🔥Are GAS campfires better than wood?🪵 | Hacks to make them AWESOME 🏕
These propane campfires are legal during (most) fire-bans, emit zero smoke, create instant heat, cool down quickly for transportation, and now... with a few hacks can be used as a camp stove (or oven)! This piece of gear is central to our kit and has changed the game for our family.
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0:00 Intro
0:28 Wood vs. Propane
1:19 BUY THIS FIRST
1:40 Outland Firebowl
2:03 Instant Heat - Quick Cool
3:36 Smoke-Free Heat
4:13 Slows Spreading of Pests
5:06 Less Wood Gathering Tools
5:29 Size Comparison
6:13 Kids Safety
6:51 Fuel Usage
7:42 Cold Weather Con
8:21 Tank Options
9:04 Hacks: Cooking Kit
10:11 Hacks: Magnets for Grate / Lid
12:28 Hacks: Flame Control
13:37 Hacks: Electronic Ignition
15:05 Warning for Cooking over Flame
16:02 Pre-Built vs. Home Built Kits
So, what do you think? Propane or wood?
Propane.
We have a Coleman Oven. They are quite handy.
Propane all the way! Thanks for the vid Kevin! Been waiting for this vid.
both i do both
Situation dependent. Love both. Love the fact that it takes the chill off when there’s fire restrictions.
We started using a propane fire pit last season primarily because it's the only camp fire allowed in the PNW come fire season. What we found was we liked it a lot better than our typical wood campfire. I can get the propane to burn for twice as long as a comparably sized pile of wood, it's easier to get going, and, best of all, you don't go to bed smelling like a campfire.
Thanks for sharing! We hear this story repeatedly in drought / dry season areas. It's nice to have a legal, safe option... And the convenience ends up winning most people over year-round.
Thanks. Eliminating beetle travel and reducing fire dangers is a no-brainer. This was very helpful. Smoke from a campfire might keep certain bugs away (use a Sage stick, Tea Tree Oil or DEET instead), but waking up with everything, EVERYTHING smelling like smoke until you can wash all your gear and yourself really sucks.
Propane fire pits are super lame, but not as lame as no fire during a fire ban, that's why we have one. There is always abundant wood available where we typically go so transporting firewood is not an issue. We started using a Solo Stove fire pit which greatly reduces the amount of smoke. I do really like the cooking ideas for the propane fire pit and will definitely keep them in mind next time we camp during a fire ban.
Using the paper towel roll as a make shift hot cast iron pan handle cover is genius
Adapt and overcome 🤣
The magnet thing is genius. Thanks man.
I’m on the same boat Northern California fires did a toll on us and along came fire restrictions so bam got that same fire bit. Nice video great work
We love our “Little Rd Campfire”. Use it all the time. We don’t smell like smoke. And it was cheap.
Just a Tip if you get black threaded pipe a couple pipe flanges stainless steel hardware attach one to the base of your fire pit and one to the lid of your fire pit then you have a radiant fire where the lid reflect the heat down
After watching you guys with the propane, we bought one last year for our 2nd trip across America. You nailed it, It works great because you don't have to worry about the fire bans or trying to find wood from state to state, but a huge one that wasn't mentioned.... we camped in some very wet, windy, snowy, cold areas this year and our favorite thing is that we can burn it on low, under a canopy. Of course there could be a risk of it melting or burning the roof, but with common sense and testing, or just keeping an eye on things, anything is possible. We made a small shelter with a roof and partial wall to keep the rain, snow and wind off of us and it worked great. It also helped keep the heat accessible to us.
That's a great point! I don't want to push that use too hard for obvious reasons but under a wet canopy you can really make things toasty without burning the awning, etc. 👍
Yes sir. Definitely have to use some common sense, which isn't so common anymore. Lol.
Good video! I recommend ignik. I have cheap version of the bowl like the video too but I prefer the portability and the heat that comes out of the side of the ignik
We've been eyeing that one on Amazon (and the price increases!) Seems like a solid concept. Might try that one too. 👍
I second this. Just picked one up for $100 through REI after discounts. A very solid built, quality product that doesn't come through in pictures. Much thicker metal than a traditional 50cal can. Already modified an old grill grate that slides inside so we can cook on it if needed. 10/10 recommend 👌
@@LifestyleOverland ignik firebox price just dropped to $149 from $199 on Amazon, I had to purchase one since space is limited on my Tacoma setup.
Well, I'm still a wood guy, always will be. However, we did purchase one simular to the one you use because of the fire restrictions in the last few years. We have not really started to use it yet, but look forward to it. As with anyting there are pros and cons. All things being equal, we will use wood, if not the propane one.
