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07-21-2015, 01:54 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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Camp Chef Ranger II Two-Burner Stove
Not sure if this is new, or I just don't pay good enough attention in the past, but I had not noticed this stove that easily converts to low pressure use. From what I have seen at retailers, it seems to get great reviews for the most part too. I have had a Camp Chef BBQ in the past (my daughter still uses it at home), and was quite pleased with the build quality.
Unfortunately there is no windscreen or lid/case, but I imagine one could build a folding one quite easily, if needed.
This is the smallest low pressure stove I have seen available in North America. There seem to be a few in Australia, but I have not found any available here, or a seller that will ship.
Unless someone can find good reason (other than the Coleman I have still works good), I will likely buy one in the near future.
Click on image for link.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-21-2015, 08:30 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Weare, New Hampshire
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 428
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I ended up getting the camp chef explorer, the hose it came with had the regulator built in. All I did was unscrew it and attached the hose that came with my plug in propane connection and it works like a charm. Those camp chefs are nice!
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07-21-2015, 08:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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The Explorer is a great stove, and have heard lots of great things about it. What kept me away was purely it's size and weight, which would not be conducive to stowing in the trailer.
The relatively small size and weight is what has drawn me to the Ranger. This makes it more portable. Cheaper too, but that is not at all the deciding point for me.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-21-2015, 09:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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I can't seem to find a place to get the Ranger in Canada other than Amazon.ca, though at a ridiculously high price. I can order from a few places in the US like REI and Bass Pro, with REI having a bit better cost for shipping.
I did talk to Bass Pro here in town, but they can't bring it in to their store. They do have the Browning 2-Burner Camp Stove in stove, which is just a re-branded Camp Chef Explorer. I might go look at it. I was surprised to see it does not cost much more, as I had thought.
I do remember someone here saying that the Explorer does not simmer very well at all. Is this true?
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-21-2015, 09:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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That looks pretty solid. It seems to occupy the middle ground between the lightweight high-pressure stoves and the massive and high-powered low-pressure stoves.
Good find, Jim
It is targeted at use in duck blinds or similar sheltered locations, and thus the lack of windscreens. I note that there is also a three-burner version.
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07-21-2015, 10:22 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Weare, New Hampshire
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 428
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I can't seem to find a place to get the Ranger in Canada other than Amazon.ca, though at a ridiculously high price. I can order from a few places in the US like REI and Bass Pro, with REI having a bit better cost for shipping.
I did talk to Bass Pro here in town, but they can't bring it in to their store. They do have the Browning 2-Burner Camp Stove in stove, which is just a re-branded Camp Chef Explorer. I might go look at it. I was surprised to see it does not cost much more, as I had thought.
I do remember someone here saying that the Explorer does not simmer very well at all. Is this true?
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I was able to turn down the flame to just a hint of a flame and looks completely capable of a slow simmer. I paid 99 dollars at cabelas.
I also had no trouble slipping it under the permanent bed without the legs attached.
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07-22-2015, 12:28 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19
Posts: 90
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I purchased the Ranger II and connect it to the quick connect on our Escape 19. I store it under the passenger side dinette seat.
It is large enough to hold two large pots. We like using a wok and it works great. Heat output is high - water boils quickly - and it simmers well.
It is quite large and heavy for a camp stove but I think the tradeoff is worth it.
And it lights easily.
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07-22-2015, 06:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-22-2015, 06:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19', 1974 Boler
Posts: 473
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I have the Camp Chef Explorer and love the stove. It simmers better than any stove I have ever had. On low I can simmer ground beef or tomato sauce without burning or sticking, it also has a lower setting labled "warming" which is even lower. $149.98 at Canadian Tire. We also just bought the Deluxe BBQ Grill Box 30 which turns it into a BBQ, nice to have it all in one unit rather than seperate stove, BBQ ...
..... and they also make a pizza oven for it
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07-22-2015, 07:43 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Whiting
I purchased the Ranger II and connect it to the quick connect on our Escape 19. I store it under the passenger side dinette seat.
It is large enough to hold two large pots. We like using a wok and it works great. Heat output is high - water boils quickly - and it simmers well.
It is quite large and heavy for a camp stove but I think the tradeoff is worth it.
