How often do you cook in your van?

pauline · Guru

How often do you cook in your van?

jimricho · Guru

Toaster, microwave, turbo oven, 5 litre "Easycook Billy" urn (I don't have a hot water system). (these items require power)

Gas stove-top with griller, kettle, frying pan, saucepan, "Shuttle Chef" (similar to "Dreampot"), coffee plunger.

Coleman camp stove and barbecue plate for outside use.

Edit; Oops, forgot to include the breadmaker!

-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 26th of November 2012 06:54:10 PM

Cupie · Guru

We have a Jayco with all the normal kitchen appliances that are regularly used .. inside mainly.

Microwave, toaster, jug, Elec Frypan, sandwich toaster, elec hotplates. etc. But we always use caravan parks.

The Gas range is used on occasion. Only if it is too blowy or wet outside.

The Gas oven/grill rarely used. Maybe 5 times in 15 years!

I prefer to cook outside, maybe only for the 'camping' feeling, but SHMBO prefers inside. Outside I use a cartridge type (propane?) double 'Ubeaut' BBQ. There are now lots of cheaper double burner types about. It is the most used cooker.

edit .. Sorry, my cartridge cooker is not propane .. it's one of those cheapie butane ones. Have used them consistently since our first round Australia trip in 2000 .. no problems. I even fit a nozzle to the gas cylinder to use as a blow torch. Works well .. so far! If we are having a BBQ for two at home, I often use it in preference to the 5 burner home BBQ.

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 09:17:36 AM

scotia59 · Senior Member

We are still trying to decide exactly what to put in our Viscount and I am hoping your answers to these few questions, might just make it easier.

How often do you cook in your van?

Do you use any of these: kettle, toaster, microwave, coffee maker?

Thanks in advance for helping me with yet another decision.

RosieW · Guru

In our rental, every day. In the new rig, we will have a toaster, and kettle. Cooking will be done outside by the boss' orders.

Firefly · Guru

Both in and out for us. It usually comes down to the weather.

We have one of those wire toasters we use, the type you use on an open fire.

We have a kettle that is a whistling kettle which can be used on gas or electric range. We did carry an electric one too but that doubled up for us.

We have and oven we use as well, I love it.

Microwave on the rare trip to a CP. If I am in a hurry or running late at a bushcamp, we will fire the genny and use the microwave but that is rare.

No coffee maker, but a lot have. smile

hartcrew · Newbie

We use both as well, all meats are cooked outside in the Baby Q as I have banned a mess in the oven inside, all the veggies etc are cooked inside plus I do a lot of baking in the oven inside as well

jimricho · Guru

I regularly travel in convoy with friends and when we're camped together we use their Baby Q rather than my camp stove. The stove is a legacy from when I had a tent trailer and I don't have the space to store a Baby Q otherwise I'd own one.

Popeye · Senior Member

We always cook outside. If raining still cook outside. Never inside. Hate the silent treatment.

petengail · Guru

We seldom cook inside, except when using the gas oven to cook baked veg. We usually cook outside on a gas ring when camped with the annex up. We do cook inside when overnighting. We dont have a microwave, kettle, coffee maker and usually only use a gas toaster. (We very seldom camp with power). I can though vouch for the quality and taste of Jimricho's home made bread.

beiffe · Guru

What a very complex question or questions.

I think you should advise what batteries and what inverter you have installed or intend to instal. Many will say that you cant run any of the items you requested information on
eg kettle, toaster, microwave, coffee maker but it is because they don't have the power available to do so.

It depends on the type of batteries and the amount of Ah you have available and the size of inverter that you have to deliver the power required. Also you need to look at the power required for each one as they all have different power requirements. Turn the item over and it will normally display a wattage and this will tell you what size inverter will be needed to run each and you need to have one that is approx 30% higher than your highest rated appliance.

Most vans and motor homes are not able to run the items suggested so the owners say no cant be done, but if you have the correct batteries and an inverter to run them and enough solar panels or other charging method to replace the power it is all possible.

I wont get into details or discussion but I have a 7 mtr bus and I use an induction stove to cook inside when required which is usually when in transit from one site to another.

When sited in a camp site I usually do all my cooking on a wood fire in a gas bottle converted to a fire pot.

I make my coffee using an Aldi coffee machine, I use a bread maker and a pie maker regularly (at least once a week when camping). I run all 240v appliances such as fridge and vacuum and also can run my aircon when it is hot and often for a couple of hours before retiring if the bus is hot like the last few days.

My hot water is a normal 240v unit but I did not instal the gas as I could not get a techi to install after booking 5 to do the job so I use the batteries and when required I can shower in hot water. On hot days it is very hot but most good days it is at least body temp and I can force it to heat more if required. I am now not reliant on keeping the gas bottle full and carrying the weight.

