Heat for 6' x 12' pop up....

Guys,

I picked up a new pop up this winter and now I need to heat it. I already have a 5lb propane tank so wondering if I should go tank top heater or just use a Buddy Heater. I also have a two burner coleman propane stove I can use. Any thoughts? I like the two burner stove idea as I can cook on it as well as heat the pop up, but maybe the buddy heater might be easier?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Moonman.

I'd tend to shy away from using an open flame for anything but cooking. Tank top works fine and is what I have used for years, The buddy heaters are pretty awesome and you can run them off the small 1 lb tanks or larger if you have the adapter and hose. Both heaters are good options.

Big buddy heater for sure it has a built in fan. My two man pop up non insulated stays warm on medium and that was with this weekends cold. Also don't use the small 1lbs bottles, they burn off quickly.

Your asking a great question. Coming from someone who has a pop up and a buddy heater. I eventually bought a 5lber to keep propane costs down. Then I had to buy the remote line and the filter now I'm committed. thing is after setting it up time after time again and pop ups requireing the snowpack around the outside. I always keep the tank outside. Now I kind of wish I had a tank top that I could more or less permanently leave on the tank, no frozen line to warm up in your jacket. No waiting for gas to push through the line.a little bit higher off the ice so hopefully you don't kick it full of slush like I have my buddy. It's a good heater and I've disabled the tip sensor on myne to cook on it by just laying it down. But having to go in and out of the hut to get it all setup and running the hose under the skirt while trying not to get the hose ends filled with snow. I'll be getting a small tank top after my buddy dies, if it ever does.

You can get small battery operated fans some with a light or just a fan ... We clip ours to the top of the pop up to circulate the warm air which is always at the top of the hut..

I've already thought the same about the tank top as there's less to deal with but I opted for a heater with a fan. Also that's why I suggested it as op has a 6x12 pop up (don't know if it's insulated). You'll need a huge tank top or it'll have to take a while to warm up in that space.

I understand safety concerns with the Coleman stove having an open flame but one of my fondest memories of ice fishing was one day we cooked a pound of bacon among other things and I can just remember being so happy the rest of the afternoon having a warm hut that smelled like bacon! Pretty sure it was also the first time I had fished in a hut and with heat but smelling the bacon all day was a thing of beauty!

i have a mr heater top tank for my 11bs tank. today it kept my hut cozy warm. i even turned it off for an hour. then turned it back on, for the last hour or so.

it was windy cold today. it worked like a charm.

hope this helps.

I've had both heaters and I run the big buddy. It's way more cost efficient. I've got the insulated 8 man clam, and with fan on I've never had to run it on high. I like to be comfortable. Coats off once the heater is going.

TSC has the tank top heaters on sale this week for $49.99 regular price $95.00!

Tank tops work great and can also be turned so you can cook on it as well. For added security you can put the tank in a holder. I even use it to heat the shed at home when outside working in it. Have never tried the buddy heaters so I can't comment on them.

Thanks guys for all the replies. i think I will pick up the tank top heater. I did see the sale at TSC as well, so makes it easy. I think I will also grab a buddy heater when I see that on sale at some point, but since I have the small 5lb propane tank, this will be a cheap but still great option. Will see if princess auto has a small battery operated fan in their surplus departmnet, i remember seeing something there last year.

Cheers,

Moonman.

I got one of each. Tank top for 5-20 lbs tanks, big buddy and tank top for 1 lb tanks. I like the big buddy as it seems to burn cleaner. I don't feel gassed at the end of the day. To keep the hose from freezing and gas through the line at the start of the day..... I start it up in the garage and run it for 2 mins before I put it in the truck. Seem to help each time I go and no more issues.

P.S. Turn it off before putting it in the truck. Just had to say that before you poke at my post.

I own the big buddy heater, although I don't use it for cooking I don't have a bad thing to say about it.

It runs on 2 - 1 lbers. Never had an issue running out even on the coldest days. Mind you my hut isn't 6x12, I'm running a clam big foot xl2000.

Tank top for sure ! Princess auto has them on for 41.99 slat the scarborough location . Crappie tire also has em on sale for a bit more