Hondo Garage's New Thing

I agree, but insulation means it'll retain the heat a bit better; can't argue with a higher R value. But for more moderate temps the insulation will shine more imo.

 

@ace7196 Mr Heater Portable Buddy. Pretty sure it’s 4000btu on low and 9000 on high. The high setting will heat you out of the room in a small space, even on low I find I need to cycle it on and off if it’s not really cold out.

 

I'm curious how the tent will hold up when being frozen with snow and moisture and then having to put it away. A heater of some sort to defrost the soft shell would be ideal since the tent has the ability to breathe when put away.

 

haha how many of you actually even camp in -20 to 10º temps consistently?






not a lot id bet..

Doubt a heater is handy for anyone that camps in warmer than that temps.

 

Got that right.... I’m smart enough to stay at a Holiday Inn Express when shit is -20F. GFC looks just fine in the parking lot. Brrrrrr....

I’d agree with some of the others though a heater would be aweome for taking the morning chill off. Woke up a week or so ago in the very low 30’s fired up my buddy heater before my wife woke up. We ended up taking the two small panels out and using the long one as a table. Made coffee with my MSR windburner and used the fridge as a seat. Sat and talked for prob 2 hours just enjoying being warm and comfortable up in the Adirondacks. The interior height and flexibility of the GFC does really make the small space liveable.

 

I've camped in that shit. Im with Wiley. You really just need a good bag. wear a hat. Done and done.

 

Gotta be a ski bum for a weekend or two when I can. 200+ inches of ungroomed powder. Only downside is the temps, but I plan on getting a heater anyways. Current bag is good till 0*, but might upgrade.

 

Turning the heater on makes waking up and getting dressed more comfortable and warms/dries gear for the next day. Nice to have for sure and doesn’t take up much space.

 

Not sure if serious.

People are spending $5k-15k just to sleep in the bed of a truck. If they want to have a propane heater on a 50 degree night, who gives a fuck.

Glad you get by with a sleeping bag and a hat at -80. That would make me so happy for you, but I don’t give a fuck about that either.

 

Two weeks straight dirtbagging it with a week of Yellowstone and the Tetons followed by the mountains of Idaho and the North Cascades means a heater is a very successful accessory every winter season. It makes it so much easier to sit through a storm or have an alpine start.

I know I would personally use it and I'm sure others would. The GFC and or a heater would have been so nice in those instances. Not trying to pat myself on the back. It just doesn't make since to say there isn't a use case for things that people have openly asked for.

 

This is how my friends and I spend our winters with lots of winter camping and dirtbagging in California and Alaska. Sleeping at the trailheads before the big day missions and the alpine starts will be a bit easier in the future with the GFC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc7O8pyn59g

 

Besides that some of us camp with our significant others 99% of the time. And if you don’t know “happy wife, happy life” I’ve slept in ground tents on Franconia Notch (Mt Washington) in Feb, back when I was young, dumb, and full of... well you know the rest. Point is I’m almost 40 now, if I can be comfortable why wouldn’t I be. I have nothing to prove. I will agree though a stocking cap while sleeping makes a huge difference.

 

Trying this out again. Anyone near San Diego willing to let me see their GFC? About to submit my order but need to see one in person before committing. Thanks!

 

Did you end up figuring out a good system for the tent awning?

 

Hell, I’m 20 and have spent 30+ nights freezing my ass off in the back of a truck or in a tent on the 395 North to get fresh powder at Mammoth. If I’m spending $6k+, I’m getting a damn heater too lol.

I have a great bag and wear a beanie, but as others said - happy wife (or girlfriend) and things go a lot better. There’s nothing that beats getting warm when freezing cold.

Edit: Since then I’ve purchased a Mr Buddy heater and have been super stoked on it. I just camped in ~32° weather in Big Bear and switched it on for a bit and was warm as hell.

 

It's been said before - but:
1. These campers exceed expectations when you finally see them in person.
2. Graeme is such a nice guy, and is busting ass out there delivering these campers.


Graeme rolled into town last night at 8:30 after driving all day from SoCal and then proceeded to spend the next two hours installing my camper, chatting, and giving me the rundown. After which, he said he was going to do some more driving. The guy is a machine.

Super stoked, and will get better pictures than this one from the creepy dark parking lot as I shamelessly copy Ace's build.

 

Dam, Elise said they wouldn't be bringing my camper because they weren't coming down to SoCal. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

Huh, they were in SoCal yesterday? I was supposed to be on a list they contact when they come into SoCal.

 

Not sure what to tell ya - I didn't know until yesterday morning that he was going to be delivering mine. What build numbers are you guys?

Definitely get the sense that they're juggling a lot of moving parts right now. Graeme was doing another delivery this morning in SF, and then picking up a full trailer load worth of foam in San Jose, before heading back to MT.

 

Looks like bay area...Might wanna try contacting in case it slips the mind. Unless he's headed back north...