Minivan Kitchen camping box build for van conversion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
- This tailgate kitchen for a Minivan / Stealth RV is an easy design to allow inside camping and outside food prep similar to how a teardrop trailer is used. It fits a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan (I accidentally said it was a 2007 in video). When my front seats are pulled forward there is 75" of clearance between it and the front seats so a full size trifold sofa fits as a bed without removing the box and allows easy inside access to its top lights and power plug. This design uses new camping power for lights and power and avoids actual use of the van battery. The single box size makes it easier to transition to camping or back to regular van use, easier storage when home, and less blocking of rear window when traveling.
Size is 45" long x 19" wide x 24 tall". Interior is 1 inch narrower in each direction. It was made using 1/2 inch Birch plywood as well as 1" full length glue/pneumatic nail blocks. I made some construction and electrical install videos please follow I may upload later.
I'm really looking forward to some fun camping visits to national parks and travel after Covid ends when being around people is less of a hassle until then will keep making my kit and dreaming of travel.
Good Luck let me know how yours comes out like and subscribe if it helps you.
Products used in this video include:
Coleman Steel belted cooler
Coleman 5 gallon water jug with spigot
Gas one butane stove
NEXPOW Portable Power Station, 48000mAh
Block Erupter DC Power 12V 5.5mm x 2.5mm Barrel Male Plug Connector 12 foot 16awg.
Ggbin Plastic Dish Tubs,3-Pack(Grey, 13L) 17"x 13.2" x 4.7" (purchased 2 packs)
Slam latch for 1/2 inch plywood
12 volt dimmable recessed lights
Onyehn 2Pcs 30W Low Voltage DC Motor Speed Controller PWM
LeMotech 5Pcs ABS Plastic Electrical Project Box (60 x 36 x 17 mm) (was too small but made work for the PWM)
Linkstyle 4 in 1 Charger Socket Panel, 12V 4.2A
Assembly was with 1 inch pneumatic nails and titebound wood glue.
Stain was General finishes Java coffee gel stain and urethane.
Planning to get:
Best Choice Products 4in Thick Folding Portable Full Mattress 75 x 54 x 4 inches
Make Reflectix window blinds... I think fabric backed compression fit sewed on is the way to go. Perhaps another video project?
Possible extras:
60 watt solar charger
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Hi can you please make more videos on your creations geared towards mini van builds and camper products and thanks for the video
Oh yes we're have you been. I love how simple everything works. Just enough for great adventures. AFFORDABLE TO BOOT. SEE YOU OM THE ROAD
I have finished my van Yay! I have 2 other videos in this series next one is showing how well my trifold mattress/sofa fits and my new solar charger while I prepare for a camping trip. The next video I show making pop in window shades made from reflectix done the next day it was quite easy. My wife loved how comfortable it was at night and the running water of the kitchen. We ran fans all night from the plugs and used front window screens so it was comfortable at night. From my trip I decided I would make a seal with reflectix from the camp kitchen to the ceiling and foam pipe insulation on the sides to allow night use without letting bugs into cabin (we avoided having the light on when hatch was open to avoid attracting them so it lessened its usefulness). I will show a video with the full install at our camp in big bear in august. See you on the road!
Better and more effective than those built or DIY sinks on TH-cam
Very nice, thank you .😊 I'm looking forward to seeing your van with bed.
Thanks D. I want to head out in a few months so should get to it soon I also need to make some blinds and need some type of bug screens. I feel the need the need to be outdoors!
Good ideas. Thanks.
Very nice...thank you for the dimensions.
I was thinking it could be a 1/2 inch taller as the water jug barely fits past the map light but it does fit just watch the shelve positions. Adding 1/2 though would make clearances easier let me know how yours comes out.
Nice I’m thinking of doing a half one like this for the beach this summer and do a fold out bed with a sink and a mini fridge/ cooking station as well nice build btw
I actually made a half one and it is available here th-cam.com/video/_YcJZ7gvFxU/w-d-xo.html what I liked about it was most camp sites have a picnic table and having it outside made it easier to access for others as they wouldn't have to open the van or door. Since its the same height and depth the electric could be adapted.
Very nice 👍
You should always have some sort of grey-water system.....a collapsible 1-2gal jug with a collapsible funnel is perfect.
Thank you. I see some rules say to drain off site while some camp rules say camp kitchens free off debri using camp soap and 200 feet from stream broadcast in bushes is fine. It is a good idea to bring at least a bucket just in case. Also know that you should leave no trace while camping and that includes a puddle of goo so resist the idea of treating like a home or RV sink using paper towels to wipe out plates first should help but if you know its contaminated carry the bucket to a drain even if its not required.
I REALLY like this box. I'm the type who DOES want to get out and stand under that roof and cook in the rain. Way better than having a perpetually steamed up cabin. I suppose you could cut a back door to slide the cooler into the cabin if, say, you wanted a beer during a downpour.
The dark finish looks very elegant.
Couple of questions:
How much does your box weigh, empty?
How do you keep the box from sliding forward?
Weight is very heavy I have to have 2 people carry it. I leave out the cooler and put it in the van it probably weighs 100 lbs and is awkward. For movement it doesn't slide much maybe an inch or so and with the sofa in place it doesn't move at all. Without it it moved an inch after a few days and I just pushed it back.
outstanding awesoome
Nice little build. Couple thoughts. With a few design changes you could have access to everything from inside, which might be nice if the weather is nasty or you just don't want to get out to wash your hands or grab something from your cooler. Also, using pocket screws might help eliminate some of the blocks, which in turn may recapture some space. Overall, it looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you I think you point out some interesting points as to why I designed it this way and why I used glue blocks. I really only wanted to access just the power and lights from inside the rest was kitchen and outdoor stuff I don't need while sleeping or driving. I do want access the cold stuff from inside but a small insulated thermos bag with sodas and water in it is all I need so I fill it and they stay cool for quite a while and I switch them out when I stop. I really only need my personal stuff and that's in my duffel inside with me. Washing needs to be outside as water is splashy and I don't want my inside area wet. Also the back of the box is made to be blocked by the sofa or bed and its unlikely that I would move everything to get to a door or hatch.
