Propane Camp Fire?
- Thread starter TexasTJ
- Start date
FellowTraveler
Explorer
Humans are losing their ability to survive and feel real things in nature, IMHO its shameful that individuals have to resort to artificial anything when camping or out in nature but that is how control works.
Fire bans don't apply to mother nature and lighting starts a great many of home/forest fires, then there are controlled burns like the one in Florida about a decade ago that destroyed better than 5k homes....
I don't suffer each time I cook a nice fresh fish I just caught and rolls on the real camp fire or eat berries in the wild because I know I'm the problem damaging nature less than the ones who use manufactured fake whatever on what they call their outdoor adventures.
:ylsmoke:Then again, I can set an underground survival fire and the control freaks would never find it............................................................Oh, how I love the smell of a camp fire in the morning, noon or night!
Fire bans don't apply to mother nature and lighting starts a great many of home/forest fires, then there are controlled burns like the one in Florida about a decade ago that destroyed better than 5k homes....
I don't suffer each time I cook a nice fresh fish I just caught and rolls on the real camp fire or eat berries in the wild because I know I'm the problem damaging nature less than the ones who use manufactured fake whatever on what they call their outdoor adventures.
:ylsmoke:Then again, I can set an underground survival fire and the control freaks would never find it............................................................Oh, how I love the smell of a camp fire in the morning, noon or night!
highdesertranger
Adventurer
hey guys i know the forest circus and the blm call those open fires same as a camp fire so if restrictions are in effect they are not allowed. btw i have seen virtual tours available for some national parks so everyone can just stay home and visit the parks from your living room. really, not kidding. highdesertranger
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
I'm a volunteer for Tonto National Forest Service TRAL The above is not true in Arizona according to US Forest Service "Emergency Fire Restrictions". Coming from the United States Forest Service why would it be different in other states??
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5372886.pdf
See exception #4
TexasTJ
Climbing Nerd
While true, I pick my fight with the government and building fires; witch I can do; is not one of the fights I choose to pick. I'm only 32 so getting on the ground and building a fire is not a big deal for me, but when it cold in the morning it would be nice the just twist a knob and light a match and be done. That Said just having the Vehicle is cheating. Ten years ago it wasn't camping in my opinion unless everything you needed was on your back. I also like the Idea of no smoke in my 7 month old's eyes. I can teach him to build a fire when he is a bit older.
Nate
Last edited:
Adventure IQ
Explorer
Yes, but getting back to the real question....where a guy is asking for options to adjust to a given situation where arguing the point is mute, and he is outdoors and not adventuring via a simulation........
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
ColoDisco
Explorer
:sport_box
I saw these a few years ago and scoffed / mocked the idea of a portable camp fire. . .
Then my friends and I wanted to go camping in 40 deg weather this fall in the middle of a burn ban / massive state-wide forest fires. The ONLY option for a fire was one of these portable, propane fueled campfires. So we picked one up, splitting the cost 3-ways on a $100 unit.
We got the Camp Chef Redwood Portable unit from a local Cabelas which was actually cheaper than Amazon's price (even before shipping was calculated). This this was surprisingly nice. We'd fire it up about 6:30 / 7pm and had it blazing at full blast until 11pm. Then we'd run it in the morning for probably another 2 hrs or so. Figure 6-7 hr / day? We camped for three nights and went through 2.X tanks of patio-BBQ-grill-sized propane tanks that we brought from home. Despite being "fire" you'll get most of the heat out of these units once the lava rocks fully heat up and get glowing. And it put out enough heat that the three of us were able to keep warm in high 30's / low 40 deg night temps. The flame "size" was adjustable but we mostly had it going full blast whenever it was on. There's also definitely a good size flame to help with the aesthetics of having a glowing, flickering campfire.
A big selling point for this unit was the built-in ring around the top of the "fire pit". It gave us a good even platform for throwing some cooking grates over the rocks to cook up our steaks, hobos, and toast our garlic bread.
