than 1/2 full. I’ve only ever ran my on the 1Lb. tanks and know some who have had trouble with the larger bulk tanks on them. I guess if I was you I’d package it back up and take it back for a refund and go back to the old heater

That sounds pretty bad. They do blow out fairly easy, and if you set them down and bump them they shut off. If they are tipped too much they won’t run.

Those are the only things I notice with my Big Buddy. Been running it about 2 or 3 years now. With that said I’ve only used the 1 lb bottles. Haven’t tried hooking it up to a 20 pounder.

Some guys have riveted a wind guard by the pilot light to keep it from blowing out as easily, but I jut accept that when I move I will probably have to light it again. Only takes one or two clicks on the started to start up once warm.

It’s possible you have a lemon, or there’s some issue with the hose giving you troubles. Might be worth trying to take it back for another one or giving Mr. Heater a call to see what they say.

I gotta say though, there isn’t anything much more reliable that throws out a TON of heat than the old sunflower style. I still have mine – just in case.

I have a Mr Heater brand buddy heater from about 6-7 years ago and it still runs like a top…the only thing I do is clean out the pilot hole with a q-tip dabbed in rubbing alcohol.. never an issue…I too have heard the newer ones sold are really touchy because they wanted them to be safer…

Are you using the inline filter when running off the 20# tank? The pilot jet clogs very easily from the slightest debris from big tanks.

The shutting off while bumping is a safety feature. Do some research online and that can be disabled with a little work and you can actually lay one on its back and still run it.

Should you use propane with the portable bottles laid on their side??

Did you buy a filter for the hose?
I’ve had good luck with mine. I also have a sunflower that is dependable but when the 1LB is half gone the low,med,high control is useless.
I think once a person gets used to dealing with the quirks things get smoother, kinda like a wife.

Had a buddy, sold it and have a mr heater/cooker. I use it in a canvas craft
ATT trailer and it works great, I like having the doors part way open near the top for ventilation as well as to look around. To much BS with the buddy, sad but true for me.

For all the reasons you mentioned, I’ve always hated those buddy heaters. I have several friends who have them. They don’t put out near as much heat as a sunflower type, and they’re finicky as hell! I can’t count how many times I’ve had to help them with theirs, and finally just loaned them my heater/cooker.
I owned one for a short period, and had just as many issues with mine as you did with yours.
After all of their experiences and yours, I will never buy one. period.
Especially when you can buy sunflower heaters for $25 when they’re on sale.

sunflowers do kick out more heat, but they also melt shelter fabric too easily…unless you shove the front of a buddy heater directly on fabric, you don’t have to worry putting a hole in your shack..

I think alot depends on what type of shack you have…with my insulated Otter, I never kick the buddy heater past the low setting and i’m fishing in a tee-shirt.. If fishing an un-insulated shack, you’ll need the added heat from a exposed sunflower..

I’ve had issues with it being crabby and taking a minute or two to start, but it always starts. I do transport it inside my truck along with the hose. I’m thinking it’s been 4 years, maybe 5 that I have ran the same big buddy and I used a regular buddy heater. I fish a couple days a week from early ice till ice out. I won’t use another kind of heater after running the big buddy. I can fish all day and not deal with the smell/headache from the sunflower. It will keep any portable on the market warm if you can bank the house. I use it in my Otter Lodge and rarely have to turn it to high. I put it in front of the door in the middle of my house and simply step over it.

The wind blowing it out because of the house you have isn’t really the heaters fault. If you keep it out of the wind and put it someone where you won’t hit it, it should run just fine.

i do not have the hose with the inline filter on it. Should i? would that help? i bought the hose corresponding to the model # listed on the back of the big buddy box.

One of the main reasons that i bought this heater was that i plan on getting an otter lodge 1200 next year and i did not want to risk melting the fabric with a sunflower heater as you say JoeMX. Im sure that this heater, if situated in optimum conditions, works great but thats just it – this product is meant to be used with outdoor sports. I can hole hope with a sunflower if i want to and it will work whereas, it seems, with a big buddy, you need to have it inside of a nice new shack with lots of space around it and no movement for it to work well. Not a satisfactory expectation IMO. We’ll see how it works next year and if it still stinks ill get a flower/cooker

I would not buy a buddy heater, big or little, due to all of the problems people have with them. I understand that it all has to do with safety. Heater/cookers sit on the ice and after an hour or two, all you have is a big puddle of water in front of you. When you step out to take a pee, there is a good chance of a slip and your ass is soaking wet, not to mention the concussion from hitting your head. I have been using the sunflower type that screws into a 20 pounder. I have never been gassed from inadequate ventilation. The o Ly time I burned the otter skin was when I stepped out and the two kids with me decided to come out also and did not zip the door closed. Well it hung down and was touching the heater. The way my otter lodge is set up, the heater is at least 6 feet away from me. No melting fishing line or whiskers on my face.

