Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

[Mike]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

OH and one more thing I have which is my favorite cooking piece is out GSI pressure cooker. We use it at home in our kitchen and for camping. No other pot is as light and functional

[hwc1954]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

I've got the standard little one burner portable propane stove, but I hate using it because it's so flimsy. Since I car camp at campsites with picnic tables, I got one of these Camp Chef Ranger II stoves:



It's not much bigger than the portable two-burners, but it's all solid cast metal grates and burners. Weighs about 15 pounds. Solid as a rock, not going to tip over. And, seriously high heat -- enough to use it as a wok burner on the side of the grill at home.

It comes with the hose to connect it to a large propane tank, but I also have the adaptor to use with the disposable bottles.

I slide it, on a its side, down into a duffle bag, which lreaves room for pots and pans and coffee maker, and hoses, and propane cannister, etc. So it's pretty self-contained little cooking bag.

[SmokeEater2]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

My wife found another Coleman 2 burner stove at a thrift store for 2 bucks, The tag stated that it didn't work. I love old Coleman stoves and lanterns so she got it for me. :D

It's a 413G made in May 1966 and is in VG-excellent condition. It didn't work because someone had put gasoline in the tank and the generator was plugged. I rinsed the tank out with a little fresh Coleman fuel and replaced the generator and it works like a brand new stove now. It's actually in better shape than the stove that I usually take camping so this one is going with me in September.

Out of the 30 or so lanterns and 11 stoves I have, Only 1 has proven to be unrepairable. On most of them either a new fuel cap gasket, new generator (and mantles for lanterns) and a good tear down cleaning does the trick.

hwc1954, That Camp Chef you have is a classy looking stove, I like it!

[immadman]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Wish my wife thought that way about me and my hobbies!!! Sounds like she is a keeper! Mine usually just grumbles about what I have and why I need it. Right now we are having much...shall I say...debate about why I want another tent.

Although I do not own the 30 lanterns and 11 stoves that you do, SmokeEater2, I do have 4 lanterns and two stoves.

Love my Coleman's!!! Although I recently got a new Model 285 Dual Fuel lantern that was defective for an impulse camping trip when I was several hundred miles from home (I swapped it out and got one that workd correctly. However, their quality has obviously gone down over the years like everyone else's. I am sure this lantern won't last like the one I grew up with (which I still have and use) that was made in March of 1955. I also have the old two burner stove that I dearly love. I also have my old Svea 123 stove that made many miles on the AP and many caving and rock climbing trips when I was younger. All of the aforementioned are pretty much bulletproof. To sweeten the deal, the memories all of this equipment play a part in are more precious than...well, I am sure you get the picture.

[SmokeEater2]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Wish my wife thought that way about me and my hobbies!!! Sounds like she is a keeper! Mine usually just grumbles about what I have and why I need it. Right now we are having much...shall I say...debate about why I want another tent.

Although I do not own the 30 lanterns and 11 stoves that you do, SmokeEater2, I do have 4 lanterns and two stoves.

Love my Coleman's!!! Although I recently got a new Model 285 Dual Fuel lantern that was defective for an impulse camping trip when I was several hundred miles from home (I swapped it out and got one that workd correctly. However, their quality has obviously gone down over the years like everyone else's. I am sure this lantern won't last like the one I grew up with (which I still have and use) that was made in March of 1955. I also have the old two burner stove that I dearly love. I also have my old Svea 123 stove that made many miles on the AP and many caving and rock climbing trips when I was younger. All of the aforementioned are pretty much bulletproof. To sweeten the deal, the memories all of this equipment play a part in are more precious than...well, I am sure you get the picture.

I agree completely about the part that memories play when using items that are old friends. A lot of the gear I take camping has been with me since I was very young and several things were passed down from family members.

Last year I found the Coleman 242 lantern that my Grandpa bought in 1944. It was stored in a old box in the barn covered in dust and mud dauber nests, He passed away in 1969 and I can remember him using it when I was a boy.

With the help of the guys on the Coleman collectors forum it is working fine now and I often take it with me as a remembrance of him and my dad.

Not the best pic but here's his lantern on it's first light up in at least 43 years.-

[Mike]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Wow, Smokeater, that is too cool. I wish I had my Dad's old lantern, but some SOB stole it out of Mom and Dad's garage.

Use the lantern in good health as much as you can without worries. I think you know that you can replace most pieces.

The globe will be the trickiest thing to replace, BUT.... Cabella's has a rounded globe that might work. You might want to check it out and get a spare because these rounded globes are not common and may only be temporarily available.

