Thread: Improving the Camping Experience

These coleman dual fuel (shellite) cookers some of you guys use have me interested. Re heat output, how do they compare to a coleman regulated gas cooker? Anyone know?

Originally Posted by alittlebitconcerned

These coleman dual fuel (shellite) cookers some of you guys use have me interested. Re heat output, how do they compare to a coleman regulated gas cooker? Anyone know?

Compared to a standard little camping burner, they really kick. Heat output on the twin burner model is a total of 17,000BTU - main burner is 9,000 and second burner is 8,000. The single burner version is a single 12,000BTU burner and is like lighting the space shuttle under your kettle.

Not sure of the figure of a gas burner, but I used to have a twin gas stove run off a bottle, and it is a lot hotter than that. I'll never go back to gas personally, and I know others that have them too that wouldn't either.

EDIT - The Coleman gas cooker (unregulated) that looks like an equivalent product states up to 10,000BTU per burner, so the duel fuel is a little bit lower, but not so much that you would notice. It can get my cast iron frypan smoking hot.

EDIT - The 10,000BTU is their premium gas stove. Their standard version is 8,000BTU per burner, so about the same. Bottom line is that as far as heat goes, your not going to notice either way - they all produce similar outputs.

And how about the opposite end of the scale; can they simmer at a consistant low heat?

Absolutely. They can be turned right down to a simmer, just like a gas stove. The only difference is the fuel type, and how you light them. You pump up the fuel tank with the little internal hand pump, then open the valve. The flame is yellow to start with and takes about 30 seconds to turn blue and really fire up - it has to vaporise the liquid, so this is what takes a few seconds. After that, adjust the burner as desired same as a gas stove.

Coleman started making shellite stoves in the 30's, and the current versions have remained basically unchanged since the last redesign in 1954. The only change has been the tank design - the frame looks the same as a 1954 unit. Some history if you're interested - Coleman US stoves - mid 50's on

Sold! It will be nice to leave the gas tank behind.
Cheers Bacicat.

Originally Posted by JamesB71

Yes, I know.. you can't use them in a total fire ban, but I haven't found that to impact me all that often. If its likely I throw in fuel stove.

Which you can't use in a total fire ban either. - No naked flame, - at least in NSW.

Martyn

Originally Posted by Bushie

Which you can't use in a total fire ban either. - No naked flame, - at least in NSW.

Martyn

Same in Vic. The only gas BBQ allowed in Vic on a total fire ban is a BBQ that is built into a permanent enclosure(usually brick) or if the BBQ is within a certain distance of a house.

So everything talked about in this thread can't be used on a total fire ban day when camping.

THe Tucker still tastes better cooked this way