Yes you should be running a filter when using a big tank. They are made by Mr Heater and for the buddy heater series. Goes between the hose and the heater. I buy a new filter every year just to be on the safe side and no issues yet after 4 years.

ill get the filter and try it out. thanks kroger3

They make a hose just for the Big Buddy with a quick connect then you don’t need a filter. Big difference in heat between just the Buddy and the Big Buddy!

4 BUCK wrote:

They make a hose just for the Big Buddy with a quick connect then you don’t need a filter. Big difference in heat between just the Buddy and the Big Buddy!

This is the route I went and it works great. The quick connect hose for the big buddy part number is: #F271803. I also will open up my propane tank once I start setting up my house to let propane into the hose for a bit. Seems to help when trying to fire it up.

Travis Midthun wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>4 BUCK wrote:</div>
They make a hose just for the Big Buddy with a quick connect then you don’t need a filter. Big difference in heat between just the Buddy and the Big Buddy!

This is the route I went and it works great. The quick connect hose for the big buddy part number is: #F271803. I also will open up my propane tank once I start setting up my house to let propane into the hose for a bit. Seems to help when trying to fire it up.

Dido this is exactly what I have done with mine as well and has worked flawlessly for the past 2 years. And just like JoeMX1825 said make sure you keep the pilot light clean.
Good Luck!! Set the Hook!!

Add the wind block to the pilot and it will help a lot with it blowing out in light wind. I will see if I can find a pic.

I have the buddy, love it ! Get one of them long bic lighters to light it, the pezio will work, but why waste that couple minutes lighting it, when you could be fishin.

One thing I have found is that you want to buy a filter for it. (about $6)
This keeps it from getting sediments into the burners which will shut out on you.
Yes, you want to keep wind away from the flame that keeps the burners ignited.

I have always had a problem with the “clicker” when trying to get it lit so I always bring a long stem lighter with me.

Between having the long stem lighter and using a filter, I have been very happy with mine and the one I bought was a refurbished one for about $89 at Cabelas about 5 yrs ago and it still runs fine

I have the Little Buddy. It works great for me.

I like the safety features. The whole “not gonna kill me” angle is a winner in my book. That said I don’t like to be cold in my shelter but even last year in the -10 F temps of the Polar Vortex my Little Buddy kept my Frabill Trekker Max warm when set on high.

It takes a little bit to light with the push-button but a few button-presses can get it going for me.

I use the 1# bottles with it as I don’t need the heater all season long.

The following May help with some of your issues. I moved the pilot in my Big Buddy. It was a pain but doable.

http://www.chitown-angler.com/1fish/viewtopic.php?t=36910

http://www.iowasportsman.com/forum/print.php?id=444263

It sounds like alot of messing around and buying extra parts and adding some kind of wind block, and then not knowing if it will light or even stay lite.

I have been using a big buddy for the past 3 years, and I love it. It does have a safety shut off but that’s a feature not a problem. I’m with the other guys saying to try a filter, I use mine with and without the hose and have never had problems before. Hope you get yours figured out because they are a nice heater IMO.

I just bought the Big Buddy last week and bought the hose designed for it and it says on the hose package that you DO NOT need a filter when using this hose… Ran the heater for a couple hours so far and it seems to work great..hope it stays like that.

I Switched back to the 20# tank and quick connect hose for my big buddy runs great now. I hate those 1# tanks. For a long time I ran the heater cooker mr heater reliable and good heat now! I switched back mainly cause my kids or my wife are with most the time now it seems and wanted to be safer. A lot depends on what shack you have. I had a Yukon and the htr cooker was best in that. Now with 1200 pro cabin otter the big buddy is good on low at 15 below… I think it runs better on big tank. For the hose I open the tank and use my leatherman and push end of hose to make sure propane has filled the hose. Then I hook it up and it lights right away. Do have to wave at it to get going once turned to low but it is predictable now.

I have one. Experienced all those things you mentioned but I love it. As mentioned wind guard and a long bic lighter took care of all my problems.

Ice fishing is labor intensive enough if all your equipment is working. Add in a finicky heater and that can ruin the day. I just don’t get it, almost everybody that has posted here that has a buddy heater has had some sort of issue or has had to buy extra parts so it will work good enough to get you by. There have been a few that have got one that has worked as advertised, so far they seem to be in the minority. With the number of sunflower heaters in use today, I can’t remember hearing of anybody getting gassed, and I would bet the ones that got co poisoning, did not have adequate ventilation. It may have happened, I just haven’t heard about it. Kinda like refilling one pounders, its only dangerous if you are stupid and do it in your garage with an ignition source close by. Too each their own, this is America and that’s why I love it here.