Stove for use outside van?

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Just got a part conversion on a Vauxhall Vivaro. No kitchen but most of rest of it done. What would you carry in it for a brew?

When camping we'd just use one of many camping stoves but I was thinking of something stashed for when we stop and want a brew. Or when first pitching up with the van and making the brew while getting straight for the night

I've got the venerable trangia such with the gas conversion makes our dinner and normally brews. We've got various gas, meths and a woodburning stove (honey stove). There's even an esbit stove somewhere. I'm thinking a Kelly Kelly type might be good?

I used to go out with a conservation charity and one branch in Cumbria used a large kettle for team brews from the van. Someone would always get sent back to make the brew while we carried on working. Nothing better than sitting around with a hot brew when you've been working in the wet. It's my only experience of them so never sure they're that practical for a van brew up. Those days we would be working in the countryside with trees and dry twigs close to the van. Usually the person walking back to the van would pick the twigs needed on the way. Easy. It might not be that easy parked up in a layby or carpark by the beach or similar.

I am curious about what people on here might recommend from experience of similar or of the various possibilities.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Jetboil or a clone from another brand? There's a few versions around now, which is best?
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Great looking kit but terrible website. I can hardly see what they look like. Black background and bright lettering doesn't work well there.

The canister attachment looks like a lot of other brands. I suspect it's made by fire maple for them. No preheat tube, I prefer them on gas stoves. I really don't know why they sell stoves without them.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
By myself in summer, little butane cartridge rig to boil 300 ml. 10 liter water jug, part full100_1158.JPG.
Say I'm at the freezing level. Wet snow, -2C. Coleman single 533 is in the mess box.
Supposed to burn 1 hr 45 mins on HI. The folding windscreen is in there, somewhere.
More people and more water? My venerable Coleman green box & windscreen.

Somehow, I have managed to accumulate 3 vacuum bottles.
Aladdin, Thermos and no-name Ducks Unlimited.
Out for a day, if I felt that I would need a hot drink, use a thermos instead of the stove & kit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TLM

SaraR

Full Member
Mar 25, 2017
1,631
1,177
Ceredigion
Jetboil or a clone from another brand? There's a few versions around now, which is best?
We've only had two from Jetboil, so don't know about clones. The product itself is great, but their customer care leaves a lot to be desired.
 

demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,691
710
-------------
Although I really like my Kelly Kettle its of limited use by the roadside cos it heats the ground up and creates a bit of a firescar or would heat tarmac up.
Something like a Jetboil or a liquid fuel stove (I have a Svea 123R) are a better bet than the Kelly Kettle in that setting.

Also people don't give you the "They're starting fires" look with them.
 
Last edited:

Winnet

Forager
Oct 5, 2011
231
69
Aberdeen
I use a Jetboil for a quick cuppa when I am out and about. Quick and simple system.

G

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Although I really like my Kelly Kettle its of limited use by the roadside cos it heats the ground up and creates a bit of a firescar or would heat tarmac up.
Something like a Jetboil or a liquid fuel stove (I have a Svea 123R) are a better bet than the Kelly Kettle in that setting.

Also people don't give you the "They're starting fires" look with them.
Don't you use anything underneath? I've got into the habit of using a soldering mat underneath all our stoves. Even trangia stoves cause some damage to the ground beneath them. Mind you I've not used my honey stove since getting that mat so perhaps it won't help much with the heart.

Anyone use the petromax version of the kettle? It comes with three wire legs to lift it off the ground.

Petromax Kettle
 

Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
27,805
2,892
62
~Hemel Hempstead~
Is your van a diesel?

If it is then look yourself out a British Army No 12 stove. They're designed to run on diesel and are great stoves, albeit getting a tad pricey now over on that certain auction site
 
  • Like
Reactions: Robbi

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
Is your van a diesel?

If it is then look yourself out a British Army No 12 stove. They're designed to run on diesel and are great stoves, albeit getting a tad pricey now over on that certain auction site
It's a diesel van but must admit I'm not a fan of liquid fuel stoves running off petrol, white spirit, etc. Not sure a diesel stove would suit me any better. It's the experience of using one as a cub with the pre heat routine and the flaring up. Sure got me concerned since I had only gas stove experience up until then. Put me off ever since.
 

Van-Wild

Full Member
Feb 17, 2018
1,400
1,221
44
UK
Jet boil or any little pocket gas stove, MSR Pocket Rocket is awesome as well.

If you're just making a brew, then something like the above is all you will ever need.

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
 

fenix

Forager
Jul 8, 2008
136
102
Kent
Jetboils are ace, but for quick and easy those square £20 ones are pretty good. I have one alongside my BBQ for general cooking.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,981
7,757
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
Jetboils are ace, but for quick and easy those square £20 ones are pretty good. I have one alongside my BBQ for general cooking.

They are good and I've used one for years but they just don't hack it once its cold and the wind's blowing though; they also take at least twice as long to boil because the flame is not as hot (you can tell by the noise), it isn't shielded and the pot's not insulated.
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE