Overnight Equipment - Your Tips

I’m new! Thank you for inviting me to the forum. I started my latest job nearly 3 months ago (and love it) but first thing next year I’m doing Tuesday-Wednesday and Thursday-Friday with overnight stops staying in the pod of my (5 ton) van with a new contract. Two nights a week away from home. I have slept overnight before but only temporarily and usually in Travelodge type accommodation.

Please can I have your ideas and tips on what equipment to buy for kettles or heating food (links would be great) for a warm evening meal (e.g. leftovers from home) and other matters such as basic human life (loo, cleaning, shaving) and so on? What do you do? What equipment have you bought for your truck or van that you can recommend, etc?

I think you need to describe the pod in your 5 ton van! What facilities does it have? Also what power supply? What heating?

stu675:
I think you need to describe the pod in your 5 ton van! What facilities does it have? Also what power supply? What heating?

The pod is a space above the driving area to sleep one person - the heating I’m talking about is about hot water and warming food

EdwardL:

stu675:
I think you need to describe the pod in your 5 ton van! What facilities does it have? Also what power supply? What heating?

The pod is a space above the driving area to sleep one person - the heating I’m talking about is about hot water and warming food

So you have one 12v cigarette lighter socket is that right?

That’s correct - one in the pod and one in the cab.

I’m wondering what equipment people buy to keep food costs down, e.g. cutting down on buying tea/coffee and warming/cooking homemade food instead of buying meals when out and about.

trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewto … 10&t=37297

ROG:
NIGHTS OUT - what should I take? - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (READ ONLY FORUM) - Trucknet UK

Thank you - I also found a thread on tramping which was informative too

A small Trangia stove with an alcohol burner is quite a good item. You can even use them outside as they have a windshield. A bit slower than gas, but cheaper and the alcohol burners won’t break very easily. Good enough for boiling water or heating Irish stew or whatever.

Noremac:
A small Trangia stove with an alcohol burner is quite a good item. You can even use them outside as they have a windshield. A bit slower than gas, but cheaper and the alcohol burners won’t break very easily. Good enough for boiling water or heating Irish stew or whatever.

Thank you and I’ll look into that one.

Noremac:
A small Trangia stove with an alcohol burner is quite a good item. You can even use them outside as they have a windshield. A bit slower than gas, but cheaper and the alcohol burners won’t break very easily. Good enough for boiling water or heating Irish stew or whatever.

Meths stove YES but NOT the Trangia. I don’t why the Trangia was a success when Optimus produced a much better item, much more efficient but went off the market. Compared with the Optimus the Trangia has flaws which I’ll explain. Both have aluminium pots which will not last in non-stop everyday use. The optimus clone can be used with 16 cm stainless saucepans and a bain marie to raise the height. As you can see the Optimus style is like a venturi and draws the air in beautifully which a Trangia does not.
Available on ebay from two sellers (£25 each) but I’d recommend buying the Trangia burner (but enlarge the holes with a 1.5 or 2.0 mm drill to avoid clogging).

I used a gas bottle and outside gas ring when I started followed by the Halfords camping stove (horizontal bottle type). But still found the gas expensive… using perhaps 3 a week at £3 each if not more. Meths MORE expensive unless buying in bulk which is what I do (4 x 5L =£70 which lasts 4-5 months) I use two 1L fuel bottles… using 1 and sometimes 1/4 of the other which works out at £3 per week. I also use meths for other things at home like cleaning off engine heads, removing labels and screenwash so happy to buy in bulk.

Here she is with an old marble tile to soak up the heat underneath. You can use them outside as that’s what they were designed for… I tend to be lazy and stay inside!

IMG_20201127_210400.jpg

Bain marie or double boiler ring (available on Amazon and ebay £10 for 2). I happened to have one and was delighted when I found the ring fitted perfectly to raise a pan and support it at just the right height.

IMG_20200915_185818.jpg

Fits perfectly inside the windshield upside down for supporting a pan

IMG_20200915_185939.jpg

I keep the stove in a stepped steamer as it takes the windshield perfectly inside the steps (I left it on the bunk once, braked, it slipped off and went out of shape). By chance it fits into the steps perfectly. I keep it in my utility box now whilst driving. The steamer can be used as a steamer as well if required.

IMG_20210210_102634.jpg

IMG_20210210_102706.jpg

This pic shows my double ring burner but should you get one you will need to make a ‘cup’ to support it (old burner with the holes cut out). Better to stay with the Trangia burner but enlarge the holes as I said above.

If one is going to cook raw veg (rather than just warm) then two stoves are required; as the burner is hot after running out of fuel. When one runs out of fuel just transfer the pan to the other. Just put enough meths in to boil a pan… don’t use the sealing cap to save meths as I have found the cooled meths tends to clogg the burner holes when used again.

