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Off season campers, how do you heat your tent?

14 replies

foreversunny · 20/03/2013 09:58

Off camping over Easter, worried about cold weather.

We're pretty hardcore campers and have never used any sort of heating system before now.

I've read several mixed reviews on using heaters inside tents with regards to poisoning etc which is worrying me.

We don't have electrical hook up, so any heaters will need to be otherwise powered.

Any feedback or advice? Thanks

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DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow · 20/03/2013 13:24

I wouldn't use anything except an electric heater.

Even now we've bought a caravan, I won't use the gas heater, I still take our little oil filled radiator.

Not much help - sorry!

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foreversunny · 20/03/2013 13:32

No that's fine DrGoodle, thanks for replying!

I actually agree with you. I'm very weary about getting one but DH thinks we should for the DC (all under 7).

It's quite worrying, I've been doing a lot of research online and have come across what seems to be a really good (gas) one, with pages and pages of great reviews from campers. However, on the box it states "Not for indoor use"

People don't seem to realise/ignore this.

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JammySplodger · 20/03/2013 13:40

I wouldn't go near a gas heater in a tent!

Just take masses of blankets and hats etc, and maybe find a few indoor days out so you get the chance to defrost if needed (soft play centres etc).

Hot water bottles are nice too. And down jackets if you can find / afford them.

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GreenLeafTea · 20/03/2013 13:41

I would absolutely not risk using a gas heater inside a tent. People have died from doing that. I've camped in some pretty cold places as a teen and older and you just climb in your sleeping bag (assuming you have a good make of sleeping bag) and wrap up well. Perhaps a change of plan would be better if you are worried about your kids being too young.

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JammySplodger · 20/03/2013 13:43

And we've camped with DSs 6 & 2 yrs. They're tucked up in bed by the time the temp really starts to drop, and we found DH and I got colder sat round in the evenings.

Just a thought too - I know friends who swear by having a camping carpet (old off-cut) under the airbeds to keep the cold out. Seems to work for them.

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Blu · 20/03/2013 13:48

I used to camp on glaciers etc. I would just have good insulation under the sleeping bags, fleece blankets on top of a SIM, for example, a fleece blanket or duvet on top of sleeping bag, and sleep wearing a hat.

And go to a site where yo can have a campfire or a fire off the ground in one of the big BBQ buckets or a fire pit, and sit round that in the evening.

Pesonally i wouldn't contemplate a gas heater in a tent, from the pov of fire, or CO.

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momb · 20/03/2013 13:48

Hot water bottles are fab. Warm the people not the air in the tent. I certainly wouldn't risk a gas heater in a tent. And I second JammySplodger; if you are using airbeds then put some insulation under them.

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foreversunny · 20/03/2013 14:47

OK, the heater is a no no and I've written that idea off.

We've got plenty of blankets, hats, scarfs, wooly jumpers etc and the DC have very good sleeping bags. I guess all we can do is give it a go and hope for the best.

GreenLeafTea, sadly it's too late to pull out. We booked this camping trip months ago. Our income is very low so this will be our annual family holiday. We foolishly hoped the weather would be warmer by Easter

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GreenLeafTea · 20/03/2013 15:00

Oh, we'll give it a go. It will probably be fine and if you are all miserable you can go home early. You never know the weather might be better by Easter.

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foreversunny · 20/03/2013 15:14

Fingers crossed for a bit of sun eh? Funny to think how nice it was last Easter! We're camping around 45 miles from home, so not too far really. If it's truly awful we'll just come home!

Thanks for all the feedback.

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