Hey guys, I been looking at different drawer systems and chuck boxes for camp kitchens setups. Im leaning towards the nomad kitchen style. Where its more of a modular kind i can store when not in use. But honestly im leaning towards building it myself. I was looking at either using 80/20 extrusion with plastic side panels to stay light weight or just use standard plywood. But wanted to see what everyone has either in a chuckbox style or a drawer type. Just so i can get some ideas.
Camping Kitchen setup
- Thread starter nerfkhat
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leftyguns21
New member
Hi [MENTION=139814]nerfkhat[/MENTION]
there are quite a few camp kitchen posts, lots of good info in these
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/gsea...search.php?searchid=7270676&ss=2419j565307j14
Post your camp kitchens!
there are quite a few camp kitchen posts, lots of good info in these
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/gsea...search.php?searchid=7270676&ss=2419j565307j14
Post your camp kitchens!
Maybe I'm just a simple man, but unless you are doing significant overlanding or long term camping, I typically cook over a fire, or with my little Coleman stove on a table.
I totally get the idea behind some of the kitchen setups but have never found myself wishing I brought a more complete kitchen than a stove, table, and a pan or two. I'm also only doing 1-4 night trips.
My Coleman two-burner, a solid table, and the pans my wife no longer wants in our home kitchen have served me well. That said, some of the heavy-duty BBQ gloves are great when camp cooking.
I totally get the idea behind some of the kitchen setups but have never found myself wishing I brought a more complete kitchen than a stove, table, and a pan or two. I'm also only doing 1-4 night trips.
My Coleman two-burner, a solid table, and the pans my wife no longer wants in our home kitchen have served me well. That said, some of the heavy-duty BBQ gloves are great when camp cooking.
mtntrekker
New member
The link is to Expedition Portal forum for a kitchen chuck box using 8020 material. I'm considering doing something similar.
Kitchen Kit/Chuck Box | Page 64 | Expedition Portal
Kitchen Kit/Chuck Box | Page 64 | Expedition Portal
sn_85
Senior Member
Agreed. I think that Nomad kitchen thing is just excessive for a 4Runner. I'd rather have the cargo space for recovery tools, camping equipment or a fridge. Some people like bringing the entire kitchen with them while camping which seems somewhat excessive. I get eating well and eating good but it also comes with a cost like clean up time. I'd rather save my water for drinking rather than doing the dishes.
I think having a well laid out and thought out kitchen storage box is better than having an entire slide out kitchen drawer system thing. Currently I use a Yeti Loadout Gobox 30 for all my kitchen gear and then bring a single or two burner stove with me. Takes up minimal space.
This is also a good setup without having a gigantic kitchen in the truck
The Ultimate 2-Person Camp Kitchen Overland Storage Box - Full Guide
I think we're on the same page.
For others, while I have a 5th gen, my primary offroader is my 3rd gen. One of the things that is interesting in the 3rd, and 5th gen, and probably 4th gen communities is that there tend to be an awful lot of 4runners that are seriously loaded down. Kitchen equipment being one of the main factors there.
My setup in my 3rd gen is a large cooler, then a rubbermade with a coleman camp stove, one pan, one pot, gas bottle, two plates, silverware for two, a case of waterbottles, ground tent, sleeping bags for the wife and I, lantern, my camera gear, and a duffle for clothes + extras like paper towels and so on. In my build thread you can see I've built a small box for tools, air compressor, etc, but there have been very few times I've been wishing I brought more. Being loaded down is rarely a good thing. I think we could pack even lighter in the 5th gen just because of the extra space.
My camp kitchen stance is, cook as many single pan meals as you can, and get a campfire griddle. Our camp stapes are fajitas, hobo meals, smoked meat in sandwiches, and bacon and egg burritos for breakfast. I love camp cooking, but to me its about simplicity and that great bite after a long day or wheeling, hiking, or whatever reason you're out there.
I was looking for something with a small footprint. Thats why i wanted something like a chuckbox. Im leaning more towards minimalistic and organized. I dont want built in permanent drawers. Thats why i liked the idea of the nomad kitchen setup. But i didnt want to spend 1k on that when for few hundred more you actually have a full drawer system.
The Best Mobile Camping Kitchen | Nomad Kitchen Company
Ive seen a few diy's with aluminum boxes they cut and able to fit a shelf inside to organize the few pans and the grill.
Ideally i wanted a tub/box of sorts that held the grill and my cooking supplies nicely. Not the 1 tub thats got everything thrown inside haha.
That expedition chuckbox 80/20 design is actually fairly nice. Looks light as well.
Shoot even a roam adv co. bin with some good organization that doubles as a table to cook on top of or next to even works.
The Best Mobile Camping Kitchen | Nomad Kitchen Company
Ive seen a few diy's with aluminum boxes they cut and able to fit a shelf inside to organize the few pans and the grill.
Ideally i wanted a tub/box of sorts that held the grill and my cooking supplies nicely. Not the 1 tub thats got everything thrown inside haha.
That expedition chuckbox 80/20 design is actually fairly nice. Looks light as well.
Shoot even a roam adv co. bin with some good organization that doubles as a table to cook on top of or next to even works.
bring_it_on
New member
I agree. Some of the T4R I see have their kitchen setups which begin to rival small RV's. I get the convenience factor but going full RV seems like a bad idea for me given the size of the vehicle and the premium for space.
Sonoran_Desert
Member
Somewhat off topic but would appreciate any first hand experiences on storing Coleman Propane cylinders in hot 4Runner? I can easily secure tank from movement but concerned with summer temps inside vehicle.
On my regular propane grill it sits outside in the 90 to 100° to the point that you can't touch the grill without burning your hand. I doubt leaving a propane tank in your car covered from direct sun will cause any damage. That's purely my opinion from personal experience. I have left a full size propane tank in my car for several days because I keep forgetting to fill it and I have not had an issue.
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Sonoran_Desert
Member
Thanks. As a test I have been keeping coleman propane green cylinder connected to gas grill outside on patio in direct AZ heat and sun (113 degress) with no issues so far, however there is degree of outside hot wind that flows over the tank on the patio. Google search on this topic has so many varying opinions and is not helpful.
BrendonBenton
New member
Chuck camp kitchens tend to be larger than chuck boxes. A kitchen will give you lots of workspaces, and some even have kitchen sinks with drains. Because camp kitchens fold down, you must pack all supplies separately and set up the kitchen when you arrive at camp. It's easier to buy a portable kitchen in a shop than make one yourself. The chuck kitchen should have all the details that matter. My latest purchase was a can crusher, making it easier to sort the rubbish further.
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