Solo Stove Bonfire

...and in tight campgrounds your neighbors will appreiciate not having smoke drift into their trailer.  

I wondered if they really worked.  Biggest problem with wood these days is that you’re not supposed to transport it and campground bundles are very expensive.  

bapsjp posted:

I wondered if they really worked.  Biggest problem with wood these days is that you’re not supposed to transport it and campground bundles are very expensive.  

Oh, they work and work very well! You'll have flames until the entire load is nothing but coals. Those last few logs will not sit there smoldering. The Bonfire isn't cheap but if you're handy one could fabricate something close.

Those problems with wood are real, mainly due to exotic insects. I used the price and transporting wood criteria in my decision to buy the Bonfire, plus using it in my own fire pit at home (I'll soon be a FreeLOAder participant). If I must buy firewood to enjoy part of the camping experience, I will. I wanted to see as much wood as possible making flames and adding a whiff of wood smoke to polish off the experience. I'm only a newbie at TT camping but I've been at it in some form or another since I was a child and still yearn for all of it! 

The stainless steel drum from a scrap tumble drier works very well for a fire pit.

I also have the Solo Stove Bonfire and it works beautifully.  Yes, a steel drum will work however it won’t burn nearly as nice as a fire in the Bonfire.  It really is a thing of beauty.  Yes, it’s somewhat expensive but in my opinion it’s worth it.  They also have sales where it’s marked down by $50. so anyone that’s interested should watch for them.  

Duckman posted:

...and in tight campgrounds your neighbors will appreiciate not having smoke drift into their trailer.  

@Duckman; Craig, you're bringing up an important component of wood fire etiquette. I wouldn't want to have my living space filled with unwanted smoke either. Here's a  timely article in a recent RV Travel Newsletter entitled "Majority of readers not fond of campfire smoke".  I'm not (yet?!) a fan of RV parks' often close quarters and would not think of having a smokey wood fire or one even in a Solo Bonfire fire pit. I'll probably be looking into a propane pit for those smokeless flame nights as the situation requires. More $tuff to buy!

I’ve read reviews both on Amazon and Costco regarding the Outland 18" Portable Propane Fire Bowl Premium and they are quite favorable.  I don’t have any personal experience with them though.  

Got the pizza oven mod worked out!

Next addition to the Solo Bonfire we carry with us was a Good Directions 20" Small Spark Screen with Lifter.

After taking these pictures, I pinched the screen a little at the hinge pins so it sat more securely on the Bonfire's edge.

The Bonfire pit is not prone to producing many sparks because it burns the wood so completely. I'm not convinced it will be carried on all trips but I have noticed some campgrounds require a spark screen on all fire pits.

I plan to double its practicality and use it as a lid once I cover it with HD aluminum foil. Could come in handy to use the Bonfire fired on smolder burn for a real meat smoker. I've slow cooked venison burgers this way and they tasted phenomenal!

My Bonfire showed up earlier this week. Going to test drive it next week before we head out on our first camping trip of the year.

@R47Smiley - It's Friday!   How'd the test drive go?

VigII posted:

@R47Smiley - It's Friday!   How'd the test drive go?

Hoping tonight. Got a late start to my evening due to a family members flight arriving 2 hours late.

Gotta love Fridays though!

Just in case you can't wait...

Great video. I finally unboxed mine. Very pleased with the way the product is built. Looking forward to testing it out very soon.

Big positive is, when on its side in the carry bag, it passes through the door of the camper and stores away nicely under the dinette for travel.

Might have someone weld a loop on it so I can lock it up when not at camp. Unfortunately there are too many dishonest people for me to feel comfortable leaving is out while we're on the water all day.

Rob

Welding on a security loop is a very good idea.

Seems there's a good July 4th sale going on right now.  I'm getting ready to order and wondered about the Bonfire Stand, "allowing you to use your Bonfire in more places than ever before!"  I couldn't find info regarding certain ground types that would need this stand. Is this something you would recommend?

I don't have the stand.  since camp grounds typically require you to use their fire ring, I just set my solo stove in the per-existing ring.

Happy burning!

Rob

However, I also bought a Yukon that came with the stand. I use it on the lawn and the lawn remains undamaged. I need to remember to move it to let the sun get to the grass beneath the big pit. 

Add another positive review.  We really enjoy our Solo stove Bonfire. Works just as advertised.  Big flame from very little wood.