2-burner Coleman: camp fuel vs dual fuel vs propane?

I am in the market for a backup 2-burner stove, to be used mainly for car and perhaps some canoe camping. I have an older Coleman stove that uses Coleman fuel/naptha/white gas and am considering either a similar stove, one using dual fuels, or one which runs on propane. Likely a used one, but not necessarily. I have posted elsewhere on this forum on maintenance of my existing stove and the desire for a backup has been bolstered by that.

I would welcome any comments, pros and cons, on any of these or other Coleman variants, and in particular any experiences you might have had either in using them or choosing not to. All with the view to an informed decision!

Looking forward to your feedback,

Michael //*//

 

Start hitting the Garage sales, many a fine Coleman to be had cheap, often for $5 !!!

 

I'd go with another basic green Coleman suitcase stove, available at garage sales everywhere. It'll burn gasoline just fine and you can buy a conversion kit to run it on propane when you want, while still retaining the ability to burn white gas/gasoline. Then you have the best of all worlds.

 

Yep , i agree with diesel (welcome to the forum)stick with a used Coleman suitcase type. Doesn't matter what model they're all cheap,burn hot and last forever.
What's not to like?

Take care

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I've burned #2 diesel in a Coleman suitcase by preheating the generator with a propane torch and using low pressure in the tank. Good bit of orange in the flame, but it did work. Wouldn't want to do that all the time, but in a pinch I'd do it again.

 

I have used both coleman fuel and propane in my beater 425F and i have to tell you that while propane will work, the adjustments on the adapter are not very good, and it will eat up a small can of propane in a hurry! For me, i wont use anything but coleman fuel. the adjustability of the flame is better, and the stove will run all weekend on 1 full tank.

 

I vote specifically for the 413G. Lots of cooking surface, and high output.

 

I concur with 111T. A 413 can handle a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan at once.
The 426's, three-burner stoves, actually have less room between the burners.
What happens when you put a large pot or pan on 425 is the flame touches the front and right walls, and scorches the paint, and somewhat lessens the one-coat beauty.

 

Coleman stoves?? Nah,...that's not trendy anymore. It's all about the $630 Brunton Wind River Range (weighing in at 25lbs)

Paris would have one.

 

A point I hadn't considered -> that there would be a difference in stove dimensions (aside from the 3-burner of course). How material is the variance? My 431 stove is approx 44 cm (17 1/4 in) wide by 29cm (11 3/8") deep, with about 23 cm (9 in) between the burner centres.

It might be useful to have comparisons with the above-noted 413, 425, and any others out there (or is there a chart you can refer me to?).

Pot size *was* a consideration the last time we were out this summer...

Thanks very much for the feedback so far, it is appreciated!

Michael
[|*\\

 

you already have a coleman suitcase so chances are you will never need a backup .(want is an entirely different thing and admirable I might add)Go out and get yourself a spare generator and camp with peace of mind I have a dozen suitcase colemans and hey are all totally reliable 8)

 

413 is 56cm by 32.5cm. That is an older model, with a retractable leaf spring legs, and with a salami shaped, long fuel tank. It does not have the model number embossed on the front panel as other, later models do.

425F is, by contrast, 45.5cm by 29.5cm.

 

Thanks, bark2much! The difference is substantial. Sacrifices some portability, I suppose. Is the output difference significant?
Also wondering about tank size variances.

Michael
[|*|]

 

I refuse to admit that I am becoming powerless over stoves

//*//

 

Yes, the generator vaporizes significantly larger amount of fuel, and the flame, when the main burner operates alone, is also larger than the max. output of 425's.

 

I don't think there is a difference in heat output per main burner.

note added: Just saw B2M's answer and now I am curious since they seemed very similar to me. But then no two stoves of mine work exactly the same even when they look identical.

 

An update.

I began by searching for 'a' backup 2-burner stove. As in the quantity of 1. Then I was educated about the availability of a larger stove that would allow me to use both our 28 cm (11 inch) cast iron frying pan and a reasonably large-sized pot at the same time. I found a stove on ebay identical to my Canadian-made 431. AND I started tracking some 413Gs, as that's what you guys told me to do. Which one of the two to get?

Easy. Both! The larger stove is now en route.

So, I have likely at least doubled my generator problem (the 413G takes a longer jobbie) but that's okay, cos I *needed* the stoves.

Don't you see?

Michael
[|*|]

 

Hee Hee Hee !
another Coleman Convert !!!

 

michael; i have been using and camping with coleman suitcase stoves of all vintages for over 35 years ; other than the initial cleaning and tune up when i first buy these (used) stoves i have never had a problem unless i used a fuel other than white gas or coleman fuel. other fuels have residue that will some day cause your stove trouble- dual fuel stoves included.i have restored and resold many vintage stoves and have had no complaints unless wrong fuel was used.i recommend white gas or coleman fuel for all brands that use gas. coleman fuel burns very hot and burns off residue from generator that other fuels leave and will cause trouble down the road.mike...

 

Hey, Michael,

Mike knows of whence he speaks, Mate! He is spot on, in regards to only using Coleman fuel for your Coleman stoves. I never even used the off-brand stuff that other places used to offer, but stuck, exclusively, with Coleman fuel. It has worked extremely well, with NO varnish deposits, nor gumming, nor any other problems, even when I've left fuel in the stoves for more than 10 years!! (sometimes, MUCH more than 10 years!) For those stoves, every single one of them has fired up, first time, without any problems at all, even using the old fuel that was in them!! Now, THAT is a super reliable stove!! Forget about using unleaded gas in the Coleman Dual Fuel stoves and lanterns. All you are going to do is gum up the works, of an otherwise outstanding bit of gear. Coleman fuel, ONLY, Michael, just as Mike says!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc