COMPARISON & TIPS: Mr. Heater Buddy Flex VS Big Buddy VS Portable Buddy with HOSE & PROPANE options

[@AlexTimm]

*LINKS FROM THE VIDEO:* 🔗 Buddy Heaters: --- Big Buddy: at.fish/BigBuddy --- Portable Buddy: at.fish/PortableBuddy --- Buddy Flex: at.fish/BuddyFlex 🔗 Hoses: --- 5’ Hose with Fuel Filter (F273701 & F273699): at.fish/MrHeater5ftHoseF273701 and at.fish/MrHeaterFuelFilter --- 12’ Hose with Fuel Filter (F273702 & F273699): at.fish/Heater12ftHoseF273702 and at.fish/MrHeaterFuelFilter --- 10’ Hose (F273704): at.fish/Heater10ftHoseF273704 --- 12’ Quick Connect Hose with Regulator (F271803): at.fish/Heater12ftHoseF271803 --- 12’ Quick Connect Hose without Regulator (F271802): at.fish/Heater12ftHoseF271802 🔗 Propane Tanks: --- 20 lb: at.fish/20lbPropaneTank --- 11 lb: at.fish/11lbPropaneTank --- 5 lb: at.fish/5lbPropaneTank --- 1 lb: at.fish/1lbPropaneCylinder

[@GabrielGarcia-rh2hq]

😊😅

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

1 benefit of the older ignition system instead of the battery required electronic ignition is that with the old system you can hold down the knob in the OFF position for the 20 minutes it takes PRIOR to lighting the pilot light so that the air in the hose can bleed out of the small pilot light orifice... then after that is complete & you turn to the Pilot Setting > that is a very important benefit since not fully bleeding the hoses can lead to an explosion/ fire... the electronic ignition will not allow you to do those things >>> of course that is for guys who hook up the 20 LB Tank with the adaptor/filter so that they are not going thru the 1lb Tanks like they grow on trees! I do like the wrap around design tho! Thanks for the video- I am considering buying a unit for my tent & it was good to have someone else do the actual comparison in the real world instead of just reading specs & ads made by the company! Also YES of course knowing how each performs with Tanks of the SAME Vol at a set temp in a set size room would be really helpful to plan budget wise ie how many tanks will someone need to bring on the trip or whatever. Happy Trails

[@throughmylens5127]

Bought 2 buddy heaters last year and they saved us from freezing when it hit -4°F in west Texas no power for 72 hours got a natural gas heater for this winter in case of power failure

[@AlexTimm]

Randy - great news that you were able to survive that storm last year and the buddy heaters helped! Thanks for commenting, these heaters have MANY different uses and are worth their weight in gold when you need them. Glad this year you have an even better setup!

[@AlexTimm]

@James Lundy Yes!

[@earthingearthling2976]

What size room were u heating?

[@sissymurphy9620]

YOU WERE LUCKY HERE IN VIRGINIA OVER 5 DAYS AND MY SISTER HAD NO POWER FOR 12 DAYS

[@AlexTimm]

@@sissymurphy9620 Wow, I can't imagine! Hopefully this year it doesn't happen again!

[@blondbowler8776]

A little over ten years ago I built a cabin, 16 x 24', with hand tools, alone, 6,000' up the south side of a high desert mountain in the Northern Great Basin. Gets plenty cold here in winter. Stupendous views of at least five different mountain ranges. That first winter all I had to heat was a portable Heater Buddy. I had a 20 pound tank so I got the hose. No way was I going to pay for little one quart bottles (which I do have a bunch of for other things, but I fill them from the 20 pounders, so it's cheap, and never use them on the heaters. Last week in the super market they wanted ten bucks for one of those bottles.). Picked up a couple more tanks over the next year, and in the spring got another heater on sale cheap. Got seven 20 pounders, seven 30 pounders, and two 100 pounders. Plus, the wood stoves, but those Heater Buddies sure do come in handy when I don't want to mess with wood. Picked up two more for a total of four, but only use one, the others are a stash, or emergency loan. I've never used a filter in the line, and just buy generic hoses from Cal-Ranch with no problems. I have the tanks all staged outdoors so when one runs dry it's easy to connect a fresh tank, as I'm 72, sick, and just don't want to mess with pushing those tanks around in the snow. Move em and set em up while the ground is dry. I also insulated heck out the place, such that people can sneak up on me 'cuz I can't hear em, but it sure is warmly efficient. Dog usually notices trespassers eventually, but it's the cats that react first when someone silently pulls up. But I digress, as usual. Get an old hermit to yakking and he's liable to go off an tangents you never dreamed of. Gist of it is that these heaters are lifesavers, and help allow for living off grid when it would be more difficult without them.

[@AlexTimm]

I love this, thank you for sharing! Stay warm and well. Sounds like a beautiful place you have!

[@harvdog5669]

Hello sir,, does that portable heater buddy keep you comfy in winter with the snow at this time of year.. I too am going to build a 16X 24. Thankyou sir for your input...

[@blondbowler8776]

@@harvdog5669 Pretty much. I don't sleep with it on, so the mornings can be pretty chilly, and it then takes a bit to get the place warmed back up again. I keep one of those tank top radiant heaters handy to warm up quick with a blast (busted it last week, tho), and also use a wood stove. Trick is to insulate like crazy from the start. I mostly use wood these days, actually. The Heater Buddy is more supplemental, and for when I can't cut/split wood (going to be recovering all winter from surgery, so the propane heaters will get a real workout this next few months). Sometimes it's not cold enough to start a fire, so an hour of Heater Buddy helps take the edge off. At night I cover the windows with 2" styro insulation cut to size. Helps a lot. That said, the Heater Buddy alone got me through the first two winters before I got the wood stove in and felt like I wasn't going to burn the whole place down if I lit a fire...

[@joanamell3448]

I'm 75 and live off grid..I agree about the way they save your butt when it's cold

[@doghairdontcarelindaniel7531]

Great content....finally got power here in Houston. Won’t let this ever happen again to my family. Sending all family members this link so they can get what they need. Never thought I wld see the day my grand babies wld be cold inside their home and we cold not get to them due to ice on road. Man what a wake up call. God bless you.

