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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Miikka on October 30, 2018, 07:20:11 PM

Title: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Miikka on October 30, 2018, 07:20:11 PM
I was wondering if any of you guys use an infrared heater or some other way of keeping your tents or tipis warm during nights? There are propane powered heaters on the  market at a reasonable weight and price. Stoven is an option but I'd rather not worry about getting the firewood and keeping the thing burning all night.
All input is welcome and thanks on advance.

Miikka
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Hummer3T on October 30, 2018, 08:35:48 PM
yup..use a little buddy...they have auto shut off for tipping over and low oxegen.  use in morning and for quick warm up...if wet condition propane brings/produces moisture into tent...
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: KSshrewman on October 30, 2018, 09:07:14 PM
Well....
I would strongly suggest to you that you never leave a portable propane heater on while sleeping in a tent, topper, tipi or cabin....Anything enclosed.
I worked for Coleman for 20 yrs and we produced such heaters.  They all produce carbon monoxide which is a silent killer.  Yes you can vent and add oxygen but even that does not eliminate the risk.  Even those with low oxygen sensors...all it takes is a malfunction.  I use these heaters all the time in my tiny cabin....but I turn them on before I climb out of my sleeping bag in morn..and turn them off before I go to sleep.  People will debate this because they use them without issue but carbon monoxide is a gas that reacts and settles differently based on temp, vent, etc. Just takes once.  To me....would never be worth the risk to leave on overnight.
I hope this helps.  I'm not trying to be over bearing or scare anyone.  But from experience I've seen many tragedies.  Used correctly and carefully they are treat. Just be careful....
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Tim Finley on October 30, 2018, 09:26:22 PM
KS shrewman you scare me I use them a lot in my little trailer and tent and leave them on all night with the vent open and the window open now I'm not so sure I should do that  !!
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Hummer3T on October 30, 2018, 09:51:44 PM
yup never leave on while sleeping!! also...safety features are great but not to be relied on when not attended....sleeping.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: GCook on October 30, 2018, 10:15:42 PM
There was loss of life due to this last season here in Texas.  Three generations.  Grandad, his son and his son's son.  Get you a quality sleeping bag and stay warm in that.  Turn it on when you wake up to get ready in the morning.   
The key is to have ventilation but be awake when the heater is on.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: jhinaz on October 30, 2018, 11:44:56 PM
I totally agree with KSshrewman, never run it while sleeping (and make sure you have proper ventilation when you are running it).
I narrowly escaped carbon monoxide poisoning TWICE during one of my hunting trips while running the catalytic heater all night with no ventilation, but I didn't know what it was until later. Both times I woke with severe dizziness and headache which lasted all morning. When I got home from hunting I went to the doctor for a checkup, including treadmill, and everything was 'golden'. My tent was a nylon dome tent with nylon floor and nylon fly over it, and all windows and door zipped tight against the cold......absolutely no ventilation!
I was very lucky to have survived it. - John
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Macatawa on October 31, 2018, 06:12:52 AM
Good thread!
Important information here. 
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: neuse on October 31, 2018, 07:13:32 AM
I have many times, the heater has a low O2 shut off and a tip over shut off.
I also use a carbon monoxide alarm in my tent.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Jon Stewart on October 31, 2018, 09:33:33 AM
NOPE
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Roger Norris on October 31, 2018, 09:50:31 AM
Never in a million years would I use a propane heater while I was sleeping. They freak me out when used in a pop up blind during January hunts.

If you do it, it will eventually kill you. Please do not.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 09:52:56 AM
I have a small wood stove for my tent. My bunk is close enough so I can reach it to put in more wood if needed without getting out of the sack. Wood heat is warm and safe. Like everyone has told you, don't run a gas heater all night. 

That's my tent on the left with the stove pipe  :campfire:

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/TRR%20Camp%202.JPG)

Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Roger Norris on October 31, 2018, 10:03:40 AM
Quote from: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 09:52:56 AM
I have a small wood stove for my tent. My bunk is close enough so I can reach it to put in more wood if needed without getting out of the sack. Wood heat is warm and safe. Like everyone has told you, don't run a gas heater all night. 

That's my tent on the left with the stove pipe  :campfire:

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/TRR%20Camp%202.JPG)

Find that stove and pipe will ya? I need it for my Baker tent.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: 76Aggie on October 31, 2018, 10:19:47 AM
No way will I burn at night.  I am just paranoid on the issue.  I have a small wood stove in my Tipi which has a stack but I don't even try to burn it all night.  Too easy to stay warm in a good bag and fire up the stove when we get up.  Please be safe.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 10:50:36 AM
QuoteNo way will I burn at night.  I am just paranoid on the issue.  I have a small wood stove in my Tipi which has a stack but I don't even try to burn it all night.  Too easy to stay warm in a good bag and fire up the stove when we get up.  Please be safe.



