1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

leave no trace fire pit

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by BalutTaco, Jan 22, 2020.

  1. Jan 22, 2020 at 11:29 AM
    #1
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    In the market for a fire pit! Any recommendation?
     
  2. Jan 22, 2020 at 2:16 PM
    #2
    huachuca

    huachuca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    Member:
    #61224
    Messages:
    311
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Al
    Tarboro, NC
    Vehicle:
    2012 4WD DC w/TRD offroad
    With all the fire bans, rules against bringing your own wood (I understand and agree with this policy) and the cost and quality of buying local wood, we went to a propane fireplace a few years back and it hasn't been that bad. Ours is a Campfire-in-a-Can which is no longer in business but there are several other options out there. This one is similar to what I have and the company has been around for several years https://www.allrv.com/camco-portabl...7GK7SfJk2uePlaUAGFhnuAB5biuafkUBoC9XsQAvD_BwE

    If you're an expo member, there are several threads with reviews of various models i.e. https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/which-propane-camping-fire.75182/

    I replaced the fake ceramic logs with glass fireplace beads which we like much better.
     
    ETAV8R likes this.
  3. Jan 22, 2020 at 4:46 PM
    #3
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    Dang... I thought about a propane fireplace but I love having a real natural fire.
     
    Taco 422, Superdave1.0 and Sand Dog like this.
  4. Jan 23, 2020 at 5:44 AM
    #4
    huachuca

    huachuca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    Member:
    #61224
    Messages:
    311
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Al
    Tarboro, NC
    Vehicle:
    2012 4WD DC w/TRD offroad
    I prefer wood as well, especially if I can bring my own from home where I have plenty of seasoned oak and hickory. We live in NC and most of our short trips are to the Outer Banks or the Smokies. No campgrounds on the OBX allow wood fires except on the beach below the high tide line and a pit isn't necessary. In our mountains, campfires are permitted but the wood must be USDA certified as kiln dried. No way I'm paying $5-6 for a half dozen pieces of fir or hemlock that won't last an hour. Since retirement, we travel to the southwest for 6-8 weeks each year and its not uncommon to have a ban on cooking with charcoal much less a wood campfire.

    Hence the propane unit. Its permitted even when wood fires are prohibited (its always good to check with staff first though). Last year while camped at Watchman in Zion, we had the CFIAC going and a neighbor reported us to the rangers. The LEO arrived, cleared us and explained to the neighbor the Park Service considered these to be simply a large propane stove.

    Other advantages are the portability and lack of smoke. The shot below was taken at a campground in Black Hills NF on a morning with sleet and freezing rain steadily falling. We were comfortable sitting under the awning with the valve about half open on the campfire-in-a-can.
    IMG_6620.jpg

    For a wood firepit, if you have room, I've used the tub from old washing machine and it worked well, just drill several holes a few inches from the bottom. Otherwise, there are all sorts of folding options out there but I don't have any first hand experience for recommendations.
     
  5. Jan 23, 2020 at 11:08 AM
    #5
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    how long does one propane tank last you? I assume you use it to cook aswell?
     
  6. Jan 23, 2020 at 11:13 AM
    #6
    ktmrdr

    ktmrdr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Member:
    #162756
    Messages:
    418
    Gender:
    Male
    tundraconvert likes this.
  7. Jan 23, 2020 at 11:20 AM
    #7
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
  8. Jan 23, 2020 at 12:01 PM
    #8
    huachuca

    huachuca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    Member:
    #61224
    Messages:
    311
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Al
    Tarboro, NC
    Vehicle:
    2012 4WD DC w/TRD offroad
    We usually run it a half open or less and a 20 lb tank will last around 20 hours. IIRC, the max BTU as stated by the mfr was 64,000 but don't really know how accurate that number may be. It did come with a grill rack that sits above the burner but I've never cooked anything more than the grand daughter's smores on it. We're old school and still use liquid fuel Coleman stoves and lanterns from the sixties for cooking and lighting.

    Breakfast in Great Basin NP, NV
    IMG_6480 (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2020
  9. Jan 23, 2020 at 12:16 PM
    #9
    ktmrdr

    ktmrdr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Member:
    #162756
    Messages:
    418
    Gender:
    Male
    The solostoves are awesome. I can't say enough good things about them. The model I bought is the mid size and just to big for truck camping IMO.
     
