Viking popup stove replacement

[ranger97]

Not long ago I purchased a Viking PU, Saga, 2003.  This camper was brand new and had never been sold by the dealer.  The dealer went bankrupt and probably took off for Tierra Del Fuego or some exotic place, maybe with the secretary and whatever cash was on hand.  The remaining stock (8 - 10 campers and various accessories) was, as I understand it, repo'd by the bank.  The bank then sold the stock thru another business in town at some rock bottom prices.
The one I bought was the last one so the bank was glad to get out of the camper business.

Anyway, the one I bought didn't have a cook stove, and the electrical hadn't been wired to be able to plug in the camper.  The stove apparently had been removed to another unit and the external plug and power supply was all there, but never wired for operation.  I was surprised the wiring wasn't hooked up at the factory, but no big deal.  Both of these things I knew when I bought the camper, so I can't gripe about that.  The wiring was no problem.  Took about 2 hrs. to get all that working.  The cook stove was another matter.

All the gas lines were in place and working once I got the propane bottle filled.  I figured I would contact Viking and purchase a new stove.  Wrong!  Viking wanted $500 for a new stove!  At first I thought maybe they were pricing me a stove AND a furnace.  Not so.  $500.00 for their simple 3 burner propane stove.
I not only said NO, but ---- NO!

Went to a local sporting goods store & bought a Coleman, self igniting propane stove.  The Viking propane regualtor wouldn't run the stove as it is set for a lower pressure.  The Coleman comes with its own regulator, so I put a dual outlet on the main tank, ran a separate hose to the internal & external stove connections, changed out the Viking connectors to better quick connects, and -WALLA - I have a cook stove! Mine is more versitle than the Viking, takes up less space, and all (stove & parts) for $74 and about 2 hrs. work.

Moral:  1.  Viking stoves are horendusly over-priced.
          2.  Viking apparently doesn't like people who buy their campers for less  than the list price!

Ranger 97

[dthurk]

If you bought the camper brand new and are the first owner, why isn't it under warranty?  I didn't think the warranty period started until the camper was purchased.  I know it would be strange to have a warranty on a 2003 camper, but you might have a point to argue here.

[ranger97]

If you bought the camper brand new and are the first owner, why isn't it under warranty?  I didn't think the warranty period started until the camper was purchased.  I know it would be strange to have a warranty on a 2003 camper, but you might have a point to argue here.

They were quite adamant that there was no longer any warranty.  What warranty there was apparently won't survive a dealer bankruptcy, bank repo, & sale by a non-Viking dealer.  They (Viking) said it was a dealer problem and I should take it up with them.  Of course, by that time there was no dealer.

[ranger97]

They were quite adamant that there was no longer any warranty.  What warranty there was apparently won't survive a dealer bankruptcy, bank repo, & sale by a non-Viking dealer.  They (Viking) said it was a dealer problem and I should take it up with them.  Of course, by that time there was no dealer.

The warranty really wasn't an issue with me, as I knew there was no stove in it when I bought it.  I expected to have to buy one.  But $500.00!!!!

[ranger97]

If you bought the camper brand new and are the first owner, why isn't it under warranty?  I didn't think the warranty period started until the camper was purchased.  I know it would be strange to have a warranty on a 2003 camper, but you might have a point to argue here.

For $74 it wasn't worth the time to argue the point.  I just fixed it myself!

[AustinBoston]

Do you have pictures?

I'll bet that the Coleman stove literature says "For outdoor use only."

If it does, keep in mind that the Coleman stove uses both propane and oxygen faster than the Viking stove would.  You will need to be careful about adequate ventilation.

One of the side benefits is that it will cook faster.

It will also produce water vapor much faster, the main problem being excess condensation.

In seriously under-ventilated situations, it will produce deadly carbon monoxide much faster.

Personally, I would never bring high-pressure propane inside my camper, but if you have been careful about how the line passes through walls/floors/panels (so it doesn't wear), and check it for wear frequently, that should not be a problem.

Check your propane alarm often (looks a bit like a smoke detector mounted near the floor) and invest in a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector.

Austin

[ranger97]

Do you have pictures?

I'll bet that the Coleman stove literature says "For outdoor use only."

If it does, keep in mind that the Coleman stove uses both propane and oxygen faster than the Viking stove would.  You will need to be careful about adequate ventilation.

One of the side benefits is that it will cook faster.

It will also produce water vapor much faster, the main problem being excess condensation.

In seriously under-ventilated situations, it will produce deadly carbon monoxide much faster.

Personally, I would never bring high-pressure propane inside my camper, but if you have been careful about how the line passes through walls/floors/panels (so it doesn't wear), and check it for wear frequently, that should not be a problem.

Check your propane alarm often (looks a bit like a smoke detector mounted near the floor) and invest in a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector.

Austin

Lines are tight and well positioned. I'm not worried about the ventilation.  Seems my pu has a sufficient # of little ventilated spots, and I usually open the roof vent when cooking. Only use the stove to cook with, and a lot of that is done using the outside hookup.  Propane alarm is on and functions as far as I know (it's never gone off).  I just refused to pay Viking's price for a stove.