Camping/overlanding gear thread.

[bilbo]

I used the liquid fuel stoves for a few years with our popup. Eventually switched to propane. It's definitely easier, no pumping. Someone walking by would probably think I'm doing something lewd when they saw me hunched over the end of the picnic table pumping away. The clunkiness isn't an issue there as it's all stored in the camper. I still use the liquid fuel for tent camping though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

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The last thing I need to take camping is a gallon jug of something that I'll likely poke a hole in and have leak everywhere lol.

That is why I fill them before I leave the house.

Fuel cost is about a wash.

If I was going long distance a dual fuel will drink out of Jerry cans the same as the vehicle.

Or you can convert to propane....

Mostly teasing tho.

Refilling the cylinders is somehow illegal and it makes them more likely to leak. When they leak it can be really bad news.

 

[Uncle Gump]

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Finally decided to get a dual burner stove. Totally in love with it.

Bailiff... whack his...

 

[Shran]

IMO a gallon of white gas is a LOT cheaper than propane... white gas has a higher BTU content so you in theory use less too. I can pick away at a gallon of that for a couple years whereas I could go through a bunch of green disposable 1lb cylinders in that time - $12 for a gallon or $6 each for cylinders.

Only thing I use propane for now is my camp shower heater, and the skottle burner, the latter only because I haven't built an adapter for my single burner Coleman stove yet.

I have had propane cylinders leak. Even a couple new ones leaked after I unscrewed them from the burner the first time. That is annoying.

 

[Blmpkn]

Are there grills that run off the white gas/dual fuel stuff? Or do you really need a pan to keep the fumes or whatever off your food?

I think part of the appeal to the propane stuff when I started buying my own gear was that I knew for sure that it was alright to cook directly over.. and the convinience of having one fuel source for stove/grill/lights was super. That and I knew the people I'd go camping with have propane stuff too

 

[Jazzer]

We timed boiling a quart of water with a propane bottle top burner vs. a Coleman white gas stove. The Coleman stove boiled water twice as fast.
Not science, I know, but enough to use the Coleman from then on.

-Jazzer

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm guessing you hook up the little bottle to the big bottle and open the valve until you don't hear hissing anymore. lol

Sort of. For best results, freeze the bottle to be refilled. Attach adapter to the 20# bottle. Attach the bottle to be filled to the adapter. Open valve. Flip 20# upside down. Leave it go for about 15 minutes. That will refill the bottle about 50% - 75% of it's original capacity.

 

[sgtsandman]

Refilling the cylinders is somehow illegal and it makes them more likely to leak. When they leak it can be really bad news.

This is true. I've had a few not properly seal after refilling. So. I don't do it anymore unless there is a need to refill and there is no new cylinders available.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have a dual burner propane stove as a back up. We primarily cook over a camp fire unless it's raining. Then the stove gets pulled out. The only propane we use on a regular basis is for coffee on a single burner stove. That's brewing while the fire for cooking gets started and going.

 

[Shran]

Go try to boil water for coffee in the morning when it's 15 degrees out at 10,000 feet using propane. You might as well be using a candle. White gas has the additional advantage of not being nearly as susceptible to cold weather and elevation. Lots more heat, right away when you need it.

I think there are some pretty distinct pros and cons to both fuels.

 

[sgtsandman]

Go try to boil water for coffee in the morning when it's 15 degrees out at 10,000 feet using propane. You might as well be using a candle. White gas has the additional advantage of not being nearly as susceptible to cold weather and elevation. Lots more heat, right away when you need it.

I think there are some pretty distinct pros and cons to both fuels.

Propane definitely doesn't like cold. I eventually want to change that. I won't ditch the propane because options are always a good thing but I do think a dual fuel stove is superior.

 

[Shran]

The little single burner Coleman stove I have in my camping tote is a dual fuel model... I figured that would be my best bet, I'll run it on white gas unless I absolutely need to put gasoline in it.

I don't think I'll ever get away from propane for the camp shower, it works very well for that purpose and I have a 5lb bottle in the shower tote specifically for that.

 

[Blmpkn]

We timed boiling a quart of water with a propane bottle top burner vs. a Coleman white gas stove. The Coleman stove boiled water twice as fast.
Not science, I know, but enough to use the Coleman from then on.

-Jazzer

Close enough to the scientific method lol.

Go try to boil water for coffee in the morning when it's 15 degrees out at 10,000 feet using propane. You might as well be using a candle. White gas has the additional advantage of not being nearly as susceptible to cold weather and elevation. Lots more heat, right away when you need it.

I think there are some pretty distinct pros and cons to both fuels.

I don't forsee myself wanting to camp in those sort of conditions lol.. at least those temps. I'm sure I'd have to drive at least 24 hours to get to somewhere with that much elevation too

It IS good to know though. I would really like to make a trip way out west someday.

 

[Shran]

I don't forsee myself wanting to camp in those sort of conditions lol.. at least those temps. I'm sure I'd have to drive at least 24 hours to get to somewhere with that much elevation too

It IS good to know though. I would really like to make a trip way out west someday.

Colorado is 6 hours from me, Wyoming & Montana are right next door so elevation is close by. Cold weather is the biggest downfall of propane though - especially 1lb bottles that freeze up really fast. If you can carry a 5, 10 or 20lb bottle with you then you can draw off a lot more vapor before it freezes up. But that is a pretty large item to make room for. Pros and cons.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Propane doesn't work so well ice fishing with those small bottles. Once the shanties ambient temp comes up... it works much better.

As for cooking directly over a white gas stove... no... hell no. My dad made toast once... like eating a white gas sandwich.

And what are you cooking without a pan anyway? A hot dog on a stick?