Author Topic: Coleman Dual Fuel powerhouse stove any good (Read 22476 times)

Swannie · « **on:** April 17, 2015, 07:52:16 AM »

Hi Guys, I did a quick search and seen a couple of posts on these. So for the swaggers that have one are they any good? Rays has them on special at the moment

Swannie

GUEY · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2015, 09:45:32 AM »

I have a 3 burner and they are good. Good heat etc.
Being honest though, I find it easier taking a couple of the disposable cartridge stoves.

Bird · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:06:19 AM »

I had one, IMHO no, not worth it...
There are better options.

paceman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:17:06 AM »

Quote from: swannie on April 17, 2015, 07:52:16 AM

Hi Guys, I did a quick search and seen a couple of posts on these. So for the swaggers that have one are they any good? Rays has them on special at the moment

Swannie

do you really need the duel fuel?

i would be more likely to get the cheaper coleman instastart and then stock up on a few coleman disposable fuel canisters, if you need a separate fuel option...

D4D · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:25:05 AM »

I have one and it is awesome, it gets very hot and is not as susceptible to wind as the butane/propane stoves. It is also more reliable from a heat perspective in the cold. The propane/butane bottles will freeze and be inefficient. Cold spag bol in the High Country in winter is not a good look. That said you do need to carry fuel around, I use a 1L Sigg/Primus fuel bottle with the Coleman fuel. It is also bigger than the equivalent gas/butane stove. I might get mine out this weekend and give it a clean/check.

UIZ733 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:27:30 AM »

I have the twin burner and a Sportster. The twin burner has the capacity to get very hot when only one burner is running, a bit less when both are running. Obvious advantage is you do not need a gas cylinder. I have only used Shellite fuel. I love the Sportster for stir-fries. It is very efficient, gets nice and hot and is compact. My only criticism of the Sportster is that it is difficult to set it to simmer.

D4D · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:30:41 AM »

I just checked the Rays price and that is a ripper deal, can't go wrong with that.

UIZ733 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:37:43 AM »

Quote from: D4D on April 17, 2015, 10:30:41 AM

I just checked the Rays price and that is a ripper deal, can't go wrong with that.

Agreed. That is an excellent price.

GUEY · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:40:08 AM »

Quote from: D4D on April 17, 2015, 10:25:05 AM

I have one and it is awesome, it gets very hot and is not as susceptible to wind as the butane/gas stoves. It is also more reliable from a heat perspective in the cold. The butane bottles will freeze and be inefficient. Cold spag bol in the High Country in winter is not a good look. That said you do need to carry fuel around, I use a 1L Sigg/Primus fuel bottle with the Coleman fuel. It is also bigger than the equivalent gas/butane stove. I might get mine out this weekend and give it a clean/check.

Have suffered with the butane getting cold up here in Sunny warm Qld, so I could imagine Vic high country would be fun in Winter

.
We loved ours when we first started camping as a couple as we had the dual fuel lantern also. Didn't have to worry about carting gas around etc. Plus having the fuel handy (shellite at the time) we never had any dramas getting a fire going even with wet timber

We purchase that 22 years ago and I have only ever had one seal perish, so has been very maintenance free. As Bird said though, there are better options on the market these days.

paceman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:42:17 AM »

Quote from: D4D on April 17, 2015, 10:25:05 AM

I have one and it is awesome, it gets very hot and is not as susceptible to wind as the butane/propane stoves. It is also more reliable from a heat perspective in the cold. The propane/butane bottles will freeze and be inefficient. Cold spag bol in the High Country in winter is not a good look. That said you do need to carry fuel around, I use a 1L Sigg/Primus fuel bottle with the Coleman fuel. It is also bigger than the equivalent gas/butane stove. I might get mine out this weekend and give it a clean/check.

how long would 1L of fuel last, when using one of these? a few days of camping? a week?

not requiring a gas bottle is intriguing. i was mistakenly under the impression that these were a gas and fuel combination, not coleman fuel and unleaded fuel...

GUEY · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:44:49 AM »

Quote from: paceman on April 17, 2015, 10:42:17 AM

how long would 1L of fuel last, when using one of these? a few days of camping? a week?

not requiring a gas bottle is intriguing. i was mistakenly under the impression that these were a gas and fuel combination, not coleman fuel and unleaded fuel...

Shellite/Coleman fuel or unleaded. Can't remember tank size but it used to last 3 - 4 days using for breakfast and dinner with a kettle boil thrown in here and there. Just used to take an extra liter to fill up when necessary.

Swannie · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:45:50 AM »

Yep got the price & the pain with canisters when its really cold is what tempting me. Plus I love buying mire camping stuff

Swannie

D4D · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:46:55 AM »

Quote from: paceman on April 17, 2015, 10:42:17 AM

how long would 1L of fuel last, when using one of these? a few days of camping? a week?

I haven't used mine for a while, from memory you'd easily get a weekend of using it for breakfast and dinner out of the included fuel tank. Really depends on how many burners you have running, how hot you have it and how long you run it for.

Quote from: paceman on April 17, 2015, 10:42:17 AM

not requiring a gas bottle is intriguing. i was mistakenly under the impression that these were a gas and fuel combination, not coleman fuel and unleaded fuel...

If you carry a chainsaw then you're already carrying spare unleaded so nothing extra to carry.

