Big coal stove in a bus?

Dapplecreek · 11-25-2016, 11:24 AM

Out in my barn I have a Warm Morning coal stove, possibly a model 618. It's in great shape. But it's about four feet tall and heavy as lead. Someone please tell me I'm nuts to consider this so I can move on with more realistic plans.

[I'm interested in coal for energy density, cost, and not needing to get up in the middle of the night to tend it.]

Tango · 11-25-2016, 02:54 PM

OK...you're nuts.

While coal is very efficient as far as BTU's per unit, that seems like a lot of weight to be toting around. My biggest concern might be simply securing it. That much mass flying around in a crash or even hard braking could get messy in a hurry.

But then...it IS paid for.

Kubla · 11-25-2016, 04:20 PM

I think you would be able to roast a whole cow in your bus if you run that thing at full blast

DoubleO7 · 11-25-2016, 05:35 PM

And if you can stand the smell.
My experience with coal in a woodstove is akin to burning railroad ties.
And if you were to venture outside of the coal industry states, you might be hard pressed to find fuel for it.

milkmania · 11-25-2016, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

And if you can stand the smell.
My experience with coal in a woodstove is akin to burning railroad ties.
And if you were to venture outside of the coal industry states, you might be hard pressed to find fuel for it.

Not to mention you've gotta store the coal.

Alan N · 11-25-2016, 06:05 PM

It looks perfect.
Secure it well.
It might be heavy but it looks like it has a small footprint.
Put it in your bus and post pictures.

joeblack5 · 11-25-2016, 07:14 PM

25 yrs ago i used to have a coal stove in my vanhool. Lived in that bus for 5 yrs.
Mostly burned wood but sometimes coal. Still have the stove, it was my grandmothers and has cute little windows.

Short chimneys can have poor draft with coal and carbon monoxide and a small space I would not do it again.
We had a draft fan on top of the chimney to get things going without smoking up the whole bus.

A problem with hand fed stoves , wood or coal is that they are slow to respond and hard to regulate. Better to go for wood pellets or if you want coal a stoker stove. There is a dual fuel wood pellet / rice coal stoker. Hard to find and expensive and to much heat for a bus.

nice stove though

karrlot · 12-02-2016, 07:40 AM

And you thought it was a pain to hike around and find dead wood to burn. Coal? That's going to be a heck of a hike!

slaughridge85 · 12-02-2016, 10:28 AM

Around here you can buy coal in 50lb bags at any tractor supply or farm store... 6 bucks last time I was there... Its gonna burn you out at first, but once you get used to it you can adjust your burns to keep it at a nice pleasant temp... The stove IS already paid for after all... and remember you can always burn wood in a coal stove too if you can't find coal...

Dapplecreek · 12-02-2016, 10:42 AM

I think it is doable but question the wisdom: how would one *PROPERLY* secure one of these for travel... and for a quick stop?

This beast is probably at least 225 lbs. I'm 6'4" and 400# (not all muscle by a long shot, but carrying that weight around *does* require some). It was all I could do to move it with a bear hug grip and a strap from its front around the back of my neck, with lifting done primarily by my legs.

I think I might be better off to spend a few hundred on a small wood stove or a vented propane heater.

Did you see this one, posted by AlleyCat67>

AlleyCat67 · 12-02-2016, 10:52 AM

Wow.... I thought that was something done by someone who was good with Photoshop and creating memes.... turns out it's REAL????

You DO learn something new every day......

Dapplecreek · 12-02-2016, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlleyCat67

Wow.... I thought that was something done by someone who was good with Photoshop and creating memes.... turns out it's REAL????

You DO learn something new every day......

Hey, if we're going to do such extensive mods to SCHOOLBUSES, why not a Volvo?

AlleyCat67 · 12-02-2016, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

Hey, if we're going to do such extensive mods to SCHOOLBUSES, why not a Volvo?

Yeah I guess..... seems like it would have been easier to just replace the heater core though. But on the other side of it, start a fire in the stove and you can warm up your interior without running the engine.... now all he needs to do is wire in a coolant pump to circulate the engine coolant around the firebox and voila! instant engine heater.

Dapplecreek · 12-02-2016, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlleyCat67

Yeah I guess..... seems like it would have been easier to just replace the heater core though. But on the other side of it, start a fire in the stove and you can warm up your interior without running the engine.... now all he needs to do is wire in a coolant pump to circulate the engine coolant around the firebox and voila! instant engine heater.

A friend's old Volkswagen beetle ('65?) had a gas-fueled heater in the trunk. I think it was from way up north somewhere. Early Webasto?

cadillackid · 12-02-2016, 12:09 PM

there was a company that sold aftermarket gasoline heaters for VW bugs...

the only heat in a beetle was a cowl over the exhaust that your heater fan sucked air ovr and blew threw ducts near the rocker panels and sort of up through the dash..

these cowls quickly rusted out and in real cold weather you just plain froze!

the gas heater pushed heat in through the floors in the front from the trunk and you actually could stay warm..

-Christopher

slaughridge85 · 12-02-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlleyCat67

turns out it's REAL????

The guy with the stove in his car is Russian... crazy mofos the Russ

Sundowner · 01-05-2017, 03:24 PM

I installed a diesel stove (for marine use) and it works great during winter and feels like wood heat. 40 gal tank between frame rails and I burn offroad diesel with no road taxes.

rock649 · 02-03-2017, 12:42 AM

I am actually considering coal. I can get it for 56 bucks a ton. I'm thinking a coal bin on the back. I do currently have a wood stove...and a couple chainsaws...and I never pay to heat my bus...but because of my short 5' chimney...it is a pain in the ass sometimes. I have thought of a cold air induction coming down from the roof with a valve to...but I can only get it to burn for 5 hours at a time...which is the main reason I'm thinking about coal...which goes for days. I'm willing to put up with smell if it means a full night sleep!! Heck...I will trade you stoves!

Mark_In_MA · 02-03-2017, 01:49 AM

My only worry about coal would be finding somewhere to get it cheap, and finding a place to store it. Parked, no big deal. More difficult on the road.

If you go coal or wood, the issue is the footprint - its a moot point if the top part is cast into the stove, or a stove pipe, either way, the space is taken.

Some big bolts and some creative brackets, and it won't go anywhere on you.

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