Camper Trailer Action — Issue 104 2017

9. KITCHEN UPGRADES

You’ll wonder how you ever camped without a

kitchen once you’ve installed one. But there’s

a lot to consider before laying down your hard

earned cash. The overall size and weight

compared to features, storage and bench space

all require some thought. Then you’re left with

the decision between construction materials

and the most appropriate mounting location.

Get it right and you can enjoy the convenience

of organised cooking equipment, simplifi ed

food preparation and the best tasting camp

meals anywhere the adventure takes you.

TAILGATE MOUNTED

KITCHENS

We’ve seen kitchens mounted to camper trailer

tailgates for some time now. They’re easy to

access, available on a budget and constructed

from a variety of materials. The strength of the

tailgate’s hinges should always be considered

as the weight of the actual kitchen has been

known to collapse the supporting hinges, which

ultimately hurts the hip pocket. The kitchen’s

overall size is restricted to the width of the

trailer, but this also doubles as a benefi t, as it

won’t waste space inside the campers tub.

Average Price Range: $550 – $1150

A well organised kitchen

makes it easier for the

whole family to cook,

even the kids!

SLIDE OUT KITCHEN

You’ve probably seen slide out kitchens becoming

increasingly popular over recent years. While they

offer the ultimate in storage and bench space,

their size does affect the camper’s internal storage

space. They’re also much heavier in general but

actually spread their weight more evenly across

the axle when positioned correctly. The extra space

also allows you to permanently organise camping

equipment such as stoves and sinks which helps

cut down your set-up time dramatically.

Average Price Range: $800 - $2200

DIY TIMBER KITCHEN

If you’re handy on the tools, building your own

kitchen will defi nitely add that personal touch to

your camper trailer. It allows you to design and build

a camp kitchen around your own equipment which

suits your family’s requirements perfectly. Some

basic DIY modifi cations could give a second hand

kitchen a new lease of life while a common method

to reduce the build time is to actually modify a basic

storage box into a fully functional kitchen. Either

way, you’ll save money and camp more comfortably.

Average Price Range: $150 - $350

Slide-out kitchens offer plenty of

useable bench and storage space

FEATURE

Best Value Upgrades