RE: Camp Kitchens

[SuZone]

 
Anyone have a camp kitchen? What do you like or dislike about them?
 Actually, I m trying to decide if we should purchase one since we never cook inside the popup, so it might be " a good thing!"
 Anyway, I found two that seem to do the job, first there s the Coleman Utlimate Outfitter Kitchen, can be found at http://www.coleman.com , then there s the CSI Camp Gourmet Kitchen, found at http://www.cabelas.com .
 Thanks in advance![]

[labontefan]

 SuZone
I have a Beaver Tree Camp Kitchen that we used while tent camping. When I first bought it, the friend I camp with was very skeptical. I think she thought I had wasted my money. However, it soon became one of the handiest things we had. This one has a top compartment where you can put the propane stove (and leave it there for storage/travel). The front folds down to give you extra work space. It has four storage compartments (one is a pull-out drawer) plus a silverware drawer. The lid that goes over the top compartment can be used as a sink or wash basin when it s removed.
 
 We kept all our plates, cooking utensils, dish towels, just about everything we needed for cooking , in it.
 
 Can t remember for sure where I purchased mine, but LL Bean has it:
 
 http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=11941&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=3899&shop_method=pp&feat=ln&sc1=&sc2=&sc3=&sc4=&sc5=Cookware_Utensils
 
 I don t think I paid quite that much for mine...but it wasn t cheap.
 
 Here s some more info:
 
 http://www.beavertree.com/
 

[SuZone]

 SuZone
Yes, I ve seen those also!  They look like they would hold everything!  Can you believe that I have been " thinking"  about buying a camp kitchen for more than three years now? I just use crates and boxes now, and have done so  for more than twenty years! [&:] But every year we go camping, we wander around the campground checking out  everyone s setup, and they sure are varied!  Guess I ll make the plunge one day, and choose what I hope is best for me![]

[garym053]

 SuZone
I have been thinking and looking for a couple of years too, but I can t seem to take the final plunge and buy one, which is highly unusual for me so I take it as a sign that I really don t need one! I use a Coleman Road Trip with all the various parts to convert it to a full grill, a full griddle, or a full stove top or a combination. I don t think it would fit where the propane stove fits. For spices and utensils, I have a couple of small stacking plastic sterilite containers that I use. It all seems to work well, so I avoid spending the money on a camp kitchen. HOWEVER I still look!

[wahoonc]

 SuZone
We have been looking at simplifing our camping, so an outside kitchen is in the works here are a couple of links for you [link]http://www.quickdrawcamping.com/04_kitchen/04_page2_detailed.htm[/link]
 
 And www.blueskykitchen.com
 
 Aaron[]

[deniski]

 SuZone
I guess I don t understand these things!   It seems like you d have to take them apart every night to store them in your truck?  Raccoons and bears and the like?  Maybe those of you who use them don t camp in places that have those kinds of animals?

[whitestar505]

 SuZone
SuZone,
 
     We do! We have a Coleman camp kitchen that we love.. For us (two only) it can be more than we need. If we are going to stay in place for a week or two it is outstanding. Very easy to set up. It does weight around 38 lbs and folds up like a suitcase. It has a build in sink with drain,  hanging rack for kitchen tools, special space for the stove, shelf s to store pots and pans, and roomy surface to work on. When the top is down it has a game board painted on the top. It is about 78 inch long when open,  and two feet in width. Cost 78$. We put it on top of the trailer on our rack. We do not use it all the time because of the weight and the stay at the camp site. If you have a four or more family, you can t beat it..
 
 Good luck in you search !

[garym053]

 SuZone
Good point, Deniski! Hadn t thought of that! Glad I exercised some restraint on this one! It s very easy to throw the storage boxes into the trunk!

[DiW]

 SuZone
deniski,
 We use a lightweight alum? table from BJs. The main table has a rack underneath and a hanging rack along the back (where we keep pot holders). We keep a stove set up on this table and our pots/pans on the rack underneath. The table also has a wing, a smaller rack type table, where we keep a large water jug. We set this table up at one end of our awning next to the outside stove. Lots of room for food prep and cooking and we keep 2 sterilite drawers underneath with cooking utensils and paper goods. We ve never had a problem leaving this unit set up outside, even on week long trips. It s under the awning and in hard rain, we hang a shower curtain from the awning end to protect it from the rain. When cooking for 5 or more, we usually need both stoves and counter space. We re used to camping in bear/raccoon country - it s the same as where we live. All canned food stays in the camper and perishables & cooler stay in the car at night. Since the stoves/dishes are cleaned after each use, there s never been a problem with the animals.
 
 We used to use a stove on the picnic table, but the cooking stuff took up too much room. Probably not a problem for a couple, but our larger group needs the entire table at meal time. Our table was only around $50 I think. We don t need the sink part that some people use since we wash all our dishes inside the camper.
 Diane

[deniski]

 SuZone
Thanks DiW for the explanation.  I suppose if you removed all the food stuff to the truck at night, then the critters might leave the table and kitchen setup alone.  At least most of the time!!  It would be nice to have more counter/table space to work on when cooking!!  We usually either cook inside or over a campfire.  Our popup came with a high pressure stove cabinet that opens to the outside, but we ve never even tried it out yet!  There s only the 2 of us now that the kids are gone off to figure out the world, so it s not that tight in the popup.  I ve been thinking it would be nice to have some kind of chuckbox that held all of the food and yet was easy to store back in the truck at night.  Some of the sites you guys mentioned had a selection of those that looked interesting - thanks!!

[DiW]

 SuZone
A friend of ours in Maine built a strong wooden chuckbox with attachable legs that he packs in the front box on his Cheyenne and then sets up at the cg. He keeps " real"  dishes (doesn t cheat with paper goods like us) as well as food items, etc. He seems very content with it.
 
 It s amazing how many different methods of cooking and setting up we all choose. I ve never done the DO cooking that many here favor. We also don t bring a grill. I imagine pots/pans probably aren t a necessity in those cases. I like the idea of one pan cooking (like crockpot/DO) for its simplicity but seems we often have several things going at once. I realized I needed lots of counter space after continually fighting for access to the picnic table. Seems there s usually a game or craft going on. I think our camping style will change when it s just my DH and I - at least I hope so. One set of friends simply open a can of spaghetti Os or make franks & beans and everyone eats the same thing. Their way is much simpler and requires a lot less work. It just doesn t work for us. I have gotten my gang eating sandwiches or something simple for lunch so that helps.
 Di

[Danusmom]

 SuZone
This is the  kitchen  we use outside the PU under the awning.
 http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?deptID=1&subOf=70,4&skunum=19858
 
 It fits perfectly between the door & the cassette toilet  hatch  so we don t have to constantly move the set-up when the  potty  needs to be emptied.  It does, however, hinder our using the outdoor stove if we leave the wire back rack up.  Of course, this (back rack) is not a big deal to move temporarily.  We normally use our camp chef grill which has a burner.
 
 Peace be with you all.

[DiW]

 SuZone
Our table is the same one as Danusmom but ours had an additional wire table wing that opens out to the left.
 Di