Best Car Camping Stoves and Equipment

[JudoJeff]

BEST CAR CAMPING STOVES AND EQUIPMENT

Car camping stoves are not built into a camper, but are taken out and setup on a picnic table, etc to cook. Only two burner models will be covered here.

My camper has a built-in stove, but I don’t like to cook inside. Too much bother to clean afterwards, and lingering odors. Learned this lesson by cooking bacon once!

All of the comments here are my opinions, and you can post rebuttals as long as you’re nice about it.

Stoves: (All are two burners, are easy to carry or store, and run on propane.)

GOOD: Coleman Classic, sells for $44 new, often found unused at tag sales for $20.

This is a solid, last forever unit. The burners are rated at 9000 BTUs, which is weak and takes forever to boil water. The company got so many complaints all the newer models approach 20,000 BTUs. You must light the flame, no auto-ignitor. OK spacing between the burners for large pots. A frying pan and coffee pot fit no problem. Many griddles will fit on this stove, and give you more versatility.

BETTER: Eureka Ignite Plus, sells for $100-$140. 20,000 BTUs, wide spacing between the burners fit large pots, push button auto-ignitor. Solid, well built unit, will give years of service. Burners allow a simmer setting to keep your burritos warm.

BEST: Camp Chef Everest, sells for $90-$140, rated at 20,000 BTUs, wide spacing between the burners fit large pots, twist knob auto-ignitor. Very solid, well built unit, will give years of service. Burners allow a simmer setting to keep your burritos warm. Auto ignitor is hard to turn.

You can get most of these in a model that has one burner and a grill. Nice if that’s the way you like to cook. I’d suggest buying a two burner, and buying a separate griddle and grill, which you can place over the burners when required. I’ve done that for years!

Comments about single burner stoves:
I find these unsafe, and poorly designed. The ones that are attached to a propane one pound bottle tipped over so often they now come with a Mickey Mouse plastic bottom. Someone bumps the table, and you get a pan of hot bacon grease in your lap !

They are now made wider and flatter. Poor heat output, especially the ones that use butane. If you use a very large pot you can melt the plastic.

Especially dangerous is the cast iron model that sells for $20. If you left it out in the rain, the water gets into the burner. When you light it, the propane blows everything out and into your face. They rust while you watch, too.

Comments on white gas Coleman stoves:
While these are great and last forever, I don’t like to carry the cans of gas. For $15 you can buy an adapter to run them on propane, which I recommend. It plugs in and out easily, and doesn’t permanently changeover the stove. You can still use the gas tank if you want to.

If your gas stove has stopped working, clean the regulator and it will be fine again. Carbon builds up in it when the wrong gas type is used. You can buy a new regulator for a dollar…

NESTING COOKWARE SETS

GOOD: GSI Base Camp, $90-$120, compact storage for your cooking set, frying pan and two pots with covers. Handles are built in, with a silicone cover. Thin metal, and tinny. Pots can thwack as you heat them up, and spray hot oil at you. While these are much better quality than crap like Ozark Trail produces, I’d spend the tiny bit more on the next set.

BETTER: Stanley Pro Cook set, $90-$135. Very well built, with a 3-ply bottom which disperses the heat. Set includes compact storage for your cooking set, frying pan and two pots with covers, two pot holders, cutting board, and spoon/spatula. Lids have holes to easily drain them.

BEST: Magma cookware, comes in a variety of sets, from 7 to 10 parts. (They consider a bungi-cord one of the parts…) $90-$250, look on eBay for best deals. Handles are not attached, so make sure they are part of the set. (Impossible to find) These have a much thicker, 3 ply bottom, heavier sides, and are very solid. They will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a used set. Popular with boaters, too. A carry bag is available for very neat storage, Amazon has the best price.

Comments:
If you own a dutch oven or LeCrueset pot, you can make almost anything on these stoves.
A pressure cooker works well, too. One of the above sets and a dutch oven should be all you need to produce great meals!

If you make a mess of the stove cooking something messy, it is easy to clean. The grill will pop off, and then you can cover the burner heads with plastic wrap or tinfoil. Spray oven cleaner on it and let it soak . Scrub with an SOS type pads.

Post any comments and tell us which stove or cookware you prefer.
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1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[KTPhil]

Thanks for the hints and reviews!

My 2c: Can't beat the original.

I am cleaning and returning to service the one my dad bought around 1960. I even has the (tattered) original box! I have a later heater and lantern.

I like white gas models. Most can run regular gasoline but you have to clean the jet afterwords. But you never run out. Same fuel runs heater, lantern. Nothing to throw away when empty (most local stores no longer recycle propane canisters). I guess I like the vintage look and it brings back good times from childhood. They seem crude but as a Boy Scout backpacker in my youth, that was living the high life to have a stove!

