Bigger tank for my buddy heater?

Hey guys, Looking for some input on bigger tanks for the buddy heaters. I am looking at getting a 5lb tank to try to stay light as possible but I want to make sure it is big enough. I have a Menards that refills not far from me so getting refills is not an issue but I want to make sure 5lb is good for a day or more. Otherwise I could get an 11lb tank. I plan on getting the Mr. Heater 10ft hose F273704 because with that hose you don’t need a filter. I use the heater in either my clam Kenai pro thermal stealth or my big Frabill 2 man uninsulated. Thanks in advance.

A Little Buddy gets 5 hours out of 1 lb disposable cylinder. A 5 lb on a buddy heater I’m guessing would get you at least 15 hours. On a Big buddy at full blast, 8-10 hours.

This was posted sometime ago, either way once I saw it I forgot about 5# and 11# tanks. Imo, nothing is easier to deal with in long run that filling a bunch of 1#s at a time and simply using them.

Big tank comes with on long weekends.

nhamm wrote:

This was posted sometime ago, either way once I saw it I forgot about 5# and 11# tanks. Imo, nothing is easier to deal with in long run that filling a bunch of 1#s at a time and simply using them.

Big tank comes with on long weekends.

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Yea I have no interest in refilling 1lb tanks. I have done it in the past and hated it and with my bad back flipping the big tank is not that easy anymore.

ClownColor wrote:

What’s your shelter? 5 pounds should easily last a weekend in a thermo. I always keep a random 1 pounder in my sled for an emergency.

My shelters are listed in the original post. I figured 5lb would last a while. I am mainly worried when I have the wife with me and will need to keep it a bit warmer than when it is just me. I like the idea of a 1lb as a emergency backup.

I love my 11lb tank..cheaper(after the initial cost) and it last me 2-3 weekends in my otter thermal. I put mine in a 7 gallon bucket with a lid and run the hose out of the top. Keeps it from rubbing on the tent while in transit and keeps it protected. I still use 1 pounders when I’m pulling my one man by hand

Chris,
I have a Buddy heater (NOT li’l Buddy &not Big Buddy) and a 5 lbs tank used in a one man flip over, both insulated and uninsulated.
I can usually fish three days before needing a refill. All depends on how high and for how long I need the heat on. Worse case running full blast I’d say a day and a half.
I initially went with 5lb size due to the same reason as you, minimum weight.
Specs. for some Manchester tanks:
5 lb tank—-empty weight 10—–full weight 15
11 lb tank—empty weight 14—–full weight 25
20 lb tank—empty weight 18—–full weight 38

As you can see, a full 5lb’er is almost the same as an EMPTY 11lb’er. I figured if I am going smaller than a full size tank (20) might as well go whole hog with the 5 lb’er.

Another way to look at it is; I decide I am going to add 15 pound of weight to my load for fuel. For that 15 lbs of weight I am dragging around, I can have three choices;
(A) 5 lbs of fuel (empty weight 10+5=15)
(B) 1 lbs of fuel (empty weight 14 +1 =15)
(C) 0 lbs of fuel (empty weight 18 lbs)

I have been happy with my 5 lb tank for weekend use. I do on occasion take along a 1 lb’er for a backup. If I am on a week long trip AND have my ATV, I’ll pack the 20 lb’er.

Huntindave wrote:

Chris,
I have a Buddy heater (NOT li’l Buddy &not Big Buddy) and a 5 lbs tank used in a one man flip over, both insulated and uninsulated.
I can usually fish three days before needing a refill. All depends on how high and for how long I need the heat on. Worse case running full blast I’d say a day and a half.
I initially went with 5lb size due to the same reason as you, minimum weight.
Specs. for some Manchester tanks:
5 lb tank—-empty weight 10—–full weight 15
11 lb tank—empty weight 14—–full weight 25
20 lb tank—empty weight 18—–full weight 38

As you can see, a full 5lb’er is almost the same as an EMPTY 11lb’er. I figured if I am going smaller than a full size tank (20) might as well go whole hog with the 5 lb’er.

Another way to look at it is; I decide I am going to add 15 pound of weight to my load for fuel. For that 15 lbs of weight I am dragging around, I can have three choices;
(A) 5 lbs of fuel (empty weight 10+5=15)
(B) 1 lbs of fuel (empty weight 14 +1 =15)
(C) 0 lbs of fuel (empty weight 18 lbs)

I have been happy with my 5 lb tank for weekend use. I do on occasion take along a 1 lb’er for a backup. If I am on a week long trip AND have my ATV, I’ll pack the 20 lb’er.

Cool thanks for the info. That is the info I was looking for. I think I’ll go with the 5lb tank and if I am hauling with my snowmobile and on a longer trip I’ll steal the tank from my grill.

Someone did post a chart a little while ago that showed fuel consumption of the different buddy heaters if you need to know how long it will last.

1 lb propane is 21,548 btu 4000 btu heater will last about 5 hr.
10 lb tank 210,548 btu 8000 btu heater 26.9 hr

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

Someone did post a chart a little while ago that showed fuel consumption of the different buddy heaters if you need to know how long it will last.

I posted that. Thread starts wih “propane usage estimators”

Or you can look on their, Mr Heater website and they give run times.

I’ve got a 5 lb tank I’d sell at a fair price. I’m upgrading to an 11 pounder. Shoot me a pm if interested and in the Twin Cities area.