Stoves

[martin r]

Having recently ditched gas lights in favour of fluro or led I am now considering doing the same with the stove and getting rid of the gas bottles altogether. Does anyone own or have experience, good or bad with the Coleman ULP pressure stoves.

[Bigbjorn]

Yes, have had one for thirty years. Simple, effective, and nothing to go wrong. A brilliant design, the fuel tank packs away inside the stove and it all folds up into a small suitcase size. Only problem we ever had was before unleaded petrol buying Shellite in South Australia. At that time for whatever reason, Shellite was not sold in hardware stores in Sth. Aust. We had to go to a fuel agent and buy in one gallon cans.

[martin r]

Brian, do the burners provide a good spread of flame with good adjustment. I have found some gas stoves to be hard to finely adjust for a low simmer and not enough grunt for a high boil or to fry with.

[Bigbjorn]

Yes, can be adjusted to near invisibility. We have done everything from coffee percolator through slow simmered stews to a 6.5 litre pot I use for making home brew. So simple even SWMBOWQ can use it after brief instruction and without supervision.

[waynep]

The Coleman dual fuel stoves put out a good hot blue flame - it actually roars ! and can be turned down low for a stew or rice.
The only maintenance is sometimes the pumpy thing needs lubricating so it seals the pressure in - but you can buy replacement pump inserts about $12. I use Shellite whenever I can get it - about $16 for 4 litres - and I use unleaded petrol only if there is no Shellite.

[Nat130]

We had a coleman 'pocket rocket' which was great, we used shellite as we found with petrol the pots etc got really black.

The main thing I can suggest (I know it was the case with ours) was that you should really use the pots that are designed to go with those units. They have a more suitable metal base that can deal better with the high heat.

[waynep]

We had a coleman 'pocket rocket' which was great, we used shellite as we found with petrol the pots etc got really black.

The main thing I can suggest (I know it was the case with ours) was that you should really use the pots that are designed to go with those units. They have a more suitable metal base that can deal better with the high heat.

We've used good quality stainless steel billies with the "pocket rockets" ( good name !) for years with no problems. Actually the stove fits right inside the billy for transport making it a very compact cooking set.

[Nat130]

Think you hit the nail on the head with the term 'good quality'....

Our pocket rocket was stored (except the fuel bottle) in our small saucepan and it was fantastic.

Was a bit of a drama using the wind shield that came with it at times :) but that isn't hard to work around.

[Bigbjorn]

Mine is a three burner and packs up to about 30" x 15" x 8" in the form of a steel suitcase with carry handle. I also have the companion folding stove stand. Would recommend this to anyone.

[scrambler]

I've got the one-burner integrated design - I think it costs about $80. I've had mine for 10 years, goes like a champ. You can't leave it on simmer for really long periods (it messes with the fuel evaporation) but otherwise does everything a gas stove does. At full heat this puts out more than the average home stove. On mine the heat control is a little fiddly but with practice and persistence you can get any heat required.

With the 3-burner versions like Brian's the simmer ring has its evaporator over the adjacent ring, so simmering is fine provided you have the middle ring up a little higher.

I've also got the equivalent lantern, which puts out a great light - good for an area light.

Like others, I run on shellite where possible for the cleaner flame. Coleman say unleaded gives slightly better economy but shellite gives a cleaner flame and less maintenance, esp in the lantern.

[Tusker]

We've had a dualfuel 2 burner for yonks. Only recently replaced the tap & burner.

It really wants fresh unleaded, & decent pressure, to get the flame the right blue colour . Otherwise, its that smokey orange, which deposits carbon on everything.

Being lefthanded, I very quickly got sick of pumping the thing up righthanded. Especially on winter mornings. Solution...

I had a tyre valve silver soldered into a spare cap. A few seconds on the air compressor, & hey presto, a better flame than could ever be achieved by hand.

Its easy to run out mid-cooking btw. With the compressor, we put more fuel in than normal, & can "top up" the air during cooking if need be.

That must have been 10 years ago now - still carrying the original cap just in case!

Regards
Max P

[waynep]

We have always had a gas stove...one of the marine types...excellent.

Numpty decided to give the Coleman ULP stove a go so we bought one. Now I do the majority of the cooking so I told him we would hang onto the gas stove until I decided if I liked it...well...we are still using the gas stove!!