My bus has not been connected to 240v power or generator for over 12 months of constant use and I live full time in my bus.

So again I suggest you advise what batteries you either have or intend to get and the same with your inverter and also the solar you have or any other method of charging such as alternator etc. If you are going to use a generator to charge batteries etc then just use the generator to run the appliances.

Not trying to upset anyone but there are options available , just most people wont accept that there is other options to what is accepted by most as normal.

Regards
Brian

jimricho · Guru

When I'm "camped" (for want of a better word) on an un-powered site I just forego those items I mentioned in my earlier post that require 240v power rather than fit out with a mega solar/battery installation and/or genny. In saying that I point out that I'm not on the road full-time, my little rig would be quite inadequate if I were.

My camp stove is a cartridge type, propane, not one of the cheapie butane types, but I have an adaptor that enables me to use a normal gas bottle.

One thing threads like this always prove and that is what a diverse mob we are!

Baz421 · Guru

Like Popeye we cook outside as much as possible. Smells etc and easy clean up.

Easiest way to see what you need is have a guess as to basics and go, go, go. Say 2 weeks and see if you need to go back to get what you now need or buy essentials as you go.

Simple is good and if you go bush, go for non 240 volt stuff.

kiwi rainbow · Senior Member

We cook in our van virtually every day. We have an oven in which we cook casseroles, scones, pavs. We have an electric kettle that we only use when in caravan parks. Ditto for the microwave. Toast is usually over a camp fire. Everyone's lifestyle is different. (evening meals are quite often my husband cooks the meat and sometimes some accessories in the Weber and I do veggies and/or salads inside).

Pam · Guru

We have a tent style camper trailer and cook in the annexe or outside. Like Cupie when we holiday (we are not 'real' Grey Nomads) we stay on powered sites in caravan parks.
we have a 2 burner gas hotplates and a butane one. The butane one has a BBQ plate. we use saucepans on the gas ones.
We use a small electric kettle. we use a sandwich press for our toaster as that way we can have toasted sandwiches too.

Mr Red · Veteran Member

Hi Jimricho,

What sort of adaptor are we talking about for butane cooker.

Mr Red smile

Meredith · Senior Member

We probably cook about half our meals inside the van. We mainly use our gas stovetop or oven, but also have a toaster, electric kettle and microwave, which we only use at caravan parks. When camped away from power we use the grill under the cooktop for toast and a kettle on the stove. We would use the microwave least of all. I didn't think we would use the oven much when we got the van, but have found it really useful, and would rather have a van without a microwave than without an oven now.

We also cook a lot on our portable gas bbq.

-- Edited by Meredith on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 02:46:50 PM

jimricho · Guru

Mr Red wrote:
Hi Jimricho,
What sort of adaptor are we talking about for butane cooker.

Mr Red

Sorry mate, it's a propane not butane stove. The little cheapies you buy for about $20 at the dollar shops run on little butane catridges that look like a pressure pack.

Mine is a Coleman two burner job that runs on propane, aka LPG. These take a 650 gram disposable gas cartridge which is convenient but not a cheap way to buy gas if using it regularly. You can buy an adaptor that's approved for use with these stoves (I think Coleman make them) to connect to a normal LPG bottle. They're available with either a Companion or a POL fitting. It needs to be connected directly to the cylinder as the stove has its own regulator.

Jim

(use of Coleman Australia image is acknowledged)

Hylda&Jon · Guru

On our 2 year trip we did most of our cooking inside. We have a stove with an oven and used it like we were still at home except when using a Dreampot for casseroles and silversides. When conditions allowed we sometimes cooked on a campfire.

I have heard people say cooking inside leaves a permanent smell in a van but I found that false. I love my spiced cooking and currys and mexican and the smell never stayed.

Cheers

Jon

scotia59 · Senior Member

wow what a response, thank you to everyone for taking the time.

I think you have helped us decide,....I think!! lol It seems the majority of you cook outside, which is the way we have always gone while in the Kombi.

Meredith, I agree with you on the oven rather than Microwave. and a Baby-Q sounds really good too, Jimricho and Pauline, something else I will be looking into..

Beiffe......we are planning on 'free camping' and having 240volt appliances and lithium batteries installed and of course solar power. I can just hear Baz421 saying "no, no, no, not 240v" lol.

Can I ask you another question Beiffe, what hot water system you use? You say a normal 240v hot water system? This is something else we are trying to suss out.

It has taken quiet a lot to get our heads around all the technical side of things but I think we are just about there. We realise that the lithium batteries are a lot more expensive but all our research is pointing us in that direction. We will have a genny with us but it is more for backup than every day use.

