Camp Kitchen

https://youtu.be/IMt4wczeuaM

Today I finished adding a camp kitchen to my 2 gen tacoma. It's nothing glamorous, but I'm pretty stoked.

I bought an on demand pump from northern tool, and sinks, rv faucet , and 15 gallon water storage tank from Amazon. Plumbing supplies from homedepot.

Not shown in video: quick connect hose hookup for shower/clean-up located under sink drawer.

Woop woop. Now I just need time time to go camping/fishing.

 

Welcome to TW

 

It works. That's all that matters.

If you are at all concerned with the added weight, you can strategically place some holes or windows of different shapes and sizes throughout the plywood.

If you are creative enough, you can really lighten things up without sacrificing strength.

Places that you can usually shave the most weight adding large windows are in the vertical upright sections of the drawer and frame. Smaller (but many) holes can be added to the top of the cabinet, and shelves and bottom of the drawer (so stuff does not fall through).

 

Very nice! I really like how the sink slides out and the basins expand. My backpacking cook pot does that, never considered there might be a basin that did the same.

It might have been better to put this on the passenger side for weight balance, since the gas tank and battery are on the driver side and cause the infamous “Taco lean”. If you remove it when you’re not using it, then that’s really not much of a concern since you’ll be adding plenty of weight to the passenger side with the rest of your gear.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks, good tip on the lean! but yes, I'll be removing it. So far so good. Most the weight is water weight when full. It's a 15 gallon container.

My wife and I a primarily backpackers and paddlers. Some recent life events mean we'll be taking it easy and switching to doing some car camping/base camping for at least a while.

 

Thanks!

 

Wow! This is so amazing! Great job!

I'm not a builder per se but I always sleep up on plywood the height of the wheel wells, anyway, on a double-side mattress in the back of my truck; can you add any info about the mechanics of the sliding mechanisms and stuff? I'd love to make a second drawer for gear because of the size of my mattress (and I'm short enough to sleep on it comfortably), since I don't have a topper yet.

I go to Burning Man every year and having things enclosed helps with the dust.

 

Aw shucks, thanks. I'll try to get better pics and description posted tomorrow. It was fairly simple construction though. The hardest part was having room enough for the faucet and plumbing. Clearances are tight considering there's only 9 or 10 inches between the height of the bed and the height of the wheel well.

I didn't use drawer slides for the main drawer. Only the sink pullout. Those are 24" cushion close drawer slides from Home Depot. $20~

Check out youtube for others systems. Lots of folks have made similar. Youtube gave me the spark, and I drew my own idea out on graph paper, adjusting as I went.

My guiding principles were: cheap, simple, functional, fast (to build snd deploy).Tempting to make it more complicated than it needed to be.

I used plywood I already had. I wanted it to fit the camp stove I already had. And other supplies were pretty inexpensive, too. With unlimited time, it'd been nice to make it prettier. All in all Im pleased

 

Shopping list:

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200781983_200781983

Deck/Wall Mounted Rotating RV...

Deck/Wall Mounted Rotating RV Faucet Kitchen Faucet for Camper Recreational Vehicle Motorhome Travel Trailer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G3B8MDV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Wakeman Outdoors Collapsible...

$12 Collapsible Cleaning Caddy - Portable Multi-use Wash Basin, Dish Tub, or Ice Bucket with 7.27L Capacity for Camping and Tailgating by Wakeman (Red)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY0LM6E?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

ICON 12731 Fresh Water Tank with...

$138 ICON 12731 Fresh Water Tank, WT2467, 30x16x8, 15 Gal., w/ 1/2" Fittings

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZQVWG35?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

2-Pack Concealed Recessed Pulls...

$14 JETLAND 2-Pack Concealed Recessed Pulls Handles - 5" x 3-1/4", Brushed Nickel, Rectangular Hidden Flush Pulls for Drawers Cupboards Cabinet Closet Doors, GMS128

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W3BJ8RK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share


Various plumbing supplies, plywood and screws. I sourced these from my local Home Depot. You'll have to go and stare until you piece together your own puzzle, or come up with a gameplan and shop online.

My notes/ plans / dimensions:
This was drawn in DAD, so I hope it exports correctly. (DAD is like CAD, but another letter older)


As-built pics with tape:

 

Very nice! I’ve been dedicating a section of brain to storing camp kitchen ideas and waiting for the “ah hah!” moment when my brain decides to put it all together, and let me know we’re ready to build. This is going to dominate that brain space. Thanks for posting…and we’re off…

 

Question- how, if at all, does this system mount to the truck? With all the weight from the water tank, stove and dishes, it must be mounted somehow?

 

Right now it's not anchored. Just the weight of the deck keeps the drawer up level when the water tank is empty.

When the tank has water in it, it's even more of a balast. The portion of the drawer with the tank in it never needs to extend past the tail gate. So, more than half the drawer is still on the truck.

When the sink slides out, it's a little more than 50/50, but the sink pullout is light and the back of the drawer and deck are heavier. It all stays put pretty well. I dropped another sheet of ply on the passenger side to complete the bed, and it keeps the drawer from trying to walk away from the wall while driving.

I planned on adding a couple cleats along the driver's side and against the cab that will mount to the stock track, and hold the deck down tight using friction. So far, they haven't been needed. Off road, bouncing around more, I think I might want them. (Remains to be seen. It's pretty tight with the gate closed)

You could anchor everything more permanently, but I'm really trying to keep it simple/easily removable.

 

Thanks, i’ll be using this as inspiration for starting a kitchen in my 2010 DCSB. I’ve just got to figure out the balance between modifying and just enjoying my truck. Which i enjoy both, so it’s been fine for me. But i want my family to enjoy it too.