Lunchbox Ovens
 

I have a question, I hear alot about these lunchbox ovens... But I cannot find out which one is the best. I have seen them from Road Pro, Tracker, and the Burton ovens.

Does anyone know which one is the better of the 3. I have bought road pro before and doesn't seem to last to long. Any info would be great thanks!

I have used the Burton in the past and it did a very good job. Just watch where you put it in the truck. I had my in between the seat and full of a stew kicked it over and burned the crap out of my foot.

Cabela's has a new thing out that actually keeps your food cold and then turns into a microwave when you need it. You can see it on there website. It's like 200 bucks but I think a real neat idea.

cool I will have to check out that cabelas thing, I like eating soups and things on the road. And I'm not suppose to put a big inverter in my truck so have been looking at those lunchbox things for the last few weeks.

Re: Lunchbox Ovens
 

I have a Road Pro, mine has lasted 2 months with a LOT of use. I looked at all three and they basically look like they are made by the same manufacturer and just branded with the brand names.

One trucker I saw buying one said that his goes out about every 4 or 5 months. He saves his Love's Fuel Appreciation card to replace it with each time and never is actually out of pocket money to replace it.

Re: Lunchbox Ovens
 

It seems like anything "branded" Roadpro is cheaply made and in no-way designed for the harsh trucking environment. My Lunchbox stove lasted exactly 2 months. I could not find the electrical break in the connection. Fuse and cord were OK.

Not to deviate the discussion ... but the last straw for me was to purchase Roadpro Correction Fluid. You would think the could just re-label some product already out there .. but no .. this stuff was awful. Mostly liquid and very little of the white stuff. As soon as I tried to apply it it ran all over my log book.

Roadpro Vacuum cleaner .. 1 month .. stopped working
Road Pro Lunch Box -- 2 months stopped heating
Road Pro wallet .. 1 month zipper broke
Road Pro calculator -- 1 month screen stopped working.

You get the picture

Dirt Devil .. still working
Braun stove still working
Swiss Army wallet .. still intact
Casio calculator .. still working

You get the picture

Yeah I have gotten the Road Pro coffee maker, lasted about 4 days. And the Road Pro skillet and it lasted about 5 uses but basically was no good from the start.

I bought a Tracker coffee maker, and I have been happy with it so far had it about 2 months make coffee with it about twice a week, mainly because it takes so long to brew a cup of coffee normally about 30 mins. So if I start it before I go brush my teeth and do my PTI. I can normally come back and it will be ready to pour. :lol:

I was checking out that oven from Cabelas that is sorta a ac/dc microwave for 200 bucks im thinking of giving it a shot.

Sterno folding stove.....$5.00
Sterno fuel $5.00 for a pack of three

Cook anything, anywhere and its safe to to transport.

I used the Roadpro. Mine burnt out after 1 month. took it back and got the burton. I still have it after 6 months with no problems. Burton puts out a pretty decent 12 volt product. If you are gonna go that route I would say look at Burton.


Good Luck

Scott

I use the Tracker. I had a roadpro and the electrical plug melted six months along. The tracker has lasted 1/12 years so far. I use it twice a day. To cook soups is a snap, but works best when parked. Get the pulltop kind and then pour 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the oven, crack the top of the soup can and lay it on its side. The water will actually boil and get the soup nice and hot. If your moving while cooking, just find something to brace the can in place. If your cooking something like eggrolls, burritos or chicken wings (precooked) then make a "tray" of tinfoil in the bottom. Even if the food splits open. you wont have a mess to clen up and you could lift it out and set it on the empty seat so you can eat while driving.

I just started driving a couple months ago and have been wanting a lunchbox stove. Wasn't really sure which brand to get. Luckily I found this forum, I almost ordered the RoadPro. I got the Burton stove-to-g from thewhitewhale com instead. Now I just need to wait until UPS brings it.

Jim

go with the original----burton lunch box-- it works/ it lasts.....if it says RoadPro---think CHINA and avoid.

the burton lunch box is great---you can buy small alum foil pan liners at wal-mart and then get fat off of hot dogs in about a weeks time.---

Just add a little water- throw in your franks in the morning(10AM) By noon the smell of hot dogs coming up from your floor board will be making you look for a quick place to pull over and grab the buns and mustard & relish.