To truly get strength without the glue blocks you would need rabbits and dados the pocket or even a stronger full length screw really offer no more strength then the brads as its the glue that gives most of the strength and 1/2 inch end grain plywood is very poor to hold mechanical fasteners. The fastener is really just the clamping mechanism until the glue dries. I brad nailed and glued both the plywood as well as the glue blocks for the expected heavy use. I realized I overbuilt this though and knew I could pare down the blocks and still have excellent strength so when I adapted this to a chuck box build for my niece I used narrower glue blocks of only a 9/16" so it saved about a 1/4 inch and it still felt quite strong. The blocks effectively create a rabbit without all the work. By doubling the gluing area and bracing it using solid wood for the glue block you increase the strength tremendously. The 9/16 size was the minimum that would hide the 1" brad when going into 1/2 inch plywood. If you cut the size of the block to 9/16 inch it wont take that much room and would be a great compromise. The other advantage was positioning for assembly the glue blocks were put on the top and bottom first and it helped position the parts when it came time to complete assembly. Thank you for your comment and I hope this helps.
I love it
NICE KITCHEN!!!
Thank you. Along time ago I wanted to build a Tear Drop trailer then recently I realized the inside of my van had almost the same footprint so you may recognize the influence. Finishing it and using a drop desk front for a work surface was kind of from that world. I think some of its not haves also makes it. The lack of water pump and instead using a water jug above the work surface does the same thing without all the storage and complexity. Not using a dual battery but using a camping battery. And not having a built in bed but using a trifold mattress. It took a lot of searching to get components just the right size only to redesign after all the parts were in my garage. An interesting design issue was the van door narrows as it gets higher so if I made it taller I would have to make it narrower so it took some design changes before I settled on this. Overall It was quite a fun exercise in form and function.
this is what ill do something like that anywaynlooking for the same van of yours
Thanks for your content. I just purchased a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. I am hoping to get my hands on some design files (ideally I can open in TinkerCAD format .stl, .obj or .svg, or any drawings/diagrams/measurements of bed/cabinet/kitchen alternate setups etc) that I can take inspiration from modify to my personal liking to get the best result possible. I thought I might ask if you would be so kind as to forward any design files that you have that may help me, also if you are aware currently of any useful/necessary items for vanlife selling at a really good price/value I would very much appreciate any help/advice you can provide. Thanks and safe travels!
Thanks, As for design files there are significant notes in the description that have dimensions.
I also made a full height but less width version so its very similar th-cam.com/video/_YcJZ7gvFxU/w-d-xo.html It has some lessons learned such as double nutting the hinge's and latch and handle (for a jam nut so they don't loosen) and not to cut interior shelves until outside shell is finished as they need to be tight without deforming and things sometimes change. I also lessened the thickness of the glue blocks so watch that video as well.
By making the outside box first at the dimensions I list and adjusting shelves width to fit trays cooler and other interior components after its built it really only needs the outside dimensions I list the rest is play by ear and would vary depending on your tray and cooler size. Just position first to make sure it all fits and average clearance between shelves.
Very nice design and finish on the cabinet. I am finding so many of the conversions have removed the 2nd and 3rd row seats plus require exiting the van to access the cooking area. I am desperately looking for a design that allows me to keep all seats in the van as well as the ability to not leave the van to function. It might be wishful thinking!
Thank you. I'm not sure if you noticed that we didn't remove the 2nd and third row they are stow and go and are just in the floor and pop out I can even travel with the second row up and only need to put it down when the bed is unfolded at night this was planed so I can take others with us who would sleep in a tent. But yes full time campers on other videos do remove the seats for more storage its a trade off but for them storage is a premium and very necessary hence their need to remove them completely.
I think cooking from the tailgate solves a lot of problems in addition to the simplicity of the design is the practicality of it. Cooking while sitting is pretty awkward as well as fumes, fire danger, mess, clean up, water splashing meat splattering and so on having semi outside on the fold down worktable solves these. You can even walk around as you cook something I would never do inside. Then there is the social aspect you would miss even alone people wave at you and talk as you are cooking. I guess there might be a disadvantage if you are stealth camping or its extreme winter. Just my 2 cents. On a side note I am really excited that my set up is now complete and I will share a full use video soon. Thank you and good luck with your build.
I like it. How much extra weight did it add to your van?
Very well planned, very nice. Need to vacuum the van, please.
Go wash your feet
Hello, how do you fix the furniture so that it does not move when you travel?
in this car, in the back you only have two rings to hold things and they are not very strong
the foam sofa/bed is of course not used while driving and is just set in place the kitchen is heavy and combined with the jammed in sofa/bed it barely moves I push it back maybe an inch after I get somewhere.
Very nice, need cleaning 🧹 now.
Yep did a few other projects I used the van for just about everything wife is into gardening and we redid fence and such. These vans are so handy when left without permanent components. But now I think I can get finished for a road trip.
Where did you get your water jug from?
It is a coleman 5 gallon water jug I got mine from walmart online there appears to be a short supply currently they are double the price they should be at 39.99 from walmart and amazon you might just need to pay it even colemans main website doesn't have it. big 5 has them for 19.99 but you must check the store online and buy in store.
Where did u get your white boxes
Everything except wood nails glue and hinge was from amazon (so all those inside bits).