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Caravanning's fine but I still missed the tent and although 'mum' didn't come, I recently took my two children camping in the Lakes for a few days (Great Langdale) and we all had a superb time. However, I now wish to buy a camping stove and was about to by the usual gas two burner type saw a Coleman 2 Burner Dual Fuel Stove. I just wondered if anyone uses one and what they thought to them. In particular:

1. Are they as efficient as gas and as safe?

2.Once you get used to them, are they easy to use or do you have to keep pumping them continuously just to boil a kettle etc?

3. Is it ok to just use petrol or does prolonged use damage the unit, is the Coleman fuel better or is it just a sales gimmick.

4.Are they really smelly to use?

Thanks for any advice you can give as on the surface, they do seem a great alternative to gas.

Cheers

Hi,

We converted to dual fuel from gas last year.. don't know why we took so long to do it!

in answer to your questions:-

1. The burners burn at a much higher temp, much more efficient in that respect and way cheaper in terms of fuel (if you use unleaded...as we do)

2. The first fill up and prime are a bit of a wonderment at first...but after that it's second nature. A good pumping...will last for an entire meals worth of cooking easy. We usually give another few pumps afterwards just to get ready for a kettle.

3. Opinions vary, but we have used ours for the last year on unleaded only and apart from sticking a pin in the burner nozzles at Christmas (we use it for outside entertaining..New Years eve) to give them a bit of a clean (wife let the flame turn sooty) we have had no problems. Do a forum search for 'Aspen' this fuel has also been recommended, but Coleman fuel is ridiculously expensive in this country.

4. No

Happy to help.

Nick

Quote: Originally posted by volpeazzurro on 22/8/2007

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Caravanning's fine but I still missed the tent and although 'mum' didn't come, I recently took my two children camping in the Lakes for a few days (Great Langdale) and we all had a superb time. However, I now wish to buy a camping stove and was about to by the usual gas two burner type saw a Coleman 2 Burner Dual Fuel Stove. I just wondered if anyone uses one and what they thought to them. In particular:

1. Are they as efficient as gas and as safe?

Safe if normal degree of care is excercised.  There are risks with all fuel types.

If you use unleaded petrol it will be cheaper than a stove using refillable gas is to run.

If you use Coleman Fuel it will cost as much as small gas cartridges to run.

Personally I run ours on Aspen 4T which is very similar to Coleman fuel - see below.

2.Once you get used to them, are they easy to use or do you have to keep pumping them continuously just to boil a kettle etc?

Easy to use as they are quick to set-up and are more compact than carrying stove, gas bottle and hose.  You have to pump before you start and would only need to re-pump if cooking for a very long time.

3. Is it ok to just use petrol or does prolonged use damage the unit, is the Coleman fuel better or is it just a sales gimmick.

No Coleman Fuel is not a sales gimmick as it does not contain anywhere near as much in the way of harmfull additives that are found in unleaded petrol.  Coleman fuel is £5 for a half litre can though.  However It does seem to be the case that most users of this stove are quite happy using unleaded petrol.

Some of us are using a fuel called Aspen 4T which is almost identical to Coleman fuel but a lot cheaper.  It's not as easy to find stockists though.

4.Are they really smelly to use?

In my experience it burns as clean as gas but I've never used it with ordinary unleaded petrol so couldn't comment on that. 

Thanks for any advice you can give as on the surface, they do seem a great alternative to gas.

Cheers

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They are awesome!

1.Better and cheaper than gas and just as safe.

2. Very easy to use no need to keep pumping.

3. Prolonged use of petrol does not damage the unit, it the cheapest way to run it, however some people have found a more enviroment friendly fuel do a search there are many threads on this subject.

4. Not smelly at all!

Coleman dual fuel stoves are the bees knees as far as i'm concerned and many others on here swear by them also. you won't regret it.

I second everything everybody has said I consider them the best cookers that money can buy.

They do take a bit of getting used to though, but one over that ( minor ) hurdle you won't look back!

Thanks very much for your time and comprehensive replies, guess that settles it, Coleman here I come! Just for your information, although I've seen them on the internet for up to £75-£80, locally in Leicester you can currently get one from 'Go Outdoors' or 'J&R Camping' for £55 which I didn't think was too bad.

Thanks again,

regards,

Chris. 

I converted to petrol for my backpacking trips over a year ago and never looked back.

In cold conditions it can flare for the first few seconds but unlike gas never suffers from the low flame when nearly empty or freezing problems plus it's a heck of a lot more powerfull.

My advice is give it a go, learn how it reacts when lighting and respect it.

Can promise after a while your never look back!

Must agree with all  ours is never put away it lives in the boot of our scenic with two chairs kettle 10l water container and a few basics there have been so many occasions that it has been used you would not belive it on average around twice a week.  ( Gail and myself do not worrk we look afte her mother full time so have a lot of days out  if we brought tea / coffe / soup ect. we would not be able to afford it)

Mick

best piece of camping equipment I ever bought

Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 24/8/2007

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They are very economical to run too, have just returned from 5 nights away, cooking several fry ups and evening meals as well as boiling the kettle, I had to fill it this morning to make my cup of coffee (which only takes a couple of minutes to do).  It's now sat outside waiting for me to give it a wipe over to get rid of the food splashes before it goes to bed for a while.

 

aww It must be love

I love mine too. but i dont put it to bed

it says in the camper