Safely transporting the propane stove

[Backroads4me]

We've always been "over the campfire" meal preparers before the teardrop (well, actually Bob does the campfire cooking and he's mighty fine at it). I decided to buy a propane stove for the teardrop, purchased a Camp Chef Everest---have tried it out, works great, BUT the thing is way too wide to fit on the shelves in the galley! We had tried finding a newer (and even vintage) Coleman that would fit and travel, but everything was a bit too wide. The stove can be set on the one pulled out shelf for use though.

My question---do propane stoves have to be stored or transported flat (as they would be used), or can they travel safely on edge? We have a nice space either behind or in front of the big cooler in the galley. The stove fits in there perfectly sitting on it's back (hinged edge). I made a denim bag with inserts cut from a cheap camp mat for it to travel in. Would that be enough to protect it from getting jostled around and developing leaks?

We may be reconfiguring the galley in the future, want to camp and cook a few times to get a feel for what we need, but in the mean time does the stove need to travel flat?

Thanks!

[pete42]

I have an old coleman green stove that folds up into suitcase looking item.
I store it in several ways flat, sitting up right with handle on top, and I have even stowed it sitting on end.
I don't see any reason you can't stow yours anyway you want as long as it doesn't sit on knobs, valves or the propane tank.

pete

[Dale M.]

You can store a "stove" any way you want... Most "Coleman" style stoves do not contain any (well very much) fuel when off.... However storing the fuel source, propane or liquid fuel the containers should remain upright and in ventilated space.... I'm in favor of disconnecting "portable" stoves when TD is in motion (unless everything is permanently mounted).... As for propane source (bulk tank) definitely off when in motion (maybe even when stove not in use) .... Small #1 disposable canister also disconnected...

Dale

[doug hodder]

Just how much space do you have? The Everest is 23 1/2" wide...a Coleman 425 is only 17 1/2" wide, it's a 2 burner and they made them from '48 - early 70's. With a white gas stove, you pull the tank and put it inside the stove for travel. It can be carried like a suitcase or set it flat. I haul them with fuel in the tank all the time. Just make sure the filler cap is tight and the valve is shut off. With the stove you have, pull the tank, or disconnect the hose, and store it however you want. Doug

[Backroads4me]

Thank you for all the helpful replies. We plan on storing/transporting my 11 pound tare weight smaller propane tank separately in the TD's open front box. The galley's right side shelves, including the one on the bottom that slides out is 22-1/2 inches wide. Bob has an old, late 60's white gas/camp fuel Coleman that would fit perfectly on the sliding shelf, but there's something wrong with the pumping/pressure mechanism,he hasn't had time to pull it apart, get parts and try to fix it. I wanted a propane stove and most of the newer propane Coleman's are wider. I did put a "Wanted, older propane Coleman camp stove" ad in the local Craigslist--you just know there has to be some sitting unused in people's garages, but no go.

We set the Camp Chef outside on our deck, cooked a nice meal and was impressed on how it worked, but (just like everything these days), it appears a bit more flimsy and cheaply made than those good old, green Coleman's in their little metal suitcases.

Here's a photo of the galley. The Camp Chef can be set across the extended sliding shelf on the lower right, hangs over the edge just a tad, but didn't feel like it would fall off. I suppose we could put an extention with hinge on the sliding shelf, (since we wouldn't be storing anything on it) with some kind of leg to hold it up. Put the stove lengthwise and have work room, while cooking, for supplies or plates of cooked/uncooked food, etc. On the left side, I'm thinking of lowering the second shelf, (as long as we can still get the big cooler in and are able to open it, or perhaps ditching the top shelf (so I can set my taller things on what is now the second).