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Posts: 284
Location: Oconomowoc, WI | Going to try to do some ice fishing this year. Just bought a two person flip shack.
I’m going to either buy a Mr. Buddy or a Big Buddy. Right now I am leaning towards the big buddy, because I figure I can run it lower and longer and also heat a larger space when I need it. The only drawback appears to be the additional weight.
Just want to know which is the superior product, before I make the purchase. There’s only about $30 difference in price right now.
Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Andy |
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Posts: 55
Location: Zimmerman | Big buddy. More versatile if weight is not an issue. Also, I had a thermostat wear out on a Mr buddy and parts were not available. |
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Posts: 1206
Location: Walker, MN | I run my buddy heaters on low 90% of the time, two man shacks. A buddy fits diagonally in a square milk crate, so it's protected very well on bumpy rides. My big buddy doesn't see nearly as much use, unless I put a hub unit out. |
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| My Mr. Buddy keeps my large 2 person tip over warm at low. I have the heavy nylon bag for it, which has a pocket on the side for spare fuel bottle. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | North of 8 - 11/26/2023 1:19 PM
My Mr. Buddy keeps my large 2 person tip over warm at low. I have the heavy nylon bag for it, which has a pocket on the side for spare fuel bottle.
This |
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Posts: 191
| I use a Mr buddy in my deer blind with all 4 windows open on low and I’m always warm. If I’m ice fishing in my pop up I eventually shut it off or just fish in my sweatshirt. I like the size of the Mr buddy better being a single burner vs the big buddy being double the size. Tanks last a long time on low. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Mr. Buddy is more than enough for my 2 man Fishtrap and it's a 1997 uninsulated model, with custom Coleman lantern burn holes for added venting. |
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| Got a text from my son yesterday about this topic. Apparently he read where someone got seriously ill from a heater in their ice fishing tent from a propane heater. I always keep a small vent near the top of my Frabil open, feel it moves the air and pulls in fresh but have never really been concerned. I guess if you kept everything zipped tight, tossed snow on the bottom flap, etc., then maybe there could be a build up of carbon monoxide but still seems unlikely. Thoughts?
(And yes I am over 70 and now it is my kids turn to worry about me doing dumb things. Payback!)
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | North of 8 - 12/20/2023 8:04 AM
Got a text from my son yesterday about this topic. Apparently he read where someone got seriously ill from a heater in their ice fishing tent from a propane heater. I always keep a small vent near the top of my Frabil open, feel it moves the air and pulls in fresh but have never really been concerned. I guess if you kept everything zipped tight, tossed snow on the bottom flap, etc., then maybe there could be a build up of carbon monoxide but still seems unlikely. Thoughts?
(And yes I am over 70 and now it is my kids turn to worry about me doing dumb things. Payback!)
Ventilation is VERY important, one can get in serious trouble very quickly. Top vents open and somewhere along the bottom, too, enough to allow for fresh air to circulate. It's happened to us and is no fun, luckily the headache that goes along with it is quite a powerful tell. |
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Posts: 1199
| Digging around the other day looking for a tool and I found Mr. Heater (it was my dad's Ice Fishing Heater) I think we only used it once. Doesn't get too cold in these parts. (Colorado) |
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| sworrall - 12/22/2023 10:09 AM
North of 8 - 12/20/2023 8:04 AM
Got a text from my son yesterday about this topic. Apparently he read where someone got seriously ill from a heater in their ice fishing tent from a propane heater. I always keep a small vent near the top of my Frabil open, feel it moves the air and pulls in fresh but have never really been concerned. I guess if you kept everything zipped tight, tossed snow on the bottom flap, etc., then maybe there could be a build up of carbon monoxide but still seems unlikely. Thoughts?
(And yes I am over 70 and now it is my kids turn to worry about me doing dumb things. Payback!)
Ventilation is VERY important, one can get in serious trouble very quickly. Top vents open and somewhere along the bottom, too, enough to allow for fresh air to circulate. It's happened to us and is no fun, luckily the headache that goes along with it is quite a powerful tell.
Thanks Steve. I have been basically doing what you mentioned, but wasn't sure it was necessary. I have two side entry doors, and leave the door closest to the heater unzipped on the bottom, open enough to let air in for combustion and then open one of the vents along the peak. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Oconomowoc, WI | My wife got me the Buddy with a battery powered Kidde CO2 detector. It was like $15 more on Amazon. I’ll feel a lot more comfortable running g it with that and some good ventilation.
Now we just need some ice in SE WI. Looks like we’ll be waiting for a while. |
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| oconesox - 12/27/2023 2:34 PM
My wife got me the Buddy with a battery powered Kidde CO2 detector. It was like $15 more on Amazon. I’ll feel a lot more comfortable running g it with that and some good ventilation.
Now we just need some ice in SE WI. Looks like we’ll be waiting for a while.
My son bought me a battery powered CO2 detector for my ice shelter for Christmas. Small, light and while I think I do OK job of keeping ventilation, will use it. Better safe than sorry, etc. |
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Posts: 1199
| I remember a story (early 70's) of a family who died down the Lakeshore of a relative when they brought a then popular Habachi grill inside a small trailer to stay warm. |
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