VanLifeCrisis
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I just posted this on my blog as part of a basic/cheap conversion, so i wanted to post here. I notice someone else posted about a similar sort of setup but a bit bigger, but i didnt want to hijack that thread. Anyway, someone might like the idea. I have been using it for a little over a month to transition to my next wood build.
Cut/paste from my blog instead of just linking.
[img=320x180]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v9QNn_E1dqc/VgpDDjb27vI/AAAAAAAAArI/HxJPNSFl7WA/s320/PoorMansGallery6.jpg[/img]
Everything you need, in a tiny package
I've had this idea for a kitchen galley for a long time. Kitchen cabinets/counters can be very expensive, and very difficult to build yourself if you don't have the tools or know-how. I solved this problem with $19.99 Whitmor 6256-978 Storage Cubes. These little metal wire storage cubes are pretty neat, they use plastic connectors to assemble (just squeeze them on) and so you can customize the configuration to what you like. I chose the 4 cube set (kids set is same as regular, but cheaper, its just multicolored). Each cube is 15 inches.
[img=320x180]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EY_XIYDdcOk/VgpDBTQ-oVI/AAAAAAAAAqs/yECmNXpe2r4/s320/PoorMansGallery1.jpg[/img]
Assembled, and ready, takes minutes and elbow grease.
You can leave the front side of a cube open for front access, or the top off to reach down in. The wire structure is very handy in general, you can clip bungees, caribiners, and items right to it. You can also make it even more secure with zip ties at the connections.
[img=320x180]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_WPfk1LUq8/VgpDCSfd3SI/AAAAAAAAAq8/w8Ve0z-zrCw/s320/PoorMansGallery2.jpg[/img]
Its not a fridge but it will work...
The left cube I left the top off, to drop a $12.34 Rubbermaid 10 qt. Cooler inside. This allows me to open it from the top easily. The right cube has a top but the front face is left off, and an $17.95 Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container slides inside for our faucet. Secure it with a bungee. Ive driven this down ridiculously rough roads to test it, and despite the weight (and a slight bow to the cube bottom) it holds up fine even without zip ties.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXhj03TYrFY/VgpDB6G1SOI/AAAAAAAAAq0/xV3Kg_ztLYw/s320/PoorMansGallery3.jpg[/img]
Don't fill all the way if you can help it, heavy!
The sink is a simple dish pan from the local dollar store, not gonna bother linking it, just slide it in the cube beneath
Pull the pan out under the faucet to catch water, remove the pan completely to toss grey water out. This is a good place to store dishes and frying pan/pot too. I also store some personal hygiene stuff here too, so its a bathroom sink and kitchen sink.
The last cube you can leave the front off and stick food inside, or if you want a cloth drawer as pictured here for about $5.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNIzL2-3hlM/VgpC10tgIKI/AAAAAAAAAqg/U1W0BboydFw/s320/PoorMansGallery7.jpg[/img]
Surprising amount of food in there
Although you can do most of your cooking over the campfire, some times you might be restricted from doing so. For a stove I chose the smallest and cheapest type, a butane stove. They are pretty much all very similar, so the $17.77 Coleman Butane Instastart Stove is fine.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlPs1RVo-gY/VgpDC0n_6EI/AAAAAAAAArE/0QdlsxDoiag/s320/PoorMansGallery4.jpg[/img]
Free! Cut to fit.
Since these have little feet on em, I decided to cover the top right cube with corrugated plastic, which conveniently slots into the cubes plastic connectors. You can get this plastic for free, gas station signs (ask first!) and tons of election signs (after election) are made from them, just cut them and use the white side.
I tested cooking inside with this setup. A word of caution, as with any flame you need to have ventilation and adequate space around and above it. I have a roof vent that works, but since the stove is far from it and my van has a low ceiling, I have to keep an eye on it. I left the stove running for a while with nothing on it (so all heat going straight up quickly), and the paneling above was too hot to touch after about 10 minutes. So better to move the stove where it has ample room above it (floor or outside) or limit cooking times to a short duration. You might notice the fire extinguisher, I also have a carbon monoxide detector, and a wool fire blanket.
