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How to Make a Tent Heater

How to Make a Tent Heater

tent in the sunset image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com

Camping is not for the faint of heart, but even the most experienced camper will tell you that it is not fun to be cold in your tent. No matter how warm your sleeping bag is or how well you layer your clothes, if the weather turns bitterly cold, there is nothing like a tent heater to take the edge off the cold and make your camping trip fun again instead of something to be endured. There's no need to buy an expensive tent heater. You can make an affordable and safe one with items available at a typical variety store.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Empty 1 lb. coffee can (metal, not plastic)
  • Roll of unscented toilet paper
  • 4 pints of unscented isopropyl alcohol
  • Lighter
  • 2 aluminum 9-by-9-inch cake pans
  • Matches or a lighter
Step 1
Push the cardboard center out of a toilet paper roll and insert the toilet paper roll into an empty 1 lb. coffee can. The toilet paper roll should sit snugly in the coffee can with the edges of the toilet paper pressed firmly against the coffee can, and the top of the toilet paper roll beneath the lid of the coffee can. Place the coffee can's plastic lid on the can for storage purposes until you are ready to use it.
Step 2
Set the coffee can on a 9-by-9-inch aluminum cake pan.
Step 3
Pour 3 oz. of unscented isopropyl alcohol onto the toilet paper and use matches or a lighter to light the toilet paper.
Step 4
Run the heater until the tent is warm, and then place a second aluminum cake pan on top of the coffee can to extinguish the flame.
Step 5
Reignite the heater when the tent drops to an uncomfortable temperature, adding additional unscented isopropyl alcohol as needed.

Tips & Warnings

 
Four pints of isopropyl alcohol will heat a small enclosed area for 24 hours.
 
Keep your lighter sealed in a plastic bag and carry matches sealed in a separate plastic bag to be safe.

Article Written By Elizabeth Grace

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Elizabeth Grace is a freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Pepperdine University, and has 15 years of experience developing marketing campaigns for universities and multinational corporations.

Write for Trails.com

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