Outdoor propane firepit

[Hoojs12840]

Ordering this. Going to see how it works running of rv's propane system. Hauling firewood around and lighting it and having to stay at site when lit makes this seem like a reasonable alternative

Heininger 5995 58,000 BTU Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit by Heininger http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JORKP2/..._wMtEtb0DZEGES

[GaryWT]

Good luck, hope it works for you. I like the old fashion way of burning wood but who knows, at some point that might change.

[bsmith0404]

We have a similar patio model on our deck, but too much to carry when camping. I agree, just something about a good old fashioned fire when I'm camping, I definitely understand not wanting to be tied to it.

[BlindGuyNAR]

I like the actual fire sound as well, but very interested in your feedback on the purchase.

Mostly I'd like to know about the hissing sound as the flame level increases. I've heard it can be loud and quite distracting.

I've been considering one of these for during burn bans. As much as a like real fire, fake fire is better than no fire.

[JRTJH]

We looked at some of the portable propane fire pits for camping, but so far haven't made the plunge. One of our biggest drawbacks is operating costs.

Propane has about 21,000 BTU per pound, so a 58,000 fire pit would consume a little over 2 pounds of propane an hour. Propane is about 4.3 pounds per gallon so that's just about 2 hours per gallon or about 14 hours per 30 pound tank.

Connecting it to an auxiliary gas port under the trailer would consume quite a bit of propane, in fact almost 1.5 times as much per hour as the furnace (35,000 BTU input).

It might be convenient, but comes with quite a huge appetite for propane. So far, we just haven't decided that it's cost effective for us. Others may feel the convenience outweighs the cost....

[Htfiremedic]

I looked at several. Have not taken the plunge yet. Love the real fire smell.


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[homer3]

I don't own one of these myself. I did see something like this past New Years while visiting Pechanga RV and Casino Resort (https://www.pechanga.com/sections/rv...rvresort.aspx/). They do not allow open fires (Very Clean RV Resort). RVer's across from us had one like this or very similar (They said they got theirs at CostCo), It was really cool. I was very impressed. So much the first night I saw it (from a distance) as was ready to report them. Upon sticking my big nose into their RV Site, I was welcomed and enjoyed the heat. Very simple to use and very cozy. If you have the room I would carry in the back of TV and use according to where I was going. I do enjoy the smell and natural heat of open fire, however if not available the above works very nice.

[hoffbrew]

I ended up buying one, nice size one from Suburban Propane. Here in CA, no real wood fires in National Forest. But when we head to the coast I load as much fire wood as possible! There is nothing like a evening fire, adult beverages and good people.

[bsmith0404]

One advantage these do have over a wood fire, the smoke doesn't get in your eyes!!! We do enjoy the one we have on the patio for heat purposes, it was this or a chiminea, the ease of use and no need for wood made this the better choice for at home. I just love the snap, look, and smell of a real fire when out in nature. If I camped in areas where wood fires weren't allowed and I had room, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these.

[Hoojs12840]

Yeah, I like a wood fire, and will still burn one when I can. Just with working and getting off and to the campground with a 7 yr old it helps to have a instant fire option. Cost is not bad when you only have it on when you want it, vs. carrying enough wood to keep a fire going.

[Festus2]

Notwithstanding the fact that these portable fire pits do consume a large amount of propane in a short time and from that perspective are costly to run, they do offer some other advantages:

1) For folks who, for whatever reason, cannot take their own firewood with them and have to buy it, the operating costs of the portable are somewhat offset. If you have to pay $5-$6 for a bundle of wood which lasts say about 1-2 hours, that might be fairly close to the cost of the propane you would use with a portable fire.

2) If it is raining, you can move the portable under the awning and still sit around a "campfire" of sorts.

3) Burn bans pretty much eliminate having a real campfire whereas a portable fire pit might still be able to be used. Some bans however prohibit any kind of open flame - even those produced by a propane fire pit. It's best to check the scope of the ban before assuming that you'll be ok with the propane fire.

I think that most people would rather sit around a real fire rather than a propane-fired one but it is "better than no fire at all".

[canesfan]

I was at a CG earlier this year and someone had one. I laughed at it at first but after sitting around it a couple hours it was kind of cozy. I still prefer a real fire but I can see this can have its place too. Only thing that concerned me was after a couple drinks guy got up and tripped over the hose and almost fell into the fire. Not sure if it was the drinks or just something that happened, but be careful of the hose. Of course with a real fire one can trip over a log too. Ask me how I know.

[GMcKenzie]

Bought an Outland fire bowl at an RV show 3-4 weeks ago. Looks the same as the OP's.

http://www.outlandfirebowl.com/

Was cheaper then what I had looked at up to that point. 2 weeks later I saw Costco had them for $45 less. My butt still hurts from the kicking I gave myself.

Anyways, as others have said I'm concerned that it will burn up a lot of propane but half the season, this area has a fire ban and I can't have a wood fire so I went with this. I like the size and portability. Can bring it under the awning in the rain and can use it at home on my front deck.

Used it this last weekend and the smore's tasted no different then over a wood fire.

[Hoojs12840]

Here it is without the rocks in it. Im taking it with me to work tomorrow to get a quick connect fitting and additional hose made up.

It produces some heat, hard to say how warm it would feel on a cool night yet, but it seems pretty decent quality.

[wbatto]

We went Myrtle Beach last year and one of the gas fire pits would have been nice as you are not allowed to build a real wood fire. It just doesn't seem the same when you don't have a fire.

[Steve S]

These are the 12 volt ones they sell at the RV place, pretty lame but they do give off lots of heat.
I have a propane one for the fire bans, they suck a lot of LP. I changed the orface on it with a smaller one from old chicken brooder and it uses way less LP.

[berg]

We do both, but prefer the real wood burning fire. I have a firedancer which has been nice. (http://www.etrailer.com/Hunting-and-...all/FD500.html)

We've been in parks with a burn ban in effect and were the only ones who had a fire going in the entire place (flame had to be switch operated). Met a lot of people those nights - stopping by to see how we got away with it, what we had and then wondering where they could get one LOL.

[Hoojs12840]

Ran it 3 hrs last night on high. Used maybe 1/2 a 20lb tank.

[mom2budnbug]

Please let us know if you like it. We have a couple friends that got the one sold at Costco. Neither couple has used them yet. I have heard they are popular at Casino RV parks.

[Hoojs12840]

Love it. Produces same heat (albeit more consistently then wood) for similar size fire/flame. If you have to buy wood, it's running even In cost for wood used vs. propane consumed. ($6.00 is about average for a bundle around here) cools quickly and are not bothered being a fire tender and not be able to come and go.

Sure it's not as authentic, but I think that shipped sailed for most of us when we started hitting buttons to get our slides out.