cheap heater

[big earl-TNT]

hi all,
I have an idea on how to warm a tear drop with out using your battery up, you know how you always have a fire going, well what would happen if you had a rock about the size of a large grapefruit heating in the fire till you got ready for bed, and the you took it out of the fire and put it in say a dutch oven ad put that in the trailer, as small as the trailers are, it should be enough to keep it nice and toasty if it isnt, you could just use more rocks.

 

[b.bodemer]

Friends of mine who camp in the early spring and sleep in their vehicles take a Nalgene bottle and fill it with hot water and then slip it in their sleeping bags to ge them warmed up. they say it works great.
Barb

 

[big earl-TNT]

hi Barb and Bill, I just looked in your album and I really like you tear, I am hopefully going to get started on one this year, time permiting, hope to see you out there.

 

[Ken J-TNT]

You should be VERY careful about heating rocks in fires - they can explode - really!

Ken J.

 

[agpage]

My Step Father decided that the microwave would be a good way to kill off the algae on your fish tank rockwork. Needless to say my mother (Who is deathly afraid of load noises and messy kitchens) still brings this up. Rocks with trapped water do explode. (Loudly)

Andy

 

[Paw_Paw_Drew]

The nalgene bottle method is one I used a lot backpacking. It served to sterilize the water, warm my sleeping bag and if was in bag with me in the morning I didn't have frozen water.

 

[sledge-TNT]

what an Idea Big Earl...... I never thought of that, But yes......I'm sure thats a good idea. .............................................. me and the wife are planning our first camping trip for 2007 in about............... 32 days.... 10 hours......(well, you get the idea )

 

[big earl-TNT]

I was also toying with heating sand in some sort of cotainer, but haven't had much time to run with it.

 

[PresTx82]

If you are out backpacking and camping out in the open, you can take the rocks from around your campfire (if you are in a sandy area) and bury them in the sand the length of a person. Place your sleeping bag over them and the buried rocks heat up the sand and keep you warm all night.

 

[Laredo-TNT]

You'd be amazed how much warmer you can sleep if you just don't sleep in the same clothes you've sweated in all day.

 

[BobU-TNT]

Laredo:
You are so right, dry is warm. I do alot of kayak camping, always sure to get some dry layers on before bedtime, really helps to "sleep warm". Of course a good sleeping bag is the best money you will ever spend.
BobU

 

[Paw_Paw_Drew]

Dry cloths are great but I sleep natural and stay plenty wark.

 

[asianflava]

What about the propane powered catalyst heaters?

Ugggh, do a search for them. You will find that most people here don't like them or don't reccomend them for a tear. I think that they would put out way too much heat for a tear.

 

[B&FHenderson]

With tears being as small as they are, I would not want to any type of gas or combustion based heater in them. They tend to use a lot of O2 quickly.

If you have any other type of tiny trailer I would still be concered with O2 depletion. I would suggest using another blanket or quilt or feather throw. The point about dry cloths to sleep in also great. When I winter camp with the Boy Scouts I put on a ski cap or hooded sweatshirt.

 

[Rick Sheerin]

With tears being as small as they are, I would not want to any type of gas or combustion based heater in them. They tend to use a lot of O2 quickly.

If you have any other type of tiny trailer I would still be concered with O2 depletion. I would suggest using another blanket or quilt or feather throw. The point about dry cloths to sleep in also great. When I winter camp with the Boy Scouts I put on a ski cap or hooded sweatshirt.

I use a Heater Buddy portable propane heater in my Metzendorf and only have to crack a window or vent- keeps it nice and toasty warm! I plan on using it in my Fandrop also.

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

I design in my sleep I know it sounds crazy but I wake up and the idea is there.

I'll throw this out for laughs. Think of an 8"h x 8"w x 16" long light gauge steel box with a shoe box style removable lid. Thru this box runs a 4" round mild steel tube. place the contraption a safe distance away and connect one end of the tube to a non combustable flex hose to a vent into the tear. Powered with a tiny 12 volt computer fan fresh air is drawn thru and into the tear.
Now take off the lid and add coals from the campfire on a cool night to warm that tube as the air is drawn thru. Conversely as a chiller just add a bag of ice. Poor mans a/c and heater combo.

Excuse me the nice men in the white coats are here with the net ,
GOTTA GO NOW !

 

[big earl-TNT]

bob that is a great idea, it is a great expantion on the idea I had when I started this thread. I plan on starting my weekender soon, I think I might have to get back to the drawing board and make a slight adjustment.

 

[bledsoe3]

Or you could just get one of these. Zodi tent heater

 

[Joseph-TNT]

I believe the subject line is CHEAP heater. The Zodi is far from cheap.

I like the rock in the DO idea but I don't carry a DO and it's too filthy (on the outside) to bring inside the tear anyway. Maybe put it in a dish or something when I'm camping alone. With Kate & Sarah, I'm never cold anyway.

Burying rocks and putting your sleeping bag over them reminds me of that scene in Jeremiah Johnson:

"Didn't put enough dirt down. Seen it, right off."

Joseph

 

[bledsoe3]

That web site is deceiving. It's just the first one I found. While not cheap, This site is about $70 cheaper.