I spent the past Thanksgiving with my friends at a group campground at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
My friends and I hiked, enjoyed the justly famous views, and had a feast Thanksgiving evening.
With three families and one unemployed bum, there were four two-burner camp stoves. The Zapins had a Coleman dual-fuel stove that I bought them as a wedding gift over ten years ago and is working rather well.
The rest of us? Propane stoves.
White gas stoves work terrific for winter. And the overall fuel cost is perhaps the lowest versus other stoves and fuel types.
But they can be tricky to use and perhaps too intimidating for some versus a propane stove. I have one friend who is hesitant to use the white gas stove. And another person I know absolutely refused to use the Coleman two-burner stove that was part of my standard camping kit until two years ago. Even when I bought a converter to run off propane, she still would not touch the stove as it was admittedly complicated to use efficiently.
Once a propane stove was purchased with its Piezoelectric starter, it was a game changer. Twist the knob, push the button, and the larger burners with lots of BTUs made cooking in camp almost as easy as cooking at home. Easy Peasy. Mac-n-cheesy!
The major downside of these propane stoves? The small green propane tanks.
From Coleman
Though stores almost everywhere stock these tanks, they are expensive to purchase overall. They are not easily recyclable. And though these one-pound tanks can be refilled, not convenient to do so on an extended trip: Sometimes, you have to carry multiple tanks when on a more extended trip or when cooking for many people.
The solution? Purchase an adapter hose!
from Amazon
With this adapter hose, you can easily use your standard Type 1 Valve ( the conventional type of valve for BBQ grills and RVs) with your camp stove. Grab the twenty-pound tank that you may already have for a grill and bring it along for some cost-effective camp stove use. Or, if space is limited in your vehicle, purchase a 10 lb or even a 5 lb propane tank. All choices are more economical than those 1lb tanks. And you have to worry a lot less about running out of fuel or switching tanks when on a trip. Note: I should quickly add that due to the economy of scale, the 20 lb propane tanks are less expensive than the other choices.
Pictured my stove with the adapter hose and 5lb tank
I’ve been successfully using a 5 lb propane tank and an adapter hose for seven years now. And other than quick trailhead bivies of similar, my use of the green propane tanks is almost non-existent.
So, make your camping more efficient and economical if you use a propane stove. For $20 or less, you can say goodbye to having a collection of 1 lb canisters. And simply enjoy camping without any of the fuel worries or hassles.
Disclosure: I purchased the Propane Adapter Hose on Amazon with my funds.
Disclaimer: I’m not a smart guy and some obvious concepts to most, are overwhelming for me to understand. So please be patient with my Atari brain.
Are you saying that the heavy green classic Coleman two-burner stove that takes the propane bottles, can be made to use fuel from the big heavy BBQ grill tank, with this adapter hose?
The pressure from the big tank is OK to use on the green classic Coleman two-burner stove?
Thank you for this (and other) articles.
Indeed. The classic two burner PROPANE stove will work with the adaptor hose. The classic two burner whitegas stove will with an adapter (linked above) plus the adapter hose. Hope this helps! Ps. I only have an old LED calculator brain myself. 🙂 EDIT: just updated with a photo that mnay clarify as well.
I used the Coleman two burner white gas stoves for years and never had any serious problems. With Coleman Fuel running around $10.00 a gallon, some of the fun has gone out of using them. I have embraced the convenience of the two burner propane stove and I have a couple of the 10 Lb refillable cans around that I can use if need be. I still use the 1 Lb cans when need be, but I haven’t bought one in years. Another propane convenience is a self lighting propane torch for lighting wood fires, where appropriate.
When I lived in Longmont, the local rental place would never charge me to fill my 5lb tank…said it was not worth the trouble. Almost free since I always tipped the guy. I got a unit that also has a vertical pipe connection for a propane lantern. Awesome for car camping
I switched to a propane two burner this year and also purchased the adaptor and a 10# tank ($50). I can’t believe it took me this long to convert. When I got the tank filled the kid at the Co-op said “How about $2?”. Nice.
I have been using a two burner camp stove in my cabin for eight years. I use an extension hose from a 20 lb bottle kept outside. Live here year round. The regular that comes with the stove has a safety valve that will release us under too much pressure, or as I have come to suspect with fatigue over time. Mine has failed twice releasing gas in my cabin. I was home both times. I replaced the first one. But shall rethink my approach. I will get an adapter that fits on the tank outside so I’m not relying… Read more »
Tanks. Best deal on a 20 lb propane tank with a gauge is at U-Haul. They refill too.
https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Propane-Tanks-Heaters/U-S-20lb-Propane-Tank-With-Gas-Gauge/?mid=823&id=13318