Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

[BrianBaldwin]

So I am all excited about my up and coming September two night camping trip to Mount Diablo State Park, California. During lunch at work, I went out to REI and bought the old style two burner shown below for $109 dollars:



The CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU
Still the box, will open it tomorrow and fire her up to test it.
So what I will be “cooking” is:

* Heating up canned beans and chili beans
* Campbell's SpaghettiOs, Original:
Water, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Enriched Macaroni Product (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less than 2% of: carrot juice, Salt, Enzyme Modified Cheddar Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Calcium Chloride ...
* Heat up chili then throw bbq potato chips in it
* Fried potatoes in olive oil
* Grilled cheese sandwich (pack in sliced cheddar with ice chest)
* two cans of sardines (don’t need the stove to eat these)
* a can of stewed tomatoes
* I won’t be eating any Yeti or Big Foot because I like Big Foot and yes I believe in Big Foot
* I will have a dog with me (poodle) to protect me in my tent or wake me up if Big Foot comes, so I have to cook something for the dog
* Heat up water for instant coffee and powered cream
So I did good? The two burner?

Any advice?

So I figure the one bottle of propane will get me 30 minutes of cooking time on two burners. I am looking to bring one cooking pan, one coffee jug, one cooking pot. And one knife, one pepper spray.
When I leave the camp site for fun and to let the dog do her business, I will take the stove with me in the trunk to hide it, but will leave the small tent at the site which will might get stolen but no biggie the tent is old. Except if the tent gets snatched, I will need to get out of the park before they close the gates to any traffic and buy another tent then come back. Or I might bring two tents. In fact, now that I think about it, I will bring two tents so I will have to buy an extra one. I want those type of tents you can put up fast after sweeping away the rocks and pine leaves.

My question is, once I rig up the propane bottle on the two burner, “cook” some stuff (heat up canned food, cup of noodles – just occurred to me besides my items), then I turn off the two burner – what about the propane bottle rigged to the stove if it’s not empty yet?


Can I detach it and throw it in the trunk of my car?

Or not? Should I leave it attached and then put the whole thing stove and all in the trunk of my car?

What about this stove?

After I unpack it and “assemble” and test it out in my backyard before the big adventure, I will add my thoughts but curious for any advice from two burner experts.

[Happy Joe]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

Sorry I didn't post sooner; I have been a bit busy (electronic gremlins have invaded my 'puters).
..No experience with that particular stove but I have gotten as many as 4 weekend trips from a one pound propane can (I try to cook over the campfire whenever possible).

I used to (before I switched to 10 and 20 pound tanks) disconnect the propane cans and spit (or use soapy water) on the Schrader valve and look for bubbles (some times they are leakers) If you get a leaker (bubbles from the valve) (more common since the valves are probably now made in china) you can try reconnecting it then taking it off again, if successful (test with fresh spit/soapy water) if no bubbles treat it like a fresh can of propane from the store. (To keep new and used cans straight I mark the used ones with a magic marker or make certain NOT to put the plastic cap back on).
If you cannot get the valve to re-seal no matter what you do; you are left with the choice of reconnecting the can to the stove adapter and turning the valve off for transport (somewhat risky) or discarding the leaker in a trash receptacle (also a bit risky, for the next person accumulated gas and a spark or cigarette could result in an explosion).
...I have found leakers left at campsites and used them up cooking after making certain the connections were dirt/contamination free...

My minimal cooking gear (with my antique single burner) is;
Spare fuel
A non stick pan, with oil or cooking spray (or if feeling primitive, bacon for grease)
A plastic spatula.
A stainless, knife, fork, spoon.
A Swiss Army Knife (SAK) (has a can opener) and a backup can opener with the flatware; people borrow my can opener more than about any thing else.
I often have a smallish 3 1/2 to 4 inch locking folder or fixed blade knife along that does well for cooking chores. (note; use caution in some "liberal"/socialist areas these tools are considered weapons).
A BIC lighter and a spare.
A pot lifter or pair of pliers.
A potholder.
A plastic scrubbie pad
Some liquid soap (rinse thoroughly or risk the squirts).
A rag or paper towels

Sometimes I bring a pot for chili or stew or to deep fry, some times I just heat it in the can (probably not all that healthy due to the plastic coating inside the can).

