Camp stove fuel Question: Full size tank or the little store bought bottles

For a long self supported trip? I have a camp Chef two burner stove. We are planning an offroad trip next summer where we will be camping for over two week as in 14 days with just the camp stove for meals...) I can carry a full size 20lbs propane tank, but wondering if a bunch of the little bottles wouldn't be a better choice. Input or opinions?

 

Why would little be better?

Why stove only for 14 days? No open fire allowed where you are going?

 

I am sure fires are allowed. I grew up fire free... and I just don't think about that option. We are circumnavigating the Bighorn mountains in Wyoming. I am just trying to decide if I want a big tank hanging off the swing away tire carrier or not...

 

Big tank to refill a couple one pounders for use at camp?

 

Get a 5lb tank. It costs a bit up front but is cheaper to fill than to buy a single 1lb disposable, lasts 5 times as long, creates less waste and takes up a lot less space than a 20lb bbq tank.

$50 FLAME KING YSN5LB 5 Pound Propane Tank Cylinder, Great For Portable Grills, Fire Pits, Heaters And Overlanding, White

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-YSN5LB-Propane-Cylinder/dp/B077BLDL7T

 

I haven't camped that long yet, but I sprung for the full size 20lb propane tank for my gear. Have currently used it on two weekend camping trips and the gauge is just below the full line. Used with a Camp Chef Yukon stove. Not sure which two burner stove you have...if it's the smaller compact ones, a 20lb would likely be huge overkill.

That being said, I would think having one propane tank off the swingout would be better than carrying approx. 16 propane bottles. But then I'd say it also depends how you're packing. If you'll have a good amount of room to spare, you could easily get away with the multiple 1lb bottles. I personally would prefer the ease of use of just hooking up one tank and being done with it, but then it also depends if your 14 day trip will involve you packing up and moving every day/couple of days, or if you'll be in one spot the entire time.

Costs under $20 to fill a 20lb tank at a UHaul, and lasts about 4.5x longer than that 5lb bottle above

 

That’s a lot of fuel. For our two week trip I think we went through 3 disposables.

 

I can't see you using more than 4 or 5 of the smaller 1lb tanks. Hauling a 20lb tank seems unnecessary.

 

I get 4-5 days off one 1# propane bottle just using a Coleman stove. For a 14 day trip I'd bring 4 or 5 bottles, easier to pack than a full size tank and then learn how to refill the small bottles at home off a 20#er. Should be able to refill for less than a dollar.

 

If trip is out west I would bet NO campfires will be allowed anywhere.
I got a Little Red Campfire so can sit by a fire at night so we don't get bored and go in the tent too early!
As such a 20 lb tank and can run your stove off it too.

 

I invested in a few Flame King refillable 1lb bottles. Sure I could probably refill the coleman non refillable bottles but I like my eyebrows

 

We did a three week trip last year and I think we used a tank and a half of the disposable Coleman type. Admittedly we only used the stove about half the time,b but it was for breakfast and dinner when we did use it. I think a 20 pounder might be overkill.

 

Never heard of those Flame Kings before, will check them out. However, I've refilled 100 or more Coleman bottles and if done correctly, don't think it's any riskier than refilling a bulk tank.

 

The main difference between the flame king 1lb bottles and coleman is the FK have a bleeder valve that bleeds off propane once its filled to the proper level. No guess work, I don't need to bother with eyeballing it and weighing the canister

 

I've got one of the 11# tanks that I carry on occasion if I decide to use propane but I generally prefer Coleman fuel (personal preference). I originally planned to get a 5# but the 11# tank is only slightly larger, it was essentially the same price at Sportsman's Warehouse and it holds a lot more fuel. I also have one of the manifold pole things (not the Coleman, I can't remember which brand but it clamps onto the handle), one of the small Coleman single mantle lanterns that I put on the top and a Mr Heater extension hose to run to my Buddy heater. I'm not a fan of the 1# tanks as they're expensive, bulky and heavy for what they are; even on low a Buddy heater will drain one in a night.

 

I have heard that using a 20# tank can clog your stove up since some refill places tanks aren't as clean as others. It could be more harmful in heaters than stoves since they have smaller orifices for the fuel to go through. There are inline filters that you can use to make using a 20# tank work as intended. Can't hurt to use a filter I guess.

 

I bring my 20 lb tank and use that, but always have a few small bottles just in case.

 

I've never run into any problems running a stove, lantern or Coleman heater off a 20# tank. I also don't exchange tanks, just get mine refilled.

However I recently purchased a Mr. Buddy heater and in the instructions it said there was a potential for problems if you used a non-Mr. Buddy hose. They recommended a filter be used for those hoses but you wouldn't need a filter for the Mr. Buddy hose.

Seems like the type of hose used might be more of an issue than the tank.

 

I ran into this problem when I first got my Camp Chef stove and ran it off a #20. Had to replace the hose twice before it would work properly.