[@AlexTimm]

I'm happy to hear your power is back on and conditions are improving!!! Stay safe!

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Our power outage lasted 34 hours in Richmond, Virginia and Mr. Buddy, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Jackery saved our bacon. I felt so sorry for you guys in Houston and happy your power is back.

[@diamond_h0us]

Similar story but in NC instead of TX. It was just one night (30 hour outage) with the temp in our house dropping to 35F inside but that was enough to realize how unprepared we were for longer term power loss. Got the portable buddy and just ordered a Honda EU2200i generator.

[@AlexTimm]

@@diamond_h0us Very smart move! Glad it was back on in 30 hours!

[@susaner.burdohangarcia6081]

Chris I want to buy a generator. Why the Honda ? I know nothing about generator s.

[@Lady.Tijuri]

I literally jus purchased a Big Buddy for my winter emergency kit & I'm super impressed with it. I hv 2 smaller buddy (4,000-9,000 BTU) & I luv mine

[@AlexTimm]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching and commenting! Enjoy those heaters!

[@bryangrim6021]

As many have said here, this was very well done, clearly explained, and very helpful. Didn’t even know a couple of the tank sizes existed. Seeing you compare all three heaters was helpful and not commonly done. Your explanation of the hoses was awesome too, especially with referencing the part number detail on the spreadsheet above. Thank you for putting this together! 👍

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful! And thank you for letting me know the specific parts that you thought were most beneficial. ✌

[@bendeleted9155]

They want a pretty penny for the odd sizes. A 100 lb is over $200, but a 5 lb is about $100 if I remember correctly.

[@meethed]

@@bendeleted9155 5lb tanks are usually are $50.

[@bendeleted9155]

@@meethed could that be gallons instead of lbs?

[@jerryjohnson323]

Alex is the most pleasant guy to listen to I have heard on KZbin. His information is always so helpful and what you need to know . I highly recommend any of his videos .

[@nurselou1emory177]

I have the big buddy heater.Does the hose work with a 20ld propane tank?.Seems like someone says it does not.

[@AlexTimm]

Jerry, Wow! I really appreciate that, thank you!!!

[@AlexTimm]

Nurselou1, Yes, several different hose options for the external tanks. Mr Heater recommends 20# tanks as the maximum tank to hook up to. So yes, you are good to go 😊

[@williamlynnroden]

Thank you! I've been watching a lot of these videos and you went beyond what 90% of the others offer in details and comparisons.

[@AlexTimm]

You are welcome! Awesome to hear, that was my goal!

[@susaner.burdohangarcia6081]

I just brought the portable one just in case something happens. Thank you for explaining everything so simple. I am 72 yrs young and thanks to you I now know a lot more than before you shared your information. What is the best thiing to use for cooking in doors if the electricity or gas goes off? I plan to buy the bigger buddy next. I was completely lost when it came to the propane tanks and how to use the hose and which goes with what. I am so happy now I know I can do this all by myself and do not have to wait for someone to find the time to help me. Planning on showing my older granddaughter and grandson how to work does, I believe everyone needs to be prepared for the unknown. Again thank you

[@AlexTimm]

I'm so happy it was helpful to you! For cooking indoors one of the safest options would be using something like Sterno (t.ly/lCZL ) and the little folding camping stoves you can get for them (t.ly/4EM3 ). These are rated as being safe for indoor use

[@susaner.burdohangarcia6081]

Alex Timm thank you, I will check on those.

[@CaseySexton]

Best video of the overview of these heaters and connectors, no other video comes close imo.

[@AlexTimm]

THANK YOU!

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Thanks for sharing this important info, Alex. I have the regular Mr. Buddy Heater and had to use it just a few days ago during a 34 hour power outage in Virginia. Even though the one pound cylinders last only 3.5 hours it helped to keep our master bedroom warm as the rest of the house temperatures averaged 40F. I had a 4-pack of cylinders and only used two. However, I ordered a 20lb propane tank for future power outages; and a 5lb tank for use when I go overland camping (run my Coleman stove and Mr. Buddy Heater in a Gazelle T4 tent). My wife laughed when I ordered my camp equipment but now she's appreciative that I had it.

[@AlexTimm]

Wow! Good thing you were prepared! Yes, sometimes the 1lbers are nice and convenient when not running for a long period of time or intermittently. Glad to hear your power is back up! Thanks for watching!

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

Are you planning on refilling the 1 pound cylinders or getting a hose?

[@bernicehoggsfav]

This is SO informative! I don't know a thing about propane heat sources and the tanks so this helps a lot!!

[@AlexTimm]

AWESOME! So glad it was able to help you out! If you have other questions just ask in the comments section. Thanks for watching!

[@markthomas2436]

Good point about the low setting on the Mister Heater. Just use it to heat up a tent or a room. The low setting "will take the edge off" the cold enough to be camp comfortable in there. It's not like you are gonna be getting out of a hot tube. If you can just bring the temps up.... from freezing into the mid 50s or 60s? Ya good to go. It is gonna do... what you needed it to do. Unreasonable expectations from some of these novices on the internet really tick me off. You said it correct in the video.

[@allergic2bull]

This gave me everything I needed to know. In a precise, well explained format, all in one video. Excellent freaking job. Thank you.

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome, thank you! Happy it was helpful!

[@_NotHerRealName]

This is the info I was looking for, thank you. I have the Portable Buddy. I’ve only practiced with it so far and my handle is already melted, so I felt a little better seeing your Big Buddy handle

[@blave549]

I just got a Portable. In my experience the heat level can be continuously controlled, once it's been running a minute or so, and so there's not just two settings. At any rate, thanks for for this informative review!

[@AlexTimm]

Good tip!

[@christianjorgensen7192]

I've had 2 of the small portable Buddy heaters for a number of years. They're great. However, this winter I had a surprise with one of them. Had a blow back fire at the propane heater valve connection area. I just quickly shut the heater off. Fire out no explosion concern. I use the 1 pound tanks.

