RS4 Outrigger Safety & Operating Manual
Version 1.1
Revision Date: May 2026
Overbuilt by Design. Rugged by Construction.
Welcome! Thank you for purchasing the SMOKEIRON RS4 Rocket Stove.
The RS4 is a heavy-duty outdoor cooking appliance engineered for efficient combustion and versatile outdoor cooking. Built from heavy-duty steel and designed for rugged outdoor use, the RS4 prioritizes durability, stability, and cooking performance over lightweight construction.
Read this entire manual before operating the RS4.
Failure to follow instructions and safety precautions may result in property damage, burns, serious injury, or death.
Retain this manual for future reference.
FOR OUTDOOR USE ONLY. Never use the RS4 indoors or in enclosed or partially enclosed areas.
INTENDED USE
The RS4 is intended for:
• Outdoor cooking
• Heating cookware including pots, pans, kettles, and skillets
• Grilling and cooking with approved SMOKEIRON accessories
The RS4 is not intended for:
• Indoor use
• Heating homes, garages, campers, tents, or enclosed structures
• Use as a space heater
• Burning garbage or hazardous materials
The RS4 is a solid-fuel outdoor cooking appliance and is not intended to replace certified heating appliances or indoor appliances.
Read and understand all instructions before use.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING
Failure to follow safety instructions may result in:
• Serious burns
• Fire
• Carbon monoxide exposure
• Property damage
• Severe injury or death
CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD WARNING
Burning wood produces carbon monoxide, smoke, airborne particulates, and combustion byproducts that may be hazardous if inhaled in concentrated amounts.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and may cause serious injury or death.
Never use the RS4 in or under:
• Homes
• Garages
• Tents
• Campers or trailers
• Enclosed shelters
• Covered patios
• Overhangs
• Awnings
• Partially enclosed structures
Always operate with unrestricted ventilation.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to smoke
• Avoid positioning people directly in smoke paths where practical
Combustion of wood and other natural fuels may produce smoke, chemicals, and airborne byproducts that may cause irritation or other health effects.
Improper fuels including treated wood, painted wood, contaminated wood products, engineered wood products, or prohibited materials may produce substantially more hazardous combustion byproducts.
HOT SURFACE WARNING
The RS4 is designed to generate high temperatures for efficient combustion and cooking performance.
Surface temperatures may become extremely hot and capable of causing immediate burns.
The following components may become extremely hot:
• Main body
• Fuel feed tube
• Grill surfaces
• Griddle surfaces
• Lid
• Accessory Lock Bar and retaining hardware
• Metal handles and adjacent components
• Ash and embers
Contact with hot surfaces may result in severe burns.
Always:
• Wear heat-resistant gloves
• Use appropriate cooking tools
• Keep hands away from hot surfaces
• Allow complete cooling before handling
Hot surfaces may remain dangerous long after visible flames disappear.
Do not assume the stove is cool simply because the fire appears extinguished.
WEIGHT AND HANDLING WARNING *HEAVY PRODUCT*
The RS4 is constructed from heavy-duty steel components and may be substantially heavier than typical portable outdoor cooking products.
Improper lifting or handling may result in:
• Back strain
• Pinch injuries
• Crush injuries
• Property damage
Recommended precautions:
• Lift using proper lifting techniques
• Use two people when necessary
• Maintain secure footing while carrying
• Keep hands clear of pinch points
Never move, transport, fold, reposition, load, or unload the stove while hot or while a fire is present. Verify all components, accessories, ash, and embers are completely cool before storage or transport.
TRANSPORT SAFETY WARNING
Before vehicle transport:
• Verify all components are completely cool
• Remove loose ash and embers
• Remove all accessories and removable cooking components
• Verify the Accessory Lock Bar remains installed and secured
• Secure the stove against movement during transport
Accessories are intended to be removed before transport.
Failure to remove accessories may result in:
• Component damage
• Loss of components
• Vehicle damage
• Injury
Failure to properly secure loads may result in injury, property damage, or loss of components.