And it lights easily.
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Good to hear from someone who has one, Dave. I store my Coleman under the passenger seat, but on edge, as my dual 6V batteries are in there too. As it is, it just fits between the battery case, and the seat support. Maybe I could rework the seat support to accommodate it. I would have to check. Could it be stored on edge?
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
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I have a friend with one of these, at least with those burners. They actually do simmer better than the one I have, which is real crappy. The problem is that they do not connect to the trailer. One of my goals is to simplify things, so the BBQ and the stove can both be quickly hooked up at the same time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian G
I have the Camp Chef Explorer and love the stove. It simmers better than any stove I have ever had. On low I can simmer ground beef or tomato sauce without burning or sticking, it also has a lower setting labled "warming" which is even lower. $149.98 at Canadian Tire. We also just bought the Deluxe BBQ Grill Box 30 which turns it into a BBQ, nice to have it all in one unit rather than seperate stove, BBQ ...
..... and they also make a pizza oven for it
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$180 at CT right now. I have always liked what I have seen and heard of this stove, but have no where to stow it, other than the tow vehicle, and I prefer to keep anything that is always carried and used in camp, to be stowed in the trailer. The Grill Box does look good, and the 30 takes up only half the stove top, leaving the rest for more cooking. Does it grill stuff well? It does add even more bulk to stow, and as I BBQ a lot, I would be hard pressed to give up the performance of the Spitfire.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-22-2015, 09:18 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19', 1974 Boler
Posts: 473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
$180 at CT right now. I have always liked what I have seen and heard of this stove, but have no where to stow it, other than the tow vehicle, and I prefer to keep anything that is always carried and used in camp, to be stowed in the trailer. The Grill Box does look good, and the 30 takes up only half the stove top, leaving the rest for more cooking. Does it grill stuff well? It does add even more bulk to stow, and as I BBQ a lot, I would be hard pressed to give up the performance of the Spitfire.
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The stove was on sale a while ago for $149. We store it under the bed on our 19, we travel light so that area was basically unused. The BBQ packs into a carry bag and although it has the same size grill area as our Napoleon TravelQ it takes up far less space. I just got the grill so we will be testing it out this weekend and will let you know on its performance.
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07-22-2015, 09:41 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian G
I just got the grill so we will be testing it out this weekend and will let you know on its performance.
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Looking forward to your findings.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-22-2015, 10:32 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rangeley, Maine
Trailer: 2005 Escape 17B Sold 2016. 2016 Escape 19 Sold 2019. 2019 Escape 21 picked up Sep 2019
Posts: 173
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Looking forward to your findings.
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Me too!
Dolly
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07-22-2015, 10:52 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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What about availability of parts?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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07-22-2015, 01:28 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Really like those CampChef's, hate to toss a 2 year old Coleman though. Sure would be nice to have a real simmer.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-22-2015, 01:37 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
Really like those CampChef's, hate to toss a 2 year old Coleman though. Sure would be nice to have a real simmer.
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I am thinking along the same line, Bob. Pretty sure I could pawn it off on a kid though. And my more porridge would sure cook up nicer with better simmer control.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-22-2015, 02:05 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St.Albert, Alberta
Trailer: 21 ft November 17th
Posts: 847
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We just got home from a couple of weeks away and were reminded of how poor the coleman stove is @ simmering. I will be in the Seattle in October and plan to pick up one of these while there, will be nice to be able to hook it to the trailer propane. Boy I hate those little green bottles
__________________
MacRae, 21ft
2016 GMC Yukon SLT
St.Albert Alberta
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07-22-2015, 02:19 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,544
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Sounds like a very similar story, Dave.
If we have need for a good controlled simmer, we use the SMEV stove inside, but would love to have the better control outside.
It seems either the Ranger, or the Explorer, will simmer nicely. Pretty certain I will go for the Ranger, but do want to see the Explorer close up first.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-22-2015, 04:12 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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All this talk about simmering has made me hungry, for some warm poutine......
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-22-2015, 06:47 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
All this talk about simmering has made me hungry, for some warm poutine......
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Interesting! I was just thinking: scrapple. I would have thought that true for Pa. residents in particular.
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