Problems with my Little Buddy heater

[Roonie]

Originally Posted by billwilson

A question
the LB takes up about as much room as a suburban heater
why not have a built in unit?

bw

I am using the little buddy this year too. I would love to have a built in unit but the suburban heater is running $3000 from Sportsmobile to install. I found a local guy who installs propex in westfalias and he said he could do it for about $1500. Either way still a lot of $$. The little buddy cost me $95. Eventually I will get a built in unit just not in the cards this year.

[bluedog225]

I took the suburban out of my SMB. The LB is smaller, lighter, has O2 depletion cut-off, and can come out to make room for something else when it is warm. Seems like a better solution to me given the space/weight considerations.

[billwilson]

My wife wants it WARM, so i am bit biased....


I get the $$ part

check out Karls site

even has HOW TO pictures
and a TON of stuff on the install at TheSamba.com

http://www.westyventures.com/propex.html

$700 for the HS 2000 propex
$250 for an install
that is a bit less than SMB

i know you arent going to his shop, but ........

[bettyford]

Sounds like a 1000 bucks to me and here's a picture of what I spent $1200 on this weekend.
he's just lucky my wife loves him so much

[jage]

Originally Posted by billwilson

A question
the LB takes up about as much room as a suburban heater

Huh? My suburban is half the storage under the bed-side, not to mention the ducts running under the couch, the propane tank and the hole in the van wall (which technically doesn't take up that much room), and my little buddy is, I don't know, about the size of a laptop bag?



**Or is everything so relatively small compared to Wilson?

[Pete]

Originally Posted by bettyford

Yes I Just crack a window. 10-15min and the van is warmed up. I never use it all night, mostly in the morning.
Ron

I was thinking about the Little Buddy, but it says that it is limited to 7,000 feet. I have a particular spot I like to go that I end up camping at 10,000 feet. I'd rather not install a permanent heater if I don't have to, but I don't think I have a choice. Is that 7,000 foot limit real?

I would also need to run it all night to keep the wife happy.

[Roonie]

Yes it is real. Propane doesn't do well at high elevations. It becomes almost impossible to light at least in my little buddy. Also I really do not like having it on all night. With the regular canister it will only last 3 possibly 4 hours. It eats up oxygen and it also sends off a unique smell since it is burning propane. Also it is an open flame that has to go somewhere in your van.... are you comfortable sleeping with that? If you have the means I would use a generator and an electric heater like the vornado over this.... just my .02 cents. I am hoping to add an espar or webasto soon.

[bettyford]

Everything Roonie has said is right on. It does have a tilt meter and will shut of if it falls over. I to will be doing something different as soon as I get to it.

Ron

[jage]

They're great if you have nothing else. Waking up freezing at 3am to pull the propane bottle that's covered with ice is no fun however. I've had mine shut off from the CO sensor (O2 sensor?) more than once.