'Fake' fire ;-)

[rmclarke]

I had a fifty dollar Wally world gift card 'burning' a hole in my pocket so I got this. I know this is not everyone's cup o' tea but, I saw one (different brand/design) at a gathering last summer and I thought it worked pretty slick. Flame is about 18" high at full throttle and it puts out a decent amount of heat once the lava rocks heat up. At low flame, with a cooking grate of some sort over it, I think you could cook on it quite nicely. Video clip: http://youtu.be/uxZPTLOgpUQ

There are a lot of forest service campgrounds here out west where you can't have a fire, but these are ok because they're 'controlled'. And we'll use it when the grandkids are over to roast some stuff. And, it's smoke free. Okay, now for the negative.........it's a fake campfire!

Came with a carrying case, a six foot hose with regulator and 2 adjustable wienie roasting sticks. $79 at Wally's.

[dakotamouse]

I can see where that could be useful and a lot of fun. Sometimes we have burn bans............not in the last couple of years. What with all the flooding and trees that have dropped because of saturated ground we have sooooooo much firewood just begging to be burned we shouldn't need one of these for a while!

[parnold]

I have one of those! I don't use it a lot, but it sure is nice if you just want a warm fire while enjoying a beer and cigar, and don't want to go through the hassle of a real fire. I keep saying I want to record the sound of a real fire, to play back while sitting around this.

[emiller]

At the Buckskin gathering last December I deep fried a turkey then used the base for our camp fire. My wife can't be around smoke so I have been looking at those also.

[Pete S]

...might have to have one of those.

Thanks for sharing!

[DragonFire]

slow...I think that's the first time we have seen your tear!! That is a nice rig!!!

So...I'm trying to figure out something here...the flames are fake?? Someone said fake campfire, so what are the flames made of if they are not real fire???

I'm guessing it's a propane fueled REAL fire. Put your hand in and you will get a real burn! So it's not a fake campfire. It's a propane fueled fire, so it's quick and easy to cut off the fuel...

My friends have a fire pit in their yard that they built...same sort of 'fake fire'..with the same sort of 'fake heat' that you can warm up by and cook something over.

I like the idea. I've been trying to figure out how to take a fire ring with me, or have what you guys are calling a 'fake fire'...so I can have a campfire in restricted areas. No rain or snow in Cali, so we are in for a ration...of water. And probably no fires. So if this will still pass muster, I'm all for the fake flames made of.....fire.


Wally World, huh? May need to take a walk down the road a piece and check this out. As long as the fake fire roasts real marshmallows, I'm in!

[afreegreek]

looks cool.. you should start a club.. call it the Fire Ring Squad..

[Shadow Catcher]

I am all in favor of folks having these, I am asthmatic and camp fires left smoldering and smoking or fires built by those with no idea how, can be very uncomfortable and even deadly.

[Dale M.]

I think there is sort of a false sense of correctness here about fire and its use, first its a real flame nothing fake about it... Second In most places it would be considered a open flame, in other words it has the ability to ignite any thing that comes in contact with it.... So on days that burning is banned it would be considered a "open fire" or "flame" and there for prohibited... Yes there are lots of arguments of its safe "because", but I believe the "law enforcement/fire officials" may have a different interpretation of whether it's safe or not...

Just because you can instantly turn off the fuel, it does not change the fact it is a flame and there is no protection or containment around it to keep it from escaping ...

Dale

[Dale M.]

I got a little red cameco. I love the thing. I am alrgic to cutting firewood after I got this thing.

I take it on about evey camp trip.



its red top is in the right side of my last years camp out photo

and the hose and and fire place are by my propane bottle and lantern.

slow

Do you always put small propane tank (with distribution tree and light) that close to the "fire ring".... That in its self may be a hazard... Yes I know you drove a propane truck, I also stayed a nigh in a Motel 6, but....

Dale

[48Rob]

<img src="http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=85317">

Is that two cookstoves I see?
One for coffee, and one for dinner?

Rob

[DragonFire]

I'm going to check into your campfire, Slow. I like the idea that you just shut the lid and go...and it won't even scorch a lawn.

When I was being a goofball and asking what was so fake about the flames, I was basically pointing out that it is an open flame...a real one that still needs to be watched after..but no popping, no sparks and no "was the fire out completely? I better get up and check again..." and...no smoke!! I'm allergic to something in that smoke..who knows..eyes swell almost shut.
I love the campfire but they are such a pain....I've been eyeing these propane ones for awhile but didn't know anyone who actually used one.

I could even driveway camp with it!

anyone else have other brands they've used? Was the one with the lava rocks one that was portable like this?

[parnold]

The one I have uses lava rocks, and one of the first thing i did was get some more rocks. The lava rocks glow red, and at least in my head, i'm thinking they help radiate more heat. I don't know if this is true or not though.

Mine came with a bag for transport, so yes it is considered portable. The lava rocks cool down very quickly also.

[wagondude]

For those conserned with tank proximity in Slows picture, I have a propane fire pit table in my back yard. The tank goes directly under the fire pan on maybe a two foot hook up hose.

Bill

[DragonFire]

Richard...let me know if you actually cook on it. That sounds like it might be a good one to get. How big (diameter) is it?

You are bringing it to the Dam, right??

There is a campground we go to in Guerneville where they only allow fires in firepits...that you have to bring yourself. It's a mess to take the backyard wood firepits, but folks were doing that so we could have group campfires. I'm thinking if I can keep this tidy, I can throw it in the tear (scooter will be in the truck bed) and bring my own fire for our T&TTT folks who will be there...our own tiny trailer park...and we'll be more than happy to share the heat and marshmallows with others!

Have fire, will travel!!