FIRE SAFETY
Always:
• Place stove on stable, level, non-combustible surfaces
• Avoid soft ground, loose gravel, snow, ice, mud, sand, or unstable surfaces
• Keep children and pets away
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
• Maintain safe operating clearances
Recommended minimum clearances:
Sides: 36 in (91 cm)
Above stove: Maintain substantial clearance above stove from combustible materials and overhead obstructions
From combustible materials: 36 in (91 cm)
Do not operate near:
• Dry grass
• Leaves
• Vehicles
• Buildings
• Fuel containers
• Combustible structures
Sparks and embers may escape during operation. Strong or gusting winds may increase ember travel distance and alter flame behavior. Discontinue operation if conditions become unsafe. Never leave the stove unattended while operating.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS WARNING
The RS4 contains an open flame and burning solid fuel source. Do not operate where use is prohibited. The use of a rocket stove, efficient combustion system, or reduced-smoke design does not eliminate fire risk.
Users are solely responsible for complying with:
• Local fire bans
• Fire restrictions
• Provincial regulations
• Municipal bylaws
• Campground rules
• Park regulations
• Land-use restrictions
Sparks, embers, hot ash, heat transfer, or accidental contact with combustible materials may still result in:
• Grass fires
• Wildfires
• Property damage
• Personal injury
Before operation:
• Verify current restrictions
• Inspect surrounding conditions
• Remove nearby combustible materials where practical
• Keep extinguishing equipment available
SUPERVISION WARNING
The RS4 is not a toy.
Do not allow children to:
• Operate the stove
• Climb on the stove
• Touch hot surfaces
• Play near the stove
Adult supervision is required during operation and while cooling.
SETUP
Before operation:
1. Place the RS4 on a stable, level, non-combustible surface
2. Fully deploy legs and supports
3. Verify all feet contact the ground securely
4. Install desired cooking accessories
5. Verify the Accessory Lock Bar is properly engaged
6. Confirm the stove is stable and does not rock or shift
Do not operate if rocking, instability, or uneven support is present.
ACCESSORY LOCK BAR OPERATION
The RS4 utilizes an integrated Accessory Lock Bar designed to retain compatible cooking accessories during operation. The Accessory Lock Bar remains installed on the stove at all times. The lock bar assembly uses specially configured spring washers to provide light rotational resistance and maintain bar positioning.
Normal characteristics include:
• Light resistance during movement
• Snug movement without excessive looseness
• Smooth rotation during use
• Gravity-assisted engagement during operation
The Accessory Lock Bar should remain snug but should not be excessively tight.
Do not:
• Remove spring washers
• Remove retaining hardware
• Overtighten hardware
• Operate with missing components
• Modify the lock bar assembly
BEFORE FIRST USE
During initial use:
• Minor smoke, odor, discoloration, or finish changes may occur
• Initial heating may burn off manufacturing oils or residues
• Operate outdoors only
• Run an initial burn cycle prior to cooking food
LIGHTING / STARTUP
Recommended startup procedure:
1. Place small dry kindling into the combustion chamber
2. Ignite using an approved fire starter
3. Allow draft to establish before adding additional fuel
4. Add small split wood gradually
5. Continue adding fuel as required for desired cooking performance
Do not force excessive fuel into the feed tube.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Use only natural untreated wood fuels. Recommended fuels:
• Dry hardwood
• Dry softwood
• Small split firewood
• Kindling
Do not use:
• Pressure-treated wood
• Painted wood
• Wet wood
• Garbage
• Plastics
• Chemicals
• Engineered wood products
• MDF
• Particle board
• Plywood
• Flammable liquids
• Gasoline
• Diesel fuel
PRE-USE INSPECTION
Before each use:
• Verify legs and supports are fully deployed and stable
• Verify accessories are properly installed
• Verify the Accessory Lock Bar rotates properly and remains engaged
• Verify spring washer tension remains present
• Inspect retaining hardware for looseness
• Inspect for damaged, loose, cracked, bent, or excessively worn components
• Remove combustible debris from surrounding areas
Do not operate if components appear damaged, unstable, improperly installed, or excessively worn.
