Campfire tripods

I find it easy enough to regulate the temperature with the coals directly for the dutch oven and for grills. But that does mean a set of long handled tongs is in my kit for that purpose.

Tripods are great if you're only using one pot. Otherwise, two uprights and a crosspiece, along with trammels, hooks, and chains, makes the most sense.

I have a set that can be converted into a tripod or bipod as needed. For the bipod, the two lefts D rings or loops on the end. The crosspiece slips through the loops. When setting it up as a tripod, the loop on the crosspiece fits inside the two D rings on the legs.

That said, I rarely use the tri-/bipod set when camping. I usually work on a fire grate over a campfire.

The tripod is part of a package. You can get or make a hook that comes off where the three legs join and hanf off of that a trammel. This is an adjustable hook, that any self respecting smith can make in 30 minutes. You can view some fotos here:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=trammel+hook&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=980&bih=510

The other unit which any self respecting smith can make up is a fire ring. Three legs riveted or welded to a steel ring- usually 14 inches across. A grill with legs works just as well. Never cook on flames, let the flames die down and cook on coals. Hard wood works best.

How much is the cheapest tripod and how is the best quality tripods?

We like the Graber Grills (google for a website).  You can use it as a grill or to hold a pot/pan.  They are adjustable and seem more secure than some of the tripods we have used in the past.

Any idea what material is the best for this tripod setup, as far as heat resistance and all that good stuff?

Here is a pic of the Lodge smaller tripod - now going to get larger one as well - like because of portability- great for stews, chili etc.