CAMPING HOTWATERGAS HEATER

Submitted: Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 01:16
ThreadID: 26055 Views:4379 Replies:13 FollowUps:15
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Could anyone advise which is the best portable intstamatic h.w.s for camping. Where to buy ? What sort of prices etc.
THANKS IN ADVANCE DMECH
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Reply By: Member - Jack - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 06:05

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 06:05
It is not gas, but I am more than happy with the Twine heater installed in my 80 Series. Easy to install, and by regulating the flow of water at the shower head, can get close to boiling if needed. Cost was just a tad shy of $500, including a couple of mounting brackets.

I think there is a link on this site which gives full details.

Jack
The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get. (Lewis Carroll-Alice In Wonderland)

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AnswerID: 127862

Reply By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 07:08

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 07:08
I also have the twine sits under bonnet its always there no need to find somewhere to store it.
Sometimes a bit of a bugger to get going it dosnt draw water you need to prime it.

All the best
Eric
AnswerID: 127867

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:10

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:10
Coleman ,totally portable and self contained , the primus is smaller but you need 4 hands to carry ie: unit+gas+water+ battery, where Coleman has all but water in 1 unit .. nothing wrong with vehicle mounted units such as the Twine or Glind except for the fact they are NOT portable ,,shift the car to the shower tent then shift again to next of the kitchen for hot water and have vehicle running ,, for total Portability only Coleman , and no I do not have shares in coleman, lol.
AnswerID: 127875

Reply By: Peter McGuckian (Member) - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:42

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:42
We also have the Coleman and find it really good. Anaconda in Melbourne have them for $299 or look for a 25% off day at Kmart. Worked really well on our recent trip to the centre.

Peter
AnswerID: 127878

Reply By: Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:59

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 08:59
hi DMECH

we too have the coleman, and used it for the first time on our recent trip to the Gulf, in a word - Fantastic. Hot water instantly as they say, we were able to shower 7 people and use it for numerous washing of dishes, the water can get a bit hot, but you can adjust the setting, infact my last shower I just had the setting on "cool" and it was just a lovely temp, we set it up outside the shower tent, and one person is able to easily operate it by themselves. The propane cartridges last a long time too. I have only praise for it so far.

cheers

Lyn
AnswerID: 127883

Reply By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 09:34

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 09:34
I too would also look at the Coleman. Impressive piece of gear.

I have a Vehicle shower , for our shower requirements , but I'm looking at one of these for instant hot water for my camper.
AnswerID: 127886

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 09:43

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 09:43
Have just yesterday finished modifications to my c/trailer watertank to allow quick connection to the Coleman [click on/off] ,now instant hot or cold water as required ,keeps swmbo happy.
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FollowupID: 382497

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 10:08

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 10:08
Thats EXACTLY what I'm looking at.

What pump are you using ?
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Follow Up By: Peter McGuckian (Member) - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 10:31

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 10:31
Intewrested in how you've connected up to the coleman pump or have you used a new one? Time for pictures methinks.

Peter
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FollowupID: 382500

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 11:28

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 11:28
I'm looking at using a Shurflow pump , maybe the smaller one.

Not sure how it would effect the HW system.
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FollowupID: 382505

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:13

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:13
I,m using the actual Coleman as the pump ,no need for a shureflow or any other pump ,,, my water tank has pre threaded female outlets , screwed a 1/2in treaded brass pipe approx 1in long ,drill thru , screw tap to fitting [used mini cistern tap to minimize size] ,,screw 3/4 to1/2 in adaptor to tap, screw click on hose conector on ,,,,,,,,Take off standard fitting from Coleman pump end , is a slightly different thread ,from dripp irragation section in h/ware store 1/2in tap to 13mm black poly pipe fitting screws on beautifully using 1 normal washer and the original filter washer,2 to 3in 13mm polly pipe and a female click on hose adaptor , make up hose however long [mine 4mts] with female click on at both ends ,use 2x male /male connectors to join all up .,, turn on tap at tank ,gravity feeds to Coleman pump [may need to disconnect at pump to purge air from hose ] ,turn nob on Coleman and set desired water temp ,hot and cold running water ...
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FollowupID: 382530

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:25

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:25
oh, ok, so you use gravity feed.

The Coleman pumps aren't self primming are they ?
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FollowupID: 382533

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:49

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 13:49
Flappa ,is gravity feed only to the pump ,,the Coleman pump works much the same as a bilge pump ,can just throw into a bucket and pump away , will pump 1mt high from pump to heat unit to 3mt to shower head.,20lt =10min shower.
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FollowupID: 382541

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 14:03

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 14:03
Yeah , thats what I meant.

You have to get the water to the pump first (in this case by gravity) , and then away she goes, unlike the Shurflow pumps , that suck it on through from dry.

As I said , its something I'm interested in doing.
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FollowupID: 382543

Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 15:59

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 15:59
Hi there Dmech, we have the primus one, yes is a pain to carry gas bottle etc but once we set it up specially when staying some where for a few days/week its great, still have to boil up the old billy when you want a cuppa not like the coleman straight from the spout.We have had for just over 2 years no troubles with it so far. We mainly went for the primus as it has a better shower rose than the coleman seems to have slightly more pressure very important so my wife says as she has hair down to her ar@e and it washes out the shampoo better Oh dear cant go a day or so without washing the hair even had to buy an invertor so she can run the hairdryer from the second batt. She wants it set up like home. I must have done something right as she loves going on the trips, weekends away etc. Anyway mate which ever you prefer coleman are very compact, if you have a boots camping store near you they have a special on at the moment $349.00 including carry bag + 4 free gas refills not a bad deal I think. Take Care Steve M
AnswerID: 127947

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:14

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:14
Quote: Oh dear cant go a day or so without washing the hair even had to buy an invertor so she can run the hairdryer from the second batt. She wants it set up like home. I must have done something right as she loves going on the trips, weekends away etc.

and DONT let anyone tell you differently . . .