OPERATION
During operation:
• Wear heat-resistant gloves
• Wear closed-toe footwear
• Avoid loose-fitting clothing
• Wear close-fitting clothing where practical
• Natural-fiber clothing may reduce melt hazards associated with synthetic materials
• Use long utensils where practical
• Keep children and pets away
• Maintain stable cookware placement
• Add fuel gradually
• Monitor operating conditions continuously
Use cookware that is stable, appropriately sized, and centered on the cooking surface.
Oversized or unstable cookware may tip and cause injury.
Keep fingers clear of moving or clamping components including:
• Accessory interfaces
• Hinges
• Locking mechanisms
• Accessory Lock Bar
• Pinch points
Do not:
• Pour liquids into a hot stove body
• Burn garbage
• Use flammable liquids
• Leave stove unattended
• Operate during unsafe wind conditions
COOKING HAZARD WARNING
Hot oils, grease, boiling liquids, and food products may splatter or spill during cooking.
• Use caution when cooking with oils or grease
• Do not overfill cookware
• Use stable cookware with secure handles
• Position cookware handles away from traffic areas
• Exercise caution when removing lids due to escaping steam and heat
Hot liquids and grease may cause severe burns.
SHUTDOWN / EXTINGUISHING
To shut down:
• Stop adding fuel
• Allow remaining fuel to burn naturally
• Allow embers and ash to cool completely
• Allow all components to cool before handling, storage, or transport
Do not:
• Pour large amounts of water into a hot stove body
• Attempt rapid cooling
ASH DISPOSAL WARNING
Ash and embers may remain hot long after visible flames disappear.
• Allow complete cooling before ash removal
• Dispose of ash only in metal containers
• Do not place hot ash into garbage containers, cardboard boxes, vehicles, trailers, or combustible containers
• Store removed ash away from combustible materials until completely cold
MAINTENANCE AND FINISH CARE
The RS4 utilizes carbon steel construction and may develop surface oxidation if protective coatings are not maintained.
• Surface color changes from heat exposure are normal
• Surface oxidation and rust may occur over time
• Remove accumulated ash after use
• Periodically clean and lightly oil carbon steel components
• SMOKEIRON recommends grapeseed oil for restoration and maintenance of carbon steel surfaces
• Store dry whenever possible
STORAGE
Store only after complete cooling.
Recommended storage:
• Dry location
• Covered when possible
• Protected from standing water
• Avoid storing with accumulated ash or moisture inside stove body
MODIFICATIONS
Do not drill, cut, weld, alter, modify, or attach non-approved components to the RS4. Use only SMOKEIRON-approved accessories, replacement parts, and attachments specifically intended for the RS4.
Unauthorized modifications may:
• Alter performance
• Create unsafe operating conditions
• Cause injury
• Void warranty coverage
LIMITED WARRANTY
SMOKEIRON warrants the RS4 against defects in materials and workmanship under normal intended use and operation in accordance with this manual for one (1) year from original retail purchase date. Warranty applies only to the original purchaser and is non-transferable.
Warranty excludes:
• Misuse
• Failure to follow instructions
• Unauthorized modifications
• Improper fuel use
• Overheating
• Abuse
• Improper operation
• Commercial or rental use unless authorized
• Surface oxidation or finish changes
• Cosmetic changes from heat exposure
• Weather damage
• Normal wear and tear
• Products without proof of purchase
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SMOKEIRON disclaims liability for incidental, indirect, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages arising from misuse, improper operation, unauthorized modification, or use contrary to this manual.
MANUFACTURING VARIATION
Due to the nature of welded steel fabrication and heat-formed steel components, minor dimensional variation, cosmetic variation, weld appearance differences, surface texture differences, slight fit variations, and minor smoke leakage around seams, joints, or component interfaces may occur and do not necessarily indicate a defect. These characteristics are considered normal manufacturing variation.
CONTACT
SMOKEIRON
Support: support@smokeiron.com
Website: https://smokeiron.com/
Instagram: @smokeironmfg
Overbuilt by Design. Rugged by Construction.