Removable kitchen units?

[ian72]

I want to make the kitchen area in my t25 totally removable so I can cook and wash up outside making more room inside.
I want to end up with something like this below



Has anyone done this already - I couldn't find any previous posts - and if so do you have any tips/photos to share?

I'm imagining 2/3 separate units with lockable castors on each.
Units would be secured to the van with pressure catches to the floor/body when in transit.
Pull-up worktop extension to bridge between the units when outside.

I fine to make the units, what I'm not sure about is powering the cooker ignition and water pump.
I suppose I could extend the 12v power to the units and make a simple connector, but I'd prefer a neater solution. Would a small battery pack to the job? I ain't no spark.
Any advice welcome.

[Mickyfin]

Welcome to the forums. First post I see, but registered over two years! I too am in the same position, looking for similar, and have found various of sorts on here, The Brick Yard, and the Samba.

I guess you have found the WIKI up there? ^^^^^^^

[tforturton]

It's quite easily done - though with the bottles in it might be quite heavy to lift in and out. Go on ebay for some ideas - look unit kitchen pods, or kitchen units (in motohome parts and accessories). They make a very neat one for Mazda bongos - they're expensive to buy, but a good one to copy.
Another good site to look at is Campervanlife (http://www.campervanlife.com/building/layouts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) - they have some great ideas on budget kitchen set-ups, plus advice on gas and electrics. Well worth a look.

[B.J]

I'm doing something similar and I intend on using Unwin rails to secure everything down.

http://www.unwin-safety.com/flooring-sy ... l-products" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Last thing you want is everything moving about in an accident. I'm also getting rid of gas altogether and putting a meths cooker in.

[ian72]

Welcome to the forums. First post I see, but registered over two years! I too am in the same position, looking for similar, and have found various of sorts on here, The Brick Yard, and the Samba.

I guess you have found the WIKI up there? ^^^^^^^

Yep, thought I'd wait until I had something to say.
Trawled the Wiki which is brilliantly useful, but doesn't quite cover this set up. My issue is really concerning the power to the pump and ignition which I probably just need to sit down and work out the amount of current the two things draw. New to electrics, but with the aid of a few youtube videos, can now work a multimeter!

[ian72]

Another good site to look at is Campervanlife (http://www.campervanlife.com/building/layouts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) - they have some great ideas on budget kitchen set-ups, plus advice on gas and electrics. Well worth a look.

Great link - ta

[ian72]

I'm doing something similar and I intend on using Unwin rails to secure everything down.

What are you doing about the electrics - extension or a seperate power supply?

[Dazco]

How about a 12v motorbike battery for the ignition and pump. Dont know what sort of life you would get out of it on one charge using it for the pump. Alternatively could you rig up one of those old fashion foot pump affairs . Like your ideas though would be great to dump it all in a tent once on site

[B.J]

Power supply will be 12v as per usual. The water will be housed under the bed and the tap will be attached to the van.
Bit like this but different
http://www.terracamper.de/index.php?opt ... Itemid=195" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You could easily fit a 12v lighter socket and run your pump from there. I've seen hand pumps too if you want to go off grid .

[DiscoDave]

Why not use piezo ignition for the hob instead of electronic and a hand pump. Keeps it simple and tidy

[ian72]

Why not use piezo ignition for the hob instead of electronic and a hand pump. Keeps it simple and tidy

That seems like a simple move (now I know that Piezo is a crystal and doesn't need a power source)
I'm not convinced the hand pump route is right for us, so I'll maybe try and run a pluggable 12v extension from the van. Should be simple enough and as its 12v, I won't kill myself along the way.

[bhpdub]

I've sold a few T25's with "swing out" cooker units like in the T2's.

A very simple, but effective idea.

A perfect solution to all weather types.

[ian72]

I've sold a few T25's with "swing out" cooker units like in the T2's.

Do you have any pics or a link to your shop so I can see what you mean?

[ian72]

Turns out neither the smev nor Cramer glass topped cookers are piezo ignition. Plug in socket is the way forwards I think.

[tforturton]

I've had a bit of a change of direction with my plans for a removable kitchen unit. I saw a single westfalia unit for sale on ebay that gave me an idea. It's a single unit, with lift up flaps on either side. I thought that I could built something like that, with the cooker and grill at the top, and room for a gas bottle and some cupboard space underneath. I'd do without the sink and the water tanks. Basically, a single width unit.
Now for the clever bit (least I thought so) - two of the sides would have panels that fold upwards, and are locked in the horizontal by fold out supports, so it ends up looking like a capital letter T (with a wide leg). You get your cooker, with two level surfaces on either side. The fold up panels can be either 'extra flaps' (attached to the sides), or could be a part of the original box sides, that fold up, like a hatch. One of them could have a round hole cut in it, to take a metal or plastic bowl, but that depends on the strength of the support.
Do you think it would work? I did think about putting a fridge in the bottom, but that cuts down on the room available for the gas and food. I suppose I could make it slightly wider than a single unit, and gain a bit of extra space that way.....