The wiring is about to begin this weekend so wish us luck. confuse

And thanks again to everyone, its great to get so much feedback, and as Kiwi Rainbow said everyones lifestyle is different but we are hoping to get it 'nearly' right now at fitout, rather than having to change things later.

regards

Jean

-- Edited by scotia59 on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 04:49:12 PM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We cook meat and fish outside on the little gas thingy or campfire, and vegs/salads/desserts/sandwiches/breakfasts are all prepared and cooked inside. If we have power at a caravan park we use the toaster and elec jug, if not then we use the gas stove.
Tried the grill on the stove once... just once!
One item that gets used very frequently is the thermos... so much easier to make a cuppa while travelling than boil the kettle in the van. (Its a pop-top, we cant stand up in it with the top down)
Not so much concerned about the smell inside the caravan Jon, its the splatter that bothers me.

Santa · Guru

Straight forward questions desrerve a straight forward answer.

We cook most meals indoors using gas as our fuel source, except when we choose to BBQ outside.

No to toaster, use a wire gauze type camping toaster on top of a gas burner, works a treat.

Gas hot water when free camping, 240 volt when connected to mains.

12/240 volt fridge, does a great job, very easy on batteries.

When free camping 240 volt appliances (microwave, air con, etc) simply don't get used. smile

deb-gary · Senior Member

baby q outside for us but we are all different

beiffe · Guru

Jean & Ales it might be best if I answer you question very briefly so as not to start a fight on this forum as has happened on others and if you want more details and are serious about lithiums I will advise you where to get all the info you need to setup and believe me it is very easy and not expensive like the experts who have just used Google as their research tool try to get people to believe.

My water heater is the normal gas / 240v heater installed in most caravans and motor homes but as I have no gas it runs from my inverter. It is controlled from one of our secret tools but it will be made clear if you decide to join us in our little journey with Lithiums. I have had my system for nearly two years and since completion of testing etc have not been connected to external 240v. My bus runs entirely on solar

Have you purchased you batteries yet or just looking as we can help you make your decision and warn you of the types not to get etc as with oils there are lithiums and then there are lithiums.

Might be best to discuss via PM so as not to cause any arguments on here.

Regards
Brian

spice · Senior Member

Never, Rod

Cupie · Guru

beiffe wrote:
Jean & Ales it might be best if I answer you question very briefly so as not to start a fight on this forum as has happened on others and if you want more details and are serious about lithiums I will advise you where to get all the info you need to setup and believe me it is very easy and not expensive like the experts who have just used Google as their research tool try to get people to believe.

My water heater is the normal gas / 240v heater installed in most caravans and motor homes but as I have no gas it runs from my inverter. It is controlled from one of our secret tools but it will be made clear if you decide to join us in our little journey with Lithiums. I have had my system for nearly two years and since completion of testing etc have not been connected to external 240v. My bus runs entirely on solar

Have you purchased you batteries yet or just looking as we can help you make your decision and warn you of the types not to get etc as with oils there are lithiums and then there are lithiums.

Might be best to discuss via PM so as not to cause any arguments on here.

Regards
Brian

Brian ...

I am intrigued with your reference to your secret tools & lithium batteries.

How about starting a separate thread & sharing with us.

On this site we won't fight but there will certainly be differing views as well as much listening.

cheers .. Graham

turbopete · Senior Member

'Sorry mate, it's a propane not butane stove" does propane have a higher burn temp than butane?????

countryroad · Senior Member

I'm with you Cupie, I'd like to know also as I'm now thinking this is all too hard.

Difficult when you're by yourself, to make a decision, I was looking to find good ideas of what others are using, and finding good.

Does seem to go around the bush and then fades away.

brickies · Guru

Only when hungry

jimricho · Guru

turbopete wrote:
'Sorry mate, it's a propane not butane stove" does propane have a higher burn temp than butane?????

No idea Pete,

Propane is just another name for LPG (or more accurately, LPG is just another name for propane which is the correct chemical name). That is, the normal gas we buy to fill our cylinders. Some Coleman products use a non-refillable disposable cartridge or cylinder that comes pre-filled with propane. The cylinder can be seen on the right hand side of the stove in the picture in my earlier post.

Butane is the gas used in cigarette lighters and those stove/bbq igniters. It is also the gas used in those little $20 single burner stoves and comes in pressure pak like containers. It is stored at a much lower pressure than propane/LPG. (Techie types know this as the critical pressure).

Americans use the term propane rather than LPG or just "gas" to distinguish it from petrol which they call gasoline or gas.

Getting back on topic, having used both the stove and the Baby Q I would be in the Baby Q "camp" here. I'm not an expert on Baby Qs but I think one can be used in place of a normal oven and that could perhaps influence the decision on whether to go with an inside oven as well as a Baby Q.

Jim