Partner Steel 2 burner vs 4 burner (hinged)

10740 Views 24 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Randaddy, May 22, 2015

elvis

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2014

Quick question.. trying to decide between the 2 burner break apart and 4 burner break apart. We typically camp as a family of 4 but do about half a dozen trips as a party of 8.
We have "survived" up until now on crappy Coleman 2 burner stoves. This got me thinking I only need the Partner Steel 2 burner (hinged) model but will I regret not bumping up to the 4 burner?

thanks!

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

BoilermakerU

· #2 · Jun 10, 2014

Get the 4 burner. As soon as I can afford it, that's what I am getting. More flexible for cooking, and probably don't need the blaster as often that way. I am getting the smaller one that fits into an ammo can so it's one unit and doesn't need to go into my kitchen box.

mania

· #3 · Jun 10, 2014

We have the 2 burner and it can easily support 8. more if someone adds a woodland power stove to the mix.

caverdan

· #4 · Jun 10, 2014

Definately go with the two burner break apart. The burners on the 4 burner one are too close together to get anything but small cookwear on. If your cooking for a big group, the four burner turns into a two burner anyways as the big pans won't fit side by side.

What I did was buy their new extra wide two burner stove (22") with built in wind screen. Partner Steel Camping Equipment

I then I bought the two burner break apart to boot along with a single hose and regulator so I can run just one burner if I want. I join the two at the bottle with a Y if I run them both at once. This gives me the option of setting up the kitchen for 1 to 4 burners. It's a great system for a big group or small, and I'll never have to buy another stove again.

A friend on the last Deso trip was so impressed with the two burner break apart, that he is going to sell his 4 burner and get two of the break aparts for the very reason that you can put four big pots and pans on them for big groups.

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wildh2onriver

· #5 · Jun 10, 2014

I don't own either one, but I have done my share of cooking on both. I would get the 2 burner break apart for reasons stated above and because of your typical group size.

I bought an all aluminum 2 burner camp chef 15 years ago and it's been bomber for me, too bad they quit making it.

Sent from my iPhone using Mountain Buzz

Gremlin

· #6 · Jun 10, 2014

I just got the 4-burner as an upgrade from my 2 burner Coleman and a Woodland Powerstove and it has been out twice this year. I'm definitely using the Woodland stove much less and have had more than two burners of the Partner going at a time. I have the stand so I'm not interested about breaking it apart. I like to cook for 12 to 16 people and it seems like it will work well.

okieboater

· #7 · Jun 10, 2014

I got the 4 burner many years ago and it gets the job done no matter what the group size. I got a 2 burner as well, mostly to get the coffee service out of the way and to heat dish washing water while cooking the main meal. I am going to take a different line from the others. Take the 4 burner, maybe with break apart, and don't look back. I have both stoves and the 4 burner goes on every trip. 2 burner rarely, mainly if it is just me on solo trips.

cataraftgirl

· #8 · Jun 10, 2014

I have the 2 burner break apart. I had the 2 burner with the windscreen and didn't like it. There wasn't enough room for larger pots or griddles with the windscreen in the way. I like the 2 burner break apart for small groups. My rafting buddy has a 4 burner and a 6 burner with stands that are used a lot on trips. The 4 burner is more than adequate for a medium sized group. I wanted something smaller that I could pack easily,but that had room for larger pots. They're all great stoves. It just depends on what your overall size needs are. Beware.....Partner stoves can be a slippery slope. Before you know what happened, you've got three stoves, stands, wind screens, griddles, etc. My buddy lives in Pokie and he's not allowed to go in their shop anymore.

yak1

· #9 · Jun 10, 2014

I would suggest their break apart that has 2 two burner stoves vs the non break apart that has 4 burners. On the plus side the non break apart 4 burner drops very nicely into a rocket box.

TriBri1

· #10 · Jun 10, 2014

I love my 4 burner break apart. That said I hardly ever break it apart. I do agree that the burners are a little close together for larger pots and I love that is fits perfectly in a rocket box.

ciggyboy

· #11 · Jun 10, 2014

Best of both worlds

I've got the 4 burner 22" wide break apart model and it is great for everything - large groups and wide pots. Then buy a second regulator with one hose end + fab up a lid for the one half and you've got your two burner for smaller camp trips. Top it off with a cheap drybag, mine is a seal line 55 that just fits nice and tight and your all set. It seems crazy to stick a partner in a heavy rocket box when they are already indestructible.

rivergod

· #12 · Jun 10, 2014

Hi Ciggyboy,
Did you fab the lid your self? Does it attach to the break apart hinges? I emailed partnsr about doing exactly this, but they wernt very helpful. Any chance you can post pics/plans? Thanks

P.s my partner rides in my drynox when there is room. I like to save the 22lbs.

