I just love it when I spot an ingenious idea in a forum post or picture on QJ like this kitchen setup:

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does anyone know anything more about this hack?
would anyone be willing to share more hacks like this?

Cheers,

JD

That's ME but the WHOLE set-up is courtesy of WESTWOOD who is mainly a basecamper/serious fishing guy. In my trip report I called his spot/set-up the Westwood Hilton.

He made up that portable table and we talked about it, he asked what I thought, I made some suggestions and I believe he modified it once again.

I'm sure he'll chime in with the details. If you’re the base camper type, it would be hard to beat his set-up. It's nice enough that MOST wives/girlfriends wouldn't have a problem with 'roughing" it there.
Here’s some better pics of his portable table set-up.
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If you have a specific question, I should be able to answer your question.  Based on ST suggestion, I eliminated the metal mending plates and just bolt the two 2 x 2 together.  Originally, I used small dead trees, primarily spruce and balsam for the poles.  I switched to 2 x 2 because some camp sites do not have suitable dead trees to make poles.  If a  person did a lot of travelling, the set up could be made smaller.  The one in the picture is 10 feet long.  If you use 2 x 2 you should have a mending plate to keep the 2 x 2 from bending towards each other.  What you see in the photos is about the 10th prototype.  You can use ropes if you don't want to use straps.  The four straps used to hold the 2 x 2 should be adjustable so you can level the kitchen set up.

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the replies.  I had not even noticed the mending plates until you mentioned it.  I plan to do some experimenting this weekend with a couple different kinds of wood (no dirty thoughts here) and maybe even pvc.  If I come up with something ground breaking I will post pics.  Do you guys have any other clever camp ideas that add luxury like this?  Anyone else have clever ideas like this?

Cheers,

JD

Quote:

maybe even pvc.

Since your brought that up, I had a crazy idea about a TELESCOPING pole set-up using PVC pipe?
Not sure IF the dimensions would work-out but here it goes
Take 2 lengths of PVC pipe, say 3/4 and 1 inch. Idea being 3/4 will sleeve into the 1 inch? Then drill a hole EVERY foot thru BOTH pipes that you can fit a CLEVIS type pin thru. Just decide the longest length you'd want and how much the need to overlap to keep structural integrity? On each end you drill a small hole on each unit so you can use a hooked bungee cord to set height on trees. Then secure with flat strap like Westwood did.  The address any issues that might come up after you get the intial set-up.

IF that thought worked out, I'd take a step drill and figure out a pattern and HONEYCOMB the two sliding sections to lighten weight. You could easily lash the telescoping pieces one each side to thwart/yoke.

Schedule 40 pipe is tough stuff and you don't have to worry about it cracking/splitting like wood can.

You could do the same with round or square aircraft grade aluminum but it would cost a lot more.

No duct tape?

Old Salt wrote on Jul 20^th, 2016 at 8:18pm:

No duct tape?

Sure, duct tape is always an option.
[smiley=cool.gif]

Here is a picture of a paddle coupler that my wife made for me. Two silnylon pouches, adjustable straps and a couple short pieces of velcro. It packs down to nothing and lets your paddles double as a center pole if you like such a thing.

Pat

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Where was that pic taken? Kinda looks familar.
I like anything you can get more than one use out of. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

The first version of my kitchen set up was in 1982 when a friend of mine used it on a camping trip.  I liked it and over the years thought of how it could be improved.  As I said previously there were several versions of the setup.

I looked into using telescoping aluminum poles, but it was quite expensive and heavier than the wood version.  The PVC pipes might work, but unless you get a tight fit between the pipes it will sag.

If you use my 2 x 2 version, the holes must be larger than the bolts because if it rains the wood will swell and the bolts won't come out.  The 2 x 2 should be on top of each other and not side by side to maximize strength.

solotripper wrote on Jul 20^th, 2016 at 9:25pm:

Where was that pic taken? Kinda looks familar. I like anything you can get more than one use out of. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

It was taken in 2011 at an island site on the lake between Pond and Wickstead.

Pat

Another piece of equipment which will make your camping experience more enjoyable, especially for women, is the Travel-John Foldable Commode/Chair which you can purchase at Amazon for about $30.  Don't use the bags that the commode is designed to use.  Just dig a hole about a foot deep or more.  Digging the hole generally takes about a half hour to get a proper size hole.  If you are lucky and have sand or actual dirt, digging time will be greatly deceased.  If I do it correctly I will attach a photo of the commode.

I like the commode chair Westwood posted. Used to have one. It looks like they're not making them anymore. So, I took a smaller camping chair, measured, and cut appropriate hole. Taped edges with gorilla tape, to prevent unraveling.  ;)