But I admit the propane ones seem to burn cleaner. I might check out the converters, especially since I can change back if I don't like it.

I like the thin aluminum pots and pans. I can clean them with sand if water isn't available. I don't mind if they get beat up or dirty (on the outside!), and can even use them on a campfire if needed without my freaking out. I keep one thicker fry pan since the thin ones distort and burn food in spots.

[Emily's Owner]

I have a Coleman Fold-N-Go that I use. It's quite compact and is useable with 2 fairly good sized pots if need be. It doesn't have a windscreen, but that's usually not a big deal for me.

We also have my family's old white gas Coleman stove, which I find fussy, and a newer big Coleman 2 burner propane stove. I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol stoves having set the curtains on fire on a sailboat trying to get dinner started when quite heeled over (overnight race) .

I still tend to use the Fold-N-Go the most. My dad, being a big snow camping fan when we were kids, also has a huge assortment of mountain climbing stoves and whatnot - we will have the most epic garage sale in the future
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Xargaret

ITMC - OG Den Mother

What (and I cannot stress this enough) The Actual Fuck?!

1974 Transporter
2023 Subaru Outback

[busdaddy]

I love the old Coleman white gas stove, the ritual to fire it up, and the smell screams CAMPING!. But I did upgrade to the propane version a few years ago, it bought me alot more space under the jump seat (size of folded stove and fuel), and it's lighter too. Same with lanterns, old school cool is great, but convenience and weight/size wins sometimes.

Those upgrades look really nice, but I don't usually get too gourmet when roughing it, so some basic fast heat for coffee and simple meals is all I need.
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[Pruneman99]

I have the original one like KTphil posted. My father gave it to me with two Colman lanterns. They are quite a bit older than I am, and work great.

I've only need to replace the plunger seals. I got a replacement plunger, and it was garbage

Not much is made to last like the old stuff!

[vwmerckx]

Vintage Coleman Stove in Rocky Point, Mexico, Circa 1964. My father's Coleman stove which I still have and carry in my '71 Westphalia - but sure wish we still had his 1963 !!

Our mother....we were the only ones that camped there for years...then got overgrown with tourists

Fuzzy headed me looking out at the ocean....

[Q-Dog]

Someone gave me a propane stove that has a grill and a burner. Works OK, but I dislike the throwaway fuel canisters so I bought a hose that lets me use it with a regular propane tank and I use it around the house once in a while.

I prefer white gas stoves for camping. I have a single burner gas stove I bought for backpacking almost 40 years ago that goes on almost every hiking or car camping trip I do. I sometimes carry it in the RV too.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[Busstom]

[67rustavenger]

I bought this little Coleman single burner stove this year. It's great for making coffee on a camp out early morning.
The onboard Butane canister is convenient for onboard storage. Just make sure to release the lever that activates the fuel inlet to the stove, when transporting.

The little espresso maker was a gift from my Daughter when she was stationed in Italy. Works great if you want your head to burst from the extremely strong brew!

I'm a huge fan of the White gas stoves and lanterns. They work very well. When properly maintained.

When my girls were young. I used to carry a Coleman lantern while they were tricker treating.
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[djkeev]

[gt1953]

I have one just like KTPHIL and vwmerckx. Found it at the Phoenix Park and Swap circa 1976 for a grand total of 4.00. Still works today, has cooked many meals, even have the toaster accesory. Conveted to propane, but still have the tank if needed.
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72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[vanagonjr]

[JudoJeff]

Vanagonjr,

You can easily refill the canister with an adapter that costs $15.
Watch the YouTube video on how to do it. I’ve done it for years. Dumpsters are great source for empties. Last time I actually purchased one, they were under $1! (Now approaching $6 each…)

They sell a more expensive one pound bottle that is meant to be refilled.

I also use 5# and 11# bottles if I know LP use will be high, cooking for a large group.
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________________________________________
1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[vanagonjr]

[cdennisg]

[Abscate]

[cdennisg]

[VW_Jimbo]

When we camp, we often camp, we use a Coleman stove with 2 burners and a 5 pound Propane tank. I attach a "Tree" to the tank and attach the lantern to the top of it. The "tree" has 3 ports to connect whatever suits your fancy. If we have more than a few families on these outings, we connect additional stoves to the tree!

But I truly believe any stove that has a view of the ocean within 200 feet is PRIMO! Something like this would be AWESOMW! Oh check out that "live edge"!

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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Craig]

Century grasshopper

[Abscate]

Sorry to go off topic , but as a bacon lover.....

Camp and sailing bacon strategy.

Cook at home, then refrigerate. At camp, just warm it up with the eggs for one minute. No grease to clean up.
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