[@sherryh7485]

Thank you very much! I've been seriously interested in getting a buddy heater, but wasn't sure about the propane and hoses needed to operate it. You've provided the information.

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome!!

[@philc.9280]

This video randomly shows up on my youtube page. We used to use the buddy heater in our R V and it wasn't the greatest experience. Despite the windows cracked open and CO and smoke detector on high alert the odor just bothered us. We have long moved on to the Wave 3 heater catalytic heater in our Class B rv and also have used the diesel combustion heaters that vent outside for pure heat and no odors whatsoever. The propane heater is now used in a breezy garage area so I can't smell it much anymore.

[@AlexTimm]

Smart upgrade when you don't need to be portable! Vented heaters are awesome!

[@PattyCakes94]

Love my flex heater just took it camping in 36° weather in the Montana mountains and it did great! Definitely getting the hose and bigger tank!

[@AlexTimm]

Good stuff! Thanks for watching and letting us know!

[@craighellberg4366]

At 63 years old, I’m still learning new things. I’m sure this is going to be a stupid question, but why do you need a regulator on some of the tanks but not on the others? Thank you for your time and for your great videos.

[@karenrr110]

Thanks a million, this is great info, SO helpful! I’d love to see more on safety for using propane, for people who have no experience using propane. Not only in terms of CO, but risk of leaks.

[@AlexTimm]

Great suggestion! Thanks for watching!

[@throughmylens5127]

CO detectors and check for leaks every time you make a connection. And remember propane doesn't rise it will stay floor level.

[@jennymontague851]

Yes, tips on safe use of Propane indoors is crucial. I'm very learning of anything with a flame inside my house, but that is where I'm stuck for now.

[@unitedstatesirie7431]

@@AlexTimm CAUTION ! ! ! ! For accurate leak check and safe use you should buy the 'Y201 Propane and Natural Gas Leak Detector'

[@jhask64]

Nice informative video. One thing that was lacking (or I missed) was the need to vent your area. They do put off minimal Co2 and it’s always wise to play it safe. CO2 builds up in your bloodstream over time. I use the Lil Buddy in my 10x10 canvas tent. 👍🏼

[@hummingwind8869]

This was incredibly information for someone, like me, who is new to this stuff. I appreciate your video and efforts very much. Thank you. 😊

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@loonytunztunz2795]

Just watched the video, I have 3 Buddy heaters the small one a camo color one that is in the middle size an just bought the big one to heat my shed when I'm out there. Never hooked up a 20lb tank an already had the flex hose for big one just didn't know how to set it up an you explained everything I needed to know except I had to watch a differant video on how to check if there is a gas leak! Other than that you showed me every step I needed to take in order to use all three heaters that I didn't already know. I did have to watch a differant video about useing a filter. But your video content was great very useful. Thank you for taking the time

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome, glad it was helpful!!

[@Siviqs]

really great video! my father is a hunter and he owns a camper but sometimes he breaks out the good ole tent (depending on how long he plans on staying when he hunts) and this video helps me out deciding what i want to get for him!

[@AlexTimm]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing!!

[@edwardtheghostphillips2506]

Good video to ponder aspects on these heaters. in my RV modification to run Mr. buddy off the line after the regulator proved fruitless (wouldn't work off two regulators one from the RV and the second on the heater.) I tapped into the 25 gallon tank on the RV before the regulator and ran a hose line with quick connects. The tanks pressure blew past some of the seals in the extension I created requiring a high pressure quick connect or a regulator to reduce the pressure so the connects will not leak. The mr buddy heater has a regulator that reduces the flow of propane but with the RV regulator in the mix too, it doesn't work. the rv regulator seems to reduce the pressure so much the Mr buddy heater gets confused with what to reduce and decides to not work. so, i'll consider that mentioned filter as the needed fix. .

[@daniellavoie8379]

It's a very comprehensive video and I wasn't aware of the quick connect on my heater. I subscribed to your channel and looking forward to watching your other videos. Good job!

[@AlexTimm]

Thank you!

[@Contraband_Art74]

I got the Buddy Flex and just ran into a issue fishing with my sons. It was running fine, i closed the door and within a few minutes my ignition pilot flame was 4-5” big. I disconnected everything and tried starting it again only for it to spray out propane out of the ignition pilot.

[@cal4625]

The #20 propane tanks fit nicely in one of those plastic milk crates. You can purchase a connector with small alligator clips on one end and a male usb connection on the other so you can run the Big Buddy fan on one of those usb battery/charger packs.

[@AlexTimm]

Great tips, love it! 👍

[@ajhainstock3997]

Loved the video, ive got the big buddy 18k btu geater i use on my hunting trailer, its a 12x6.5x7 so 100sq ftt platform, 550 cubic feet. Works freaking awesome. Only need it on low and i plumbed it i to a 30lb tank that sits on the trailer with a distribution branch, runs my lantern, cook top and heater. Anyways, i also have a small unheated shop and one year i forgot to winterize my RV before the cold weather hit. I parking it in the shop, connected 3 30lb tanks to it, (1 quick connect and 2 to the thread on gittings with fuel filters and let it sit on high for the week. Ran 5 days straight, had the shop right around 25°C and made for a nice easy time to drain the wster and winterize. So yeah, i agree at your 15:00 mark of 2 20lb tanks is over kill... but i went farther, was way over kill but it worked 😂

[@MrSupernova111]

Great video man! I have very limited knowledge about this stuff and your video was super helpful! Thank you!!

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@privatecaller1418]

Texas polar vortex bad. Broke pipes, heat off. So really appreciate this.

[@ddl10]

The buddy system has the regulator located at the heater. In this setup you cannot have a regulator at the propane tank due to over-regulating the gas supply. ... The 10' buddy hose does not contain any plasticizers or oily contaminates that will leach out of the hose during high pressure propane flow.

