Stoves: Liquid Gas or Propane?

[Robthebrit]

The discussion on Lanterns was most informing and all the different opinions were great. I am contemplating a new stove and I wondered what you guys use or recommend.

I am learning towards liquid fuel, mainly for the ease or sharing fuel and less waste in the form of canisters. The primus omni fuel looks great and it can also use gas in a crunch. However, I would like a multi burner for the breakfast cookups.

Gas or liquid fuel?

Opinions...

Rob

[ZooJunkie]

How many people will you have to cook for?

If you only cook for 2 person, then MSR's ultra reliable WhisperLite models. I've had mine since 1994 and it's been very good to me. Reliable, efficient (when used w/ a windscreen), boils fast.

I heard lots of good things about JetBoil.

If you want to be really cheap, you can't beat this. I got mine from the local Asian supermarket called 99 Ranch Supermarket. This is the butane burner I got for $15.99 and a packet of 5 butane will set me back $4.99. Great simmering capability, lights fast (instant!), small package, and cheap fuel.

http://wokshop.stores.yahoo.net/porbutstov.html

For me, I prefer liquid, because you don't need to buy their specially blended gas canisters which often isn't available if you are out in the boonies. Liquid fuel is easier to come by, especially if you get something liks MSR's International: http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47792735&parent_category_rn=4500454&vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

[bigreen505]

I have a MSR Dragonfly that I bought after my Wisperlite was swiped, and I'm not really sure I can recommend it. It can burn just about anything, the new design is pretty reliable (the original ones were problematic), field serviceable to a certain degree and is the only backpacking stove I am aware of that actually simmers well with a fairly dispersed flame. It is also very stable.

My problem with it is that is seems too big and heavy for backpacking (weighs close to a pound) use and far too cumbersome for car camping use. Buy a JetBoil for back packing and a Coleman or Cook Partner for car-based use.

For ultra light camping alcohol stoves and Sterno gel canisters seem to be envogue, but I really don't like either.

[Robthebrit]

I am normally cooking for 2 adults + 1 kid. The mentioned single burner stoves are all great and would work for when I am alone or for backpacking excursion. I guess I'll do what biggreen suggested and get both, a multi burner coleman for the truck in addition to a portable single burner, that would also give an extra burner at camp if needed. This flexibility is the main reason I do not want gas because I would need an extra and compatible cylinder, with liquid there would be little problem in firing up the extra stove.

Running out of fuel in the boonies would still be a problem as I would only have diesel fuel, I have no need for unleaded which from everything I have read seems to be a better alternative.

All the marketing material likes to say they burn diesel but really they mean only diesel#1 and it should really be only as a last resort, nobody likes to mention the clean up time of cooking with diesel. A liquid fuel lantern buring diesel gives off some nasty fumes, I am not too sure I would want to cook in it unless it was a boil in the bag type thing.

Rob

[perterra]

For a single burner I recently picked up this one.
http://packstoves.com/russian%20stove/russian%20stove.htm
Its a Russian single burner white gas copy of an Optimus Hunter. No pumps, simple and it works like a champ. I highly reccomend it. I searched a good bit and found no complaints. It seemed well thought of here
http://www.spiritburner.com/forum/


For a two burner, I would just run with the bigger coleman. If your running propane lanterns, get a propane stove, if its dual fuel lanterns, get a dual fuel stove. I saw a knock off in an Academy sporting goods store the other day that was solid stainless case and cast iron burners. About $40 so it was priced well too.

[Desertdude]

MSR super-fly has been great for fast one pot cooking - I am growing tired of paying the high price of the fuel canisters and the cheaper fuel cans burn less reliably

I moved into the MSR dragon fly - burns unleaded as well as most other fuels - burns real hot and you can control the flame - also good for boiling up big pots and Wok cooking - problem was the pump basically fell apart in a very short time - rubber plunger came loose then the rest of the pump just fell apart - hard to find parts on the road

I still like these two for ultra compact cooking -the super fly is totally solid - dragon fly more work to use...