    BalutTaco[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  10. Jan 23, 2020 at 2:20 PM
    #10
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    Gotcha, I think i prefer the fold-able fire pit set up compare having a big cylinder in my truck bed. Probably will get banged up back there! LOL
     
    tundraconvert likes this.
  11. Jan 23, 2020 at 2:28 PM
    #11
    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2015
    Member:
    #166789
    Messages:
    7,469
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Johnson
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    22 Tremor 402A, 22 T4R ORP
    We love the solo stove, I have the Campfire model but it's a little small so I just ordered the Ranger today.

    IMG_3466.jpg
    IMG_3472.jpg
     
  12. Jan 23, 2020 at 3:46 PM
    #12
    jet speed

    jet speed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    Member:
    #68685
    Messages:
    77
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD OR DCSB
    The Snowpeak fire pit is pricey, but I feel like it’s been worth every penny. It’s very heavy duty, built great, and folds completely flat to pack away in the truck.
    D1F34DA3-3A1E-4716-BA5B-890DA32017A4.jpg
     
    Tye, ugawino, G.T. and 1 other person like this.
  13. Jan 24, 2020 at 12:08 AM
    #13
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    hows the fiskar axe? do you like that?
     
  14. Jan 24, 2020 at 12:09 AM
    #14
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    does this have to be on a even ground? Will it tilt?
     
    smartbomb likes this.
  15. Jan 24, 2020 at 12:23 AM
    #15
    grrck

    grrck Reluctant Wizard

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Member:
    #233435
    Messages:
    63
    First Name:
    Garrick
    Woodbridge, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Super White SR 2.7 5SPD 4WD
    Not OP, but you will see those Fiskars axe/hatchets also marketed as Gerber, or co-branded as Gerber/Fiskar. Saying they are outstanding is an understatement. I have had the same small 8" Gerber/Fiskars hatchet for well over a decade of heavy use.

    A couple years ago we went on a scout camping trip, everybody and their brother seemed to have brought a hatchet mostly purchased from Walmart or Harbor Freight with either a wood or metal handle. A few people commented on mine and wondered how the plastic would hold up to abuse, and I told them that it was as close to indestructible as you were going to get out of an impact tool.
    3 days later, there was a pile of shame next to our wood pile of bent and broken hatchets (at least 5 of them) while I was still using mine to hack and baton wood for the entire weekend.

    I rehang and refurbish axes and hatchets, but honestly the Fiskars axes are the only ones I would trust if they are the only thing you are bringing with you.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2020
  16. Jan 24, 2020 at 12:30 AM
    #16
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco [OP] Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    have you try the maul axe? I'm debating to get one of those too.
     
    grrck[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Jan 24, 2020 at 12:47 AM
    #17
    grrck

    grrck Reluctant Wizard

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2017
    Member:
    #233435
    Messages:
    63
    First Name:
    Garrick
    Woodbridge, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Super White SR 2.7 5SPD 4WD
    I haven't only because I have a nice maul I refurbed a couple years ago and have had no reason to pick up another (not that that usually stops me). I've heard great things about it though. For the price I don't think you could possibly go wrong.
     
    BalutTaco[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  18. Jan 24, 2020 at 1:27 AM
    #18
    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2015
    Member:
    #166789
    Messages:
    7,469
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Johnson
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    22 Tremor 402A, 22 T4R ORP
    It’s great. Cuts well, holds an edge. I like the shape of the handle, less likely to slip, reduce chances of injury
     
    BalutTaco[QUOTED][OP] and grrck like this.
  19. Jan 24, 2020 at 4:39 AM
    #19
    jet speed

    jet speed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    Member:
    #68685
    Messages:
    77
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD OR DCSB
    I don’t know how much uneven ground I’ve had it on, but it’s very sturdy, not tippy at all. It’s surprisingly heavy.
     
    BalutTaco[QUOTED][OP] and grrck like this.
  20. Jan 24, 2020 at 7:27 AM
    #20
    G.T.

    G.T. Official TW Burrito Inspector

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2010
    Member:
    #40169
    Messages:
    19,502
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    G.T.
    CONUS
    Vehicle:
    2011 Pyrite Mica 4WD DCLB TRDSport w/ FlipPac
    Some stick on chrome from pep boys
    For wood burning we carry a medium Snow Peak pack and carry kit. For organic material fire bans we bring a really cool folding LPG kit from Quickfire.
     
    BalutTaco[OP] and grrck like this.
To Top