In the last 50 years or so camping we have had only one instance where anything was stolen (beer and steaks; Moab, UT), but then we try not camp in "civilized" areas or numbered sites.

Enjoy!

[tplife]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

It's a quality stove, and your idea to use it at home first is a great one, some hands-on will get you comfortable with the delicate touch to adjust the needle valves used on this type of stoves to match your CampChef version. Don't sweat removing/attaching the gas bottles, I haven't had an issue in over four decades with these things. Rather, the O-rings that are used in the stove itself are where troubles come from with use, and a trip to a home-products store to match the ones your stove uses for spares will be good indeed.

[James.]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

So I am all excited about my up and coming September two night camping trip to Mount Diablo State Park, California. During lunch at work, I went out to REI and bought the old style two burner shown below for $109 dollars:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5715[/ATTACH]

The CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU
Still the box, will open it tomorrow and fire her up to test it.
So what I will be “cooking” is:

* Heating up canned beans and chili beans
* Campbell's SpaghettiOs, Original:
Water, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Enriched Macaroni Product (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less than 2% of: carrot juice, Salt, Enzyme Modified Cheddar Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Calcium Chloride ...
* Heat up chili then throw bbq potato chips in it
* Fried potatoes in olive oil
* Grilled cheese sandwich (pack in sliced cheddar with ice chest)
* two cans of sardines (don’t need the stove to eat these)
* a can of stewed tomatoes
* I won’t be eating any Yeti or Big Foot because I like Big Foot and yes I believe in Big Foot
* I will have a dog with me (poodle) to protect me in my tent or wake me up if Big Foot comes, so I have to cook something for the dog
* Heat up water for instant coffee and powered cream
So I did good? The two burner?

Any advice?

So I figure the one bottle of propane will get me 30 minutes of cooking time on two burners. I am looking to bring one cooking pan, one coffee jug, one cooking pot. And one knife, one pepper spray.
When I leave the camp site for fun and to let the dog do her business, I will take the stove with me in the trunk to hide it, but will leave the small tent at the site which will might get stolen but no biggie the tent is old. Except if the tent gets snatched, I will need to get out of the park before they close the gates to any traffic and buy another tent then come back. Or I might bring two tents. In fact, now that I think about it, I will bring two tents so I will have to buy an extra one. I want those type of tents you can put up fast after sweeping away the rocks and pine leaves.

My question is, once I rig up the propane bottle on the two burner, “cook” some stuff (heat up canned food, cup of noodles – just occurred to me besides my items), then I turn off the two burner – what about the propane bottle rigged to the stove if it’s not empty yet?


Can I detach it and throw it in the trunk of my car?

Or not? Should I leave it attached and then put the whole thing stove and all in the trunk of my car?

What about this stove?

After I unpack it and “assemble” and test it out in my backyard before the big adventure, I will add my thoughts but curious for any advice from two burner experts.

Don't worry about removing the half filled propane bottle. They are made to do just that. Leaks can be a problem as Joe stated but not a given. I can't speak for that particular stove as I use the big 2 burner stove

But I LOVE that stove. I think Camp Chef makes some pretty good stuff and I have been wondering lately if my beloved stove is overkill and maybe a smaller stove like the one you have would be better. But in the end I like my cast iron cookware and drive a longbed Ford so space isn't really a problem.

I also agree with Joe in that I have never had anything stolen, but like him I don't camp in campgrounds so there are less people around. (The goal is to not see anyone while I am out there) But I think that most people are honest.

[wecamp04]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

I like my camp chef weekender wish it used the small propane bottles

[MacGyver]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

I like my camp chef weekender wish it used the small propane bottles

It'll gobble up a small can in no time, but you can get adapters to make it work. Most people use them as a backup to finish grilling when their 20 lb cans are unexpectedly empty. Almost any store that sells propane grill supplies should have them.

https://www.amazon.com/Steak-Saver-A.../dp/B00KYDJ694

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Check out my CAMP CHEF EVEREST VERSACOOK MODEL MS2HP 20,000 BTU

That's a lot of stove for heating up Spaghetti-O's and beans!

Go ahead and bring some eggs and sausage, might as well put it to good use :-)