I could never get the flame adjustment right. I found that the second burner was not hot enough.I don't think there was any fault with the stove, but that I just could not operate it properly to get the best out of it. Too damned fiddly pumping and whatever. So...I guess its going to be up to the cook in the end eh?

So we swapped the Coleman Stove for a set of Rhino rack watercraft carriers with a mate and he was happy with the stove and we are happy with the canoe carriers :D


Oh yeah...and the one time we tried doing toast on it...it had a faint petrol flavour!!

NM my wife has the same trubble with the Coleman ULP too. ( pumping and getting flame adjustment right ). I don't have any problems with it - is this a men come from mars women come from venus thing ? ;) :D

[martin r]

OK, given that a lot of you still prefer the gas stove, can someone recommend a better brand and model than the crummy Companion we have been putting up with for the last year or so.

[cartm58]

the design is over 70 years old and works well

l have 2 x 3 burner colemans bought them from trading post $100 piece

The 3 burner enables you to have 1 burner for kettle for coffee tea hot water or pot for veggies and 2 burners under a metal bbq plate for cooking meat sausages onions mushrooms etc.

Can use all 3 burners for things like fry pans, pots, kettles and pressure cookers

Also have the Coleman collaspible oven which allows for meat chicken veggie roasts or baking cakes or bread

Had a 2 burner coleman in my slide out draw in the camper trailer for cooking

Fuel shellite is a proprietary brand name of shell for lighter fluid if you go to any other petroleum station can get chemical equilivent from memory BP sold it as white solvent about 1/4 price of shellite in 20 litre can.

Coleman ULP heat is something like 30000 BTU compared to gas 11000 btu so you cook faster with less fuel.

Fuel in jerry can can be 10 litre or 20 litre and easier to store than gas bottle and easier to refuel when out.

Also have the coleman ulp lanterns whioch put out best light for camping and when staying in huts also generates heat

Never had problem in 20 year plus with coleman stoves

[Captain_Rightfoot]

We have a coleman dual fuel stove and like it. It seems like a good thing and burns hot. :)

[waynep]

OK, given that a lot of you still prefer the gas stove, can someone recommend a better brand and model than the crummy Companion we have been putting up with for the last year or so.

Coleman gas stoves are pretty good too.Their burners are designed so you can take apart and clean out if necesssary and you can get parts if needed. Thier gas stoves also have a proper regulator.

[crump]

We have always had a gas stove...one of the marine types...excellent.

Numpty decided to give the Coleman ULP stove a go so we bought one. Now I do the majority of the cooking so I told him we would hang onto the gas stove until I decided if I liked it...well...we are still using the gas stove!!

I could never get the flame adjustment right. I found that the second burner was not hot enough.I don't think there was any fault with the stove, but that I just could not operate it properly to get the best out of it. Too damned fiddly pumping and whatever. So...I guess its going to be up to the cook in the end eh?

So we swapped the Coleman Stove for a set of Rhino rack watercraft carriers with a mate and he was happy with the stove and we are happy with the canoe carriers :D


Oh yeah...and the one time we tried doing toast on it...it had a faint petrol flavour!!


yeh, i wondered about that??

[dmdigital]

I run my Coleman on Shellite not ULP. Burns very clean and is a far better stove than my Coleman Gas one was. The ULP or Shellite also puts out a lot more heat than gas so you need to adjust you cooking a bit. Wouldn't swap it for anything else.

Why Shellite? I drive diesels, 2 litres of Shellite will last for a hell of a long time, I can always switch to ULP if I need to. I carry a 1.5L aluminium fuel bottle with the stove tank so that's enough fuel for several weeks at 3 meals a day.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I run my Coleman on Shellite not ULP. Burns very clean and is a far better stove than my Coleman Gas one was. The ULP or Shellite also puts out a lot more heat than gas so you need to adjust you cooking a bit. Wouldn't swap it for anything else.

Why Shellite? I drive diesels, 2 litres of Shellite will last for a hell of a long time, I can always switch to ULP if I need to. I carry a 1.5L aluminium fuel bottle with the stove tank so that's enough fuel for several weeks at 3 meals a day.

WOW I don't get that long out of mine?? I'f I'm going away for a week I'd take a couple of litres with me :o

[waynep]

yeh, i wondered about that??

