Stimson Explorer Kit

[ThisIsTheSea]

Does anyone have one of these? I have seen the details on the Stimson's website, but finding it difficult to workout exactly what is included with it. Does it come with plates/cutlery etc, or do you add those yourself? Is it worth the money (approx £300)?

[winchman]

I have one.
They just come with a Bowl, knife and fork tray, chopping board and stove. The tap and water container are extras
The concept is good but the quality isn't what it could be, I feel its like a proto type that needs to be taken to the next stage in quality.
Stimson have designed loads of stuff over the years but very little, if any of it has ended up in full production.
If you really want one you can have mine cheap.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Here's what's in it:
http://www.stimsonexplorerkit.co.uk/products.htm
I've seen one, I like it, and I'd buy one if it was just for me, or for a one-two night quick stop, or weekend sporting, but we have a large awning (c/o the club shop), and Origo type stove, and lots of cookware, barbi, and 3-way fridge, so we stay longer with 3 dogs to settle....but....as far as I'm concerned, it's a very portable, very useable "throw-in-the-back" piece of kit that's 300% durable and allows the Bongo to be uniquely multi-purpose........GO FOR IT!
Cheers
Helen

[cazzyblues]

Hi Winchman,
Can I be next in the list to consider your Stimson please if Thisisthesea doesn't have it. What size coolbox will fit? Also would need it posted so that to consider too. Perhaps you could let me know how much with postage. Also does the hob store inside too?
Thanks Caz.

[winchman]

Northern Bongolow has first dips with a PM last night, I will keep you posted
Its complete ready to go with stove and cool box.
The cool boxes they used are now obsolete but I have a couple spare so I would suggest to any one who has one to get a spare cool box

[Jillygumbo]

I have one of these and find it wonderful. It came with a small cool box (not electric), a single burner stove (£10 type you buy from anywhere), bowl, wind break, draining mat, chopping board, whale water tap, solar shower, holder for two cups, mesh to hold two small plates, cutlery tray (flat)

It now holds: cool box where I store my folding burner (go outdoors), gas and spare gas, glass, washing up liquid. 4 plates, 3 small plates, 2 mugs, cooking utensils, full set of cutlery in a plastic box that fits in the cutlery tray, hand wash, bowl with cloths, ceramic pan with lid and set of camping saucepans (for 1), folding kettle (outwell).

In fact, I've got everything in it I need. If I need another stove I take one separately and I have a stove top steamer.

It is ideal for 1 or 2.

Easily lifted out to use in an awning too. The lid opens up as a table from inside the bongo or on a table in the awning.

I bought mine from the dealer/manufacturer in Worcester last year and no, I'm not selling it!

[winchman]

They seem to go through spells of selling them on Ebay although I havent seen any for sale this year?
I will photograph mine and Ebay it as soon as I get a moment

[BigMatB]

Hi guys.

Quick bump on this thread. Has anyone lived with these for a while? Are they worth the money, or am I better off with a couple of good quality storage boxes?

The other question with these is can I fold the read seats flat over the top of these?

Cheers all.

[winchman]

Hi guys.

Quick bump on this thread. Has anyone lived with these for a while? Are they worth the money, or am I better off with a couple of good quality storage boxes?

The other question with these is can I fold the read seats flat over the top of these?

Cheers all.

The concept is good as its portable, I feel its much better than the boxes, if you buy one second hand I feel it will allways be worth what you paid for it.
From memory you have to remove the tap to fold the seat flat.

[Jillygumbo]

Hi guys.

Quick bump on this thread. Has anyone lived with these for a while? Are they worth the money, or am I better off with a couple of good quality storage boxes?

The other question with these is can I fold the read seats flat over the top of these?

Cheers all.

The concept is good as its portable, I feel its much better than the boxes, if you buy one second hand I feel it will allways be worth what you paid for it.
From memory you have to remove the tap to fold the seat flat.

Yes agree with all that. Had mine for over a year, removed the whale tap, intending to fit it to my water bottle but not yet. Bed goes flat but obviously has to be lifted to use the kitchen!

[BigMatB]

Cheers guys.

Still thinking of this as an option or possibly custom building my own (not metal though). Main issue I have at the moment is what to do about the stove. Id have preferred a stove with a separate gas bottle, but if I want to be able to fold rear seats flat I cant have an upright bottle. May end up just taking my old petrol stove with us - even though unleaded has gone up, its still cheaper than the small camping gas bottles.

Cheers guys, I'll post once I know which way I'm going.

[winchman]

I made my own
You are limited by gas bottle height though.
A petrol stove is far cheaper to run and quicker to cook on than gas.

[vanvliet]

If I was going this route I would make up my own kit but use a second hand Origo (eco fuel) type stove. They are much safer than gas or petrol in this application. The alloy boxes Stimson used are readily available if you insist on an alloy box but there are a huge number of strong plastic boxes available with hinged lids which would do the job just as well - - - - - -

[winchman]

Whilst I am a fan of the meths powered stoves you mention I just find them to be slow, the Coleman petrol powered one I have boils in half the time. Its all down to what suits your application best.
The Stimson isn't ally its galvanised sheet metal and as you say you could easily make one assuming you have the skills / machine

[aliwarbo]

We have had a Stimson for 3 years, my husband swears by it. We have made some modifications over time, eg we now also carry a stand (former Workmate with the top bits removed)which brings it to correct height, we have removed the cool box and store a kettle and toaster in it for travelling, and he has adapted two large gas burners that are powered by separate gas bottle. Cooks some fab meals on it too! Our bongo is not converted and he prefers to cook outside. Best thing ever bought for our van! I believe the Stimson company sold he manufacturing rights so they are now only made in Australia but some do appear in batches on Ebay occasionally. We got ours from an ex-bongo lady who advertised it on here, and paid about £200.