|
|
07-04-2021, 07:36 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Name: Kate
Trailer: Boler
BC
Posts: 11
|
Can I run my cooktop with portable propane canisters?
Hey there,
A few months ago we got a 1974 1300 Boler and realized that a lot of the previous renovations were just cosmetic.
The propane system was taken out, but the original cooktop is there with nothing to attach it to and missing peices. I'm thinking of replacing it with a stove like this one (link).
Does anyone know if it's possible to run RV drop-in cooktop stoves with those little 16oz propane cylinders used for outdoor cooktops? If so, do I need any special attachments?
Thanks!
|
|
|
07-04-2021, 09:59 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
I'd remove the inoperable range and make it all counter top. Then I'd pick up one or two butane burners. The one shown is top of the line and expensive. It's used in the restaurant industry.
There are much cheaper versions available at any Asian grocery.
You could cook inside, or outside, as you choose.
I have a three-burner range inside, but prefer to cook outside with this burner and a BBQ.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 07:16 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
|
Don’t think so. The factory cooktop runs on a different pressure than the portable stoves that run on the disposable cylinders. I don’t know of any devices to regulate a disposable cylinder for built-in appliances, and I assume the reason is there’s a safety issue with having removable connections inside the cabin.
If you plan to cook inside the trailer, it’s not terribly complicated or expensive to reinstall the missing propane lines with a bulk tank and regulator on the tongue. If you do much cooking, running off a bulk tank will save the waste of all those throwaways.
Or ditch the cooktop and go with Glenn’s suggestion of a portable butane burner. Note with the butane burners your cookware cannot cover the butane cylinder compartment next to the burner. That rules out griddles and family-sized frying pans.
We typically cook outside on a 2-burner Coleman. When we’re staying in one place several days we run it off the bulk tank from the trailer to save disposables. There are devices to regulate a bulk tank for portable appliances, but they’re only for outside use. If we want to cook inside (very rare) we re-install the bulk tank on the trailer and use the factory cooktop via the onboard plumbing and regulator.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 10:07 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Name: Larry
Trailer: Casita17'Spirit Deluxe (aka: Tweaker's Casita)
Southwest Ohio
Posts: 319
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KNickels
|
The short answer to your question and the device in your link is “no”. Note that that device doesn’t have a regulator.
Aside from rebuilding the propane system (copper tubing from the stove area to the tongue with brackets for a propane tank & regulator) for a replacement “drop in” RV stove ( like your link), the best approach is to follow Glenn’s and Jon’s advice.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 11:49 AM
|
#5
|
Junior Member
Name: David
Trailer: looking
Oregon
Posts: 20
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KNickels
Hey there,
A few months ago we got a 1974 1300 Boler and realized that a lot of the previous renovations were just cosmetic.
The propane system was taken out, but the original cooktop is there with nothing to attach it to and missing peices. I'm thinking of replacing it with a stove like this one (link).
Does anyone know if it's possible to run RV drop-in cooktop stoves with those little 16oz propane cylinders used for outdoor cooktops? If so, do I need any special attachments?
Thanks!
|
You can certainly run any propane device off a small cylinder if you have a regulator inline between the bottle and the device. You can buy a hose with the regulator already attached at Home Depot. I ran a single burner marine stove off such a hose for many years in my camper van.. For added security, since the bottle was inside my van, I put a quick shutoff valve at the bottle and then attached the hose/regulator to it.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:08 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
Posts: 1,561
|
The 16 ounce canisters are very expensive compared having a refillable tank. I would consider the butane if it was for limited use.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:14 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack L
The 16 ounce canisters are very expensive compared having a refillable tank. I would consider the butane if it was for limited use.
|
Yup, and my butane seems to boil water in half the time of propane.
Price shown is CAD and everything costs more in Canada. Plus taxes and environment fees, BTW.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:29 PM
|
#8
|
Junior Member
Name: David
Trailer: looking
Oregon
Posts: 20
|
Cheapest fuel cost would be a refillable tank, There are small 5 pound tanks on the market. My experience is that if you are just heating coffee water and such, the 1 pound cylinders last a long time!