D4D · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:49:28 AM »

Quote from: swannie on April 17, 2015, 10:45:50 AM

Plus I love buying more camping stuff

That's the exact reason I bought an Oztent the other week

paceman · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2015, 10:59:40 AM »

Quote from: D4D on April 17, 2015, 10:46:55 AM

I haven't used mine for a while, from memory you'd easily get a weekend of using it for breakfast and dinner out of the included fuel tank. Really depends on how many burners you have running, how hot you have it and how long you run it for.

If you carry a chainsaw then you're already carrying spare unleaded so nothing extra to carry.

i don't carry a chainsaw as yet, but that also is a good point...

plusnq · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:01:48 AM »

I have a couple of the dual fuel, single burners and they get very hot. The design has been around for a long time and is still being sold.

BUNDY · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:24:16 AM »

Hey swannie
Thought i would share my experiences with this cooker with you i bought my first one of these back in 1994 after a 3 month trip and having to clean out jets and gauses in my twin burner gas stove ( contaminated gas)
I still have the two burner and 99% of the time use unleaded fuel the occasional tank of shelite to burn carbon build up i have never had anything brake on it they are well made and can take a beating as said by others when using both burners u loose a slight bit of performance but will still work and do the job in my opinion it boils and cooks quicker than gas is simple to set up and use( you dont need to pump it every time you use it like most do).
As i do most off my cooking on the camp fire and single burner cannister ones while on the tracks this is more used around camp and when it decides to rain half way through cooking a meal.
About 4 years ago i bought another one as it was an offer i could not refuse they normally sell from 250 to 300 so that price at rays is a steal as for how long the 1 litre will last i have never really taken any notice normally just fill b4 i go away if its a longer trip just fill as needed even at a sevo with funnel provided or bottle of shellite.....
Anyway enough ranting from me hope this gives you and others some use full info..

Cheers

BUNDY

GGV8Cruza · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:53:50 AM »

Quote from: D4D on April 17, 2015, 10:46:55 AM

If you carry a chainsaw then you're already carrying spare unleaded so nothing extra to carry.

Does the 2 stroke still burn as well or is the oil a problem?

GG

D4D · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:57:58 AM »

Quote from: GGV8Cruza on April 17, 2015, 11:53:50 AM

Does the 2 stroke still burn as well or is the oil a problem?

I store my spare fuel unmixed so no oil issue. I'd imagine oil would be a problem.

dazzler · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2015, 12:28:27 PM »

We have the three burner one with the griddle/hotplate.

These things are HOT!

Ours lives in the expanda for non weber days.....

Though backing up what Bird says I think there are better options. This is mine;

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Coleman-Eventemp-3-Burner-Gas-Stove-with-Griddle.aspx?pid=363210#Recommendations

Humphreythebear · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2015, 02:29:46 PM »

I,ve got a two burner which would be close to 30yrs old ......just bought a new sportster from ( megacamping mart in Geelong ) .Recent trip was 7 days use everyday to cook , boil water etc - used approx 1.2l of shellite .

They are great , have recently only run mine on shellite and its a lot hotter and cleaner - minimal sooting on the pots etc . Have just replaced the pump on mine .....cost $12.00 .

So for something that cost me $200in 1987 , I reckon I,ve got my moneys worth ! !

cyberess · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2015, 11:05:26 PM »

I have the 2 burner one..

I thought I better to include the image off the Colman website, as people who see me using the stove often have never seen one

I have ever only used unleaded petrol in mine
Good points:

Run on Petrol and you can get petrl anywhere.
I like the wind guard setup
packs away nicely
Does not seem to use much fuel, the tank seems to last
No gas bottle
seems to be quite easy to control the heat from very high to a low burn

Bad points

No auto ignition -- need a match or a gas lighter
When first lighting the stove it needs to heat up, and if you start to cook to quick you will have black soot on you kettle or saucepan
Smells like a petrol stove
Needs a pump up before you start.

I like the stove but some might think it's a bit primitive ..

GeoffA · « **Reply #22 on:** April 18, 2015, 07:42:21 AM »

Hi Greg,

I'm sure they're a great cooker, but they're very bulky. Storage may or may not be an issue for you, but I'd reckon they'd need to have the fuel drained to be stored/carried in any position other than base down.

We use an earlier version of this one, but with a 2kg gas bottle:

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Coleman-Triton-2-Burner-Instastart-Gas-Stove.aspx?pid=363209#Recommendations

The hotplate from the U-bute 2 burner propane stove fits like a bought one.

Rays price for the dual fuel job looks very nice.

Geoff

Swannie · « **Reply #23 on:** April 18, 2015, 07:47:39 AM »

Hey Geoff, plenty of room in Frankie

. But you make a good point re the fuel and storage/traveling with it for the blokes that have one do you drain it before traveling?
Swannie

D4D · « **Reply #24 on:** April 18, 2015, 08:01:48 AM »

Hasn't been used for ages, all I did was wipe the dust and cobwebs off, gave it some fuel, followed the lighting instructions and away it went

Just as well I did as it looks like the o-ring has perished in the fuel valve as it is leaking a bit under pressure. Just as well I can get parts and it is not a throw away item

News:

Author Topic: Coleman Dual Fuel powerhouse stove any good (Read 22476 times)

UIZ733

UIZ733