Give you opinion on two burner stoves...

[aslostasyou]

I seem to be doing a lot more camping (3 times this month!) and the amount of people joining me seems to continue to raise as well. Which is a good thing! I just need to be able to prepare enough food to take care of everyone.

Right now I've got a nice single burner butane stove I bought in OZ. Very cool, I will keep this as a stand-by. For my other two burners I'm juggling an old coleman multi-fuel and a screw on burner for the grean propane containers. It's becoming a PITA...

I think I need to invest in a decent two burner stove. I will need one anyway next month for the proto-type on the camp kitchen so now's as good a time as any I suppose. I spent some time at Wally-word last week and saw two models - an Ozark Trail (propane) as well as a low end Coleman (propane) both were under $40. This weekend I spent about an hour at Gander Mountain and saw 5 different types of stoves ranging from $40 to $200. My question is - is it worth it? I mean does a $200 stove really do a better job than a $40 stove? Or is more about longevity of parts eg: I can still by a pump repair kit for my 25 year old Coleman...

The only other main question I have is does anyone know of a two burner system that works like an MSR multi-fuel with a pump valve? I'm going to add one of their small stoves to my backpacking gear soon and the idea of being able to burn anything from camp fuel to diesel is appealing. My only reservation would be that you could end up doing a lot of pumping when using a two burner setup cooking three times a day for a group of 4+.

Last thing is this - my butane stove I bought from OZ works REALLY well and the butane is cheap and easy to transport. Would I be a fool to buy a two burner stove that runs off of the same fuel? Meaning, is butane really inferior in anyway shape or form?

Thanks!

 

[rusty_tlc]

The only other main question I have is does anyone know of a two burner system that works like an MSR multi-fuel with a pump valve? I'm going to add one of their small stoves to my backpacking gear soon and the idea of being able to burn anything from camp fuel to diesel is appealing. My only reservation would be that you could end up doing a lot of pumping when using a two burner setup cooking three times a day for a group of 4+.

The stove most of us old timers grew up with. A Coleman gas stove. They offer a dual fuel model that runs on Coleman fuel or regular unleaded gasoline. Cost is right around $100. If you can live iwth single fuel you can usually find old Coleman two burner stoves at garage sales for a few dollars. My son found one sitting on the curb to go out with the trash. It was old but hadn't seen a lot of use. We use it a lot. Pumping is not a big deal, all you need is enough pressure to get the fuel to the generator. Heat from the burner converts the fuel to vapor.

Pound for pound nothing beats gasoline as a camp stove fuel in terms of BTU's, ask any hard core back packer. The down side is it is a bit messy to deal with.

Butane is the worst choice in terms of BTU's per pound, cost and high altitude performance.

Propane runs a close second to butane but has the advantage of availability. The ubiquities green bottles are available everywhere. Plus you can adapt most propane equipment to run on small tanks which can be re-filled.
Another advantage of propane is there is a lot of equipment that uses it, stoves, lanterns, BBQ's etc. The only real down side to propane is that over 7000' elevation* you will be using a lot of fuel since it is inefficient at high altitude.

*I'm not 100% certain on that number, it's just based on observation from camping trips.

 

[highlandercj-7]

I bought the lil Stainless Steel Brinkman from Wally world 2 years ago. It's worked fine for me. I prefer to cook over the fire but this is a decent stove for the $$. I also prefer the propane over the white gas, and spilage is not a issue with it.

 

[aslostasyou]

What about quality of flame and replacement parts? I mean I have to question it though...if I buy a $40 stove and it works for a year and then breaks with no parts to find does it really matter?

Thanks for the info guys. I'll be making a decision soon.

, J

 

[Co-opski]

What about quality of flame and replacement parts? I mean I have to question it though...if I buy a $40 stove and it works for a year and then breaks with no parts to find does it really matter?

Thanks for the info guys. I'll be making a decision soon.

, J

I have seen the Coleman dual fuel repair kits and parts for sale in bigger/specialized camping stores. They are simple to service in the field and parts have not changed much in 60 years of production. They now offer a part for that stove that converts it to propane if that is what you want, but that is another $30 on top of a $100 stove. The dual fuels are one of the few Coleman’s still made in the USA along with that is a dual fuel 3 burner.

My son found one sitting on the curb to go out with the trash.

Look for a used one if you are saving money, they are rugged.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=428-A00&categoryid=2020

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=414-A00&categoryid=2020

 

[rusty_tlc]

What about quality of flame and replacement parts? I mean I have to question it though...if I buy a $40 stove and it works for a year and then breaks with no parts to find does it really matter?

Thanks for the info guys. I'll be making a decision soon.

, J

The propane stoves you find at sporting goods stores and Walmart will not put out as many BTU's as a good gas stove. Some of the high end propane stoves will.