Dont need a hairdryer . . . yadda yadda . . . might as well stay home . . . yadda yadda . . . BS.

I'm with you. If it means being able to go away because the Missus will go , STUFF IT , I'll take whatever I need.

Better to go camping with a happy wife , then staying home.
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FollowupID: 382573

Follow Up By: Jimbo - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 20:28

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 20:28
Agree with both of you blokes.

There's not a bloody thing wrong with making camping civilised.

My wife hated the idea of camping a year ago. After getting a camper with a comfortable bed, good chairs, dunny, shower tent and solar showers, a heater etc, etc, she loves it.
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FollowupID: 382613

Reply By: Crackles - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:59

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 16:59
Billy on a fire. Low maintenance, takes 5 minutes & will last for years.........
I've seen or tried them all & have come to the conclusion hot water systems for camping or showers are often more trouble than they are worth. They leak, get air locks, pumps burn out, wiring comes loose, run out of gas, blow hoses, hard to pack & fit. The simplist idea's are often the best.
KISS ;-)
Cheers Craig.....
AnswerID: 127962

Follow Up By: Member - Robyn J (QLD) - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 18:13

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 18:13
Billy on fire a great idea but there are more and more places where you cant use fires these days and lots of places where fires are banned for approx 6 months of the year. The coleman works great when this is the case.
Cheers
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FollowupID: 382587

Follow Up By: Crackles - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 21:53

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 21:53
"The coleman works great when this is the case"

If the display our local Coleman rep gave our club was any indication then I'd suggest otherwise. For half an hour he tried unsuccessfully to get 2 units to go. They were the most fiddly unrealiable pieces of camping gear that Coleman make in an otherwise great range. He had trouble getting one to fire up, the temparature couldn't be adjusted (nearly burning himself) & the poor preasure would make for a pretty dry shower. He brought a dozen units along to the display & needless to say he took them all home. These were brand new units out of the box. I'd hate to think how they will work after a few years bouncing around in the back of a 4x4. I think too Coleman has gone out on a limb using their own unique gas bottle that at times will be hard to get a replacement.
Cheers Craig........
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FollowupID: 382620

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 22:43

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 22:43
Crackles by your reply we know that u dribble bleep um ,if you know so much about the Coleman u would know that there is an adaptor that allows u to use a standard any size u like/4/4.5/9kg gas bottle ,,,,
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FollowupID: 382628

Follow Up By: Crackles - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 23:10

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 23:10
At the time of our display Alloy c/t the adaptor wasn't available & the rep couldn't tell us when they would be. Still doesn't change the fact the units had some questionable opperating issues.
My reply was only stating what we saw at a Coleman display. I'm sure others have had more success with theirs otherwise they wouldn't sell any ;-)
Cheers Craig.........
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FollowupID: 382633

Reply By: Shaker - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 18:44

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 18:44
I have had both! I originally purchased a Primus system, but found it hard to light, the overheat cut out sensor is way to sensitive, & cuts out all the time. Got sick of hooking up the car or camper trailer for 12volt & the gas bottle as well.

So, I bought Coleman, in a word ......FANTASTIC!
Does everything they claim, really can't ask for more.
AnswerID: 127983

Reply By: Jimbo - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 20:37

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 20:37
Much as I love my gadgets, this is not one that I have gone for yet. Not sure I ever will, but then again, not sure I won't.

To date, solar showers work for me. Fill 'em, stick them in the sun and have a nice hot shower. If there's not much sun around, I boil a billy of water on the stove and add it to the solar bag.

Simple and effective. Cheap too.
AnswerID: 128012

Reply By: ozdragon - Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 23:31

Friday, Sep 02, 2005 at 23:31
Dont forget the coleman also has a 10yr warranty
AnswerID: 128038

Reply By: mostyn - Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 09:43

Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 09:43
I just came back from the cape mate had a coleman what a pain in the arse 6 volt battery not big enough bought a bigger 6 volt battery still run it flat trying to have 6 showers bought a 12 volt pump for it and run it off our spare battery big improvement water temp hard to get righr either to hot or to cold does not deliver enough water to the shower head alright if you need hot water to do the dishes etc still think the most reliable is the old canvas shower I have made up a portable frame and pulley system heat water in system on fire don,t know what its called pour bucket of cold water in top get bucket hot water out of side tap mix it with cold water in canvas to suit get 2 showers out of each fill
AnswerID: 128069

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 12:56

Saturday, Sep 03, 2005 at 12:56
Nice fairy tale ,batt is a 12v AGM , I have our shower rose at 2.2mt off the ground ,delivers water at approx 2 to 3lt per min , When batt fully charged will pump long enough for 5 gas canisters = 800 lt of water,, 1 single cannister is enough for 160lt of boiling water ,,, as stated in a previous reply above ,Coleman have a 10yr warranty ,IF yours is such a dud how come you didn't get it replaced , WHY ?? because yours is a fairy tale.
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FollowupID: 382689

Reply By: gone bush - Friday, Sep 09, 2005 at 17:47

Friday, Sep 09, 2005 at 17:47
we bought a primas, yes pain in the bum to light if you use the directions but once we worked it out hot water straight away every time, just a matter of getting use to it, very pleased now. we bought the primas because we were explained that it is made just for hot showers when the coleman is firstly an urn. we have ours set up on an old stove stand outside the shower tent, works out well and keeps it off the ground. good luck.
AnswerID: 129353

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