I also boil water for washing, washing up, as well as cooking and found it excellent. 24v kettles are expensive and don’t last that long I found. A meths cooker is perfect as nothing can go wrong - BUT it is slower than a gas stove and leaves soot on the bottom of the pan which some folk may not like… easy enough to clean off.

Each to their own… I’ve never got on with a microwave but other folk like them. I’m happy with what I’ve got now but only with mods. For everyday cooking one needs to use a stainless pan… aluminium just doesn’t last. I’ve been using this for 2 years now and delighted with it.

jessejazza:

Noremac:
A small Trangia stove with an alcohol burner is quite a good item. You can even use them outside as they have a windshield. A bit slower than gas, but cheaper and the alcohol burners won’t break very easily. Good enough for boiling water or heating Irish stew or whatever.

Meths stove YES but NOT the Trangia. I don’t why the Trangia was a success when Optimus produced a much better item, much more efficient but went off the market. Compared with the Optimus the Trangia has flaws which I’ll explain. Both have aluminium pots which will not last in non-stop everyday use. The optimus clone can be used with 16 cm stainless saucepans and a bain marie to raise the height. As you can see the Optimus style is like a venturi and draws the air in beautifully which a Trangia does not.
Available on ebay from two sellers (£25 each) but I’d recommend buying the Trangia burner (but enlarge the holes with a 1.5 or 2.0 mm drill to avoid clogging).

I used a gas bottle and outside gas ring when I started followed by the Halfords camping stove (horizontal bottle type). But still found the gas expensive… using perhaps 3 a week at £3 each if not more. Meths MORE expensive unless buying in bulk which is what I do (4 x 5L =£70 which lasts 4-5 months) I use two 1L fuel bottles… using 1 and sometimes 1/4 of the other which works out at £3 per week. I also use meths for other things at home like cleaning off engine heads, removing labels and screenwash so happy to buy in bulk.

Here she is with an old marble tile to soak up the heat underneath. You can use them outside as that’s what they were designed for… I tend to be lazy and stay inside!
4

Bain marie or double boiler ring (available on Amazon and ebay £10 for 2). I happened to have one and was delighted when I found the ring fitted perfectly to raise a pan and support it at just the right height.
3

Fits perfectly inside the windshield upside down for supporting a pan
2

I keep the stove in a stepped steamer as it takes the windshield perfectly inside the steps (I left it on the bunk once, braked, it slipped off and went out of shape). By chance it fits into the steps perfectly. I keep it in my utility box now whilst driving. The steamer can be used as a steamer as well if required.
1
0

This pic shows my double ring burner but should you get one you will need to make a ‘cup’ to support it (old burner with the holes cut out). Better to stay with the Trangia burner but enlarge the holes as I said above.

If one is going to cook raw veg (rather than just warm) then two stoves are required; as the burner is hot after running out of fuel. When one runs out of fuel just transfer the pan to the other. Just put enough meths in to boil a pan… don’t use the sealing cap to save meths as I have found the cooled meths tends to clogg the burner holes when used again.

I also boil water for washing, washing up, as well as cooking and found it excellent. 24v kettles are expensive and don’t last that long I found. A meths cooker is perfect as nothing can go wrong - BUT it is slower than a gas stove and leaves soot on the bottom of the pan which some folk may not like… easy enough to clean off.

Each to their own… I’ve never got on with a microwave but other folk like them. I’m happy with what I’ve got now but only with mods. For everyday cooking one needs to use a stainless pan… aluminium just doesn’t last. I’ve been using this for 2 years now and delighted with it.

That’s a really interesting post and has given me, pardon the pun, much food for thought. Thank you for taking the time to explain all of that. It’s made me stop and think before I go out buying the first thing I see.

Thank you again.

Do explore what suits you. I have no sense of smell so the slight possibility of leaking gas in a cab was NOT for me. I hope I have saved you some of the heartache that I went though. I used to have Coleman petrol stove which was superb but used some dirty fuel at some stage which ruined it and I could not get a new generator. Paraffin stoves were very good but now only a Japanese make available but it’s £200. Camping is my hobby so having a good stove is important and these Optimus clones are the best thing available. I bought a couple more a few weeks ago just so i am covered in case they go off market. There is a big difference for a ‘day in - day out’ cooker… and something for a week end camping. For me they are perfect.

I bought mine from Surplusandlost but they’ve now put the price up to £32.99 - the other folk are still at £25.

ebay.co.uk/itm/121472734457 … 1438.l2649

ebay.co.uk/itm/183580210928 … 1438.l2649

Thank you! :slight_smile: