Car Camping (gasp!) Stove

“After getting reamed by the all-powerful Euro this past summer, we're looking at a less costly vacation next summer, and are considering a car camping trip. So we'd need a nice 2-burner stove. Jeez, have you seen how many of these suckers there are on the market now?! It used to be there was the Coleman stove that you pumped up, etc., and that was it. Now they've got different fuel types, some you need matches, some not. Does anybody have any recommendations?”

“I have a 30 year old Coleman double burner that runs on white gas. The ones that run on the green bottles are good too. They even have one that has one burner and a grill but you could cook on both.”

“Well, I've got a Coleman Dual-Fuel, and after spending a large percentage of this weekend pumping air into the fuel tank, I swore that next time I'd go propane. Now, don't get me wrong, the stove works great. I'm not looking to replace it anytime soon. But for the next stove, I want something easier to light and cook on.

Has anybody ever used one of those adapters that let you use CO₂ cartridges to pressurize the fuel tank on one of those Coleman stoves?”

“I'd get the propane one next time too. Easier and much lighter. If ya watch Wally World you can find the bottles cheap ($1.80?). They are stupid simple.”

“Watch the gas regulators on the propane stoves. Always disconnect the propane canister when not in use. I had a gas grill that used the little green bottles and the regulator leaked overnight. I went to light the stove and there wasn't any gas left in the bottle to light.”

“You can also find those little adapters to refill the small cylinders from the big ones. I dunno how safe that is, but I don't imagine that the pressure in a large cylinder is enough to rupture a little one, as long as it's in good shape.”

“I finally broke down and got the two burner propane. I won't throw out the old Coleman pump stove, but the propane's better.”

“Want to go cheap???? check out yard sales or church bazaar/white elephant sales. I always see camping stoves. I picked up a three burner, Coleman, propane for five bucks. Its the one I take on canoe trips. liquid fuel works better in sub zero temps”

“Hmmm, good idea.”

“They also make an adapter to convert the white gas stoves to propane, costs less than 10 bucks.

I use the tank off my gas grill with a distribution tree, lantern goes on top and a hose runs to the stove. A 10 gallon propane tank will last a long time.”

“I gotta get one of those stands for my lantern. Setting it on the table doesn't spread the light around enough.”

“coleman, then get a 5 gallon tank, the proper connections and the t-valve and long lantern stem, this way you can have a lantern hooked up to the same fuel source.”

“You wanna borrow mine?

It's a Coleman 2 burner white gas stove. Have had it about 10 years now. Runs like a dream.”

“I can throw in my single burner coleman stove as well. Then you have 3 burners.

Email me at

brian.a.beanblossom@bakernet.com

if you are interested.”

“OOPS. That is not supposed to be a web site.”

“I've got a single-burner propane stove. I should have taken it last weekend to boil water for hot drinks and such. Easier.”

“I've got a 43 year old 3-burner Coleman stove that was converted from white gas to propane 42 years ago. I don't use the small propane bottles, but have the propane converter, a 10 foot hose and a 10# propane tank. Works like a charm.”

“get one of the propane units from Wally World...I have used the coleman and the Ozark mountain one and it just comes down to how much $$$ you want to spend. I do like the coleman better based on construction and the flame shields are built in.”

“Wow, I knew I could count on TT for lots of good advice! Even one offer to borrow a stove - thanks WK! I think we'll probably buy one; sounds like the kind that use the propane bottles are the way to go. Mostly I wanted to get some input so I can watch for sales at REI or wherever, or even garage sales! Any further advice, keep it comin'! Otherwise, thanks, as usual....”

“Try Coleman.com, they have an outlet web store where you can sometimes catch a good deal.

They also offer discounts to youth and non profit groups, perhaps you can classify your family as a non profit group.”

“I will be looking at the Coleman propane. Last car-camping trip the white gas-pump type died.--it was about 20 years old. Had flames shooting out from every possible oriface. Pretty scary at the time. But it's gone.”

“Thinkbubelz & I have a 2 burner propane stove. We really like it. (have no idea what brand it is, but we've had it for about 12 years”

“I started with a Comenan 3-burner gas stove, but couldn't ever get all three burners to work at once with a decent amount of heat. I've been really happy with my two-burner propane Coleman for the last 6 years or so, but I use it with a 2 gallon tank and one of the trees that I can stick a lantern on top of and also run another hose to my little portable gas bbq. Can you say "roughing it??"
I have a spare green canister I bring along just in case I run out, but hate the thought of filling up landfills with all those canisters. It's a little more effort, but cheaper to just refill the 2 gallon tank once or twice a summer (we camp a lot during the summer months).”

“I just checked ... ours is an "American Camper" brand two-burner little-green-propane-tank stove that we probably bought at a discounter like K-Marts. It has worked well for about a decade. Our Coleman lantern runs on the same fuel, but it has been MIA since I broke the glass part. Sometimes the fuel leaks even if you disconnect the tank, so be sure to bring extra. Coleman says not to refill them, so enjoy the outdoors and help the landfills spread. :(”

“I LOVE my Coleman two burner propane stove!!!....It is easy, and lightweight.....and......

I LOVE my toaster to go on top...makes the most wonderful toasted English muffins....yummm......best $4 I ever spent!!!...I also bought one of those aluminum folding tables to take to set it on......some primative sites have no tables and I hate cooking on the ground....”

“I hate my coleman two burner propane stove. Last time I used it was in July and I doubt I'll ever use it again. My backpacking stove is faster, smaller, and easier to use.”

“I'm stupid about stove stuff and the Coleman two-burner propane is PERFECT.

And hey, CORK!! A ghost from the past! Hiya girl!!”

“Lizs: Do you think I could rig something to power a TV with propane???”

“I just read all of this thread. No one mentioned using unleaded gas in their dual fuel Coleman stoves. Have any of you ever used unleaded gas in it?”

“Isn't that pretty dangerous? I thought gasoline was highly combustible?”

“Never have. You try it first Ewker. =)”

“I've used unleaded gas in my dual-fuel stove. It works okay, but you should really stick to Coleman fuel, because it's purer.

The Coleman Dual-Fuel line is designed to be used with unleaded gasoline, so it's perfectly safe. You have to treat it with the respect that gasoline deserves.
last edited: 12/15/04 12:40:29 PM”

“it says on the stove for Coleman Fuel or unleaded gas only. I just figured someone would have used the unleaded gas.”

“Sass, good luck today. I will be thinking about you :)”

“I tried but we got busted for siphoning gas from the vehicles at the neighboring campsite.”

“bm, you shouldn't have slurped as you were sucking...lol”

“yes but I was a bit drunk.

Drunk at night while camping. Is that only redundant to me?”

“Ewk - I've burned unleaded in both my Coleman stove and lanterns....it works ok but like bit said coleman fuel is a lot cleaner.....I found I had to clean/change the generators a lot more often”