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19/9/2024 at 12:51pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Pennine Countryman
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We have an old (15+ years) Cadac Safari Chef HP, which is still in pretty good condition. As a BBQ it was not a success, but as a back up to a single burner stove when I was alone with the kids it was pretty good. We quickly moved on to a Cobb for family trips, using the Cadac for the odd occasion where we wanted the convenience of gas.
Because the bottles screw in to the bottom, we've ended up with several part used gas canisters, which is not ideal, and I'm trying to figure out what to do next. The kids are no longer kids, it's far more likely to be just hubby and me going forward.
I've looked at whether I can use a hose to connect the gas bottle so it can be changed more easily mid cook, but the only one I've found is on Amazon. I'm not sure dodgy Chinese import is the best way to go, and I suspect there's probably a reason I can't find any others!
We could upgrade to different LP gas BBQ, as we use big bottles in the folding camper, and regulators do seem to be available to use HP canisters on LP devices so we wouldn't necessarily lose the convenience of the small bottles completely. It does seem like a lot to pay out though, given that we have this one and the Cobb already. Plus, I don't want to buy something else that doesn't work as intended.
Is there a better gas BBQ people would recommend? Are LP ones hotter than HP? If I can't use these gas bottles what on earth do I do with them? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
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All the best,
Alison
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19/9/2024 at 8:58pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB2BVW2BCrafter2
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I had a Cadac Safari Chef HP with the intention to use it as a BBQ in France in the warmer months where charcoal BBQs were not allowed due to fire risk.
However, I was disappointed to discover it did not function well as a BBQ. The lid worked well as a wok for stir-frying, and the griddle side of the double-sided non-stick plate was difficult to kept clean. The flat side of the plate was fine except it got scratched easily.
The final straw was the gas canisters, even Cadac's own butane/propane mix ones, did not function well when I went camping in winter.
It was then when I tried to look for an adapter to use LP propane bottles, and was not able to do so. That was back in 2010. From what I could gather at the time, it is possible to covert a Safari Chef LP to use HP cartridges but not the other way round.
Compounded by poor performance as a BBQ and difficult to clean the griddle plate, I gave up on the Safari Chef HP and did not bother with trying gas cartridges that are more suited for cold winter camping.
If I were to get a portable gas BBQ, I would look for one that uses bigger LP propane bottles.
Instead of using the Safari Chef HP, I opted for a Coleman 424 Dual Fuel 2-burner stove instead so that I could go camping in the colder months. I loved that stove and would highly recommend it.
In one of the Cobb Facebook groups that I belong, there are posts with regard to converting a charcoal Cobb to use a Trangia gas stove with gas cartridges by drilling a hole at the bottle of the Cobb.
There are also posts about using a Trangia spirit stove instead of charcoal. I tried that and found it to be not very good for my style of cooking which is pan/stir-fry.
Hope that helps.
DK 
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22/9/2024 at 4:35pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Pennine Countryman
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Thanks for the replies, it's helpful and appreciated.
For now, I've bought the Lindal valve hose so we can connect the gas bottle a little way from the Cadac. I've tried it out today and it seems fine, we'll obviously keep a close eye on it and check it doesn't start leaking, but it seems sturdy. I have reservations, I'd be happier buying a gas product from a known company, but it does seem to be okay.
That will give us a little time to make a longer term decision; basically, see what other people are using!
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All the best,
Alison
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Topic: Cadac Safari Chef
via mobile 19/9/2024 at 6:42pm
