RJ responds to my email: Camp Kitchen Update

[Zac]

I’m pretty curious what the rethink entails. I had the kitchen on my order which was scrubbed when I took delivery and I was pretty bummed. After a year and a half of having my R1T, I’ve realized that with the way I camp and use the truck I don’t actually want the Gear Tunnel occupied by the kitchen. It is prime storage real estate and filling it inefficiently with the kitchen is a waste. My current camp kitchen is a couple Ridgid Pro storage boxes filled with kitchen gear including a couple induction burners and an electric kettle, and it all fits nicely in the bed under the tonneau with about a half inch to spare.

That is a really good point! I too have gone camping a number of times with the truck and wondered about losing storage space to the camp kitchen, especially when camping with a family of 4. Of course, having the camp kitchen in the gear tunnel means you don't need to bring kitchen gear that probably was taking up room in the bed, like a portable kitchen table, pots/pans, plates/silverware, stove/propane, etc. So, you do gain some space back, but I am not sure if it is equivalent. I've thought about getting hitch storage such as the Yakima Exo system to offset lost storage to a camp kitchen, but that requires another investment.

The other issue I've encountered is that if you camp at a camp ground, the parking spots are usually fairly narrow. If you have a RTT with a ladder coming off one side of the truck and the camp kitchen coming out the other side, you need at least 17 feet of width (including the width of the truck). Many camp grounds have parking that can't accommodate that or have terrain that drop-offs or other things that would get in the way. That may not be an issue when doing dispersed camping, but I'd like to be able to do both. Chris, your solution allows for the most flexibility so you can set things up however you'd like given the camping circumstances.

I am curious what everyone else thinks about these 2 issues and what conclusion, if any, you have come to. Thanks!

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[FrankieJ]

Because I own two EVs, travel in them a lot, and know what I want?

I know you think you need it I’m just saying it would make no sense to spend any significant amount of money for a retrofit. I also understand want and need are two different things.

 

[lostinafog]

If I was a whizzy sort of engineer thinker I would try to design a camp kitchen that can be installed to pull out of either side, but only takes about half the gear tunnel. Include the induction top and some cool storage and snowpeak quality cooking/serving/eating stuff. Forego the sink maybe, or just have an expandable pop up one that can be used from nearby but not "built-in". Or make it a separate add-on you could take or leave. Maybe have the choice to add that as a module and fill up the tunnel or just configure with the half-space set. I'd like to have a little of that space in the tunnel for other uses, but would probably fall for spending the $$ for something like above.

And if they could figure out how to include a little pizza oven that I would probably use twice, I'd be more excited. Because, you know, gadgets....

 

[ElGordo]

Or just build it using a non induction grill using a 1300 watt Kenyon grill for a boat.

Add a pull out table and don't forget a spice rack, fire extinguisher, space for the first aid kit and some usb ports...

Haven't had the patience to post it all but will eventually under a separate heading...

and apology if I don't reply

 

[bmcenaney]

I’m pretty curious what the rethink entails. I had the kitchen on my order which was scrubbed when I took delivery and I was pretty bummed. After a year and a half of having my R1T, I’ve realized that with the way I camp and use the truck I don’t actually want the Gear Tunnel occupied by the kitchen. It is prime storage real estate and filling it inefficiently with the kitchen is a waste. My current camp kitchen is a couple Ridgid Pro storage boxes filled with kitchen gear including a couple induction burners and an electric kettle, and it all fits nicely in the bed under the tonneau with about a half inch to spare.

RJ talked about it a few months ago. Rethink is making it not take up the whole gear tunnel.

 

[izgoy]

And Forest Gumo

I know you think you need it I’m just saying it would make no sense to spend any significant amount of money for a retrofit. I also understand want and need are two different things.

Want and need is the same thing when one has the money to afford it.

 

[FrankieJ]

And Forest Gumo

Want and need is the same thing when one has the money to afford it.

Good for you.

 

[Zac]

RJ talked about it a few months ago. Rethink is making it not take up the whole gear tunnel.

I must have missed that. Where can I find that conversation?

 

[bmcenaney]

I must have missed that. Where can I find that conversation?

32 minute mark

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