Yeah me too .... we used to use one of those gauze toaster things and i had the same taste ...we do toast in the frypan now ...takes a bit longer but at least you know there are no carciogens going into your toast :eek:

Same issue with gas I guess to some extent ....... all the chemicals from the burning are going into what you are eating.

[waynep]

WOW I don't get that long out of mine?? I'f I'm going away for a week I'd take a couple of litres with me :o
They chew thu the Shellite .....cuppla weeks for us uses at least cuppla litres of Shellite ...mind you that's cooking almost every meal and boilng water for cups of tea ( LOTS of cups of tea ) on two burners.

[dmdigital]

Strange I find it very economical

e.g. 5 weeks on the road 2L of shellite, 3 meals a day + the odd cuppa or two and boiling water for washing up etc. Also that's only cooking for 2.

I'll use 2 burners when needed and also when using my hotplate across both burners.

[Bush65]

I have a 3 burner Coleman dual fuel stove and a lamp. Never liked the stove, so stopped using it. Was smokey, used a lot of fuel and not easy to control flame, which was often yellow (not blue).

But I only used the same fuel as in my rangie back then. Never tried ULP or shellite. After reading that others are happy with theirs, I will have to drag it back out and try shellite (rangie and disco are both diesel now).

[scrambler]

With all this talk of Diesel - and I realise it's not exactly a gas stove substitute - has anyone experience with the multifuel MSR-type stoves? Don't they run on Diesel, among other things?

[dmdigital]

With all this talk of Diesel - and I realise it's not exactly a gas stove substitute - has anyone experience with the multifuel MSR-type stoves? Don't they run on Diesel, among other things?

Yes they do and they are bloody expensive at about $270 for a single burner. I think they also will run on Shellite, AV gas, kero, petrol etc.

[abaddonxi]

With all this talk of Diesel - and I realise it's not exactly a gas stove substitute - has anyone experience with the multifuel MSR-type stoves? Don't they run on Diesel, among other things?

I think you'll also find that they get confiscated when you go through NZ customs. If you're lucky they just take your fuel tank.

I reckon you can't go past a Trangia. Runs on metho, packs down to something very packable. You can get one with stainless pots - adds to the weight, but not so much a problem when you're in a car.

And if you want you can get pressure burner thingy for more heat or control or whatever.

I carry two of them, makes two dish dinners that much easier. These days the things seem to throw themselves at me. Picked one up the other week in the chuckouts, never used, only missing the box.

Cheers
Simon.

[dmdigital]

Why the issue with NZ customs?? It's not like it will run on sheep poo:confused:

[scrambler]

Why the issue with NZ customs?? It's not like it will run on sheep poo:confused:
But you can get an insert for your Trangia ...

[dmdigital]

But you can get an insert for your Trangia ...

And someone was complaining about the burnt fuel ruining the taste of the food:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[abaddonxi]

Why the issue with NZ customs?? It's not like it will run on sheep poo:confused:

Something to do with pressurised fuel cannisters, I think.

Gave a Trangia to my sister and her fella a few years ago. Thought it was the best possible gift in all the world.

Buggers went out and traded it in on an MSR - one of those with the sad fold up aluminium foil wind shield. Went straight to the airport from camping shop and had it confiscated, never used.

Take that ingrates!

Cheers
Simon

[numpty]

Something to do with pressurised fuel cannisters, I think.

Gave a Trangia to my sister and her fella a few years ago. Thought it was the best possible gift in all the world.

Buggers went out and traded it in on an MSR - one of those with the sad fold up aluminium foil wind shield. Went straight to the airport from camping shop and had it confiscated, never used.

Take that ingrates!

Cheers
Simon

Don't know about New Zealand, but that's a standard thing when flying----no flammable liquids, matches etc on board. I have an MSR Whisperlite for bushwalking, and wouldn't use anything else for this purpose, and I've travelled with it to Tas by air. I don't take fuel, only empty bottles, and put it all in suitcase, not carry on luggage. Shellite is available almost anywhere. And as Missus said, we didn't like the Coleman Dual Fuel, but to be fair we never used it with shellite.