We have been using that same fire pit for the past several years as there is no any other safe/legal solution if you are camping throughout the west. the greatest benefit (other then not starting a wild fire) is on cold mornings when you have an instant heat. We do occasionally carry firewood for the "romantic/nostalgic" effect. We switched to their 14" square model last year as it fits way nicer in the back of our Gladiator. And good luck with the new family addition !!!
Thanks for the advice Kevin. Love the video 😎👍
A hack regarding the heat escaping straight up! If you use a basic canopy/tent (not enclosed, just the roof) gazebo, it works great in cold Temps with these fire pits as the roof deflects the heat and traps it while there's still plenty of ventilation from the gases. You can fit multiple chairs around the fire pit under a small gazebo and it's hot
Having camped for a long long time we always had a wood fire... and ALWAYS had clothes that smelled of smoke...BOO!!! Now I have purchased this firepit and can't wait to check it out. My daughter and her husband use the Solo fire pit in their yard, so they still burn wood but it isn't out in the wild. Thanks for the tips, especially the one about the oven (we really love ours) and now to find magnets. Until next time... travel safe.
Another great one, Kevin. Super informative. You changed my mind.
Very good advice on making sure a fire is “dead out”. So many of us have to respond to unattended campfires
Great content 👌
learned a few things, thanks
Very well presented, seems much more in depth than most! Thank you
Love it. Got it.
Before I went to the LavaBox/FireCan option I used one of these. I actually just put my cast iron pan directly onto the rocks and it worked perfectly.
That'll work too if it's stable enough. We've put our old percolator in there before and it did great. 👍
How do you like your Lava Box GrumpyGobbler?
@@wendywitzig119 I like the LavaBox, but I like the FireCan better. At first the FireCan didn't put out enough flame for my liking, but I modified and now it's absolutely perfect.
@@TheGrumpyGobbler Just bought the ignik fire can, I would be interested as to your modifications.
@@ScootersBasement Here you go: kzhead.info/sun/laWCnaZuoXhommg/bejne.html
implementing everything you highlighted in this video.
Sweet idea and thanks for sharing... I have the larger 24" firebowl to build now~ the Lifestyle Overland way!!
Very cool
I picked up one of the outland fire bowls a couple of years ago (Probably after watching a Lifestyle Overland video) and we love being able to have a fire during fire ban season as well as the simplicity of having heat when you need it and being able to pack up without having to use a lot of water to douse a flame. I recently saw a heat deflector that is designed for the solo stove and it got me thinking if something like this would work for one of these fire bowls. It isn't cheap, but maybe an idea for someone to design one for use with the Outland. I might have to pick up one of the grates to give the fire bowl a dual purpose.
Thanks! I love the convenience of gas fires, plus I get very congested from smoke and wind up on a Benadryl or something. I opted for an ammo can pit and heat comes out the side holes as well. And it's compact. Note: 20lb exchanged tanks are only refilled to 15lbs; whereas refilled tanks are refilled to 20lbs and are usually cheaper. Exchanged tanks are a ripoff, but convenient. Enjoy the Holidays and be safe out there!
Love your video Very informative Help me decide to buy one for a loved one who enjoys the outdoors. I plan on getting one for myself one too lol happy holidays!
We do both , they each have there pro's and cons , we mostly use propane after a long day of doing stuff ....eh
It was about a year ago I saw a propane firepit on KZhead for the first time for overlanding. At first I thought it was too “Gucci” and kind of lame. As I saw more and more videos it started to grow on me. I suggested to my friend who just bought a tear drop trailer get one. After camping with him a few times I was sold on it. 90% of the time I’d rather have a propane fire. Once in awhile a food fire is fun if it’s a big group and have lots of good wood. I just recently got the LavaBox ammo can firepit and I absolutely love it. Gonna try cooking on it in a few weeks.
An MC Ranch fire reflector would help with gaining back the radiant heat. I use mine with a diy propane fire and it’s great, adds a lot of heat and ambiance.
I just bought one. I will try it out this summer. The portability of a propane fire means you can locate it anyplace you want. Place it close to your awning and use the fire reflector to project lost radiant heat and fire ambience toward you.
Lots of good info however, one point to mention; neodymium magnets (rare earth magnets) will lose their magnetism if heated. They have to get fairly hot but it’s worth looking into if you are going to use them to fix the grill and the lid. If you just want to use them for the lid, which is a stellar idea, then install them on the lid and not the fire pan. As well, they are very brittle and may chip or break during rough usage, leaving knife sharp edges. Cheers.
Hi,,,,Wow this is amazing....and this vedio VERY VERY special....fire bowl....🔥😎
Congratulations on the great news ❤
Thanks so much!