[@AlexTimm]

Correct, only exception is with the quick connect fitting, that does not go through a built in regulator so you would then need it propane tank side

[@ddl10]

@@AlexTimm yes👍

[@brianbartulis9709]

Old vid, sorry. Nice stuff ya got there Alex. Eons ago I just ran with the 15k btu Mr. Heater wire rack looking jobbie. Flip it on it's back and you're cooking stir fry on a 6.5" lodge skillet...to be used as a plate...boil/steam up some snow/wipe out 'n done unless a dab of oil. Except my old double wide flip over Clam I've always used shack with a floor, and never melted anything below except snow dragged in. Even my first "put poles together" 6 X 6' Clam was a beauty once set up/half setup option for warm fun sunny days. 15K was always enough heat, and loving the old built in floor jobbies. ~ ha, a Later year I bellied up to 500 bucks for a 7 X 7' Frabil Speed Shak XL. Quite heavy but at 6'4" I could stand up in it. woot! And we had snowmobiles by then. ~ Speed Shak is awesome. Some nights (smallish lake 150 yards from home) we'd take it out to just cook out and listen to the ice freeze cracking. lol, whoa! what a panic some sounded. ~ 6" of new snow it's a beast to tow. Been thinking of using some old/long skis bungee'd on. blah blah... Snowmobile, folded/loaded-esque shack, then a 6' deer/firewood worthy plastic sled. ha, a train! I had room for more silly stuff. ~~ An auto jumper battery job to run a.... ..I got one of those water proof/submersible florescent lamps. Attached a number of heavy fish weights and tossed it to it's own hole next to the shack. ~ We near always had poor luck fishing, so the lamp didn't really help our catch the few times used. But Wowza. All ice around the shack glowed green hue light from below. It was very cool. (5 to 7" of ice) Bright enough the missus had to walk farther to go tinkle. (-: ~ I still have my old flip over Clam..only had to sew two stress points, and the Speed Shak. I can't wrap my head around the new shacks that don't have a hard plastic floor. Even my crazy pointy ice grabbers didn't bother beyond texturing the surface some.

[@pissedoffpotato1882]

The heat output and run time helped me a lot in making a decision in choosing any of them at this point. Thanks for your help! very comprehensive review on these heaters and I would love for my husband and I own one ASAP

[@AlexTimm]

Great to hear! Hopefully you guys got one!

[@alm777]

@@AlexTimm so u can't run it continuously ?Need it to be able to continue

[@Coxfame]

In my area (Houston, Tx), they don't fill the tanks up to their maximum. An empty 20-lb tank at full is = 36.5-lbs.

[@jerryshortt2479]

Nice job on the presentation. Using other hoses except Mr. Buddy hoses, requires a fuel filter per the manufacturer. Something about oil pressed out of off brand hoses under high pressure clogging up the heater. Evidently Mr. Buddy hoses are made of different material not susceptible to this problem. Just FYI. Good job.😊

[@AlexTimm]

Yes, very true and in fact only a couple hoses from Mr Heater are made of the material to handle the high pressure in the line without causing leaching

[@Daveed19]

So if I bought a Mr buddy hose I don't need a universal fuel filter?

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

@@Daveed19 it depends n which hose you got. It should say on the package of you need a filter. Also it should say on your unit which hoses are recommended

[@MPRiley-rb6lj]

Thanks. Good content and information. Disappointed with Kwick Trip propane tank exchange which seemed like a great deal. Tank was empty after 8 hours on Portable Buddy. Twenty pound tank was obviously not full. Filled at local Co-Op with a full twenty pounds.

[@AlexTimm]

Oh jeez, not good on the tank fill! Yes I always go to a local place that fills them right in front of me and have had the best success with that. If the tank goes out of date then I take the gamble and do a tank swap at a gas station or something just to get one in-date then go back to filling that one until it expires 😆

[@jerryjohnson323]

What I would need to know most is how safe and effective these Buddy heaters are for emergency heating inside your home . I enjoy your comprehensive videos and thank you very much . Jerry J

[@AlexTimm]

Good question! I am hoping to put out a video on that specific topic soon to cover the safety aspects of what to consider when using it as an emergency heater in your home. But for a quick short answer now, yes they are safe and effective for emergency heat in your home. It is recommended to have a window cracked or some sort of fresh air ventilation when running in your home, keep flammable items away from the heater, and either run a hose to a tank sitting outside, or use 1lb tanks

[@michaelgallagher7696]

@@AlexTimm I have used the little one for years in a tent. It shuts off immediately when tipped over (which has happened a lot), doesn't melt the nylon,. Gets cool immediately. As far as a the low oxygen, I recently had a hard driving rain push the rain fly down on tent. It was zipped up, no ventilation. The low oxygen warning came on, first time. I unzipped the door a little, the warning went out with no issues. If a window was cracked open a little, I would have absolute confidence in this heater being safe.

[@Bullybugger]

I have one of the Mr Buddy rigged up to 20 pound tank with filter in my living room.

[@NomadicNorthwoods]

Ice fisherman here. I can attest to the Mr. Heater buddy portable, it's 9000 BTU. Heats my four person portable ice hub and then dethaws my snowmobile in my garage when I get back. Get a cheap metal paint can holder, clip it on above it and grill.

[@nunyabiznez1025]

My husband loves to fish so, yes, you just gave me an idea of what to give him for Christmas, thank you! I was also looking to heat my green house that I don't have to use electricity in and this might be perfect for that as well. Actually, I purchased a propane Stainless Steel BBQ grill 4 years ago and it's been collecting dust in my garage never been used because I was afraid of propane tanks; but since watching your video and you showed how to connect I'm going to whip out that brand spanking new grill and take it to my backyard. I got it for a huge bargain, too and it's a shame we've not used it. My husband loves charcoal grills so that's all we've been using which is about to change, LOL! Thank you for your educational video!!!

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful!!

[@madalaine1150]

I'm new to the Michigan weather..moved from California. I just bought two small Mr. Buddy but now I want the Mr. Buddy Flex..incase we have rolling blackouts.

[@AlexTimm]

Alora, makes sense to me, doesn't hurt to be extra prepared for sure!

