I'm looking for some advice for a new stove and cool box.
I will be car camping for reenactment events although I'm after stuff that's not too bulky. I'm looking for recommendations for a good 2 burner stove with gas thats readily available.
I'm also looking for recommendations for a coolbox, probably between 50 and 75lts. Has anyone ever managed to rig up a 12v one to a stand along leisure battery?
Hi Matchlock,
There are several well thought of ‘passive ‘ coolboxes that with care can keep stuff cold for days: Coleman Xtreme, Icey Tek and one ehichbid available at Matalan which I think is called Igloo. I have an Icey Tek and love it. You can sit on them too.
A Campinggaz ‘Chef’ folding stove, currently £34 on Amazon is a tried and tested two burner stove, you may need a little wind break for it, too. It can run off a modest sized Campingaz butane bottle, but if you don’t want to lug all that about, what about 2 of the single burner ‘suutcase’ stoves that run off the small canisters?
For re-enactment do you not cook over a wood fire? With an iron tripod and Dutch pot of similiar? Or a pioneer grill? Or even a spit? Do you need a double burner?
P.S I know nothing about electric co boxes but I believe they only cool to a certain level below ambient temperature, so in heat might not be cold enough.
An electric coolbox will flatten a leisure battery in short order. I reckon you'd be better off with a top end passive box as recommended by Deborah above.
Quote: Originally posted by DeborahTurner on 04/3/2019
Hi Matchlock,
There are several well thought of ‘passive ‘ coolboxes that with care can keep stuff cold for days: Coleman Xtreme, Icey Tek and one ehichbid available at Matalan which I think is called Igloo. I have an Icey Tek and love it. You can sit on them too.
A Campinggaz ‘Chef’ folding stove, currently £34 on Amazon is a tried and tested two burner stove, you may need a little wind break for it, too. It can run off a modest sized Campingaz butane bottle, but if you don’t want to lug all that about, what about 2 of the single burner ‘suutcase’ stoves that run off the small canisters?
For re-enactment do you not cook over a wood fire? With an iron tripod and Dutch pot of similiar? Or a pioneer grill? Or even a spit? Do you need a double burner?
Thanks Deborah, the suitcase type stove is what I'm after. I'll have a look on Amazon for the model you've mentioned.
The re-enactment cooking is done authenticly during the day by the camp followers, however once the public go home we go non authy.
I agree on the cool boxes, the 12V ones use a peltier arrangement and take ~ 4A (50W) constantly. 24 hours and even a good leisure battery will be flat to the point of damage.
I use an Outwell Olida stove as it runs off an EN417 (C500) gas canister for portable stoves. 2 x 3kw burners makes for a rapid brew.
One 'large' canister lasts about 4-5 days of family camping. Currently best offer seems to be around £4 in bulk but I bought some last year for just over £3 in bulk.
Only thing to watch is with the wind shields in place you're limited to a 22cm and 24cm pan. Though that hasn't been an issue yet.
Amazing . I took our old Coleman 25 litre cool box as just staying two nights this week .Normally I use two or three medium blocks and have to change them morning and evening . Never felt bacon was really cold enough!!!
This time used one large (£12 ) gel block . The 1 pint milk had half frozen in morning . Didn’t have to change block as was still 1/3 frozen when we came home . Definitely worth it .