Woodstoves aren't very stealthy, huh

Llewellyn Gatliff

Llewellyn Gatliff

New member
Hey. I'm new. I'm heading out next year and I really want to put a woodstove in my truck camper, but they're not very stealthy, are they. Smoke pouring out the flue will draw attention and it generally means someone's home.

I'm planning on boondocking around Truckee/Tahoe and it looks like I can find free sanctioned places to overnight in the winter between Sno-Parks, dispersed camping, truck stops, and casinos and such.

I really don't want to pour money down the propane hole, but how much unwanted attention will y'all think I'll get just cause I have a woodstove? Enough to forgo the whole idea?
 
might want to think about wood stove in a tinder box camper....not to mention carbon monoxide. maybe if you had a bus.

A little buddy catalytic heater consumes about a 20lb tank on low in 100hrs. burn it at night only along with hot water bottles and a good sleeping bag.

bulk filled tanks you're looking at $40 ish a month

GET A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR (and a good fire extinguisher)
 
Thanks! That's good advice. I've been using my Little Buddy for a couple years now in my Suburban and it works. Mostly. And I hear you about the fire hazard of a wood/coal stove, like a marine stove. Plus that free fuel thing is really enticing.

I'm more wondering about attracting unwanted attention.
 
Llewellyn Gatliff said:
Thanks! That's good advice. I've been using my Little Buddy for a couple years now in my Suburban and it works. Mostly. And I hear you about the fire hazard of a wood/coal stove, like a marine stove. Plus that free fuel thing is really enticing.

I'm more wondering about attracting unwanted attention.
Click to expand...

Much depends on what sort of fuel you use. Oak, hickory, mesquite, coal, will not give you away. Pine, cedar, and other trash wood will DEFINITELY give you away.
 
ped said:
http://www.livinlightly.com/off-grid-heat-small-wood-stoves/


I'm mean are stuck in a place you need to be stealth? You got options for legal areas. You're allowed to boondock on nat'l forest land. BLM - $180 for 7 month permit.
Click to expand...
That was a good article just for the comment section alone. Thank you.

BLM land is such a foreign concept to me. We don't have anything like that here in Kentucky. They allow camping in the winter? California seems to have an awful lot of rules.

I mean stealthy in that a woodstove would stick our like a sore thumb. I,can just hear it now, "Oh you're that crazy lady with a woodstove in her truck camper." I'm just not a big fan of notoriety.
 
Mankini said:
Much depends on what sort of fuel you use. Oak, hickory, mesquite, coal, will not give you away. Pine, cedar, and other trash wood will DEFINITELY give you away.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah I hear ya. Good point. What about the charcoal from the campground fire pits? Know anything about that? I've never used it as a fuel source alone before and I wouldn't be able to tell what kind of wood it used to be. I understand it burns cleaner longer in a marine/tiny stove. Does it get stinky, smokey?
 
ped said:
where you is in ky?

BLM has what's called LTVA (long term visitor areas) where you camp over the winter. Basic sites with water and maybe dumping.

https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/LTVA.html

then there's the slabs.

then you can legally camp on forest lands for 14 days per ranger district....many camper longer. just move every 2 weeks for resupply and you can smoke a flue all you want.
Click to expand...
Well that's reassuring! Thanks for the links.

My Mamaw lived in Ft. Thomas. How you like Cincy?
 
Llewellyn Gatliff said:
Oh yeah I hear ya. Good point. What about the charcoal from the campground fire pits? Know anything about that? I've never used it as a fuel source alone before and I wouldn't be able to tell what kind of wood it used to be. I understand it burns cleaner longer in a marine/tiny stove. Does it get stinky, smokey?
Click to expand...


Charcoal is one of the best. Mind what Ped said about CARBON Mono.!!!!!!!!
 
ped said:
of course there's no wood around there lol
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm heading way north towards Truckee.

I'm not a big fan of Cincy or Ohio for that matter. The gaslight district is cool, but I've never gotten a good vibe from the people in that town.

Except at Bogart's. Lol
 
Mankini said:
Charcoal is one of the best. Mind what Ped said about CARBON Mono.!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Yes sir, I do take that very seriously. I vent my window in the Suburban when I use my Mr. Buddy propane heater, but I hate the smell and condensation. And it's such a bitch to light if your hands are cold I have to light it with a stick lighter.
 
in the UK / Europe about 99 % of 'alternative' vehicle dwellers have woodburning stoves and it rarely causes problems, even in towns and cities.... they're only dangerous if not fitted properly... if you have enough space why not fit both sources of heat (gas heater / woodburner) and then use whichever is appropriate for your current park up.. for me burning wood is way better than gas heat - no condensation, wood is free, you can cook / heat water on the top and they are so cosy - nothing better when the weather is shitty.... one issue is the legality - no insurance company in England will insure a vehicle fitted with a woodburner - if you mention it to them the gigs fucked - bye bye insurance policy BUT the police make no problems about them generally..... one final point - OK you are advertising your presence with smoke coming from a flue but straight people need to have their perception of what is acceptable challenged as often as possible - i know the law is different in the US but the idea of having to stealth camp 100% of the time pisses me off : cowering inside in case someone see's you in there - i'm proud to live in my box truck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top