Replacment parts? I've never had anything break on any of my stoves, propane or gas and thye have all seen a fair amount of use over the years.

 

[tdesanto]

I have way to many stoves

I used to only use my MSR Whisperlite internationale and their Dragonfly. I still keep them for smaller meals and/or when kayaking or backpacking.

The Coleman multi-fuel stove isn't bad either. I prefer the canister to be separate from the burner; however, this one lights more easily and the flame is excellent.

I also have the Century SS deluxe 2 burner propane stove. This is a good stove. heat output is fine. I like it better for cooking for larger groups, because the flame is larger and better for larger pots/pans. I have tried several times to cook for even 4-6 people with my MSR stoves and I found it difficult to cook everything without burning the food in the middle of the larger pans. The Century stove solved that for me and I've been very happy with it until...

I got a Partner Steel Cook Partner with my Horizon trailer. This is absolutely the best stove I've used so far when size and portability isn't a concern. Hottest and best flame of all the stoves I own. Easier to cook for larger groups (you stated that as a concern). Also, I just got back from a trip to southwestern CO. We cooked every day above 9-11,000ft. without issue with the propane. I don't know how the Coleman and Century propane stoves do at higher altitudes, as people have said they suffer, but the Cook Partner was excellent. In fact, I really didn't notice a difference. Now, I do happen to know that the regulator that these stoves use is different; it's a higher pressure regulator than other stoves and grills use. This may or may not be the difference. I don't know as I haven't tested my Century against the Partner Steel at high altitudes.

Now, if you decide you want a propane 2-burner and you don't want to pony up for the Cook Partner, the Century is a fine stove. It's not as durable and the flame isn't as hot, but it will get the job done and it coudn't be easier to set up. I got the adapter hose to run it from a bulk 4lb propane tank so that I didn't have to keep using the 1lb disposable containers.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Corey]

That Century 4680 matchless one looks exactly like my Sears Hillary one I bought back around '96 or so.
It too is matchless.

It has been an excellent stove and never let me down.
I just use the throw away one lb bottles with it since I also use those for a lantern and the Zodi shower.

However, I have had my eye on the Partner stoves as well, and may get one for the '09 season.
I wish they were matchless as well, but I can use a butane match to light it I guess.

 

[paulj]

About the only parts of the old Coleman stoves that needed periodic replacement were the leather seals of the gas tank pressurizing pump. Oh, and the generator, which can get clogged with fuel gunk. Those repair parts are commonly available.

 

[Rockit]

I have the 2 burner Century and it works great.
But, if you are cooking for a group, you may want to consider a large propane burner and wok. With a family of 6, it's how I cook 90% of our main dishes. Most of the time, I do it all with just the wok. I have a 60K btu burner and a 36" wok.:smileeek: When it comes to cooking for our group it's the best thing I've tried.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I have several Coleman 2 burner stoves. And one Coleman 3 Burner. I got them all at garage sales.....like new.....for under $10 bucks each! Dude! ....Sweet! I love them and they work perfect. But as mentioned above.....keep an eye out for the pump problem. Cheap easy fix though. Keep it oiled and the pump will last longer.


I just checked the Coleman website and it now looks like they have discountinued the white fuel 3 burner! Yikes!.....I'm buying more at garage sales!


There are some very nice slim folding propane units now.....and I'm tempted.....since white fuel has gone up in price so much.


The duel fuel is nice.....because you can just use the gasoline that you carry with you.


I did find that Cabella's still has the 3 burner for sale...........

 

[ntsqd]

I inherited an older Camp Chef Sport Stove. It is a far better stove than my Coleman propane stove ever was. It is also more effort to use and it does not work with the disposable fuel tanks (A blessing!) which requires carrying around a 5 gallon tank. I suppose that it would work with one of the littler refillable tanks, but I've had the opportunity to try one. Cooking for the 10 of us last spring in DV would've taxed my disposable propane Coleman, but the Camp Chef did it well.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Oh ya..........


To help you understand how rugged these Coleman's are. I was staying at a cabin in the Panamint Mountains the night before I broke down.

I couldn't get my coleman stove to "pump"........and it was 34* in the cabin! burrrrrrrrrrr!

I went out to my truck and got some 30wt motor oil and poured it in the "oil" hole of the pump.........and ate some wonderful clam chowder that night!.....and coffee in da morning!

You are looking at a 30 year old ......brand new......$5.00 Coleman stove!

 

[Co-opski]

You are looking at a 30 year old ......brand new......$5.00 Coleman stove!

It is cool that you still have the box. Ours is just like that one, tatered box and all.

 

[Corey]

I had that same model I used back in the early 80s.
Great stove, I no longer have it though.

I had a brown one too by Coleman, I also no longer have it.
Not sure when it was made, but my dad gave it to me around '80, I think it was his dads.
When I got it in '80, it already looked like it was 80 years old

But the green one replaced it later.