Cooking heat question.

[Forrest747]

Had this question rolling around. Looking at alot of the build i noticed some have thier coleman stoves right up against the wall of thier trailer or under the hatch/ cabinet and i wonder if the heat gets to the trailer. I see alot also that are pulled out a foot or so. I am thinking of just using the countertop to cook but also looking into maybe a shelf or something on the side i could set up. thank you for not laughing

[wingnut]

Forrest,
I see you live in Utah, so I'll assume you camp in the mountains. The reason I mention that, is we also live in bear country here in Montana, and we don't have our stove in or near the galley, not because of the heat, but the cooking oders. Only bear incounters of the close kind we've ever had was in romote back conumtry campsites, because we were too lax about food oders close to the camper. We also don't have a builtin icebox in our TD for the same reason. when we turn in for the night or are away from camp, every thing with food and/or oders goes in tunk of car and car parked away from TD, if possible.
Jim

[Oldragbaggers]

I don't have bear country to contend with as a rule, but I am planning on getting a side table for my Coleman. Either a table that attaches to the teardrop, a folding metal table or one of the Coleman stove stands. I'll know which one it is when I actually get it, cuz that's the way I roll.

[S. Heisley]

Built-in propane stoves usually come with minimum clearance information. As a guide, here is what mine gave as minimum:

Back of stove to back wall .....: 9"
Front of stove to end of counter.....: 1.5"
Left side to wall (if applicable).......: 2-5/8"
Right side to wall (if applicable).......: 3-3/8"

Minimum clearance from burner to overhead ceiling/cabinets (directly above the flame) is 19" for most all gas burning stoves.

Does it heat a camper up? Yes; but, the heat dissipates fairly quickly, especially if it's in an open area like a teardrop galley.
I plan to be equipped to cook either inside, on a built-in unit or outside, on a table with a portable unit.
I'd be more worried about distinctive smells than heat. So, keep it simple and quick and the smells should be minimal.*
*...Unless it's one of Bubba Bear's favorite meals: fish or bacon.

[wingnut]

Becky,
If you go camping in north central PA, then you're in bear country. Or if you camp in the Blue Ridge country, then you're in bear country. I think there are many places in the east that have plenty of black bears and they do like free food.

[doug hodder]

On a number of my tears I've built in a slider with a pantry underneath. The Coleman white gas stove sits on top so it can be pulled out, folds down and slides underneath the counter top when not in use. I've never had any heat issues and with it sliding out, clean up is very easy.

On any built in type install for a stove, I'd recommend a backsplash with at least aluminum for ease of clean up and allow clearance like Sharon mentions. A typical Coleman stove will only get up to about 140F on the box, depending on the size of the pan or pot you have on top of it. 140 won't burn paint, however, I'd not at least skin the area with some aluminum. Doug

[Richard A.]

when we turn in for the night or are away from camp, every thing with food and/or oders goes in tunk of car and car parked away from TD, if possible.

Just be glad that you don't have bears that know how to get into cars for food. I've seen TV shows where they rip cars open for food.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm

[Forrest747]

Well i built a couple of tables for the side of my trailer and figure that is where the cooking will take place. how ever still worried about the table getting warm underneath.

[S. Heisley]

Table looks nice!

Heat build-up? Your stove has legs on it, doesn't it? The legs (or raised base) are there to keep the table surface from getting too hot.

[Forrest747]

Looked at my stove last night and it does not have legs. Well I will have to do something or just try it out and take the table i like the less and see what happens.

[bobhenry]

To ease your concern a few small ceramic tiles will protect the surface. The large floor tiles can go as big as 15 x 15. You could simply toss them down like a trivet.

On my teardrop I incorporated the tiles into the cooking counter by laying them in a bed of silicone and grouting the seams with the same. Five years and untold miles and they are still where I put them and look as good as day one.



In the barn I cook directly on the let down wood cabinet door without any ill affects.

[Forrest747]

You know Bobhenry they are no longer using teh space shuttles i could go visit one and bring home a couple ceramic tiles from teh belly. there are thousands of those puppies i am sure they wont miss 8.