Coleman propane vs. fuel lights??

[1911crazy]

My son just bought a coleman propane lantern and i have a coleman fuel lantern I notice the propane light doesn't throw off that much heat which is safer when used inside my trailer in hot weather.  But in the colder weather I like the coleman fuel lantern because it throws off so much heat its a dual purpose lantern. Ever notice this??      BigBill

Its great when the weather isn't cold enough to light the woodstove the lantern takes the chill off the air at 4am.   Cooking supper and having the light lite in the evening warms the trailer up until around 3 to 4am then it gets chilly but your in a sleeping bag so it isn't too bad by that time. But lighting the light again warms the trailer up.  Its a great trick for a little heat.

[cdnclub45]

The only real advantage to the propane is that its a lot quieter and theres no pumping involved and no seals and gaskets to worry about.  You can also hook your lights up to a 5 lb or 10 lb tank and they'll last forever.  But you're right!  The Coleman fuel burns a lot hotter and I've heated many a tent during moose season with one.

[David Parenteau]

I've got propane lanterns and stoves and I have white gas lanterns and stoves.I'll take the white gas ones hunting with me everytime,but for family camping trips,propane can be pretty nice.
Dave

[Siskiyou]

BigBill:  The biggest disadvantage to propane lamps and stoves is that they lose output in cold temperatures and high altitudes.  I just returned from a hunting camp at 7400 feet +.  The Coleman two mantel propane lamp did a fair job when hooked to small propane clyinder.  When hooked to a five gallon bottle it did great.  The problem was that I needed the top location on the post for something else.

I also used a Dual Fuel 2-mantel Coleman Lamp that out shined the propane lamp.  I love these lamps.

An older "Winchester Brand" propane stove was very slow heating things up in the blow freezing temperatures.  This stove has been dependable at lower altitudes, and warmer temperaturess.  In the past I have used a very old large burner Coleman Cabin Stove at this location.  It has been modified to use propane.  It has done a good job at the high altitude with it's large burners.  Sounds like a jet taking off.

The item that saved the day and took the large propane tank was the Coleman 15,000 btu heater.  In the cold wind it was far more effective then any campfire.  I have not been over to refill the tank, but it is still heavy.  This item was used early in the morning and after dark.  A darn good investment.  I should note that no campfires were allowed.  Even if campfires were allowed the heater was more effective.

I will be taking off for another hunt later next month.  Camp will be at lower elevation but I am looking at "borrowing" a Coleman 3-burner gas stove from my son for the trip.  I am looking at replacing the old Winchester stove.  It will not be with a propane stove because of the cold weather and high altitude problems.  I do not like waiting 30-minutes for water to boil.

[HuntenNut]

The reason for the cold weather poor performance of the propane is due to the lower vapor pressure it produces when its cold. Higher altitude complicates it even more to to lower atmospheric pressure.


Please keep in mind when using any propane or white gas device for heating that they produce carbon monoxide and need to have a lot of ventilation.

Better to wake up just cold than cold and dead.

I camp in weather down to 10deg with high humidity with no heat source other than my metabolism. Just need a good sleeping bag an pad and zip it up over your head.

[Daveinthebush]

I bought a Coleman SurvivalCat for a recent trip to use in my camper. At 10-20 degrees it just did not do it.  At 30-40 degrees it really took the chill off in the camper.  (Pop up truck camper but I did not put the top up.)The reason I would suggest it is because the claim is that it will last 27 hours on one tank of fuel.

It did burn for 2 whole nights and into the next.  Neat little product and you can use it for emergency use in the car.  Comes with waterproof matches and space blankets.

[Dand]

I might be wrong on this because its been a few years since I used a coleman white gas lantern in a tent. But this fall using a propane lantern we couldn't dry out our socks and the cook tent started raining on us.  

It might have just been different humidity but I recall heating a tent, and drying all my stuff out with a liquid fuel lantern and it didn't rain on me.  

Love a Coleman 1 burner lantern for the long dark in late fall and winter here.  They'll run a good 8 hours on a single filling if adjusted right.  But

I'm always paranoid about Carbon Monoxide too - gotta be careful about that for both propane or liquid.

[longwinters]

The white gas ones are also great for tracking after dark.  You can buy a shield for one side (keeps the light from shining in your eyes or getting too hot on the hands).  It makes blood really stand out.  Much better than any flashlite I have ever used.

Long

[pastorp]

The reason you could not dry your clothes with propane heat is propane releases moisture into the air as it burns. On our boats here in alaska most people use diesel fueled stoves for this reason. The diesel produces dry heat. After burning propane heat all night the boat windows will be covered with condensation. Regards, Byron

[Rustyinfla]

The best one I've ever used is a Petromax. they burn Kerosene the same way a Coleman burns white gas but they give off 1/2 again more light. They are sold all over the world and known by different names in every country but whatever you call them they are great.

               Rusty <><