[@Izzybizzy420]

We use a yellow milk crate for the 20lb tanks fits perfect ! Great video

[@AlexTimm]

Yes! Milk crates are perfect for them, helps prevent them from tipping over in the vehicle too

[@Freeman361]

Thankyou very much, Sir. Great info and well described. Im getting the Big Buddy heater for my ice tent.❤

[@williamfuller2389]

Finally, someone explains that the Quick Connect fitting on the Big Buddy is for a low-pressure propane source (already regulated) and not for a high-pressure source (bulk tank). I did buy a Mr. Heater 12' hose but it didn't provide enough propane to sustain the heater operation. I blamed a bad filter, at first. I used a filter, I always do now, but the hose also wouldn't work with my camp stove, obviously without a filter. Got a basic BBQ hose and the hose and filter now allow enough propane for the heater to operate. I do believe it's the integrated regulator that Mr. Heater suggests you don't leave the heater on, unattended (as in overnight). When the regulator fails, and I've had two different ones fail, it starts a fire. Both times I was fortunate enough to be there to put out the flames before they ignighted the tank or tent.

[@AlexTimm]

I do know that sometimes the hoses are defective. I myself had one that wouldn't let enough propane through to work, and so I exchanged it for the exact same one and it now works perfectly. Not sure if that was your issue or not, but figured I would share. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@williamfuller2389]

@@AlexTimm I took the hose back to Ace Hardware, tried a second hose and still it wouldn't work with my heater. Got refunded and got the BBQ hose elsewhere and now I'm set. Strange that the hose from Mr Heater wouldn't work on their heater for me.

[@AlexTimm]

@@williamfuller2389 Really weird! Glad you got a hose that is working for you now!

[@kcgunesq]

I'll note that when I used to exchange my tanks at a commercial propane facility, the tare weight could vary by 2-3lb. So if weight is a huge concern, it may be best to see if you can look through their stock before selecting your tank.

[@JohannesWOW]

just go to a refill station. paying extra to just get another random one is silly.

[@kcgunesq]

@@JohannesWOW As long as your tanks were empty, it wasn't paying anything extra as they only charged something like $13 for an exchange. Keep in mind, this was one of the main depots that fill for all of the other service providers. But over time, they must have decided they didn't want the retail customers and they raised the prices enough that it wasn't any less expensive, so now I refill. ETA: they would refill your tanks if you wanted, IIRC, but it didn't really save much if you had empty tanks. You just had to stand and wait.

[@HH-zg8zm]

This is the most accurate review I have seen you covered the pro s and cons perfectly . But don't forget quick connect hose conceters after use tend to leak. Like air hoses for air tools. Hope fishing is good. Be safe.

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks, will do!

[@condor5635]

What is a conceters? Not sure what you are trying to get across. Thanks for clarifying

[@HH-zg8zm]

@@condor5635 the quick connecters have a gasket inside that wears out fast and causes a leak I use only screw in type safer

[@HH-zg8zm]

Ps if quick connecters so safe why can't they be use in homes .leaks 💥. Been working with gas for yrs be safe . Your life depends on it. Don't know why they have that on heater mine don't

[@claresmith7227]

The red control knob on my little buddy heater melted off. I'm going to add a regulator on and hope it works better.

[@theociba3762]

Great explanation that saves us a lot of legwork - most appreciated. Sorry if this is obvious, but is the reason the F273704 (10foot) lacks a fuel filter because it is NOT required (i.e. engineered not to need one)? I would presume the others need one due to their construction. I don’t want to overthink this nor do I want to increase my risk or shorten the unit life. My objective is the 4k-9k unit to a 20lb tank. Thank you for sharing your insights.

[@AlexTimm]

Yes, it is a hose intended for the higher propane pressures so that the oils don't come out of the hose and gum up the heater

[@theociba3762]

@@AlexTimm Sites such as yours saves the rest from costly mistakes! Grateful. I hear of cases where those in need, not just convenience, use these devices but experience a malfunction - often due to misuse.

[@xxbuschxx9647]

Hey thanks I just got a big buddy for my garage as my garage has concrete floors and a decent sized gap for ventilation on the bottom of my garage door.😊

[@AlexTimm]

Perfect use for it!! Enjoy a little warmth this winter!

[@adventuresbeingconquered]

Thanks for the comparison! I purchased the flex for ice fishing in Ontario. It is an amazing unit to have if you are into catch and cook on the ice.

[@AlexTimm]

Very cool! Glad you like it paired with the cooker!

[@ellesnyder942]

We have a 6500 watt champion generator for outages, but we don't want to deal with it in the dark and rain so we bought the portable buddy heater to get thru cold nights until we can bring out and set up the generator in daylight. We also bought the manufacturers hose for connecting larger cylinders.

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome, seems like a smart idea!

[@sofializzy4519]

Very helpful! I was looking at these and you answered questions I didn't even know I had! Thank you!

[@AlexTimm]

sofia lizzy, Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@sofializzy4519]

@@AlexTimm My pleasure! I live in Texas and was ok during the deep freeze this year and I just need to make sure my family is ok if we have a repeat next year. My heater will be delivered tomorrow! Thanks again!

[@AlexTimm]

@@sofializzy4519 Absolutely, very smart to be prepared!

[@liffy8333]

glad I found your channel. best review on these heaters I've ever seen and I've searched and have seen alot! new fan and new subscriber.

[@AlexTimm]

Awesome, thank you!

[@joblessalex]

Wish the new one had the old click ignitor as well. Super important for survival to have it always ready to light. Batteries aren't always ready or available. Having to hotwire it into a dead car battery or something doesn't sound fun when your heat goes out and you need that thing...

[@AlexTimm]

That's a valid point and one I didn't think about!

[@louielouie8080]

Awesome Video I Have The Buddy Flex Heater Always Used A 20lb Tank After 2 Months It Doesnt Want To Start Anymore.,1 All I Did Was Change The 20lb Tank

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks for watching! Do you remember how you took the hose off the first one? If you took the hose off the propane tank first (while still connected to the buddy flex) you likely just have a bunch of air in the hose. I have ran into this previously as well and it didn't matter how long I tried to 'prime' the heater it wouldn't come on. What ended up working is putting a leather glove on to protect my hand, hooking up the hose to a full propane tank, and using something to push in on the little ball on the buddy heater side of the hose to allow the air to escape. When I did this with the 10ft hose it took a good 60 seconds before I was getting propane and not air coming out. If you try this be careful and don't point it the hose at anything, but it has solved my problem with that before.