miahski2

· #13 · Jun 10, 2014

I have the 18" 4 burner break apart with the stand and the wind screen and it's super sweet. The 16" will fit into an ammo can but I opted for the larger one. Def grab the wind screen.... Not so much for wind, but it will keep all the pots and pans from sliding off the stove.... You can use a griddle on one side for cooking your eggs, French toast, sausage etc while you make coffee on the other side and heat up your dish water too. Remember if your using a griddle to elevate it above the burner to allow air flow to the stove.... Otherwise it'll get to hot and could cause damage to the stove. ( o rings have been known to burn out) a blaster stove will def heat up your dish water a lot faster so grab one of those too. The stove is bomber... Easy to clean... It's been knocked over by wind, thrown and flipped by a drunk guy in camp.... All types of food and liquids have been spilt on it and it's super easy to clean up like new........ Absolutely love my stove

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cmharris

· #14 · Jun 10, 2014

Two plus

Partner's box design should be infinitely expandable allowing for addition or subtraction of burners depending on circumstances.

I like the two burner break apart with a Woodland backup. So many variables but most of the time two burners is adequate, three nice occasionally and four too many.

TriBri1

· #15 · Jun 10, 2014

rivergod said:
Hi Ciggyboy,
Did you fab the lid your self? Does it attach to the break apart hinges? I emailed partnsr about doing exactly this, but they wernt very helpful. Any chance you can post pics/plans? Thanks

P.s my partner rides in my drynox when there is room. I like to save the 22lbs.

I asked them the same thing when I bought my 4 burner, they were not so interested in making a lid for me.

cataraftgirl

· #16 · Jun 10, 2014

miahski2 said:
I have the 18" 4 burner break apart with the stand and the wind screen and it's super sweet. The 16" will fit into an ammo can but I opted for the larger one. Def grab the wind screen.... Not so much for wind, but it will keep all the pots and pans from sliding off the stove.... You can use a griddle on one side for cooking your eggs, French toast, sausage etc while you make coffee on the other side and heat up your dish water too. Remember if your using a griddle to elevate it above the burner to allow air flow to the stove.... Otherwise it'll get to hot and could cause damage to the stove. ( o rings have been known to burn out) a blaster stove will def heat up your dish water a lot faster so grab one of those too. The stove is bomber... Easy to clean... It's been knocked over by wind, thrown and flipped by a drunk guy in camp.... All types of food and liquids have been spilt on it and it's super easy to clean up like new........ Absolutely love my stove

If you are using a Partner griddle you do not need to elevate it. I kept reading this warning, so I asked Bill, the owner of Partner Steel when I was in their shop buying a stove and griddles. He told me that their griddles have up sloped sides to prevent overheating. He said that as long as you don't completely block the cook surface with a griddle, pan, etc. you are good to go.

lll100

· #17 · Jun 10, 2014

Go 4 burner. Just my vote. Had ours 10+ years. bought the nylon zip bag made for it. Just put it in the bag and then throw it in a drop sack. Never had any problems.

thaGoat

· #18 · May 21, 2015

I was leaning toward the 18" 4-burner detachable, but it seems everyone has an issue with how many pans/pots you can fit on these. Seems like with bigger pans you can only fit 2 pans on the stove anyways. So I'm starting to think about the 9" 2 burner detachable and getting a Blaster. It ends up being about the same price as the 18" 4-burner detachable. Hell, the stove I've been using has been a 2 burner and I've never had a problem.

Anyone used the 2 burner stoves?

elvis

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 21, 2015

I ended up going with the 2 burner break apart and couldn't be more stoked. We typically are a smaller party (2-10 people) and it has worked out great. I find that in larger group situations others will augment with a stove of their own. Besides, I figured if I need more burners down the road I'd pick up another 2 burner. A nice addition was a lightweight glass tank.

I particularly like the option of a small stove when it is just the 4 of us (often).

okieboater

· #20 · May 21, 2015

I have the 18 four burner and the small two burner

Both work really well. I got the two burner as a back up and coffee / hot water stove for when I have the four burner cooking or using the griddles. With two griddles on the four burner you have a pancake cooking machine so every one gets pancakes hot off the griddle. This is a great setup for large groups probably over kill for the small groups. I have not put the break apart hinge on my two burner yet. I have a river bud who put the break apart hinge setup on his four burner and likes it. He just uses a table as a stove stand and the break aparts work great for that.

both my stoves have a lot of trips. Every once in a while I take them to the back yard hose and steel wool and grease buster them and they look like new for a while. I have put new O rings on the feeder hoses. Other than that, mine just work. Long time ago I left the four burner out during a Lodore all night rainstorm. Burners were full of water. We blew the water out and got the burners going. Lots of splutter sounds but finally the heat dried out the burners and no problems. Since then I close the stoves up at night especially if it looks like rain. For many years I used my stoves on a aluminium table. Recently got the 18 stand and wind screen. Both are heavy but Stitches N Stuff Jan made me a carrier bag that helps. I have cooked off a river buds partner stand and wind screen setup and it does make a really nice setup.

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