Traveling with match light charcoal

[Airperson]

We use match light charcoal--but now I'm worried about keeping it in a storage area of the Airstream or Truck, and having it get too hot and start a fire. Does anyone else have concerns?

[Goal15]

I carry mine, when I take it, in a 5 gallon metal paint bucket in the back of the truck.

Traveled all the way to Arkansas in 95 - 100 degree temps in June and then three days of upper 90s and 100s at Tawakoni earlier this month without any problems.

The only time i put it in the AS storage area in the back is if it is supposed to rain, but that has only been once in the 10 days that i have traveled with it.

The paint bucket was thoroughly cleaned and washed, so there is no paint residue, but no problems so far.

on a related note, because of the drought in Texas last year, we had not had a campfire. This year on our first outing, i spent a bunch of time working with kindling, newspaper etc to build a campfire.

when i saw how easy matchlight would light, I've decided that a couple briquets of that and a few pieces of kindling are all i need to get a campfire started.

I found that my Home Depot puts odds and ends of scrap lumber on sale at the back of store and that i can buy enough pieces of non-treated lumber for $2 to last for 2-3 camping trips.

[Friday]

I don't know about it self-igniting, but doesn't it give off a bit of odour from the starting fluid built in?

[drew05]

I use regular charcoal and a charcoal chimney. I store our charcoal in old cleaned out sealable kitty litter cans. It stays dry and doesn't need to be kept in the trailer. I can't remember when I last used charcoal lighter fluid.

[jcanavera]

I just did some quick research since I thought that there was some issues for long term storage of self lighting charcoal. Nothing shows in the searches and possibly there may have been issues in the early life cycle of these products. The only thing I saw was to be sure to keep the briquets tightly sealed since the quick light waxes that are used are subject to evaporation which will make them hard to light. I saw no cautions regarding storage temperatures. Personally I would check the bag for specific instructions per the manufacturer.

Jack

[AWCHIEF]

I have been using and traveling with it for years. Never had any problems or failure to work as advertised. No special storage issues, just roll the bag up and toss it in the trunk.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by drew05

I use regular charcoal and a charcoal chimney. I store our charcoal in old cleaned out sealable kitty litter cans. It stays dry and doesn't need to be kept in the trailer. I can't remember when I last used charcoal lighter fluid.

'nother chimney user here. I don't like the odor of the MatchLight, I don't know if it carries through to the food or not. My home grill is charcoal too.

Aaron

[Goal15]

I guess I should have mentioned that the 5 gallon paint bucket is an open bucket, so there isn't any heat build up other than the heat of the sun.

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

I just did some quick research since I thought that there was some issues for long term storage of self lighting charcoal. Nothing shows in the searches and possibly there may have been issues in the early life cycle of these products. The only thing I saw was to be sure to keep the briquets tightly sealed since the quick light waxes that are used are subject to evaporation which will make them hard to light. I saw no cautions regarding storage temperatures. Personally I would check the bag for specific instructions per the manufacturer.

Jack

Yep, what Jack said.

We use only match light charcoal when traveling, as we don't want to carry lighter fluid inside the motor home due to safety issues. We don't carry a chimney due to ever present space considerations. We have never had any problems or concerns in our 5 years with the interstate.

There is an odor when you first lite it, but it dissipates quickly and gets the job done.

We learned to place an opened bag inside one of those large ziplock bags, or it won't light well within a couple weeks of opening. In a sealed bag it keeps til we use it up.

For those who dutchoven cook with match light, it burns out more quickly than regular charcoal, so may require a second set of briquets.

Maggie

[Airperson]

Thanks guys for your inputs. I wasn’t sure if we were on the right track carrying the match light with us in the summer in Texas. It is a great product just wanted some good feedback from folks who travel about it. Airperson

[xrvr]

Good to here the chimneys work. I rally need to buy one. Thanks, jim

[Airperson]

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/chimney.html This is a good place to get information onusing the chimney starter for charcoal. Airperson

[AirEgger]

We carry lump charcoal with us and use a twisted paper towel with cooking oil on it as a lighter. We always have paper towels and cooking oil with us, so no extra things to bring. Has worked well for us, could be an alternate lighting method for consideration.

Barry
Marthasville, MO

[Airperson]

AirEgger, do you use just the paper and oil without the chimney? Airperson

[drew05]

Using a chimney is really easy. I use crumpled up newspaper. If I run out there is always some paper bags or even paper sales papers avail along the way. I've never needed to use any oil or fire starter. As it burns the newspaper may not completely burn off.

Good Luck

Drew

[AirEgger]

Originally Posted by Airperson

AirEgger, do you use just the paper and oil without the chimney? Airperson

Yes. I stick the twisted paper towel (pt) down into the charcoal and wet it with cooking oil. I twist the pt into a rope and then tie it in a knot. Put some oil on the surrounding charcoal. Leave about a quarter inch of one end of the pt dry, easier to light. After the soaked pt is burning, start laying charcoal pieces over it so they catch fire. I've used starter cubes and these work as well as those. Hope these work for you.

Barry

[urnmor]

AirEgger
What ape of grill do you use. At home I use lump in my Green Eggs, however, I just bought a Cobb Grill for the AS. I was thinking about using lump in that as it does not have any order.

I use fire starters to start the lump They have worked fine for me over the years.

John

[AirEgger]

Originally Posted by urnmor

AirEgger
What ape of grill do you use. At home I use lump in my Green Eggs, however, I just bought a Cobb Grill for the AS. I was thinking about using lump in that as it does not have any order.

I use fire starters to start the lump They have worked fine for me over the years.

John

Agree, fire starters do a fine job. Got started using the paper towel/oil thing from an egger and stuck with it. I'm a Big Green Egg fan. Have an XL at home, have a small for travel. Also travel with a baby Q. Use the egg for meats and the Q for sides. We enjoy grilling/smoking on the road and consider that a big part of traveling.

Barry

[urnmor]

We certainly enjoy our Eggs. We use to have a small one however it walked to my daughter's home in NJ. I can tell yu the two big Eggs miss it.

[purman]

This sounds like a good excuse for a red neck experiment. When I get home I'll have to see if I can get the stuff to ignite without an open flame. Sounds like a good time at the barn for an hour or so