[@louielouie8080]

@@AlexTimm Hey Alex Just Did What You Told Me, It Worked Awesome Thanks So Much For The Advice 👍😎👍 Have A Great Day 🔥😁 Stay Warm Buddy

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

This was helpful. I’ve got the big buddy and portable buddy I unusually hook up to 20lb tanks. I was thinking about picking up an 11lb and or 5lb tank for some weight savings on solo trips or early ice days. I definitely will now.

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful, yes! Those smaller tanks are awesome!!

[@brianbartulis9709]

My fav over a few years ice fishing was the 11 lb. It fit in the Take Outs of my shack while folded for transport. But ya need somewhere near that fills by weight and charge per pound. lol, checkout person's dilemma. X2 if just want a topping off. Now we've 24/7 places that just change out the 20 lb tanks which very handy. Either way just the hose running in to fuel my invertible heater (flip on back, ez to cook on) is great.

[@laurarowland7926]

My mom has the buddy heater and I would like tonsee how to hook up ,how to start etc..she needs an alternative heat..thankyou for the video

[@williamfuller2389]

If you really want to maintain the "portability" of the Buddy Heater, use Flame King refillable 1# bottles. They're DOT approved and very easy to refill. While I generally use a bulk tank and filter for my heaters, I use those refillable bottles for my lanterns. They pay for themselves in no time!

[@AlexTimm]

Yes, lots of people I know use them. I personally do not just because of the hassle factor of having to refill. But with how scarce 1lb replacements are to find this year, I might need to go that route. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@williamfuller2389]

@@AlexTimm Like I said, using the 1# bottles make transporting the Buddy heater a one-hand operation. It surprised me how easy they are to fill. I filled 6 bottles the other day in about 15 minutes.

[@joshuadrummer3234]

@@williamfuller2389 You can also refill the Coleman 1# bottles right? Also wondering why one hose needs a fuel filter and why not when you use refilled small bottles? Doesn't make much sense to me

[@williamfuller2389]

@@joshuadrummer3234 Buddy heaters have integrated regulators and rely on the high pressure propane from gas tanks, whether they're 1# or 20# bbq size. Propane pressurized to 150 PSI or more. If a rubber hose is used, the high pressure eventually leaches oil from the hose fouling up the heaters Oxygen Depletion Sensor, ODS, rendering the heater unable to stay lit. Call the technicians at Mr Buddy in Ohio and they will tell you the same. That's how I found out.

[@joshuadrummer3234]

@@williamfuller2389 Ahh ok, thanks man!

[@ultimatesoccershow]

AMAZING KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Mr Heater Buddy extraordinaire!!!!! YOU made me make the right decision and without this video I would have chosen the wrong model for my task. THANK YOU SO MUCH :)🤙

[@AlexTimm]

Great to hear!

[@Mike-up6go]

Hi Alex. Question about hoses. You say the 10' stand alone hose can be used with any of the heaters. ( no regulator ) The quick connect hose ( with regulator attached ) can be used for the big buddy. Kind of confused here. Why would one hose need a regulator for the big buddy and the other hose does not have a regulator and can be used for any of the buddy heaters ? So is the regulator actually needed or not ?

[@AlexTimm]

Hey Mike, thanks for watching and the question. The 10' stand alone hose has the screw end that goes into the 1lb propane hook-up spot on the heaters. These each have regulators built into them, so no need for a regulator. The quick connect hose connects to the fitting on the big buddy which is NOT regulated, meaning you have to have it regulated before getting to the heater. I hope that helps, ask if you still have questions!

[@marfadog2945]

Thank you for the great video. Helpful bc I'm thinking about buying. Can you please explain why the 10 foot standalone buddy brand hose does not need a regulator? Thank you

[@AlexTimm]

Glad the video was helpful. The 10' hose is made up of a different type of rubber that doesn't have the oils in it that cause the leeching problem that the other hoses do under high pressure. Why they don't just make various lengths of that hose and get rid of the others? Who knows, price maybe?

[@marfadog2945]

@@AlexTimm thank you! Great video! Helpful!

[@lldeleon]

Great video, thanks! Out of curiosity how do you refill the 5 lb tank? Do you take it to a propane supplier each time or refill it yourself from a 20 lb tank. If so, what hose and adapters do you use?

[@AlexTimm]

I bring it to a propane supplier and they do it. Otherwise where I live a lot of gas stations or UHaul fill them too

[@juans6639]

You can refill them at any propane dealer.

[@MTMith]

Thanks for taking the time to put a great video together. Very helpful!

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@flyty2134]

Great job your review was extremely accurate and very helpful thanks for sharing that with us.

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful! And thank you for watching!!

[@billyblastoff7027]

Just picked up a 5 gallon tank love it them big tanks get heavy after a mile hike lol thanks again for the video

[@AlexTimm]

Billy Blastoff, Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting! And great choice, those are my favorite size!

[@LEADSPRAYER45]

Would be great to see actual runtime on each heat setting!

[@AlexTimm]

That's a good idea! I'll see if I can pull that all together

[@1971awesomespurs]

Very helpful, thank you so much!

[@christophervela5447]

Dang man the intro was captivating lol So calm and collected 👍

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks for the kind words!!

[@Alberthoward3right9up]

Be aware they sell a different model of the portable buddy heater in Australia. It has no adjustments. Only goes flat out. I purchased one yesterday. There is no other option in Australia either.