I strap the stove to the cube top with another bungee for transport.
Moving the stove also provides a small counter, or just use the top of the cooler
Cut/paste from my blog instead of just linking.
[img=320x180]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v9QNn_E1dqc/VgpDDjb27vI/AAAAAAAAArI/HxJPNSFl7WA/s320/PoorMansGallery6.jpg[/img]
Everything you need, in a tiny package
I've had this idea for a kitchen galley for a long time. Kitchen cabinets/counters can be very expensive, and very difficult to build yourself if you don't have the tools or know-how. I solved this problem with $19.99 Whitmor 6256-978 Storage Cubes. These little metal wire storage cubes are pretty neat, they use plastic connectors to assemble (just squeeze them on) and so you can customize the configuration to what you like. I chose the 4 cube set (kids set is same as regular, but cheaper, its just multicolored). Each cube is 15 inches.
[img=320x180]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EY_XIYDdcOk/VgpDBTQ-oVI/AAAAAAAAAqs/yECmNXpe2r4/s320/PoorMansGallery1.jpg[/img]
Assembled, and ready, takes minutes and elbow grease.
You can leave the front side of a cube open for front access, or the top off to reach down in. The wire structure is very handy in general, you can clip bungees, caribiners, and items right to it. You can also make it even more secure with zip ties at the connections.
[img=320x180]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_WPfk1LUq8/VgpDCSfd3SI/AAAAAAAAAq8/w8Ve0z-zrCw/s320/PoorMansGallery2.jpg[/img]
Its not a fridge but it will work...
The left cube I left the top off, to drop a $12.34 Rubbermaid 10 qt. Cooler inside. This allows me to open it from the top easily. The right cube has a top but the front face is left off, and an $17.95 Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container slides inside for our faucet. Secure it with a bungee. Ive driven this down ridiculously rough roads to test it, and despite the weight (and a slight bow to the cube bottom) it holds up fine even without zip ties.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXhj03TYrFY/VgpDB6G1SOI/AAAAAAAAAq0/xV3Kg_ztLYw/s320/PoorMansGallery3.jpg[/img]
Don't fill all the way if you can help it, heavy!
The sink is a simple dish pan from the local dollar store, not gonna bother linking it, just slide it in the cube beneath
Pull the pan out under the faucet to catch water, remove the pan completely to toss grey water out. This is a good place to store dishes and frying pan/pot too. I also store some personal hygiene stuff here too, so its a bathroom sink and kitchen sink. The last cube you can leave the front off and stick food inside, or if you want a cloth drawer as pictured here for about $5.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNIzL2-3hlM/VgpC10tgIKI/AAAAAAAAAqg/U1W0BboydFw/s320/PoorMansGallery7.jpg[/img]
Surprising amount of food in there
Although you can do most of your cooking over the campfire, some times you might be restricted from doing so. For a stove I chose the smallest and cheapest type, a butane stove. They are pretty much all very similar, so the $17.77 Coleman Butane Instastart Stove is fine.
[img=320x180]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlPs1RVo-gY/VgpDC0n_6EI/AAAAAAAAArE/0QdlsxDoiag/s320/PoorMansGallery4.jpg[/img]
Free! Cut to fit.
Since these have little feet on em, I decided to cover the top right cube with corrugated plastic, which conveniently slots into the cubes plastic connectors. You can get this plastic for free, gas station signs (ask first!) and tons of election signs (after election) are made from them, just cut them and use the white side.
I tested cooking inside with this setup. A word of caution, as with any flame you need to have ventilation and adequate space around and above it. I have a roof vent that works, but since the stove is far from it and my van has a low ceiling, I have to keep an eye on it. I left the stove running for a while with nothing on it (so all heat going straight up quickly), and the paneling above was too hot to touch after about 10 minutes. So better to move the stove where it has ample room above it (floor or outside) or limit cooking times to a short duration. You might notice the fire extinguisher, I also have a carbon monoxide detector, and a wool fire blanket.
I strap the stove to the cube top with another bungee for transport.
Moving the stove also provides a small counter, or just use the top of the cooler
