Camping History
Although I have recently gotten into camping, it generally isn't just for the sake of camping as most people go camping. Camping for me is connected to my leisure activity of riding Quads.
Until the December of 2002 I had not been camping (as far as I remember) since the summer of 1984 when we went to some place in the Sierras for about a week.
In the intervening years we had camping gear that was shuffled from storage places to garages and what not.
A little Trip to Pismo to get away...
In December of 2002 I was invited by friends to go to Pismo for a nights stay so I could get away from everything around here. I decided to go and can say, that it changed my life.
After I was invited I went to the local Target and bought some supplies that I knew I would need. My brother and I had tossed the old canvas family tent (which we now wish that we hadn't) when we moved a couple months prior. So, a tent I bought. And a sleeping bag. And an air matress. I think that was pretty much it for my first purchases. And the first of many they would be. I don't think I ever go on a camping trip without buying SOME kind of camping gear.
Of course the first time I set up the tent was in the darkness on the beach with the help of my friend's daughters. All went well on that trip.
An old lantern once again sheds light
My next proposed trip was an overnight stay at a riding place outside of Bakersfield, CA. I decided to break into the old camping gear that we still had in the garage. The first to come out was an old Coleman propane lantern. It even still had a bottle of propane attached which was purchased from a place that had gone out of business around 1984 or so (Gemco). I figure it was a good 18 years old. Of course it was empty.
I went to the local Sears, got a couple packages of the appropriate mantles, installed them and with a fresh bottle of propane I lit a lighter and turned on the gas, hoping to not explode in a glorious fireball. Luckily I didn't.
An idiot strikes a match, twice
The next piece of equipment I went to try was a Coleman propane catalytic heater. I was very leary of this item because of all of the accumulated dust on the front of the heater. That wasn't the problem. The problem with the heater was the propane leak somewhere in the heater. I assumed it an old hose that may have cracked. But as I lit the heater a blue flame went across the ground that I was knealing on, singing most of the hair off of my left hand. It was a rather pretty blue, which may explain my next action... After a second try (why, I don't know.) the heater went into the trash.
A few trips later
I left most of the camp gear alone for several months. I burned several 1lb bottles of propane in the lantern on various trips. I had since broke out the portable propane BBQ that we had picked up around 1993 or so. It still worked ok, but not the greatest. (Update August '06): I have since replaced the "worn out" propane BBQ with a new one.
A stove returns to cook once again
It had been over a year since that "first" fateful trip to the sands of Pismo when I got back into the old camp gear. Next to be pulled out was an old Coleman white gas stove. I always remember my mom going on about the dangers of this stove as it burned "gas." I don't know for sure if this is one of the true "duel fuel" stoves as Coleman calls them with the ability to burn unleaded fuel or not.
Well, one day at the trusty Sears I see a propane conversion kit for liquid gas stoves. Hmmmm...I wonder. It was about $7 on clearance. I looked closely at it and went home to investigate whether or not it would attach to our Coleman stove. Well, I pulled out the Coleman stove (which was still in its original box (as was the lantern)). When I opened the stove up to take a peak I was surprised by the presence of a propane converter already in the stove! The regular gas tank was there, and it still had fuel. I didn't want to even think about lighting whatever was in that canister.
I hooked up the propane adapter to a bottle of propane and let it sit for a few minutes listening and attempting to notice any propane leaks. Nothing seemed to be amiss so I lit a match, held it close to the burner and turned the gas on. The resulting out rush of gas actually extinguished the match. So I relit and opened the valve much slower this time and was rewarded by a lit burner. I cycled the burner between as low as I could get it to full blast. Then I lit the secondary burner and went through its range and adjust the main valve to see the effects.
I gave it my seal of approval and added it to my inventory on the next camping trip to Hollister Hills, S.V.R.A. I successfully cooked two dinners, two breakfasts, and two lunches going through only slightly more than 1lb of propane.
There has to be something cheaper
During that camping trip I decided that I would purchase a propane tree for the lantern, camp stove and portable grill. It just didn't make since to carry at least 3 bottles of propane to be used in appliances as well as a couple more spares. At some point I will add the tree and appropriate hoses. One pound bottles (actually they are like 16.4 oz.) can be had for about $3.80 for a twin pack at the local Wal-Mart for their brand. Hey, propane is propane. When I fill propane bottles at work for the forklift it runs about $1.69 per gallon and five gallons is about 20 pounds. That 5 gallons would run about $40 if purchased in 1lb bottles. It could be filled in bulk for about $8.45.
Another update, August '06: I received the propane tree for Christmas of '03. I was actually disapointed in the performance of the stove on the tree. I don't think it can flow the necessary amount of propane. I purchased a propane Tee that hookes to the 20lb bottle (purchased in Jan '04 or so from Costco.)
Working for a living is a highly overrated way to spend your time. - MWQ