We all DEFINITELY prefer having a REAL campfire with the smoke in our eyes, the crackling, burning wood, etc. But it just wasn't feasible this time around. If it wasn't for this portable campfire the trip honestly would have been a bust. . . too cold, no "fire" at all, and very dark. Let me say this: it was either this portable campfire with it's warm, flickering flame . . . . or . . . sitting in our camp chairs, shivering in the cold, under the harsh light of an LED camp lantern.
No doubt about it, this portable campfire made it FAR more comfortable to watch our movies on our iPads. . . .
Then my friends and I wanted to go camping in 40 deg weather this fall in the middle of a burn ban / massive state-wide forest fires. The ONLY option for a fire was one of these portable, propane fueled campfires. So we picked one up, splitting the cost 3-ways on a $100 unit.
We got the Camp Chef Redwood Portable unit from a local Cabelas which was actually cheaper than Amazon's price (even before shipping was calculated). This this was surprisingly nice. We'd fire it up about 6:30 / 7pm and had it blazing at full blast until 11pm. Then we'd run it in the morning for probably another 2 hrs or so. Figure 6-7 hr / day? We camped for three nights and went through 2.X tanks of patio-BBQ-grill-sized propane tanks that we brought from home. Despite being "fire" you'll get most of the heat out of these units once the lava rocks fully heat up and get glowing. And it put out enough heat that the three of us were able to keep warm in high 30's / low 40 deg night temps. The flame "size" was adjustable but we mostly had it going full blast whenever it was on. There's also definitely a good size flame to help with the aesthetics of having a glowing, flickering campfire.
A big selling point for this unit was the built-in ring around the top of the "fire pit". It gave us a good even platform for throwing some cooking grates over the rocks to cook up our steaks, hobos, and toast our garlic bread.
We all DEFINITELY prefer having a REAL campfire with the smoke in our eyes, the crackling, burning wood, etc. But it just wasn't feasible this time around. If it wasn't for this portable campfire the trip honestly would have been a bust. . . too cold, no "fire" at all, and very dark. Let me say this: it was either this portable campfire with it's warm, flickering flame . . . . or . . . sitting in our camp chairs, shivering in the cold, under the harsh light of an LED camp lantern.
No doubt about it, this portable campfire made it FAR more comfortable to watch our movies on our iPads. . . .
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
We are hooked
Way too easy. Much better than cutting or packing fire wood. It is so nice to grab a cup of coffee, chair and light the fire in a snap. Sit around smoke free and watch others work to light their wood fire and then play musical chairs escaping the smoke.
Sitting around a campfire in the early morning and late evenings is not a necessity, but it is a comfort that I enjoy. We live in an area where "organized" campgrounds are not as readily available, not to mention that we enjoy the solitude of remote sites. Our move to a propane campfire was a calculated move. It has to be cost effective , properly sized and weight conscious. We considered many reasons to go with gas.
Due to invasive species, transporting wood is frowned upon or banned.
Wood can be purchased some times. Costs seem to run $5-$10 per bundle. A bundle in the evening and maybe half a bundle in the morning for a quick fire. That is about $12 per day. The volume for transport is not a concern since it is being purchased on site.
Lets say that you do carry your own, clean , bug free fire wood. Enough for three days. That is about five bundles. Depending on the wood probably about 12 cubic feet of space is needed to haul the split wood.
The next scenario is that wood is available to cut on site. Tools needed: chainsaw and axe or splitting maul. The saw uses gas and oil. Cost probably $5 for three days wood supply cut.
Camping in areas where you must use and existing fire ring limits your position. Carrying a fire pan to meet no scorched earth policies is becoming more and more prevalent. One more thing to pack along.
Where does the gas fire fit into this?
Costs to operate. $12 for propane. At wide open 65,000 BTU that will run for 11 hours. I am comfortable that three days run time is available. That is over 60% savings compared to firewood bundles.
Transport space. The 20lb tank and campfire bag take up less than half the space of three days wood supply and can be stowed inside the trailer without a mess. Transport size is comparable to chainsaw and tools.
No scorched earth and approved for use it can be used during times when burn bans are in place.