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:34 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ordjen
Cheapest fuel cost would be a refillable tank, There are small 5 pound tanks on the market.
|
True, but, you don't want a 5 lb. tank inside with you.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:45 PM
|
#10
|
Junior Member
Name: David
Trailer: looking
Oregon
Posts: 20
|
If a 5 pound tank were located such that the main valve could be closed every time it was not in use, I would not hesitate having it in then living space. That is why I had my 1 pound tank with a quick shut off gate valve. I modified a fire extinquisher bracket to hold the tank on the exterior of the cabinet, where I could rapidly access it.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 02:46 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ordjen
If a 5 pound tank were located such that the main valve could be closed every time it was not in use, I would not hesitate having it in then living space.....
|
Please don't have anyone else inside with you... valves DO fail, and if it gets real hot.. the pressure relief valve might expel gas also.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 02:53 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Escape located the fire extinguisher at the door to the trailer so that you exit and grab the extinguisher to fight the fire.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
07-06-2021, 08:44 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Name: Pat
Trailer: 2006 Scamp 19 Deluxe
Enchanted Mountains of Western New York State on the Amish Trail in Cattaraugus County!
Posts: 621
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo
Escape located the fire extinguisher at the door to the trailer so that you exit and grab the extinguisher to fight the fire.
|
When I was hauling petroleum (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and the like) products, I always said that if it caught fire, I'd grab the fire extinguisher while exiting the cab, and run away as fast as I could, squeezing that fire extinguisher handle the whole time. Lost two good friends to tanker fires, and had another friend who did exactly what I described - he survived!
|
|
|
07-07-2021, 01:31 PM
|
#14
|
Junior Member
Name: Kate
Trailer: Boler
BC
Posts: 11
|
Thanks Glenn, I've been thinking the same thing actually. Wasn't sure what was going to be less of a headache and expense - replacing the stove top or counter :P
|
|
|
07-07-2021, 01:39 PM
|
#15
|
Junior Member
Name: Kate
Trailer: Boler
BC
Posts: 11
|
Thanks for the advice everyone! Honestly, we don't expect to cook that much inside at all but weren't sure if it would be easier to fix the propane system, the old cooktop, or the hole in the countertop where the cooktop would go.
Sounds like we'll replace the countertop and switch to a portable cooker.
Now to find a good countertop replacement instructional thread....
|
|
|
07-08-2021, 12:22 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Name: Pat
Trailer: 2006 Scamp 19 Deluxe
Enchanted Mountains of Western New York State on the Amish Trail in Cattaraugus County!
Posts: 621
|
If you electric system will handle it, get a portable induction cooktop. A lot of RVers are using them.
|
|
|
07-08-2021, 06:18 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
|
I’ve seen induction burners in some newer van builds. They commonly have 400Ah or more of lithium, 200W or more of solar, a 2000W inverter, and a second alternator. They’re usually running a 12V compressor fridge and microwave as well, but I wonder what the minimal electrical system requirements would be to be able to use an induction burner off grid?
If you will always have shore power, then it’s easy.
|
|
|
07-11-2021, 05:47 PM
|
#18
|
Member
Name: Terry
Trailer: Gulfstream
Memphis
Posts: 57
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KNickels
Hey there,
A few months ago we got a 1974 1300 Boler and realized that a lot of the previous renovations were just cosmetic.
The propane system was taken out, but the original cooktop is there with nothing to attach it to and missing peices. I'm thinking of replacing it with a stove like this one (link).
Does anyone know if it's possible to run RV drop-in cooktop stoves with those little 16oz propane cylinders used for outdoor cooktops? If so, do I need any special attachments?
Thanks!
|
The problem w/ the 1# is, though "handy/ safe" is expensive ($3-$4+/lb), so central w/ larger 20# gets price down to $1.25-$1.75/# range? and easy to burn 1#+ per meal?. Easy to pay for manifold, hoses, piping for bulk 20# tanks, when saving $2-$3/#?
|
|
|
07-11-2021, 07:04 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
|
Just had my 20 lb tank topped off at Tractor Supply. $3.45 USD per gallon. That's about $.82 USD per pound. I also have two DOT approved refillable 1 lb cylinders that I fill from the 20 lb tank as needed.
|
|
|
07-12-2021, 02:41 PM
|
#20
|
Junior Member
Name: Kate
Trailer: Boler
BC
Posts: 11
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
I’ve seen induction burners in some newer van builds. They commonly have 400Ah or more of lithium, 200W or more of solar, a 2000W inverter, and a second alternator. They’re usually running a 12V compressor fridge and microwave as well, but I wonder what the minimal electrical system requirements would be to be able to use an induction burner off grid?
If you will always have shore power, then it’s easy.
|
I was looking in to induction cooktops because they seem really safe an effective to use inside. But we don't traditionally camp with a shore power hookup. Think I'm going to look for a small compressed gas portable camp stove
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Upcoming Events |
No events scheduled in the next 465 days.
|
|