'Breakfast nook' for car camping

Kestrel

Flashaholic
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
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7,355
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Willamette Valley, OR
After my camp stove testing in the other thread, I also wanted to put together an efficient 'breakfast nook' for the minivan / camper - the goal being rapid deployment rather than maximizing cooking capabilities.

Two pics of possible 'as-stowed' configurations:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v1muqfuqcg1a6or/20181216_100355.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nhdcuyt1z89d9q/20181216_100534.jpg?dl=0

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In approximately 60 seconds, this becomes the usable configuration;

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qhygxpvk6c43871/20181216_100849.jpg?dl=0

On the left is the B&D coffee maker that brews right into a travel tumbler.
(The minivan is currently getting a second (deep-cycle) car battery & 1100 watt inverter.)

On the center is the Jetboil stove, adapted to propane use.
(This setup rather nicely solves the stability / height issue associated with the taller propane canisters.)

On the right is a Coleman 'Black Cat' catalytic heater; to provide a warming station for those brisk off-season mornings, operating from another inexpensive propane canister.

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Am pretty pleased with how everything fits together. :)

First field testing may occur in eastern Oregon in Jan or Feb, and then the epic March trip through southern Utah. :D
 
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twentysixtwo

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Nov 23, 2004
Messages
723
Location
Michigan
Looks good, though I'd have to think a thin sheet of aluminum wires to the top of the crate would make the stove more stable and also make for a heat resistant place to put your pot/pan when you're done.....
 

Kestrel

Flashaholic
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
7,355
Location
Willamette Valley, OR
Looks good, though I'd have to think a thin sheet of aluminum wires to the top of the crate would make the stove more stable and also make for a heat resistant place to put your pot/pan when you're done.....
Not a bad idea; I think a thin sheet of aluminum wired to one side of the milkcrate with a port cut out for the stove to go through, would do the trick nicely.

But for my subsequent use for the 1.5 week trip, the substantial weight of the propane cylinder hanging below really did a great job of ensuring stability for all the cooking I did on it. :)

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OK, with regards to the UT car camping trip from this spring ...

The rear of the van, loaded with the quick-deploy cooking kit:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bwgj7er7d0enz88/12 Stowed in van.jpg?dl=0

And some of its first use in remote Nevada (note that this is wine for dinner, not breakfast lol)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5xyfj757xop6h2b/13 In use.jpg?dl=0

A rather cold high-altitude morning in Utah:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/69l1f8ey3v3dg52/14 Warming station.jpg?dl=0
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All-in-all, such a well-functioning & convenient setup that I never bothered setting up the two-burner stove at all. :thumbsup:
 
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