I also travel with a jet-boil for heating water - I am on my second one - same issue the peizo lighting mechanism eventually goes and then the burner (metals) disintegrates - this is all ready happening to the second one in less than two months of use

I will not be buying a third Jet- boil

I will purchase a cook-partner propane stove and enjoy two burner cooking and less expensive fuel at a cost of size and weight

[goodtimes]

The three stoves I have are the MSR wisperlite, Jet-Boil, and the generic coleman 2 burner. For a quick cup of coffee, or freeze-dried food while backpacking, the jet-boil is the sh!t. But all I use mine for is boiling water...no actual "cooking". For that, I have been known to use the wisperlite, but have gotton out of the habit of "cooking" while backpacking. I stick with freeze dried and foods that can be eaten raw, or cooked prior to the trip. For everything else, the coleman gets pulled out. Yea, the propane cylinders can be a pain (always carry extra), but it is such an easy stove to use and clean up, and the price was so right....that it gets more use than the others combined. It is large enough to be stable so you can actually cook on it (as opposed to using the wisperlite which will fall over the second you try to get a bit aggressive with dinner), dual burners are helpful if you want to get fancy (non single-pan meals), has a built in wind screen, no messing around with primer cups, just turn it on and light the flame....it is just very user friendly and versatile compared to the others.

[Doin_It]

Was this discussed here at one time, or did I see it else where. More of a fun item then a day to day user. I'm going to make a couple with the kids just for fun.

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistoveinstruct.shtml

[bigreen505]

I moved into the MSR dragon fly - burns unleaded as well as most other fuels - burns real hot and you can control the flame - also good for boiling up big pots and Wok cooking - problem was the pump basically fell apart in a very short time - rubber plunger came loose then the rest of the pump just fell apart - hard to find parts on the road


I'm not sure how old your Dragonfly is, but MSR has a new pump design out and it is a vast improvement over the original in pretty much every way. I think you may need to change the jet though as the new pump seems to put out more gas than the old jet can burn.



I also travel with a jet-boil for heating water - I am on my second one - same issue the peizo lighting mechanism eventually goes and then the burner (metals) disintegrates - this is all ready happening to the second one in less than two months of use

I will not be buying a third Jet- boil
:smileeek:
I've never heard of that before. Guess I will pass on the Jet Boil. They seem so cool. I think one of the reasons I put up with the Dragonfly is that for the most part it just works and fuel is cheap and plentiful.

[flyingwil]

Was this discussed here at one time, or did I see it else where.

Nope, that was here... Here is the Thread (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403&highlight=stoves).


Gas or liquid fuel?
However this one is different, liquid fuel or propane.

[flyingwil]

I have added a poll to the thread.

[bootzilla]

I've always used a propane grill which I think is a knock-off of a Weber Go-Anywhere grill. I got it for free, and it works great, so I never bothered getting a Coleman or other camping-style grill.

It is a little bulky, so it is not the best if you have a lot of gear or limited space, but unless you're going to be out for a long time, I like the stoves that use one-pound propane bottles - you can find them in most any Hardware store along the way, and I've done breakfast and dinner for four people with it before on one bottle with no fuel problems at all.

[Dave]

We mainly user our Coleman two burner but also use a MSR Whisperlite if it's just the two of us or we're camping at a walk-in site (we don't really do any back packing).

The biggest downside for the Coleman, imo, is the need to purchase new canisters. It's not so much the purchasing part as much as it is the disposable part. I've thought about refilling the canisters we have off a larger propane bottle, but all the disposable canisters say it's illegal and unsafe to do so. Any one tried it? Any one know why it's illegal?

[ZooJunkie]

Harbor Freight sells an adapter that allows you to refill those pesky propane canisters.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45989

[flyingwil]

Harbor Freight sells an adapter that allows you to refill those pesky propane canisters.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45989


Did you notice the last line of the paragraph?


Propane resale or transport across state lines is prohibited by law.

:smilies27

[ZooJunkie]

That's just the adapter. No propane will be sold or transported across state line.


Um....but that begs the next question...!!

Is it against the law for us to transport propane across statelines when we are out on an expedition?? :confused:

[datrupr]

Well, if it is against the law to transport propane across state lines then somebody alert the authorities, because I have done it a few times already. I bought a Coleman 2 burner propane stove in 1990, and it worked great until about a year ago. It finally died. I bought a new one last spring because the last one lasted so long and put up with a lot of abuse. The little propane bottles can be a pain, but they do last quite a while.

[Desertdude]

I have not had too much luck with those adapter/fillers... the canisters never really fill (gravity wise) to a level to make it worth it


Harbor Freight sells an adapter that allows you to refill those pesky propane canisters.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45989

[Seldom Seen]

I have not had too much luck with those adapter/fillers... the canisters never really fill (gravity wise) to a level to make it worth it

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out on the little relief valve during filling, until a spritz of liquid propane comes out.

[Desertdude]

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out on the little relief valve during filling, until a spritz of liquid propane comes out.

good tip do not remember if I did that...

[salsataco]

I use a MSR dragonfly and a Jetboil as well. Never had a problem with either. I do have the updated MSR pump. i use the jetboil for freeze dried and the dragoinfly when I feel like getting fancy.:camping:

[perterra]

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out on the little relief valve during filling, until a spritz of liquid propane comes out.

