Propane vs Coleman fuel

[Isalvus]

I have been using coleman propape 2 burner and a coleman propane lantern, and I am just wondering if there is an advantage to the coleman fuel stoves and lanterns over the propane or visa versa. Is the coleman fuel just more nostalgic??

[len19070]

I have a lot of original Coleman Lanterns & Stoves. They all work and work well on Coleman fuel.

But I do own conversion kits for the stoves and own a Propane lantern too.

Propane is easier.

But. I own a vintage trailer, have all vintage equipment, very seldom camp with electricity and I'm an Antique too!

When you reach a certain age there's a lot of "Puttering" that goes on and using Original Coleman equipment with Coleman Fuel just fits right in.

I really think that one is an "Authentic Activity" and the other is a "Convince".

All that said, if its a rainy night when I just pull into a site, dark & Cold...I use Propane.

Happy Trails

Len

[stumphugger]

Propane is not as "exciting." For instance, I started out one morning by setting the table top on fire. Not to worry, the fuel burned off and the table is still usable. Then sometimes, my stove shoots flames up in the air. Coleman fuel or White Gas gives us a lot of cheap entertainment. We have no TV when camping.

[Wild Bill]

I like propane, years ago I used white gas, a gallon would last for what seemed like years, Propane tanks could be filled at most campgrounds, now you can exchange a tank at many places that you could not years ago. To me it is cleaner and safer to store than the thin tin gallon cans. Both work well, The 1 pound green cylinders are convient but costly per pound to use. I remember my dad having a gasoline lantern catch fire when I was a kid. Great to have both handy, I still use a green coleman stove with the red tank, and for big feasts or large pots I use a campchef 2 burner propane stove. Bill

[Ratkity]

I tend to camp well into December and I've had the 1lb propane canisters freeze if not placed somewhere protected the night before. Minor thing to remember, all-in-all. My single burner + grill stove is propane, but my 3 vintage lanterns are gas. Then, because of Len, I've obtained a couple of nice small kerosene lanterns that burn low and pretty, so now I'm schlepping 3 fuels around LOL.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[matthew.carlson]

I prefer the White Gas (Coleman Fuel)
I have a 220J Lantern and two 290A Coleman Lanterns. I use a Coleman 425 Double Burner Stove (With the classic red tank)/ I like the vintage feel of white gas appliances.
The last winter camp I had, I was the only one in the group who was still able to cook. The others had 20lb Bulk LP Tanks which froze up over night. I also find that I get better heat at high altitudes with Coleman Fuel.
I also had some Coleman single burner Backpacking stoves that used white gas. I can remember having issues with Butane and Propane at altitudes over 10,000 feet. That experience may have biased me towards the Coleman fuel.
The Gallon of white gas lasts longer than 5 of the small green propane canisters. I also like the freedom of "Topping Off" each night, or each meal time. I really dislike having to change out a green canister in the middle of my meal prep.
Someday I may make the transition to Bulk Propane. If I do I'll also pick up one of the large Camp Chef triple burner stoves. I don't see that happening for many years.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I can't prove it, but it seems to me the white gas burns hotter, and is slightly less apt to blow out in a mild breeze.

[Wimperdink]

I guess I still cook mostly on charcoal.... If I run out, I'll gather sticks.... For lighting I use propane and sometimes batteries. I do have a propane stove/oven inside my camper but it rarely gets used. If I'm feeling lazy I'll boil water for a few hotdogs but there again for the most part its charcoal.

[Darren]

I find that on my old white gas stove it's easier to adjust the flame height to a usable level. I always burn stuff with my propane stove.

[Zollinger]

I have say white gas. To me it's more economical. A gallon lasts forever, and is a lot easier to recycle than all those little green bottles. I like dinking around with my vintage stoves and lanterns, that's just me. Don't matter what you use as long as you use some common sense and make sure they are in good running condition before you leave home. Leaks on either can be a BAD thing.

[Wolffarmer]

I go with white gas items, nostalgia, and I kind of like the ritual of lighting the buggers up. If you go light weight on the trailer and no bulk propane tank white gas is cheaper than the little bottles and more compact. I have seen people with the #20 tanks and manifolds, hoses, lanterns, stoves, and who knows what all. just to complicated and takes time to set up and take down. And with no fixed stove in the TD with most bulk propane tanks, I have a lot of counter space. Can put the stove most any place. And if not using it, put it away. Often hard to do with fixed in place propane stoves. Of course if you do a lot of baking ( I don't ) Propane would be a good choice.

Randy

[robertaw]

Propane is not as "exciting." For instance, I started out one morning by setting the table top on fire. Not to worry, the fuel burned off and the table is still usable. Then sometimes, my stove shoots flames up in the air. Coleman fuel or White Gas gives us a lot of cheap entertainment. We have no TV when camping.

Yep, it just wouldn't be camping without at least one POOF.

I like the hissing sound, smell, and pumping when the lantern starts to dim as they are a part of my childhood memories.

Propane is easier but it's just not the same.

[doug hodder]

I like the white gas stuff....just cuz. It's just camping smells, sounds for me, what I grew up with. Most all of the white gas stuff is built heavier than the propane, but then the new white gas items can be pretty flimsy as well.

I was really surprised when I was at Yosemite and saw like 45-50 little 1# green cylinders sitting by the recycle bins. I can't help but think that the use of white gas is more "green" than all those cylinders. I recycle my empty fuel cans with lacquer thinner, spent paints etc....I'd be willing to bet that 9$ in white gas will cook much more than 9$ in little green cylinders, through a wider range of altitudes and temps. Another +...you can run a white gas stove/lantern on unleaded if you have to. Doug

[bdosborn]

You're right Doug, white gas burns hotter:

"Butane releases 3,225 BTU's of heat compared to propane's 2,572 BTU's, and isobutane's 2,500 to 3,200 BTU's per cubic foot burned. Where white gas gives off about 19% more heat than even butane."

Which Coleman Stoves Are The Best?

Bruce

[Wolffarmer]

For me it really is not a nostalgia thing from my child hood. I can't remember there ever being a stove in our family even on the few camping trips we took. I seem to remember a lantern in my teens at sheep camp but it was a massive fiddling process and it never did burn right. But I am real hazy on that whole thing. It wasn't until my very early 20's when I took up back packing and I got a little Optimus 80 stove. One of things things that sounds like you have a V-1 Buzz bomb in your camp. Then I got a VW camper van and a 425 stove that I used a whole lot and still am using it in my TD over 20 years later.

If your gratification requires instant heat/light. Propane will probably be thy path. If you like to look like some camping master then old white gas stuff it is.

Also the used stuff is cheap compared to buying new. The last four 2 burner stoves I have gotten have set me back less than 40 bucks for all of them. And the most any of them has needed to get them running is a fuel cap gasket. They may not be pretty like a Doug restore but they work very good. And I don't fear tossing them around a bit. Some where pre-tossed.

Randy