[@robcooper6965]

Who the f needs a heater in Australia 😂

[@Alberthoward3right9up]

@@robcooper6965 I live in Tasmania mate. It's only warm three to five months of the year 🤣🤣🤣. But in all seriousness it gets chilly of a night in the outback too. And Canberra is even colder that Tasmania. Explains why all out politicians are cold calculating C&$ts

[@WeThePeopleSurvival69]

Looking to pic up the original buddy heater.. Thanks for the information ❤

[@AlexTimm]

No problem 👍

[@condor5635]

Great video thanks for uploading. Only thing missing would be the approximate cost of each heater. I just got a big buddy for $162 total cost including shipping I thought that was a pretty good deal

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks for watching and for the recommendation! I think just being able to get your hands on one these last few weeks is a HUGE win!

[@beast1624]

Thanks! You answered all of my questions about the hoses for 20lb thank and filter requirements.

[@AlexTimm]

Glad to help

[@kings17court]

I know you mentioned about the possibility of hooking up two 20 gallon tanks to the Big Buddy. That would provide a VERY long, continuous run time on the high setting. Would you be able to use one 20 gallon tank, and run it on high? Or are two tanks required to fun the high setting?

[@AlexTimm]

Yes, you can use 1 or 2 external propane tanks on high, whatever you prefer

[@springgrassbookem4517]

Great job on the video and information! Thank you so much. I had no one to advise me. The comments were helpful too so thanks to those people as well!

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful!!

[@rodolfoherrera1409]

Fantastic review, it shows that you did your research and definitely helped us a lot. Thanks !!

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the kind words!

[@RL-nz8xr]

love my big buddy, won't change it for anything. It keeps me warm in cold weather camping year after year.

[@AlexTimm]

Absolutely! Love mine too!

[@larrycollins5480]

Alex, thanks for the review. A few questions: I have 3 car garage where my dogs stay. Which one is good to heat this size space? Is this safe to run with my dogs in the garage? Garage has 13 foot ceilings as well. I would also like to use unit in by 12x12 shed. What do you suggest as far as size of unit and size of propane tank. I don't plan to run in the garage all the time, just to heat it up when unusually cold. Thanks.

[@AlexTimm]

The big buddy heater is the most powerful one however for your 3 car garage will be likely under-powered (it is rated up to 450 sq ft of enclosed space). If you want to do these heaters I would get 2 of the big buddy heaters and mount them to the wall out of the reach of the dogs with the big 20lb tanks. If you want something a bit more sustainable, I would highly recommend getting a ceiling mounted garage heater. I'm not an expert on these by any means, I just know from my own experiences. I personally have a 3 car garage and use a natural gas ceiling mounted heater and that does the trick for me! Good luck and keep those dogs warm 😀

[@3AmericanPie]

Maybe a grate idea is to have the dogs in the house for warmth?. SmH. Poor fur babies.

[@patfiore7510]

great video but I think we wanted to know more about the big buddy did you say it doesn't need a fuel filter and what size hose is better for it more info on the big buddy

[@AlexTimm]

Let me know if this part answers your question and is helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4bUoJqcqJyWjLc

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Thank you. I want to get one of these for emergencies. Here in my small city in Eastern Oregon our infrastructure is underground but you never really don't know what might happen. I want to be able to at least heat one room in a serious emergency. Someone in another video says it does not work at higher altitudes. Do you have any info about this? My altitude is about 3,600 ft. Thank you for posting this. Very helpful.

[@AlexTimm]

Yes these are great heaters to have for emergency situations! As far as altitude, these heaters are rated to work up to 7,000 ft. The reason why they may / may not work above that point is because the air is so thin that the low oxygen sensor in these units will cut it off. Thanks for watching!

[@jimbuckley4986]

Excellent video. Thank you. Trying to decide on heater to use on deck when wife wants to have a smoke

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful, these are nice, compact and portable!

[@Jinjerbread317]

Thank you very much. Very informative. I have one but have never taken it out of the box. I was a little intimidated. I feel more confident after watching your video. Also appreciate the info on the different sizes of tanks, hoses and connectors. I watched a video that said you can use these indoors if you open a window and use a carbon monoxide detector. Do you agree? I have mine in case of emergency but I am also considering going full time RVg and might use one in the RV for heat.

[@AlexTimm]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, you can definitely use it inside if you have some fresh air ventilation. Either run a hose out the window, or just use 1lb propane tanks. Lots of people use for RVs and emergency in home heat as well 👍

[@nude_cat_ellie7417]

Be sure to test it out before cold temps!

[@MrPHATSPEED]

Thanks for the info. I just got a buddy heater for ice fishing, and now I have an idea what the propane requirements are.

[@AlexTimm]

Very cool! Have fun!

[@michaelhayward9532]

Good info, since the heaters have built in regulators is another still required on the hose coming off a 20lb bottle? Thanks

[@AlexTimm]

Good question Michael, there are 3 options, 1) use a hose that can hold up to the higher pressure of the propane without degrading and leeching oils 2) use a fuel filter with your hose 3) use a regulator at the propane tank end to lower the pressure in the hose. Any of these methods will work but the trick is you don't want the hose to break down and gum up the heater components or it will need to be cleaned

[@KingdomUploader]

Wish i understood how on the smaller single element heater, as well as the big buddy, achieve a Medium heat setting.

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks everyone for watching the video. A lot of people have requested to see the actual run-times on these so I put a video together showing just that. Check it out if you are interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooDJpnerib6Ef5o *Comment down below if there are still more questions you have or anything else you would like to know or see on the buddy heaters! I appreciate each of you!*

[@micaelacollins934]

Which heater and propane option would you recommend for a 16.5 ft diameter canvas bell tent that can last at least 3 days? I went camping with the portable buddy thinking 2 1lb propane canisters for 2 days would work. I damn near froze lol 🤣 That was my first time camping and using propane. Lesson learned.

[@michaelhorn4540]

I had one, but it is incredibly expensive using small propane cylinders and on high, it doesn't last long. Definitely needs the 20 lb cylinder to use on high. Also it only lasted one season and got to where you couldn't even turn the knobs on my big buddy heater. I bought a kerosene stove and it heated much better and heated my whole home, which the big buddy wouldn't

[@AlexTimm]

Good feedback, stinks to hear yours didn't last - it's not common I hear that! Glad you found a solution that works!

[@MobileAura]

I kept a 30x6 ft living space sweaty hot on low 4000 btu for 50 bucks a month of propane.

[@AlexTimm]

@@MobileAura That's awesome! Worth it for your specific scenario then!

[@jackfrosty79ify]

Ben running mine for a mouth on 20lbs tank

[@CliffordPate-pe5ys]

When I run a 20 lb tank on a Big Buddy heater do I need to go to the quick coupler and do I need a regulator or can I go through the 1 lb side with a 20 lb tank and a regulator My Big Buddy heater is not getting propane to the igniter

[@margaritoespinoza6457]

Thanks this was helpful ! Im in Texas preparing for next winter bc I do not trust our grid ! Like a lot of Texans I have bought buddy and big buddy heaters which are in back order status due to high demand. Will also be buying a generator....God Bless!

[@AlexTimm]

Thank you for watching, glad it was helpful, hopefully the buddy heaters arrive soon for you so you are good to go for next year

[@victorbailey6233]

I'm like you looking at buying 2 buddy heaters and fixing my generator don't trust the power supply here in the DFW area rolling blackouts for a week back in February thanks from Azle TX

[@williamwhite7222]

GREAT VIDEO VERY HELPFUL. BUT CAN A 20 GAL TANK ATTACH TO THE SMALLER HEATER. SOME HOW.

[@AlexTimm]

Thanks, and yes it can. I would recommend getting this hose to connect them: 10’ Hose (F273704): amzn.to/3s08Bnn

[@hottrodd4532]

The cooker is designed for year round use; not just for winter! 🥶🤷🏽‍♂️

[@AlexTimm]

Yes it is, but then you also have to carry around a heater with you to use your cooker. This is the portable cooker I use and love it: amzn.to/3sixETc It also puts out 15,000 BTU itself which is not common for these little cook stoves.

[@susaner.burdohangarcia6081]

Alex Timm is that something I can use indoors to cook on?

[@AlexTimm]

@@susaner.burdohangarcia6081 It is not intended for indoor use. What I would recommend if you want to be ultra safe is use something like Sterno and the foldable stove that they make for it. These are rated for indoor use and you may be familiar with them as catering companies use these for banquets and such. (Yes they get hot enough to boil water). Here are a couple links to the Sterno cans I'm talking about and the foldable stove. Relatively inexpensive and the cans have ~2 year shelf life. Sterno (t.ly/lCZL ) and the little folding camping stoves you can get for them (t.ly/4EM3 )

[@jimfreeman2822]

Thank you. How does these heaters work as emergency indoor heating? Thank you Jim

[@AlexTimm]

They work fantastic! Be sure to make sure you have plenty of ventilation though and a carbon monoxide detector and either use 1lb tanks or have a plan for a bigger tank with a hose through a window or monitor it

[@bighawk2001]

Make the video you mentioned with the run times

[@AlexTimm]

Yeah, I definitely will! Thanks for watching!

[@pattimoffett6648]

74 year old widow this was so helpful

[@AlexTimm]

Thank you for the comment! So glad it was helpful!

[@MyReadinessJourney]

Good stuff bro! I just bought the big buddy and I was noticing like you mentioned that there are models that don’t have the fan but I found the fan version at Lowe’s! As well as the batteries it has a 6 V power jack but unfortunately no power supply in the box. Thanks for the pro tip about the quick connect hose I’m definitely picking one of those up!

[@AlexTimm]

New Gun Nation, Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting! And glad you found it in stock with the FAN!

[@percyfaith11]

Buy a thermal fan. Meant for wood stoves but works on these heaters.

[@Robnord1]

Thanks for the video. Much of the info regarding the proper hose to use on the Big Buddy I have coming is either confusing or just plain incorrect. This explained it perfectly. 👍

[@AlexTimm]

Glad to help

[@jamieeisenhower1560]

The small Buddy and Big Buddy heaters are more efficient I would not have the other one

[@AlexTimm]

They are my favorite. Other than the size (only downside when you are trying to be lightweight and pack light) the Big Buddy is the best all around in my opinion. Plus I love the ability to throw a grate on it and cook right on top!

[@jamieeisenhower1560]

@@AlexTimm but the small one will last longer if propane is scares

[@4twowildkittycats]

I have a van conversion I did myself and the small Buddy heater works excellent for that size I have it hooked to a full size propane tank that I keep in the cab and I have a little table that I made out of a tray and styrofoam that sits on top of it so my cat has a place to keep his cat food or treats while we're driving or I can put a drink or maybe some food a snack so it fits perfect I needed more room and I'm planning on moving from California to Oregon so I bought a teakwood teardrop trailer and I needed to find a heating for it so I went to go buy another small Buddy heater but I came across the flex heater it cost more and for me it was really a pain in the ass matter of fact it doesn't even work anymore I never even got to really use it once the dial on it is made out of plastic and it is totally different to light it compared to the regular Buddy heater and once you use the small Buddy heater I don't suggest getting a flex heater I don't the electronic ignition does take a triple a battery and if you ask me I don't like it the plastic knob got stripped and it's useless to me now it cost $145 bucks compared to 70 $70 little buddy and it's just my my opinion don't need it stick with the little dude that's about it thank you

[@AlexTimm]

Good feedback and insights, thanks for sharing

[@AlexTimm]

*Thanks for watching! Let me know what you think of the video and what else you want to see on the channel!* 👉 Check out the NEW competition for the Buddy Heaters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmmYdZ2JbtuFg9U

[@briangreen256]

Can you hook up a 20 lb tank to the portable smaller heater?

[@AlexTimm]

@@briangreen256 Yes, absolutely - I will be making a video on it soon too! You just need this hose: 10’ Hose (F273704): amzn.to/3s08Bnn Then one end screws into the 20lb tank and the other into the port on the portable small heater

[@briangreen256]

@@AlexTimm Thank you! I was starting to think I was about to have to buy the bigger heater.

[@bigmangmc]

Great Information!! Thanks love it!!

[@bigmangmc]

Watching for 2nd time right now