Just be careful. If you dont leave enough headspace, when it heats up it will pop the valve. If you have an uncontrolled release of propane near a source of ignition you could have trouble. The feds havent worried about the adapters because it leaves it a bit under filled. Also the reason they have gone to having to fill propane by weight. Leaves the correct headspace, allowing room for expansion.

[Desertdude]

Just wanted to add to my comments - I am using these stoves nearly everyday - I do take great care with my gear and have these items stored in a pelican case when moving - and never keep them outside at night - I am seeing a shorter lifespan with most stoves out there

[goodtimes]

On the re-filling of propane...you do not want to fill a tank (bottle, cylinder, whatever..) more than 80% full to allow for thermal expansion.

Some states require certification to [legally] transfer propane from one tank to another (California is one of those states). Not that there is much to it....nor are you likely to be stopped by the propane police if you don't have your cert....just do everyone around you a favor...don't blow anything up.:elkgrin:

[UNI]

We use our MSR-Dragonfly & the Coleman Dual Fuel™ Powerhouse® 2-Burner Stove (Both White Gas). Our grill is a s-steel 550 Olympian (Propane).

[overlander]

That's just the adapter. No propane will be sold or transported across state line.


Um....but that begs the next question...!!

Is it against the law for us to transport propane across statelines when we are out on an expedition?? :confused:

What's the deal with the restriction on statelines? Most RV's have propane tanks, as do the all the expo trailers. And they travel across state lines all the time? Seems there must be more to the intent of those laws then I'm seeing.

I just purchased a Partner Steel propane stove, and I just built an external rack for my 110 to carry a 10lb propane tank externally for use with the stove. I find it hard to believe I would be pulled over for crossing a state line with it.

[UNI]

Overlander,

We haul a 20Lb. propane tank on top of the Jeep rack & a 10LB. tank on the trailer. It could be, but I haven't heard of any law like that. :coffeedrink:

[Black Dog]

I've always been a fan of my little MSR whisperlite international. I've burned white gas and unleaded fuel in it, with unleaded being my preference. When you think about it, it makes sense financially. A gallon of white gas costs around $7 (last time I bought it) which is quite a bit more than some 87 octane, even at the super high gas prices of last year.

Plus it makes sense logistically too. In the military they make sure that all (or most) of their vehicles use the same fuel, that way they don't have the hassle of needing twice as many refuelers. So why not pack a couple gallons of white gas, but then know that you have diesel or unleaded fuel to fall back on in an emergency. Or just pack an extra couple gallons of diesel or unleaded and skip the white gas.

[SunTzuNephew]

For anything my MSR won't handle, I like using any of my Coleman classic white gas stoves - with propane.

Adapters (http://www.gleasoncamping.com/browseproducts/Propane-Converter.HTML) are available that allow using propane - either cylinders, or hooking up larger tanks. This way I have the luxury of choice, and the adapter goes in the stove when packed, adding almost no weight and no additional volume.

[craig333]

I believe the transportation issue only relates to the very small cylinders when they're refilled.

Gas for backpacking, propane for anything else. Might sacrifice a couple btu's but the convenience can't be beat. I picked up my three burner coleman at a garage sale for ten bucks. Get the propane adapter and run it off a five gallon tank or the camper tank.

I still have all the old gas stuff, can't quite get myself to toss them. Usually just oil up the leather and they're good to go.

[lamontagne]

I picked up this bad boy at a yard sale...

Coleman 426D, 3-burner white gas. This thing is actually older than I am! I'm in the process to restoring it and it will be the centerpiece of a chuckbox I'm making to fit in the back of my Jeep.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2l8kdj.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/jb6y39.jpg

[Zelix]

I picked up this bad boy at a yard sale...

Coleman 426D, 3-burner white gas. This thing is actually older than I am! I'm in the process to restoring it and it will be the centerpiece of a chuckbox I'm making to fit in the back of my Jeep.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2l8kdj.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/jb6y39.jpg

Nice score. My father gave me just like that. I remember [back when I was a kid] it used to cook really well.

[UK4X4]

I use the coleman grill/pot combo propane unit

you can still use pots on both sides, but still grill a mean steak if the firelighting skils are lacking after a long drive.

Small containers..ha a hacksaw is your friend, I just cut the coleman adapter in half used standard 6mm propane hose and a standard bottle adapter on the other end.

change countries like I do every few years- just get a diferent adapter.

Note in Oman you can't even buy coleman type gas bottles.