I’ve tested plenty of gear in the Blue Mountains and beyond, and I recently took the Dune 4WD Dual Burner Butane Stove on a weekend trip. This compact stove caught my eye for its two burners and the hotplate that comes with it, which should cover everything from a quick brew to a full meal. I used it for breakfast scrambles, lunchtime grills and evening stews, and it handled bush cooking without any trouble. If you’re after a dependable, portable stove for your next trip, it could be a good addition to your kit.
The Dune 4WD Dual Burner Butane Stove is made for people who need more than a single burner but don’t want to lug heavy equipment. It runs on butane canisters, puts out plenty of heat and has simple controls, so it suits camping, picnics and 4WD trips. I liked how straightforward it was to use on my trip: no fuss, it just cooks.
What’s in the box
The Dune 4WD Dual Burner Butane Stove has two burners with a maximum heat output of 15,500 BTU, variable heat control and push-turn piezo ignition. It runs on two 220 g butane canisters, for about 90 minutes per burner. It has overpressure shut-offs for safety and comes with a carry case. It’s built from steel, stainless steel and aluminium, for camping, picnics and 4WD trips.
What we like
- High heat with variable control
- Easy Ignition
- Multiple Safety Features
- Quick setup
- Includes Hotplate
What we don’t
- Butane Canisters Not Included
- Relatively Heavy and Bulky
- 90 min on one canister
Quick Specs
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dune 4WD |
| Material | SteelStainless SteelAluminium |
| Weight | 6.4 kg |
| Size | 68 × 26 × 12.5 cm |
| Cooking area | 48.5 × 27.5 cm |
| Fuel | Butane2 x 220 g canisters, not included |
| Output | 15,500 BTUmaximum |
| Run time | 90 minutes a burnerhighest setting |
| Ignition | Push-turn piezo ignition |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Included | Teflon hotplateCarry case |
Unboxing and Setup of the dune Dual Burner camp stoveUnboxing & setup
Pulling the Dune camp stove out of the box was easy. It comes neatly packed in a sturdy carry case, which kept it safe on the drive to my campsite. The grey finish looks good, and the whole setup took less than a minute.
You pop in two 220 g butane canisters (I bought mine separately), clip them in place and put your pots and pans on top. The push-turn piezo ignition fired every time, even in a slight breeze, which saved me fumbling with matches. The stove feels solid, with a steel and aluminium build that’s clearly made for outdoor use.
Cooking Performance
The real test came when I started cooking. The two burners are the best thing about the Dune camp stove, with up to 15,500 BTU of heat. I boiled a litre of water in about 3 minutes on high, which was just what I wanted for morning camp coffee. The variable heat dials let me turn it down to a simmer for a tomato-based stew without scorching it. That’s a big improvement over single-burner stoves I’ve used, which struggle at low heat. The cooking area (48.5 x 27.5 cm) easily took my standard camp pots and a small skillet, which was great for full meals.
To get the most out of the Dune camp stove, plan your fuel. With a run time of 90 minutes per burner, you need extra canisters for multi-day trips. I used two over a weekend. Store canisters safely and check the connections before lighting. A windscreen is a must on breezy days. I used one from my kit, and it kept the flames steady. Clean the hotplate right after use to look after the non-stick coating, and pack a small sponge for quick wipes. If you’re cooking for a group, bring larger pots to make the most of the cooking area.
Safety and Durability
Safety matters when you cook with gas in the bush, and the Dune camp stove does well here. It has overpressure shut-off valves, which gave me confidence in remote spots. I didn’t have any problems, but it was reassuring to know the stove would cut off if something went wrong. The build is solid. The steel and aluminium took a few accidental knocks around camp without denting or scratching.
A brief rain shower hit during my trip, and the stove showed no signs of corrosion afterwards. The piezo ignition kept working in the damp, which isn’t a given with camp stoves. For the long term I’d store it dry and check the canister connections regularly, but it feels built to last through plenty of trips.
Portability and Design
At 6.4 kg, the Dune camp stove isn’t ultralight, but it’s manageable for car camping or a short carry from the vehicle. The carry case keeps everything compact and protected. I put it in the boot of my 4WD with the other gear without worrying about damage. At 68 x 26 x 12.5 cm it’s a bit bulkier than a single-burner stove, but that’s a fair trade for the extra cooking power. I wouldn’t take it backpacking, but it’s a great Outback accessory for longer 4WD trips.
The design is easy to work with. The burners are spaced well, so you can use two pots without crowding, and the stainless steel parts came through a light drizzle without rusting. I also liked the sturdy legs, which kept it stable on uneven ground at my campsite. One minor gripe: the hotplate takes up space in the case, so if you’re short on room you might leave it behind on simpler trips.
Conclusion: Dune 4WD Dual Burner Butane StoveConclusion
The Dune camp stove is a good balance of power, portability and ease of use. It’s not the lightest or cheapest stove around, but with two burners, a hotplate and dependable ignition it suits campers who want to cook proper meals without hassle. It made my camp kitchen simpler and let me enjoy the trip instead of wrestling with gear. Boiling water for a quick brew or grilling for a group, it does the job.
Compared to the single-burner butane stoves I’ve used, the Dune camp stove can do a lot more. The two burners let you cook several dishes at once, and the hotplate adds grilling, which most budget stoves lack. It’s not as light as a backpacking stove, but for car campers and 4WDers the extra features justify the weight. Against dearer gas stoves it holds its own, with solid heat output at a lower cost.
The carry case and hotplate add to its value, as does the 12-month warranty. The butane canisters aren’t included, it’s fairly heavy and bulky, and the run time is limited to about 90 minutes per canister. For group camping, being able to cook full meals efficiently makes it worth the money.
A dual burner stove that performs well for outdoor cooking.
It heats quickly with its 15,500 BTU output and can be turned down to a simmer. The carry case helps with portability, though the size and weight rule out backpacking. The safety shut-offs work as they should, and the build stands up to frequent use.
- Car campers
- 4WD tourers
- Groups
Fair value. Two burners, a hotplate and a carry case in one kit is handy, but it’s heavy at 6.4 kg and gets through a butane canister in about 90 minutes on high.
