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Looking ahead to some of the trips that I will go on next year with the Mitsi Club there are a number of really good ones where we will not be taking camper trailers, so inspired by Al Smith ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h-AW0p2Yz8 ), and not being able to work with stainless steel (or any other steel really) I have knocked up a new in-car camp kitchen, in plywood, which will suit my minimalistic catering talents.
Pic 1 : This is the drawer system I had previously. Drawers about 250mm deep, 700mm long with a fridge slide top on the LH drawer. On the right side, I had a complete lift out folding camp kitchen which was set up outside of the car. Now redundant.
Pic 2: New drawer system, only about 120mm high and a complete solid top. With lower drawer height I was able to extend the length to 820mm , the previous drawers had to be limited to 700mm due to the top edge of the drawer contacting the sloping cargo barrier in a higher spot. Also made me reassess what tools and gear I actually need to carry. Check the height difference by the exposure of the plastic panels on the RHS.
Pic 3: Basic construct of the new drawers. Note – no metal slides. I have used HDPE plastic, 40mm x 5mm x 820mm as a slide. Cost was about $16 per drawer as the plastic is cut to size. Even with the drawers fully packed with tools etc it is a very easy smooth slide out. I have retained a hole in each drawer base which still gives me access to the 3rd seat well. Just pull out the whole drawer and reach into the space. There is nothing in there that is larger than the height of the drawer space.
Pic 4 : this is the new set up when I am ready to go away (without the camper trailer). I have “cheated” and bought a Kings fridge slide. I made a slight error in getting the fridge slide dimensions from the website and then taking a month to finish up the kitchen box before buying the fridge slide. Kings had changed the specs on the slide and I never thought to recheck !!! So I had 80mm less on the RHS to store my chair and it no longer fits there. I also benefit from the reduction of fridge height so I can know see the bottom without a step ladder ! Both the fridge slide and the kitchen are completely removable and take about 15 mins to remove and insert. I have to put the kitchen box in without any drawers for a couple of reasons – one, I bolt the box down under the bottom drawer through the base and - two, it becomes too heavy to handle (age related) fully loaded. The top of the drawer system is 18mm plywood and I have used 20mm threaded inserts in position for bolts on the fridge slide and also on the kitchen base.
Pic 5 : Kitchen in service ! Bottom drawer is 225mm high, this is the “cooking” section with single butane cooker, prep surface, utensil drawer and kettle, pots, plates, bowls storage. Middle drawer is 170mm high and is the pantry, for canned stuff, non-fridge food, fruit, towels, folding sink etc. Top drawer is 115mm high, and will carry anything else, such as washing up gear, 12v shower, dunny rolls, mozzie coils, raincoat, lights. Total height is 640mm.
I already had two 700mm drawer slides from the previous drawer system and another one from a fridge mod on the camper trailer so only had to pay out for ply and paint.
I also have another box system which replaces the second row seats and this is where I carry water, campfire cooking gear, solar blanket, clothes, bunker tent and a bit of other gear – inside the car.
Cheers
Peter
Pic 1 : This is the drawer system I had previously. Drawers about 250mm deep, 700mm long with a fridge slide top on the LH drawer. On the right side, I had a complete lift out folding camp kitchen which was set up outside of the car. Now redundant.
Pic 2: New drawer system, only about 120mm high and a complete solid top. With lower drawer height I was able to extend the length to 820mm , the previous drawers had to be limited to 700mm due to the top edge of the drawer contacting the sloping cargo barrier in a higher spot. Also made me reassess what tools and gear I actually need to carry. Check the height difference by the exposure of the plastic panels on the RHS.
Pic 3: Basic construct of the new drawers. Note – no metal slides. I have used HDPE plastic, 40mm x 5mm x 820mm as a slide. Cost was about $16 per drawer as the plastic is cut to size. Even with the drawers fully packed with tools etc it is a very easy smooth slide out. I have retained a hole in each drawer base which still gives me access to the 3rd seat well. Just pull out the whole drawer and reach into the space. There is nothing in there that is larger than the height of the drawer space.
Pic 4 : this is the new set up when I am ready to go away (without the camper trailer). I have “cheated” and bought a Kings fridge slide. I made a slight error in getting the fridge slide dimensions from the website and then taking a month to finish up the kitchen box before buying the fridge slide. Kings had changed the specs on the slide and I never thought to recheck !!! So I had 80mm less on the RHS to store my chair and it no longer fits there. I also benefit from the reduction of fridge height so I can know see the bottom without a step ladder ! Both the fridge slide and the kitchen are completely removable and take about 15 mins to remove and insert. I have to put the kitchen box in without any drawers for a couple of reasons – one, I bolt the box down under the bottom drawer through the base and - two, it becomes too heavy to handle (age related) fully loaded. The top of the drawer system is 18mm plywood and I have used 20mm threaded inserts in position for bolts on the fridge slide and also on the kitchen base.
Pic 5 : Kitchen in service ! Bottom drawer is 225mm high, this is the “cooking” section with single butane cooker, prep surface, utensil drawer and kettle, pots, plates, bowls storage. Middle drawer is 170mm high and is the pantry, for canned stuff, non-fridge food, fruit, towels, folding sink etc. Top drawer is 115mm high, and will carry anything else, such as washing up gear, 12v shower, dunny rolls, mozzie coils, raincoat, lights. Total height is 640mm.
I already had two 700mm drawer slides from the previous drawer system and another one from a fridge mod on the camper trailer so only had to pay out for ply and paint.
I also have another box system which replaces the second row seats and this is where I carry water, campfire cooking gear, solar blanket, clothes, bunker tent and a bit of other gear – inside the car.
Cheers
Peter
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