Buddy or Big Buddy?

[Woody]

With Mills Fleet Farm having a sale on the Buddy & Big Buddy heaters, I have a decision to make. At the present time I have an Eskimo QFII Flipover portable (2 person). I like the size of the Buddy heater, but also like the convienence of the Big Buddy-being able to have 1 or both burners going depending on how cold it is. So you can see why I am a bit confuzzled   ???  . I'd appreciate any first hand experiences or advice anyone can give me. Thanks in advance~Woody

[WoodChuck]

 :) myself i like the big buddy for the windy days on the lake with the wind blowing its hard to stay warm with the old hearter, the extra weight is worth the x heat when you need it. BOY SCOUT MOTTO " BE PREPAIRED " works good in the deer stand also!!!!!!!? fish, hunt, or hunt fish.

[Joe]

I've got a Fish trap Pro and the Buddy heater keeps me plenty warm. I usually start off with it on high just to get it warmed up, but the low setting keeps it plenty warm. I would think you would want to go with the Big Buddy.

[ScottPugh]

Big Buddy just incase you need the warmth.

[Woody]

I went with the Big Buddy.  This way if I need the extra warmth on those bone chilling days-I have it!  And when I don't need it, I can shut one burner off.   Thanks for the input guys! :)

[iceman]

Woody ,
remember when hooking that new buddy up to a 5 or 20 pound tank put a in line filter on it will save you a big head ache ..

[Spinach]

Do like I did and get both.

The regular Buddy will be fine on most days, but when it gets as cold as it is today, you'll be wishing you had the big Buddy.

[GRIZ]

Big Buddy

With a heater there is no such thing as overkill. If it's too cold with a small heater your trip is likely over. Too warm on the other hand if nothing else ya can crack the door.

[DaveO]

I agree !00% with Griz

[jigglestick]

not really related, but sorta.
I have an eight by sixteen hardhouse on skids.
I figured as well insulated as it is, a 30,000 btu would be over kill.
instead I figured 20,000 would be plenty.
so being the brainstormologist that I am, I went one step farther and bought two 10,000 btu wall hangers. my thinking was if one conked out on me, I'd at least have the other one. if I only had one and it conked out, it would get mighty chilly.
the two work great. I have one by the door and the other by the window accross from the door. they both run on low and kick in and out simultaniosly as needed.
once the house is brought up to temp, they work very well to -30 with wind.
havent tried colder than that. we live in the state formerly known as Minnesota :-\

[Woody]

Other than ordering through their website, where does one get an inline filter for these?  I went to my local tackle shop (Christopherson's), Fleet Farm, and Menards.  All had excellent selections of Mr. Heater brand hoses, adapters and accesories, but no one had the filter.   :(  I need one ASAP. 

[Spinach]

I have both Buddy heaters and hook them directly to my 20 or 5# tanks, I've never used a filter or known anyone who has.

This is actually the first I've ever heard of anyone recommending a filter...?

I personally dont think a filter is necessary.

[jigglestick]

I have burned alot of lp and I have never heard of a filter until now.

[Woody]

The reason I ask is it's in the manual.  Yeah I know...I broke man code # 213 of actually reading the manual!   :o   But I didn't completely read it, just bits and pieces.  They reccomend a filter when hooking up to anything larger than a 1lb cylinder.   

[iceman]

Woody ,
try reeds they might have one online..

when hooking up to a lp tank biger the 1lp it is recamened that you use a inline filter because of the oil in the biger tanks will plug the lines on the buddy heaters..
want more info i can go on too..

[kenhuntin]

menards  also delves in mr. heater accessoriesI saw them in the blaine store

[Woody]

I checked Menards, Fleet Farm, local tackle shops, everywhere for the filters.  No one had them, some never heard of them.   So I tried it without the filter-it lit up, then died.  I tried to light it again-nothing.  So I unhooked the line, and put the 1# cylinder back on.  Started up just fine.  With that little experiment done, I ordered the filter online through Mr. Heater.  I'll let you know my findings when I get the filter installed.

I should add that on this Big Buddy Heater, I can run it on high off of one cylinder.  I don't need both hooked up for high heat.  Some told me that the older ones you had to have both cylinders installed in order to run it at high heat.  So with that I wonder if the older ones can get by without the filter, and the newer ones cannot?  Just throwing that out there.