our steel firepot does not need much wood so only have a 'real' campfire if wood is easy to find. We have a mesh tray under the drawbar, carry a bit in the firepot which is bolted to the back bumper otherwise we use a hessian bag in the tub. No need to carry much. We always look for and gather wood at least 20k's from where we intend to spend the night, especially important on the Nullabor as there are generally no sticks or wood within walking distance of the free camps. We get cross when we see people breaking off branches from living trees to feed their smokey fire.
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 28th of August 2015 09:07:56 AM
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Yep - choofers are the way to go, don't need lots of wood, and you can ok on it - jaffles, snags (which we put on skewers to eat).
And, Barry and Jenny, agree with you totally, re breaking trees, another pet hate is people leaving fires smouldering when they leave a camp, as did a group from a well known caravan club, at a camp along the Nullarbor.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
For our choofer I cut it to fit inside XXXX 30 can beer cartons, neat as and box fits in many places, while I drink the next carton in preparation for its "real" use - to store firewood.
But I know some will go or or or or think I'm a .
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Why is it that a camp is not a camp until a fire is lit? Some people we've encountered have started hacking into the bush & lit a fire as soon as they get out of their car on arrival.
After they've lit it they don't go anywhere near it except to chuck some more wood on.
We enjoy the occasional campfire as well but it's not a necessity.
We carry our small amount of wood in a hessian bag which goes in the tub of our ute.
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
I can cook brekky on my rocket stove with bits of stick the size of my fingers. Pick it up anywhere fallen from gum trees. I also take dried out fruit tree cuttings (from my back yard) the size of my fingers for the times I cant find any. 3 kg of these sticks (soaked in lamb fat) cooks a lot of dinners. I stagger at the amount of wood people burn to cook a camp oven meal when small concentrated fires are so more effecient. Camp ovens and large Woks (with a lid)over small hot flames can be great at baking roasts and rolls etc. Use a trivet to raise the baking stuff off the bottom. My good friends on the other hand like to take a trailer load and at times have the flames a couple of feet high.
-- Edited by campingnut on Friday 28th of August 2015 11:47:30 AM
For our choofer I cut it to fit inside XXXX 30 can beer cartons, neat as and box fits in many places, while I drink the next carton in preparation for its "real" use - to store firewood.
But I know some will go or or or or think I'm a .
If it's XXXX Gold, the proper use is for putting out fires, not drinking it
You know why XXXX Gold is like making love in a canoe don't you
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Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
agree with the need by so many to have roaring great fires. Unless its that cold that you need lots of heat, many group fires are for the company and attract other nomads, so a small fire is just fine. We don't carry wood with us. If we intend to free camp, then we will stop at a few places before we get there and pick up dry small sticks and if its gum, you don't need much to have a cheery fire and chat for a few hours. It annoys me when people (men) pile on great logs onto a fire and have a roaring blaze and then worse, still, put more on when everyone intends to retire for the night, leaving good timber to burn away
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
You need to start looking for wood at least 10Km before a good camp spot, there won't be any closer than that if it's a good spot.
When we had a Coaster with a big bull bar across the front we tied the wood to that.
We cut lengths the width of the bus (about 2M) X about 100mm diameter and tied them to the bull bar. we could easily carry 10 lengths.
We do have a chainsaw but as often as not we would use a bow saw to cut the wood for carrying to the next camp spot.
Now we have a motorhome with no bulbar on the front. I welded two slippers onto the back bumper (it's steel, old fashioned) and I cut a star picket in half and I can slip these into the shoes and stack about the same 10 lengths onto the extensions, tie them securely and away we go.
We have been passed by police cars on countless occasions in every state, while carrying wood in this way and never once been stopped or questioned about it. Make sure you don't obscure licence plate or lights.
Works for us. Have fun and enjoy a campfire, it brings people together faster than a drop dunny brings blowflies.
There's a thing, once when I was parked at a shopping centre with about 10 logs tied to the front of the Coaster an old bloke* walking past commented, he said "Gee, that would hurt a person if you hit them with that on the front of your bus." I said "Yea, probably about as much as the bulbar if the wood wasn't there." * well he was at least as old as me.
For our choofer I cut it to fit inside XXXX 30 can beer cartons, neat as and box fits in many places, while I drink the next carton in preparation for its "real" use - to store firewood.
But I know some will go or or or or think I'm a .
If it's XXXX Gold, the proper use is for putting out fires, not drinking it
You know why XXXX Gold is like making love in a canoe don't you
OK Bob you got me again,,,lol.
I usually drink Hahn except when on the road and get the cans in the fridge better (more) and easier of to crush and dispose of responsibly,,, Is that enough grovelling??????
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Like the idea of a mesh infill for the A frame to carry some small amounts of firewood, I'm strongly considering an Ozpig to add to our camping gear. My A frame is fast becoming crowded though with the battery/toolbox & gas bottle installed on a fairly short frame, best place for wood though I think.
Like the idea of a mesh infill for the A frame to carry some small amounts of firewood, I'm strongly considering an Ozpig to add to our camping gear. My A frame is fast becoming crowded though with the battery/toolbox & gas bottle installed on a fairly short frame, best place for wood though I think.
We've had an Ozpig for over 5 years, best bit of gear we've ever bought & uses minimal wood. After cooking open up the front door & it radiates a lot of heat to sit in front of.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Sunday 30th of August 2015 05:40:06 AM
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