TCowner
Platinum Member
Using a \"Mr. Heater\" in Curtis Cab
A pre-warning of winter arrived in Minnesota yesterday. Temperatures in the 30s and a gentle "breeze" out of the northwest at about 35 mph has caused me to think about putting on the Curtis soft side cab on my TC40DA. At least there are no mosquitos pestering me.
I purchased the cab last winter with the 15,000 btu heater. The heater is pretty impressive with respect its heat output. The downside is that it takes a couple of hours to install by the time you drain the coolant, attach the hoses, refill the coolant and hook up the wiring. It might be a little faster the second time.
I thought an alternative to the water heater would be to just use one of the portable "Buddy Heaters" that you see sold at hardware stores, Norhtern Tool, etc. The heater is rated at 4,000 or 9,000 BTU and can use a 1-lb or 20-lb propane cylinder. I wouldn't plan on using a 20-lb cylinder but the 1-lb would seem rather convenient.
There is also a "Big Buddy" heater that is rated at 4000, 9000, or 18,000 BTUs. It would seem easy enough to build a small platform where the current hot water system heater attaches to hold the propane heater.
Both of these heaters are rated for indoor and outdoor use. They are supposed to be safe for tent use so it would seem to be safe for use in a cab.
Buying the small 1-lb propane tanks isn't cheap but the actual hours one spends moving snow probably amounts to less than 30 hours for the entire season. It also would seem to offer the advantage of instant heat rather than waiting for the tractors coolant to warm.
What do you guys think? Does anyone know how long a 1-lb cylinder would run the heater at the higher output?
A pre-warning of winter arrived in Minnesota yesterday. Temperatures in the 30s and a gentle "breeze" out of the northwest at about 35 mph has caused me to think about putting on the Curtis soft side cab on my TC40DA. At least there are no mosquitos pestering me.
I purchased the cab last winter with the 15,000 btu heater. The heater is pretty impressive with respect its heat output. The downside is that it takes a couple of hours to install by the time you drain the coolant, attach the hoses, refill the coolant and hook up the wiring. It might be a little faster the second time.
I thought an alternative to the water heater would be to just use one of the portable "Buddy Heaters" that you see sold at hardware stores, Norhtern Tool, etc. The heater is rated at 4,000 or 9,000 BTU and can use a 1-lb or 20-lb propane cylinder. I wouldn't plan on using a 20-lb cylinder but the 1-lb would seem rather convenient.
There is also a "Big Buddy" heater that is rated at 4000, 9000, or 18,000 BTUs. It would seem easy enough to build a small platform where the current hot water system heater attaches to hold the propane heater.
Both of these heaters are rated for indoor and outdoor use. They are supposed to be safe for tent use so it would seem to be safe for use in a cab.
Buying the small 1-lb propane tanks isn't cheap but the actual hours one spends moving snow probably amounts to less than 30 hours for the entire season. It also would seem to offer the advantage of instant heat rather than waiting for the tractors coolant to warm.
What do you guys think? Does anyone know how long a 1-lb cylinder would run the heater at the higher output?