[cartm58]

l have had 3 burner coleman stove since 1986 never a problem with it

3 burner allows you to have 3 pots/frypans/kettle on go at once or BBQ plate and 1 burner for pot/kettle

Coleman fuel stove burns hotter than gas about 30000 BTU compared to gas 11,000 BTU so cooks faster less fuel used

Coleman oven allows u to cook on top of stove roasts and cakes and bread

Shellite is proprietary brand name you can actually buy equivalent product from other fuel companies cheaper in 20 litre tin or buy shellite in 4 litre tin for about $16 from camping stores or 1 litre bottle in supermarkets.

Cheaper to buy coleman in trading post ebay l've bought for $100 3 burner and $80 2 burner which l fitted into sliding draw on the camper trailer.

If burners run rich black carbon forms need to take apart baffles and clean very simple and easy to do and adjust fuel jet.

30 pumps on priming stove will see it burn happily for over 30 mins enough to cook evening meal on.

never had petrol smell or taint in anything cooked on coleman

also have 2 coleman fuel lanterns which not only put out fantastic white light they also heat up room when staying in cabin/hut style accomodation and have hook for poles when outdoors 1 each end of campsite lights up area nicely

[Bigbjorn]

Totally agree with Cartm58. Had the three burner Coleman for thirty years. burns with a clean pale blue near invisible flame. No sooting, no fuel taint, excellent controllability down to slow simmer even when using the middle burner alone. Easy to pump up and one fill of fuel lasts a long time. would not consider a gas stove after having this item.

[EchiDna]

MSR whisperlite user here too!

fantastic for hiking and handy crossover for 4wd use.
I've got one of those fold out shelves on the rear door of the 110 which is windsheild and heatproof stand in one... so much easier than carrying gas bottles etc and evening meals are typically via campfire anyway :)

I'll have to take a look at a coleman 3 burner - sounds just the ticket

[D110V8D]

My experience when heading to Tassie one time was confiscation of an empty fuel bottle (for a Coleman single burner multi fuel stove).

When I went over to NZ I bought a pocket rocket style burner (Kovea brand) and used butane when I got there. I still use the Kovea stove. It is by far the best burner I have ever owned for hiking. It's tiny and it's reliable. It also has a Piezo Electric ignitor on it.

Addmitedly it's not as versatile (fuel wise) as the coleman, but it's way hotter and cleaner. I only carry fuel for one (me). A 5 or 6 day hike only requires 1 cannister of butane.

[p38arover]

I have a single burner Coleman multi-fuel (Coleman/Shellite, ULP, or kerosene) stove.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/images/products/exponent/550B725_200.jpg

It is heavy on fuel use. It's a little small but was bought for the occasional bushwalk. It can also stay in the car permanently ready for that cuppa when needed. I've also used my brother's 3-burner Coleman stove and I still prefer to use LPG stoves as they have better control.

The problem is that a lot of cheap LPG stoves really are quite poor in burner design. I've bought some that have been useless. It would have been cheaper in the long run to have bought a good one - but how does one find a good one? Maybe I should buy a Coleman gas stove.

Re taste of the fuel in food, I can taste the difference in sausages cooked at home on the BBQ open grille vs the hotplate. I prefer those from the hotplate. My wife didn't believe me until she did a blind test.

Ron

[Mudnut]

"If burners run rich black carbon forms need to take apart baffles and clean very simple and easy to do and adjust fuel jet".

Not meaning to hijack this thread, but what are the baffles, and how do you adjust the fuel jet?

Thanks,

Ken

[richard mason]

Having recently ditched gas lights in favour of fluro or led I am now considering doing the same with the stove and getting rid of the gas bottles altogether. Does anyone own or have experience, good or bad with the Coleman ULP pressure stoves.
They are good, Martin. They require quite a lot of pumping at 5-10 minute intervals when cooking to keep up the pressure. Therefore maybe more male-friendly, like peeing in the bush, fishing and football! They burn hotter than meths and not much behind gas. You save a lot of space and weight! Beware "Shellite" recommended fuel for Coleman is NOT readily available from supermarkets and only some hardware stores. Use unleaded petrol instead tho some might be discouraged by this fuel too! (Ever seen a gas bottle catch fire?)

[cartm58]

l have two 3 burner coleman stoves, one 2 burner coleman stove and 2 coleman fuel lanterns and been using coleman since 1986 no problems ever.