Now the fact that the propane campfire is easy on and off. No mess. Can be used under the awning in the rain. No smoke.
I think, for me, I see more pros than cons. My total investment for a Lite cylinder and the CampChef campfire $160
The way I look at it is that in less than a dozen trips it will have paid for itself due to the cost savings. In my opinion the convenience is priceless.
Way too easy. Much better than cutting or packing fire wood. It is so nice to grab a cup of coffee, chair and light the fire in a snap. Sit around smoke free and watch others work to light their wood fire and then play musical chairs escaping the smoke.
Sitting around a campfire in the early morning and late evenings is not a necessity, but it is a comfort that I enjoy. We live in an area where "organized" campgrounds are not as readily available, not to mention that we enjoy the solitude of remote sites. Our move to a propane campfire was a calculated move. It has to be cost effective , properly sized and weight conscious. We considered many reasons to go with gas.
Due to invasive species, transporting wood is frowned upon or banned.
Wood can be purchased some times. Costs seem to run $5-$10 per bundle. A bundle in the evening and maybe half a bundle in the morning for a quick fire. That is about $12 per day. The volume for transport is not a concern since it is being purchased on site.
Lets say that you do carry your own, clean , bug free fire wood. Enough for three days. That is about five bundles. Depending on the wood probably about 12 cubic feet of space is needed to haul the split wood.
The next scenario is that wood is available to cut on site. Tools needed: chainsaw and axe or splitting maul. The saw uses gas and oil. Cost probably $5 for three days wood supply cut.
Camping in areas where you must use and existing fire ring limits your position. Carrying a fire pan to meet no scorched earth policies is becoming more and more prevalent. One more thing to pack along.
Where does the gas fire fit into this?
Costs to operate. $12 for propane. At wide open 65,000 BTU that will run for 11 hours. I am comfortable that three days run time is available. That is over 60% savings compared to firewood bundles.
Transport space. The 20lb tank and campfire bag take up less than half the space of three days wood supply and can be stowed inside the trailer without a mess. Transport size is comparable to chainsaw and tools.
No scorched earth and approved for use it can be used during times when burn bans are in place.
Now the fact that the propane campfire is easy on and off. No mess. Can be used under the awning in the rain. No smoke.
I think, for me, I see more pros than cons. My total investment for a Lite cylinder and the CampChef campfire $160
The way I look at it is that in less than a dozen trips it will have paid for itself due to the cost savings. In my opinion the convenience is priceless.
TexasTJ
Climbing Nerd
Thanks for the advice I just ordered a Camco Little Red Campfire. It will get here on Monday. Got to Love Amazon!!! I think this will work great for us on in state trips being that were under burn ban 10 out of twelve months here. I do still Plan to build real fires in the summer when I'm up in Wyoming and Colorado...
Thanks Again!!!
Nate
Thanks Again!!!
Nate
Cee-Jay
Sasquatch
I've been very pleased with my Campfire In a Can. Optional soft cover and cooking grate are nice additions. Well built, easy to use and effective. I love me a real camp fire, but burn bans in Eastern Washington during the summers make that illegal. So when I'm in EWA during the summer, I've got my Campfire In A Can. It does take up a good bit of cargo space though, both for the unit and the additonal fuel needed.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
We are going to pick up a Campfire in a Can for the spring. We get the same or similar bans to you guys in WA and it really sucks going camping and NOT being able to have a fire. The kids like it, and I just dont feel like I am camping without one. Our friends picked one up last summer, and we used it with them on a few nights... works great, easy to use, and the bonus, we can use it on the deck at home too!
Nothing like a wood fire, but this is a close second and WAY better than nada.
Nothing like a wood fire, but this is a close second and WAY better than nada.
STREGA
Explorer
If summer 2013 is like 2012 you may want to bring that Little Red Campfire with ya, the first half of summer this year we were under a fire ban in Colorado until the monsoons kicked in. Our Camp Fire in a Can saw a lot of use this year, for us it was a great investment.
Adventure IQ
Explorer
Good stuff.... Looking into that one now with all the bans