You'll gain 30pounds a month.

I appreciate everyone's input. The Burton has been ordered and I am just waiting for the UPS man to deliver it. As a side note, I found a small crockpot at wally world that only uses 35 watts and heats real nice. (I tested it tonight in the truck) I just need to figure out how to keep the lid on while driving or just not fire it up until I am parked.

Jim

Take two of the "rope" style bungee cords that are long enough to go around the crock pot top to bottom. It will hold the lid on just fine.

When I was trucking I usually "bought" the Roadpro's lunch box ovens. The companies I drove for often had me fuel at Pilots and I just used my frequent fueler points to get a new one when needed. :wink:

I think I averaged one every 8 months or so.

well if we're going to swap "horror" consumer stories---- I got one.

They make this little oven; at least they call it a oven- the heating element is in the bottom--it has a rectangular fold down door with a window in it. Well,
I've bought 3 of these little pieces of shit( yes, I know, why didn't I learn with the first one).

First off---the bottom gets too hot! first to go are the shitty little hinges--then over time the rest of the base(with the heating element) will begin to crack-----but, I tell you what over 10years--- each one lasted about three years. All you need is a roll of duct tape or guarrilla tape...might as well go ahead and buy a roll with it. Each time you use it---just wait until the
goooey molten duct tape cools---and keep rolling/wrapping it in duct tape to hold er together----after 3years you'll have a goooey little puddle of melted plastic/metal.

One thing I noticed on my last run out west, you see the roadpro in every truckstop. I did not see one Burton.

Jim

Yeah, isn't it amazing---now after joining this forum-- I too am starting to take notice of stuff I used to just pass up.

The Burtons are mostly found at Petro & TA. Pilot carries RoadPro very heavy--probably has $$$ interest in brand.

I just noticed the Tracker brand of lunchboxs at a TA--right next to the slightly more expensive(but well worth it) Burton.


Oh yeah, when/if you get the 12v electric cooler----go with the 40qt Igloo not the coleman. If you had both side by side working- would be easy no brainer.

I have a Coleman that did quite well. However, when I changed trucks and didn't have the space for it, I bought a smaller Rubbermaid cooler. It has just enough room to hold a 12-pack of cans. This thing is amazing. Even when I have my truck fairly warm inside (72-75f) the cans on the bottom of the cooler get so cold that they'll "slush" up on you. I looooove a cold can of Coke.

Thanx for the info. Taking note of all of it.

Jim

I know this is an old thread but for future readers, the best 12volt stove in my opinion is Tracker. I have a 12volt freezer in my truck that I stock with individually vacuum-sealed meats cooked at home and bags of frozen vegetables. I use two lunchbox stoves during dinner (one for the meat and one for the vegetables). Over the years I've tried all three brands, RoadPro, Burton and Tracker. RoadPro is absolutely worthless, everything they make is crap. I wouldnt even buy a pencil from that brand if they made them. Every 12volt RoadPro appliance I have bought lasts a couple of weeks. Burton is much better and supposedly the cream of the crop but I find that Tracker works better than Burton. Its gotten much harder to find Tracker 12volt stoves nowadays since Pilot took over FlyingJ but I recently saw them at the Petro in Joplin. My Tracker stove has been working for probably 2 years with almost daily use(minus hometime of course).

just a side note...the 12volt freezer that I have is an Engel freezer. It plugs into a 12volt cigarette plug and keeps things frozen rock hard. I have the one thats the same size as your typical 12volt 40qt cooler. I think I've had that for about 3 years now running 24/7 and it still runs perfectly and with lower power draw than the 12volt coolers. Its very expensive at almost $900 but if it saves you only $5 a day(I probably save close to $10-15 a day) over meals eaten at restaurants then it will pay for itself in 6 months. You wont find them at the truck stops or stores so you have to order online.

:lol: Should I take that to mean you don't like that brand?!?! :)

I love my Burton but the handle is broken and I'll keep a lookout for the Tracker. Good review. Thanks!

I'm with ya, dude! Thanks for the tip. Hate to waste line 5 time on lukewarm beer.