Electric Heater for CVT/ROOFTOP Tents.

Hello,

Just curious what other people have done here as far as a heat source during the colder times of the year. Not comfortable at all with a propane heater that are usually pretty decent in size when it comes to a 2 person tent.

Preferably looking for a small electric style heater that could connect to a portable battery generator. Struggling to find some solid options so hope I could get some solid feedback.


Thanks!

 

I mean any department store heater would work. Personally I wouldnt feel great about sleeping in a nylon box with an electric firestarter at my feet. I would rather just buy a colder weather bag or grab some more blankets.

 

You're gonna need a really big battery. Better off getting a good sleeping bag.

 

I've heard of people running their Mr. Buddy heater in the lower anex portion of the tent prior to going to bed to try and heat the whole tent, although I doubt that is very efficient. You could consider a 12v electric blanket. Most have adjustable heat settings and auto shut off timers.

 

Appreciate the input fellas!

I think you guys are right as well.

Thank you!

 

Get a Mr Buddy

 

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-heating/12-volt-bunk-warmer.htm

Turn it on a bit before turning in for the night, once again in the early a.m. as you wake...
Got a 2nd battery? Leave it on all night...

 

Get the Correct Sleeping bag for the temperatures you will encounter.

Heaters of any sort tend to fail at the worst possible time.

 

Not to down talk, but I've never understood the whole heater thing in a tent.

I'm only used to "cold california" weather, -5C night time in some places where warm sleeping bag and layers has always been fine.

 

For anything with tent sides, an external heater is completely useless, imo.

I had a big ol propane heater that was in my old pop up tent trailer. When it was cold, that thing ran ALL NIGHT long because all the heat would immediately escape out the paper thin non-insulated walls and vents. We also had heated mattresses but they only worked on 120v, so I actually never used them.

I'd take a good hard look at anything electric, like blankets or heated mattress pads, and figure out the amperage draw of them, and ONLY use them if you have a completely isolated aux battery. You're talking several hundred bucks for an aux battery and all the fixins that go along with keeping it isolated from your starter battery and maintaining a change on it (either integrated to vehicle charging system or stand alone solar).

Or you can get yourself a nice mummy sleeping bag and some thermal underwear. I have a Mountain Hardware 5 degree bag and I have to stick my feet out and upzip it even when it's in the high 30s. It's toasty warm!

Before my current bag, I had another 0 degree, and I slept outside (no tent) in Death Valley (in January). I woke up in the morning and had ice crystals all over my bag but I was comfy warm, until I got out to pee, lol...