3 burner coleman allow you to have a bbq plate covering 2 flames with third available for pot of vegs or kettle for hot water or 1 fry pan 1 pot 1 kettle or 1 toast plate at brekkie. very versatile in cooking and each jet can be set for different flame/heat levels.

l also have the collaspible coleman oven for raosting and baking

2 burner coleman fitted the pull out kitchen draw on the camper trailer

fuel shellite merely a brand name if you go to service station they will order equilvilent product BP was in 20 litre tin or buy from camping store in 4 litre tins cost around $16 or use LPG.

fuel tank on coleman lasts long time

heat from flame higher than gas so cook quicker comparison from memory is gas around 11000 BTU and coleman is 30000 BTU.

they are virtually indestructible and will last longer than you

[Captain_Rightfoot]

They are good, Martin. They require quite a lot of pumping at 5-10 minute intervals when cooking to keep up the pressure. Therefore maybe more male-friendly, like peeing in the bush, fishing and football! They burn hotter than meths and not much behind gas. You save a lot of space and weight! Beware "Shellite" recommended fuel for Coleman is NOT readily available from supermarkets and only some hardware stores. Use unleaded petrol instead tho some might be discouraged by this fuel too! (Ever seen a gas bottle catch fire?)

If you have to pump them up in 5-10 minute intervals there is a problem. Once started we usually wouldn't have to do any more pumping for a meal. :)

[Bigbjorn]

I agree with Capt. Rightfoot. If you have to pump them that frequently there is something quite wrong. We pump ours before cooking asnd don't have to again. I bought the stove in 1977.

[scrambler]

I'm joining the chorus here - I have had to repump mine but only if doing multiple batches, and it's a portable one a little larger than Ron's. I wonder if Richard's is overfilled if it has to be repressurised that often? I bought the Coleman funnel with mine - prevents overfilling. They need air space so should not be filled to the brim with fuel.

[numpty]

Re tainted food. Never said it tainted all food. Only toast cooked over the burner, and as said, not tried with shellite.

As for walking with butane or gas cartridges, they don't work properly in extra cold conditions where as the MSR is not affected.

Bit like the old "which is better, Jap 4wd or our choice of vehicle":p

[waynep]

Re tainted food. Never said it tainted all food. Only toast cooked over the burner, and as said, not tried with shellite.

As for walking with butane or gas cartridges, they don't work properly in extra cold conditions where as the MSR is not affected.

Bit like the old "which is better, Jap 4wd or our choice of vehicle":p

Numpty I find Shellite taints the toast too .... prbly not as much as unleaded but it does.
My real concern is what sort of chemicals are going down with the toast an vegemite !

[nornalup]

I can't answer your question directly but heres my thoughts.

As a single young bloke doing alot of minimalistic travel I found the Trangia briliant. Small and you have bowl and plate in one. Did not ever feel the need for a MSR unless in alpine areas.

Once I started car camping more I geared up for open fire cooking and fould a cast iron oven, billy and colaspable bbq plate/grill was all I needed with trangia for back-up.

For car camping I have a coleman dual fuel lamp, so good. Love it, and alternate between shellite and ULP. Does have it's quirks but great on economy and light output.

Recently I needed a gas back-up and got a simp bottle, reg, hose with a single cast iron gas ring. Quite good but I am going to go the Coleman dual fuel stove.

In a long way what I am trying to say is get something that suits your needs and your set-up. Coordination of camping gear is so important. No piont in blowing off a gas stove if you still have to carry gas for a light.

I know that is stating the obviuos but i have always focused on buying the smallest and lightest I could. I would rather have the option to hike with my gear, and can still use for car camping.

[Rob Bruce]

Have been there done that, now lpg, colman fuel one, meths burner are gathering dust in the back of the shed, I use a old pump up kero stove, it takes a little longer to start but works well, kero can be purchased all over the place, and if you run out it wil work on diesel:eek: but takes even longer to start and is not quiet as hot. Both kero and disel are much safer to carry than lpg, ulp, and coleman fuel,

Thats my six penith worth,

Rob

[Bushwanderer]

If I have the capacity, I'll cook using gas (lpg) stoves or BBQs.

When my partner & I are walking together, we tend to use my Coleman stove (using ulp). When she walks without me she now has a Kovea gas stove (with igniter). (It's the ignition phase that discomforts her with my stove.)

We have both used Trangias but find that when we are at high altitude or on the snow, the metho doesn't vaporise very well.