You can have an open fire in a tipi but it doesn't heat like a stove.I had a sheet metal stove that I used in my Tipi when it was really cold. At a muzzleloading Rendezvous one year in February we had 7 men in the tipi sleeping like spokes on a wheel...feet to the stove. In a tipi you only need one length of stovepipe that goes above the liner, the smoke is drawn out the opening in the top.  :campfire: 
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Jon Stewart on October 31, 2018, 11:04:11 AM
Another way to stay /sleep cold in a tent is to sleep on a cot. Air circulates around you when you do this. Sleep on some sort of padding on the floor.  I also sleep with a skull cap on.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 11:10:52 AM
Git yersef a good buffler robe

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Buff_robe.JPG)
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: TIM B on October 31, 2018, 11:14:49 AM
I need one of them Ron!!  But I ain't seen no buff lately
Tim B
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: wingnut on October 31, 2018, 11:45:03 AM
There is a vented propane stove on the market that may work.  It's from Nu-Way but only produces 28,000 BTU.

It's designed for ice fishing shacks and Alaska tent and awning tents.

Mike
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Sam McMichael on October 31, 2018, 12:23:22 PM
I am more afraid of carbon monoxide than I am of the cold. I have known of problems happening, even with the "safe" heaters. I just don't trust them.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: YosemiteSam on October 31, 2018, 12:56:39 PM
Quote from: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 09:52:56 AM
I have a small wood stove for my tent. My bunk is close enough so I can reach it to put in more wood if needed without getting out of the sack. Wood heat is warm and safe. Like everyone has told you, don't run a gas heater all night. 

That's my tent on the left with the stove pipe  :campfire:

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/TRR%20Camp%202.JPG)

You sure camp in luxury!
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Ryan Rothhaar on October 31, 2018, 02:39:01 PM
Fell asleep mid day once with a buddy heater on in a tent... woke up dizzy and confused... turned it off and crashed all night to wake up with a headache.  No more.  I'd even have a CO detector with a fireburner...I have one in my little cabin (tighter than a tent) and if I pull off the stovepipe from my barrel stove when packing before shoveling out remaining few coals its amazing how fast that alarm goes off.  "Open the door!"


R
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: wingnut on October 31, 2018, 05:02:06 PM
I don't run any stove at night no matter what the temp.  A proper weight  bag, insulated pad  and quality cot make a very comfortable night if you are dry.  Usually we have a wood stove for our hunt in Alaska.  Next year we are going to be a ways above treeline and wood will be a premium.  Actually working on a design for a vented propane heater for a fly in hunt.  So far we have a prototype producing nearly 40,000 BTU at full throttle.  Going to be doing some tests this winter with my 12 man tipi.

Mike
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: kerry on October 31, 2018, 07:10:46 PM
I have a wood burning stove in my tent.  It will burn out after 30-45 minutes because it is small to be backpackable.

At what point should one be concerned about falling asleep with a wood burner in a tent?  It has a stovepipe.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: MnFn on October 31, 2018, 08:09:26 PM
I don't know but I have a wood burning stove in a 1950's Rollohome  30 ft trailer.
I never felt that great about that either. Just guessing it would burn down pretty quickly if something went wrong.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: degabe on October 31, 2018, 09:35:03 PM
Never run a gas stove when you are sleeping. We camp every winter with Boy Scouts in a leantoo with no heat We put down straw and a tarp over top, then a sleeping pad and a good bag. To keep them warm we use the big self adhesive body warmers. In thirty years we have never had a scout freeze out.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Pointer on October 31, 2018, 10:37:14 PM
How did  know Ron would come up with something like a Buffalo Robe of all things,...that's great Ron...gotta get me one of those at some point....
Now...where to go so I can arrow a buffalo :dunno:
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: MnFn on November 01, 2018, 08:05:03 AM
I don't know but I have a wood burning stove in a 1950's Rollohome  30 ft trailer.
I never felt that great about that either. Just guessing it would burn down pretty quickly if something went wrong.
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Miikka on November 10, 2018, 05:53:13 PM
Thank you all for the advice and warnings! I bought a mr.Heater portable buddy and plan to use it combined with a bushbox style wood burner. I have a really warm sleepingbag and there is no way I'm going to keep either of the heat sources on while sleeping.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: Bowguy67 on November 10, 2018, 06:06:09 PM
Quote from: Ron LaClair on October 31, 2018, 09:52:56 AM
I have a small wood stove for my tent. My bunk is close enough so I can reach it to put in more wood if needed without getting out of the sack. Wood heat is warm and safe. Like everyone has told you, don't run a gas heater all night. 

That's my tent on the left with the stove pipe  :campfire:

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/TRR%20Camp%202.JPG)
To be clear, wood "heat" isn't necessarily safe. Anything burning can generate co2 or other toxins. The way you're doing it seems fairly safe but we never know who's reading so I hope you don't mind I elaborated
Title: Re: Infrared heater in a tent/Tipi?
Post by: BAK on November 11, 2018, 09:39:26 AM
I have used them while bathing, or dressing but never ever while sleeping.  Just not worth the risk.