The multi-piece fuel cap is also prone to failure. You should be able to replace it with a single piece cap found at sporting goods stores that carry Coleman parts or if you are in a real pinch, you can replace the gasket. If you have trouble maintaining the tank pressure, it is probably the fuel cap - which is an easy fix compaired with trying to fix the pump assembly or the regulator valve, for example.

Also, be aware that water accumulates in the bottom of Coleman stoves and lanters. This is because ambiant air is pumped into the tank and pressurized, so the moisture in that air naturally condenses. This water in the tank will not only cause you lantern to spit and sputter, but it will also rust the inside of your tank to the extent that it can rust all the way through. Give the tank a rinse of HEET or carb cleaner. Just swish it around in the tank and then pour it out.

[immadman]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Sweet, SmokeEater! Like Mike said, there are several sporting goods places that handle Coleman parts as well as Coleman themselves, which you can access online. Also, there are several "help" sites online that cater to Coleman aficionados and often have links to other sites that handle hard to get parts.

[dave wyath]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

hey dios_free, i'm new here also and i put in another vote for coleman. my girlfriend and i have a coleman propane with a single burner plus the grill and we love it.

[CampingMama]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Glad I've found this thread. We camper camp. We're purchasing a new to us camper closer to spring. We know it will have a stove/oven, but still want to buy a table top stove b/c in summer the camper stoves heat up the camper. I thought about buying an Ozark Trail 2 burner I saw at Walmart for 34$. We've been using my fil's Coleman, but only seem to use it once a trip to make breakfast burrito's on. I'm thinking of going cheaper on the stove b/c I know we won't use it much, but still want to have one. Anybody tried this brand?

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Glad I've found this thread. We camper camp. We're purchasing a new to us camper closer to spring. We know it will have a stove/oven, but still want to buy a table top stove b/c in summer the camper stoves heat up the camper. I thought about buying an Ozark Trail 2 burner I saw at Walmart for 34$. We've been using my fil's Coleman, but only seem to use it once a trip to make breakfast burrito's on. I'm thinking of going cheaper on the stove b/c I know we won't use it much, but still want to have one. Anybody tried this brand?

Never tried a Ozark Trails stove but I'm happy with my vintage Coleman white gas 2 burner. Easy for me to repair and it makes a beautiful and reliable flame. I have to say that this summer I only used it twice and not at all during my Aug/Sept trips. I've been exploring open fire cooking so that meant most of my other fire sources just sat there taking up space, LOL.


Were I you I'd keep my eyes peeled for a used Coleman, preferably American made. Bet you can get it for less than the Ozark Trail model . I think I paid around 20-25 bucks for my unit via CraigsList.

[CampingMama]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Thanks. We cook over the fire most of the time too. I'm gonna look at some yard sales and I'm a thrift store queen shopper. I've just never had the need to look for camping supplies at thrift stores. I'm cheap and poor,lol. I got 8 plates for the camper already at the dollar store for .50c. We use paper plates but not for every meal,like steaks.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Thanks. We cook over the fire most of the time too. I'm gonna look at some yard sales and I'm a thrift store queen shopper. I've just never had the need to look for camping supplies at thrift stores. I'm cheap and poor,lol. I got 8 plates for the camper already at the dollar store for .50c. We use paper plates but not for every meal,like steaks.

Thrift shopping royalty is gooooood and just up my alley:D.

Earlier in the season I was completely enamoured with some William-Sonoma dishes fer camping (translation: ca-ching)and it took an entire BB of levelheaded women(another forum I chill at) to shake me back into my penny pinching senses which boiled down to a complete set for 4(including acrylic glasses) from QVC/HSN :D.

Welcome to the forum and happy to see you!

[tplife]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

The Ozark Trail products are the very lowest of quality, receive terrible reviews and ratings, and have essentially non-existent replacement parts availability, and if you're not careful you might wind up with the low-profile model that lacks wind screens to minimize incoming breezes - you won't be cooking without them, DIY or otherwise. A little more $ and you can get a Coleman, Camp Chef or Century model that will be practical, serviceable, and a good investment.

[CampingMama]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

Thanks for the warm welcome Y'all.
Tplife, I decided against the Ozark Trail. Gonna hunt me up a good deal on a Coleman.
Thanks for the advice y'all.

[CampinCalifornia]

Re: Help Choosing First *Camping Stove*

If you are Car Camping then go for the Coleman Perfectflow 2 Burner Propane Stove. Backing would require one of these guys: Biolite Camp Stove.

Good luck in your search and save travels.