Brunton Wind River Range – Camp Stove – Tear Down Review
Spending weeks relying on a Colman LP camp stove for cooking led me to look for a better solution. Our Colman stove was great when you needed a hot burner, however, it was not possible to adjust the burners low enough to simmer. I tend to cook meals similar to what I cook at home so a good stove is essential. I am tired of the stove dictating what I can cook.
Time to step up to a gourmet camp stop. Enter the Brunton Wind River Range. This stove is considered the Cadillac of camp cook stoves with controls and function like a home range.
With the new stove in hand I decided this would be a good time to do a full tear down review. By totally disassembling the stove I am able to discuss the construction as well as take large number of photos so others can see the quality.
The Stove Ready To Go
Stove setup and ready to cook
The stove is constructed of extruded and stamped aluminum parts which are bolted together using stainless steel screws. Tearing the stove down took me all of 10 minutes. This would lead to easy replacement of damaged parts.
Burner construction
Aluminum Valve Mount
The burner valve assembly is made from brass with a polymer knob and is mounted to an aluminum extruded member.
Tank Hose Attachment
The attachment for the hose is again constructed of brass and is mounted so when the hose is tightened the tubing connecting to the burner valves are not stressed.
Mounted Valve Assembly
Brass Valve Jet
Steel Burner Mounting Plate
The burners are mounted to a sturdy steel plate with a spring between the burner and the steel plate. This spring allows the burner tube to move when the burner assembly is installed in the stove.
The burner tube appears to be constructed of stainless steel
- Burner assembly is installed in the stove the burner tubes line up right in front of the valve jets
Stove Body Construction
End view of the Extruded Front Member
Front with valve assembly attached
The front and back members of the case are constructed of durable extruded aluminum with the sides being constructed of thick stamped and formed aluminium.
Stamped Aluminum Side Member
Hing Mounted on side plate
- Aluminum insert for both bottom and top
The bottom and top have a filler that is a sheet of aluminum. The edges of this sheet have stamps in them which provide a tighter fit.
Front and Back with bottom in place
End plate in place
Corner part
The corners of both the top and bottom are made of a durable polymer piece that is fitted to the corners and bolted on.
Close up of Front corner
Closeup of back Corner
Top view of grill mount
Side View of Grill Mount
Stove with Grill in place
The grill is VERY heavy duty and is attached to the stove with four tabs that it firmly fits under. To remove the grill it must be lifted then slid forward. No need to worry about the grill moving during use and it will support the heaviest pots you will want to use.
Wind Screens
Front view with wind screens installed
Side view of wind screens
The wind screens are made of stainless steel and attach to the stove in such a way that very little wind will be able to enter the stove from the sides or back. The wind screens do not have to be used if there is no wind. They store in the cordura pouch that comes with the stove.
Hose and Wind Guards stowed under burner plate.
The hose also fits in the cordura pouch to protect the regulator and fittings. There is a small adapter that can be used if you want to run the stove of the small green camp fuel bottles. I imagine that if you use these small bottles you will be able to empty one during a single use of the stove.
Storage space in Case Cover
There is LOTS of storage space in the top of the stove. This can be used for cooking utensils as well as other stuff. I keep my griddle stowed here. Brunton makes a sink that kits in this space.
My Griddle stored in top of case
Cutting Board in place
The stove comes with a heavy duty cutting board that is stowed in the top using two latches. The board will hold any items stored underneath in place when opening the stove up.
Close up of latch
Case Latches Engaged
The stove is closed with two heavy duty latches which should hold up to years of abuse.
I am looking forward to our first trip where I will be able to put the stove through its paces. Look for follow up post on the stoves performance.
Is the griddle an option?
It is a Colman griddle that fits perfect in the top.
Would you mind advising which Coleman griddle you have? Thanks.
I have this stove. Invest in some heat diffusers such as “SimmerMat” to be able to cook rice without scorching. The burners don’t really get low enough without them and sit quite close to the bottom of the pan. The diffusers have made all of the difference.
I also use the FoxHill oven on top. My stove’s been great on many an excursion.
Good advice on the heat diffusers. I used the stove for a week long trip last week and found that I could not get the setting low enough for a simmer.
I got the SimmerMat from Amazon. They are well made and will store in the lid with the rest of the stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/IMCG-SimmerMat/dp/B000UZJW22
The FoxHill ovens are at:
http://www.foxhill.net/
I don’t have a stake in them… Just passing on what works for me.
I’ve used this stove for a number of cross USA trips. It has performed well (and with the oven it is all we need). I want to get one of the Brunton Basin liners next for cleanup.
Another thing I did is get a small 5lb propane bottle. No more little cans to through away and waste. It’s amazing how long the new tank lasts.
Great bit of kit.Well written article with v/helpful pics. Cheers for sharing.
Picked up a Basin for the lid from Amazon.
It fits well and looks like it will work well also.
Great review! You convinced me – I’m going to get one.
I have been very happy with mine
We need to fit this into a camper trailer. What are the dimensions?
Here is the Brunton page on the stove: http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=400
For the life of me, I can’t get the stove to fold with the cutting board in. What the heck am I doing wrong? I haven’t used the stove, just opened it up to look at it.
Thanks! Martha
Second question please – there are a lot of coleman griddles out there this year. Which one is a good fit please? Thanks!
This is the OEM for Brunton:
http://www.sotooutdoors.com/od-2al.html
They can also supply spare/repair parts for the stove.
Thanks for the fantastic help – I learned that the trick to stowing the cutting board is to slide it UNDER the metal lip/rail that runs top and bottom of the lid. Tra la!
The Lodge griddle was recommended as a good fit. I’m not sure if this is the one but it looks good, even if it is probably heavy. http://www.amazon.com/gp/cart/view.html/ref=ox_sc_cart_delete_2
I’m very happy that the stove can now leave the house. Looking forward to buying the fox hill oven and griddle.
Now that I have bought the foxhill oven, the lodge griddle, the simmermat and the rei camp kitchen my girl scout troop and I are unstoppable.
We are having a family feast tomorrow to demonstrate our cooking skills and all the girls look forward to their next campout when we ‘make the whole campsite smell like chocolate chip cookies’.
They are getting great confidence from their new skills, thanks to such fine tools! I don’t have a moments regret from purchasing quality.