I have been following you using the firebowl so I bought one. I will probably weld up a gate this year and believe it but I rarely use a campfire at the best of times
I just took delivery yesterday of this same firepit. Love the hacks. I caught the firepit on Amazon during a sale for $79 and it is now $104.70. Talk about timing. I want to hook it up to the RV but the factory rep says the propane run shouldn't be more than 10 ft. I am going to try this afternoon and see if it works. It will be more like 35 ft. Another hack for those who like a wood fire is to use concrete logs that look like real logs. I have used them in home gas fireplaces for a real nice look.
I have the same setup you showed along with the ikamper disco and I suspend the cast iron over my propane fire pit. I suggest taking a look at that setup as well. Personally I feel it’s hard to beat a well seasoned lodge cast iron skillet.
Agreed!
Here in the south in a lot of areas you have to have wood that that has to meet certain standards for safety and has a seal on the container. So so they can deal with a problem of infested wood coming to some areas. So in that case real wood can be a real pain or if you have the wrong wood can be very expensive. I'll stick with propane thank you very much and use Deet
I just added the magnets and the lighter. I found it easier to mount the magnets to the lid, up against the lip. Now you will have bolt threads sticking up but I plan to get acorn nuts and use those instead of regular flat nuts.
Bought this fire pit a few months back, love it. But like you mentioned it burn through propane on higher settings... I have not cooked one it yet but do have the grate. Magnets are an awesome idea and will be doing just that.
I'm new to camping and overlanding. I've seen a few of your videos, they are pretty good. This video however led me to subscribe to your channel. I'm disabled with a spinal cord injury and it's difficult to maintain a wood fire, I'm especially careful about hauling wood in, and especially ensuring the fire is completely out, which means I have to tote water, lots of water. The propane fire was a game changer for me. It gave me the confidence to solo camp and go off-road. I have the large Little Red Camp Fire, it saves me space in the 4Runner. I was looking for other options with that unit and you just provided that, I'll be looking to modify that unit to allow for cooking and use the 20lb propane unit right now I'm using the Iknik 13ld bottle with carrying case. Thanks
We run our little red pit under our screened in room to improve heat.
We’ve been propane since the get go, as there were a lot of fire restrictions when we first got started, and….hear me out….don’t like to be smoky either lol😂. Anyway, my $25-30 hack was to get a mirrored stainless steel sheet, I cut it in half and added a piano hinge I already had in the garage. Boom. Instant radiant heat reflector.
The piezo addition is pretty cool. Those things fail at a pretty high rate so you might want to pick up a few to last some years before the Chinese manufacturer discontinues that size.
"We can't go to bed yet --- we still have FIREWOOD!" Hand me another beer! Propane is smart. In a moderate breeze, which was not blowing a few minutes age, there are no sparks blowing around from a propane pit.
I love that thing, and it works well because I already carry a gas bottle in the Caravan, can't say Ive seen any here, it also comes down to weight as well, the authorities here in Aus are getting strict with weight compliance especially towing a caravan.
Have to admit, that is pretty cool. It is a big pain to deal with acquiring firewood and/or dragging firewood out to the woods with you,,,
Yay!
Thanks for the video! I was wondering if you can share some tips also for how to safely carry the propane tank inside the car?
Used propane last year for the first time on our trip to the Canadian border from Southern California and with fire bans the whole way it saved our bacon. Definitely a fan of the instant on and off. I do still prefer a regular fire for cold the radiant heat makes it much nicer
If I was traveling where there was a burn ban and no other option, I might consider one. Until then, I'm going to stick with the renewables.
Ah ha thought it would be magnets instead of the welded tabs/ring on the grate.... Certainly thinking about the propane option given the increase and length of fire bans
I'm going to see if I can do this with my firepit. I have the same brand except I have the FireCube which is a 14" version. So it is a bit more portable. Still puts off the same amount of heat as my 24" one that I have on the Patio. We also have the Ignik but I found that it doesn't put out enough fire for 3 or 4 people. You have to be right on it. The wide version of the 14 fits the role better. I will have to look at modifying the Ignik too.
Everyone I've talked to who went with the square model loves it for that reason. 👍
Thanks for this video. I bumped into it checking videos of the trail fire. Thanks for the tip of the 20lbs LP tank, how easy to exchange it and how much it lasts. I was thinking getting a 5 or 11lbs thank. Do you have a recommendation on a easy to set, durable and spacious (6 or more people) camping tent?
I bought my Camp Chef Redwood 19 inch at REI for 50% off, they’re still listing at $109 as of 12/16/22. My pop-up fire pit is brand new and sits in the garage collecting dust, ha Excellent video. Give me some ideas! Probably cooking in a pan no problem. You may want to reconsider direct grilling - you’re dealing with flames that are yellow which means incomplete combustion. Impurities and unburnt hydrocarbons can enter your food.
Thanks for the video, just bought the fire pit from Rei. I am new to carrying and storing propane cylinders. Currently, I have an Gladiator with tonneau cover so wanter to know how can travel safely with propane cylinder. Secondly, I live in an apartment is it safe store the propane cylinder in the patio without any bag. Thanks for answering, I want to take all the measures to be safe
I ditched the lava stone in my propane fire pit and put in tumbled stone rocks. Heavier but better heat distribution and not the mess of crushed lava stones.
Propane or bust! I know a guy who has a 4 in 1 BBQ Wok Fire Pit and Pizza Oven much lighter and takes up less space than your set up hit me up for one
I have the trailfire. Fire pit and I can cook with it
We're testing that next. Have an issue with the latches right out of the box though. Waiting on a response from them to figure that out.
Does it work well with a heat deflecting shield
I hope more useful vedio see again..🤔
Here's a link to the pit and parts we used: lso.link/firepit
We bought that firepit late this summer. Its great.. But didn't come with that lid.
I was wondering if a 22” or 24” grate with feet would basically hold itself on with the feet.
We purchased the same firepit along with a 5 lb propane tank this year and love it for the same reasons. However, in the cooler weather the 5 lb tank would frost over and the propane would almost stop flowing. Any suggestions for using it when it gets cold outside?
Put it closer to the fire. 😊
👍
I have a "plow disc" that I am going to see if it will work for cooking. Have you tried or heard of someone using a scottle that way?
If what I asked wasn't clear I meant using over the propane burner/heater/fire pit
Why didnt you buy the 22 inch grate?
Hank Hill would be proud, I tell ya what!
Did anybody ever test any different substrates to see if it works better than pumice rock? I was wondering about glass or ceramic logs for radiating heat better.
Which pan do you use?
hej, jag använda den snowpeak fire pit redan över många år och i mina öga är en av det bästa fire pit´s som finns...relativ små pack mått och massa tillbehör som är riktigt bra och genomtänkt. hälsingar från sverige / småland
Thanks for the input! We will have to check that one out as well. 👍
👍👍👍👍👍
😎🙌
For the most part we have went away from having a fire. Turned our evenings into movie night. Clam screen shelter and youtube or a DVD on a laptop. If cold we have a portable diesel heater. Must be getting old.
Mucho más ecológico para cuidar el medio ambiente
a 17 inch pot is a skiddle, skillet griddle lol
We NEVER build a wood fire anymore. Thanks to turning us on to the propane firepit!
I prefer wood but like being able to turn our gas one off and not worry about hot coals. Also the gas one costs about $3.50 an hour to run.
Yes, the quick shut off is nice. How did you come up with that figure? Your propane must be more expensive than ours.
The only thing i see your missing is a tripod with a dutch oven hanging over it.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇮🇳
always take a chain saw u may need to cut fallen trees on the road
I do have to question the wood transport thing. Honestly something has stopped the bugs from migrating for all these centuries. I willing to bet weather is a big reason. You know the same reason ohio doesn't have alligators
It's primarily non-native pests from other countries. The pine beetle destroyed our family farm back in the 90's. Now there's zero yellow or white pines on the place. Sourcing wood locally won't stop the issue but it does slow it down. Many National Parks on the east coast require heat treated wood now for that reason. But honestly, I don't think it's widely publicized. The fine is expensive though from what I've heard.
@@LifestyleOverland the other countries I get but state to state wouldn't make a difference. Heck NC exports Christmas trees throughout the entire country. Unfortunately we live in a time of world commerce and are seeing the eco system change because of it.
I hear ya. Definitely some opposing strategies and rules coming from the government. Either way though, that fine will sting someone and we want folks to be aware.
@LifestyleOverland now to important things. Is anyone working on lockers for the new gen tundra. TRD's are very hard to come by right now
I know hank hill sponsored this with out a doubt I tell you what
Camp dudu pot 😂😅
The smoke keeps away the mosquitoes didn't you know
Someone needs to tell our mosquitoes that...
Can’t you make the stand unbolt with wing nuts and flip so it’s stacked and lower profile on your roof rack? You muricans need to worry about fuel mileage now!
Is staying in a “camper” with tv and all the man made distractions camping? Nah…. I’ll keep my wood fire and primitive camping, I go camping to get away from all the distractions ,technology and people of today. Propane does have its place but I will always go to wood first and foremost unless I’m back packing.
Hmm, not really looking to define camping. It comes in a lot of forms and we don't judge either way. I am curious, though; What do you do during fire bans? (Or, maybe they're not something you've had to deal with?)
well, this is just a long winded advertisement.
Negative. Bought it ourselves. This channel is viewer supported.
My girl would be cold by a real fire but wouldn't use blankets or her coat because of the smell but with the gas she is good now with some cover along with the fire pit.👍
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