Base camp stove?

[malley]

Looking at something substantial that could possibly be used for our van at a later date?

Coleman?
Primus Oden?

What do you use/recommend?

Cheers!!

 

[Andy BB]

Inside a van? I'd personally rule out petrol/Coleman fuel stoves, and propane/butane gas ones on safety grounds, but its a personal choice. A nice Primus 222 double burner paraffin stove would do both jobs nicely, but then again some people don't like the aroma of paraffin! Inside a van, an Origo (or similar) double burner alcohol stove would work fine, albeit a bit slower than paraffin/gas, but much safer. (and virtually nothing to go wrong, either...) You can also pick them up fairly cheaply on yachtie sites for those "upgrading" to gas cookers. Outside the van you'd need to take a lot of care about shielding it from the wind.

 

[malley]

Thanks Andy. I mispelled 'PRIMUS' above - now amended. They seem to imply that stove would be safe with the correct valve? Will have a look at the one you mention. Any camper van owners on here? What do you use? Don't really want to go down the expensive cooker route. prefer something robust that we could take out when not in use.

 

[Andy BB]

Actually, I should have said an Optimus 22, not a Primus 222! Getting my models confused. Basically its the two-burner stove version of the Optimus 111, which is one of my all-time favourite stoves. THere are a number of versions of the 111 (and 22 for that matter) but the basic paraffin-burning stove is a brilliant bit of kit. Try looking at Spiritburner.com where there's loads of information about them. THe basic 111 can be had fairly cheaply nowadays - ebay has lots of them which tend to go for around £35. You can get spare parts for them, lots of info on fettling if you like to tinker, but they're pretty bullet-proof. In your position, and if you want more than 1 burner, I'd probably go for a couple of them. Piece of cake to put in and take out of the van - just put them on a flat surface! THe only rider to that is that these stoves shouldn't be used with very large pans at full throttle, as you run the risk of overheating the tank.

Whilst I have a number of petrol/naptha stoves and enjoy playing with and using them, I'm not keen on them indoors, whether thats a tent or van. If something goes wrong, it goes wrong big-time - like "boom"! And if a pressure release valve goes (ie does its job by releasing overpressure to stop a tank exploding), you will still probably end up with a large jet of flame as the released vapour ignites. Paraffin is much less volatile, but as with all heat sources in confined spaces you need to have decent ventilation, and ideally a carbon monoxide alarm.

 

[rik_uk3]

Andy is right about the 111 range, very good but like the 22 they are limited to what size pot you can use. I'd go for a couple of Primus No5 stoves
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/primus-st...amping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item27d5ad71a7

These are 'fixed legs' so don't fold up but were designed as a home domestic stove, good size fuel tank for long cooking times, boil fast, simmer well, take any size pot, are cheap to buy (as are the spares) and you can strip/rebuild one in minutes. A very reliable stove and a firm favourite of mine.

 

[malley]

Has anyone had any experience with the Primus Oden at all?

 

[rik_uk3]

I've not heard of them until I googled it. I've a two burner with grill gas stove, B&M, £19.99.

 

[bilmo-p5]

I've a two burner with grill gas stove, B&M, £19.99.

Looks like a basic Tilley Titan clone. Would suit OP's purpose IMHO...

 

[Teepee]

Looks like a basic Tilley Titan clone. Would suit OP's purpose IMHO...

Thats the style I use in my van. I've got the Aldi one which hasn't got a closing lid and it needs one really.

I used to have a Camping Gaz one which was much better. The ability to make toasted egg sarnies in a lay-by is a godsend.

 

[rik_uk3]

To be honest I've not used the stove yet but the build quality is fine and the Primus mentioned costs four times more!

 

[mountainm]

Thats the style I use in my van. I've got the Aldi one which hasn't got a closing lid and it needs one really.

I used to have a Camping Gaz one which was much better. The ability to make toasted egg sarnies in ta layby is a godsend.

Thats rebranded and sold off as gelert, kampa, yellowstone etc. They range from £20 to £40 brand dependant. Good little family camping stove if you pay the lower end.

The grill is a bit poor so a tip is if you use it put your kettle on top in the middle to use the heat that rises and reflect some back.

 

[petrochemicals]

argos still sell the Campingaz ones, but this is the age of China, argos also sell Campingaz Bistro one burners that are only branded I think, and sold as everyones from Aardvark adventurewear to ZZtop outdoors.

Propane and propane accessories, or butane with a very good regulator

 

[tim_n]

Careful with the integrated burner/bottle ones - anything overlapping them that radiates heat down can make the bottle explode. Happened at a fete I was first aiding at. No one hurt but we all hit the deck thinking a bomb had gone off.

 

[rik_uk3]

The little Bistro stoves are £8.99 in B&M but I agree about watching the pot size, overhanging pots will cause a lot of heat build up (as in stoves like the Optimus 111 and 8/99/199/10 range).

 

[malley]

Good stuff. Do people still rate the Coleman then??

 

[malley]

Teepee - like this one?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165650_productId_913903_langId_-1?cm_mmc=GooglePPC-_-Google%20Product%20Search-_-Camping%2FCamping%20Equipment%2FCamping%20Cooking%20%26%20Dining%20Equipment-_-Campingaz%20Camping%20Chef%20Vario%20Stove%20with%20Grill&source=ppc&adtype=%7Badtype%7D&%7Bcopy:_$ja%7D&%7Bifdyn:_$$ja=tsid:35588%7D%7Bifpe:_$$ja=ad=pe%7D&_$$ja=cgid:2677040644%7Ctsid:35522%7Ccid:74434324%7Clid:42799617364%7Cnw:%7Bifsearch:search%7D%7Bifcontent:content%7D%7Ccrid:10000619284%7Cdvc:%7Bdevice%7D%7Cadp:%7Badposition%7D%7Cbku:1&gclid=CPOk_ZXd3LgCFTMQtAodqwQAxQ

 

[Teepee]

The link doesn't work.

They don't seem to make it any more, the most similar I can see is this one (probably the same one ); http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...ition}|bku:1&gclid=CK-S8frq3LgCFVMPtAodMGgAxQ

The grill was better, the burners had more oomph. Not needed most of the time but when the wind is whistlin', the extra power meant the kettle boiled in half the time and I didn't have to shut the doors and risk filling the back with steam The lid is handy for not having to leave the grill to cool down completely-murphys law dictates someone will cause you to emergency stop and melt something on the hot grill. There's probably as good out there for cheaper but it did the job quite well.

@Mountainman ; Good tip

 

[Squidders]

I have a Coleman Powerpack stove and it's brilliant... simple but well made design with very little to go wrong.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/power-pack-burner-p150849

The gas isn't as cheap as the little butane cartridges but it cooks really really well. Someone linked a different one that was on sale for £5 - really well made again and insanely cheap at that price. I have found the gas at several outdoors places and it's as cheap as any of the portable bottle gas options.

 

[bigroomboy]

Coleman liquid fuel stoves are great, but you wouldn't want to risk on in a van.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Coleman liquid fuel stoves are great, but you wouldn't want to risk on in a van.

I don't see why not. If it is in good working order and you know how to correctly operate it, it should be no more risky than any other stove.
Enders petrol stoves were original equipment in the earlier VW campers.