As with any vehicle, your overland kitchen setup will depend on your needs. Do you need to prepare lots of meals at once or just a few snacks? Do you want to store all of your camping supplies in the vehicle’s interior or keep some outside?
These questions can help you decide how much space you’ll need in your overland rig and what kinds of items would be most useful for your trip.
WHAT IS AN OVERLAND KITCHEN?
An overland kitchen is the mobile counter part of your regular residential kitchen. It’s where you can prepare or cook your meals when you decide to stop at a particular place. In some cases, it may also double as your dining area.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OVERLAND KITCHEN AND A CAMP KITCHEN?
An overland kitchen and a camp kitchen are similar except when it comes to the set up time. Setting up a camp kitchen might take longer, about 30 minutes to 1 hour since you’ll be staying in your chosen place for several days.
On the other hand, setting up an overland kitchen will take roughly 5 to 15 minutes only, because you’re expected to move to a different location at night or the next day.
MICRO OVERLAND KITCHEN SETUP
If you’re looking for the easiest way in setting up your overland kitchen, this fits the bill. This is also known as the simple or minimalist approach because it only consists of the basic things you’ll need – stoves, mini fridge, plates, folding tables and chairs, etc.
Sporks are a combination of spoon and fork. They have an oval-shaped head used for scooping but with three to four teeth at the tip for hooking. In some spork variants, the spoon and fork are found in the same place but others have the spoon and fork on opposite ends. Using sporks can save you a lot of time in washing separate utensils.
Micro Overland Kitchen Setup
Pros
- Lets you pack light.
- For 1-4 people.
- Doesn’t require too many utensils.
- Estimated price is at $500-$1,000.
Con
- Needs putting up and taking down again and again.
SLIDE-OUT OVERLAND KITCHEN SETUP
Slide-out overland kitchen setups are also known as the D.I.Y kitchen setups. That’s because they’re made and customized specifically for those with larger vehicles like vans, pickup trucks, and other similar types.
The good thing about this kind of overland kitchen setup is it’s either attached to the back or the side of your vehicle, and gives you a bigger area where you could prepare, cook, and store food, at the same time.
Slide-out Overland Kitchen Setup
Pros
- Multipurpose.
- For 4-6 people.
- Larger space for extra items.
- Estimated price is at $1,000-$2,000.
Con
- Can be hard to drag out or put back in if sliding mechanism is damaged.
PREMIUM OVERLAND KITCHEN SETUP
If you’re planning on going all out on your adventure because you have a lot of money to spare, then getting a premium overland kitchen setup won’t be a problem.
This type of overland kitchen is luxurious to a certain extent because it not only gives you a cooking and storage area but also provides you with a larger prep area and sink, where you can conveniently wash your ingredients and clean up after your meals.
Premium Overland Kitchen Setup
Pros
- Multipurpose.
- For 6-8 people.
- Includes a kitchen sink.
Cons
- Very expensive.
- For rich hardcore overlanders only.
- Estimated price is at $2,000-$3,000 (or above).
Before you get too excited and head out, there are some valuable overlanding kitchen setup items that should always be included in your rig because they prove to be very useful.
Roof Racks
Roof racks are the foundation of your kitchen. It’s where you hang extra gear and food, and where you mount all the other components of your setup.
Mess Kits
Mess kits contain the items you need when you cook and eat. They’re normally composed of skillet, knife, coffee pot, plate, cup, sporks, and folding chopsticks. They’re originally used by military personnel but are also helpful when camping and overlanding. Since they’re reusable, they eliminate the need for using plastic items.
Coolers
If you don’t have an overland fridge, then a cooler is your alternative to it. When you finish your meals, make sure those untouched remain locked inside your coolers so you don’t attract the attention of bears and other wild animals. Some coolers are made to be bear-resistant meaning, they’ve passed a live bear test and other technical procedures, which prove their effectiveness in protecting your food.
CONCLUSION
Choosing the overland kitchen setup isn’t just about getting what you like. It’s also about getting what’s most beneficial for you in terms of purpose, while still being practical. After all, your overland kitchen is a replica of your home kitchen, and you don’t want to buy something that won’t even be useful in the end. Share us how you personalize your own overland kitchens by leaving a comment below.
