Any suggestions on heater for Otter Lodge

I’m new to fishing out of a tent lookin for a good heater for otter lodge I don’t know much about portable heaters any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I’ve used this type of heater in my Otter for years and have no complaints. They’re tough as nails and relatively inexpensive plus they pour off a lot of heat for the small size and light weight.

http://www.thornebros.com/winter/heaters/mrheater_MH12C.html

This year I’m running a Big Buddy, and last year I ran the regular buddy heater without problems,It also has a low oxyegen sensor if your using it for any other reasons.

But there heavy compared to the unit James speaks of.

I like the Mr. Buddy heater. It is a self contained unit and seems pretty durable. I’ve bounced that thing around many lakes between LaCrosse and Hayward. The Mr. Heater is nice, too, but I worry about the potential for damage at the connections between the canister and the element.

Hey James. Just out of curiosity how long do the 1 lbs cylinders run on those Mr. Heaters. That looks like a better deal then my Mr. Heater attached to a 20 lbs tank. It gets a little heavy if you know what I mean.

James is spot on. I have been using the same Mr heater/cooker for 10 years now. (Few modifications and repairs. I run it off a 20# tank with a hose so the tank is outside to save space.

I have used the big buddy, it lasted one trip and it went straight back to Cabelas. By far the biggest mistake I have made. Very unimpressed with the actual heat output and at a price of $100, no thanks ill keep my old faithful.
-Mark

Menards sells a Convection Heater 12,000-25000 Btu. You have to put a small gas valve in line to get the flame down to a match size for warmer days other wise it will cook you out of the shack. But when you are fishing LOW in -30 that thing will make a sauna out of your Lodge.

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Hey James. Just out of curiosity how long do the 1 lbs cylinders run on those Mr. Heaters. That looks like a better deal then my Mr. Heater attached to a 20 lbs tank. It gets a little heavy if you know what I mean.

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I usually get around 4-5 hours out of mine. If you run it on high you may only see 3 hrs. It is a lot easier for me to carry that than my 20 pounder with the sunflower for the top of that. The other thing is you can cook on it! Fish Fry anyone

I use a big buddy and have no issues, I also use the 1# tanks and have the hook up kit to the 20# but when walking out I use 1#’s for weight. Mr Heater cookers and sunflowers are great products but I can’t use them as I get awful headaches from them

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I use a big buddy and have no issues, I also use the 1# tanks and have the hook up kit to the 20# but when walking out I use 1#’s for weight. Mr Heater cookers and sunflowers are great products but I can’t use them as I get awful headaches from them

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X2 – I now use the buddy heater and don’t have any issues

I use the Mr. Heater also. Like James said, It is tough and light. It also has 3 heat setting. Mine is all burnt black form the grease of cooking brats. Nothing like some warm food when you are ice fishin’. We have even made jiffy-pop popcorn on it!

In my lodge the heater looks exactly the same as James and it stays toasty all winter.

With 1#ers you will be very lucky to get any more than 3 hours on the lowest setting. More like 1 hour on high.

20# tank with 12′ hose is a great option and what I use.

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Hey James. Just out of curiosity how long do the 1 lbs cylinders run on those Mr. Heaters. That looks like a better deal then my Mr. Heater attached to a 20 lbs tank. It gets a little heavy if you know what I mean.

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I usually don’t bring a heater on early season trips when weight is an issue. When I do bring the heater it is attached to a 20# tank… and the Otter is attached to a snowmobile. I hear ya’ on the weight.

I do carry a 1# canister or two as a backup… just in case. But I don’t rely on those little buggers as my primary fuel supply as I’d roll through them like crazy during those mid-winter deep freeze trips to northern MN and Canada.

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Nothing like some warm food when you are ice fishin’. We have even made jiffy-pop popcorn on it!

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Yup, we warm soup with it and we’ve cooked brats and dogs more than a couple times. I did try to do grilled cheese sandwiches one time… messy. Trust me… don’t try that!

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I have used the big buddy, it lasted one trip and it went straight back to Cabelas. By far the biggest mistake I have made. Very unimpressed with the actual heat output and at a price of $100, no thanks ill keep my old faithful.
-Mark

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That’s the general knock against them. They’re a great looking, self-contained unit that has some nice features but many, like you, have found them a little whimpy when it comes to heat output. If they could ever solve that issue I’d run one in a second. Until then I’ll be touting around that Mr. Heater with the charred cheese stains on it.

I have both the regular buddy and the one James pictured, each have their spot, I’ve had issues with the reg. Buddy when there is a good breeze, which is almost always. I have had the Buddy going at night on Red and it was calm and -20 and it was fine till I had to run to the truck for a new bottle. If you are going with the Buddy and a bulk tank, you must have a filter on. I still go with the 1# bottles, have a whole bucket full to use up before I go bulk.

Thanks guys for all the info

I run a modded Mr. Double with 28,000 btu’s available so I can fish whenever I want.

I’m going to have to agree with Jetro here. That single burner Mr. heater does put out the U’s but its just not quite big enough for the lodge when its really cold.

The double Mr. Heater will be great for you as you can use one burner alone should 2 be too hot.

If it were me, I would definately buy the dual Mr heater as I’ve seen and felt first hand that the single burner is just not enough for days that you really need to be in the house

It heats up precooked lasagna & garlic bread pretty well also.

How come no one uses a 5lb tank???

Jetro, that’s slick. How advanced were the mods? I’m guessing this was a tank top unit that you converted to accept a hose and also single/double selectable?

I like it

It’s not bad. I just cut the support bracket that they have to mount it to the tank in half then, build a frame to support the heater and rivet/bolt it to the metal shroud around the burners. I incorporated a mount for regulator in my frame by just making a hole just larger than the threads of the 1/4″ npt threads. Then you need a HIGH pressure propane hose with 1/4″ male npt fittings on both ends and a female 1/4″ npt union fitting. Unscrew the brass propane nipple from the high pressure regulator/controller (it’s tight) and then thread in one end of the hose into the high pressure reg/control(put hose end thru mount hole) put the union on the other end of hose and then thread the brass propane nipple into the union. Use pipe sealant on the fittings and check for leaks. I got the idea from a buddy who modded his and refined it a little. You only light as many burners as you need, half of the time it’s just one. It does draw hard enough on really cold days that it will ice the regulator if you don’t have the tank inside the house. I fished three days in -25 to -36 last year in Canada in comfort.

Are you sure you had the BIG buddy heater (2 tanks) ??? Them things will cook you out of a BIG house….? I am guessing you just had a Buddy Heater and not the BIG… for $100 , you had a Buddy heater and not the BIG Buddy Heater..

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How come no one uses a 5lb tank???

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Because at $50.00 empty you can purchase a 20lb for the same price full. Also I don’t know any places that will exchange the 5# tanks. The 20#’s are a dime a dozen!

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Are you sure you had the BIG buddy heater (2 tanks) ??? Them things will cook you out of a BIG house….? I am guessing you just had a Buddy Heater and not the BIG… for $100 , you had a Buddy heater and not the BIG Buddy Heater..

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X2 I even use my Big Buddy in my garage and it warms up a double car garage…