4Runner Kitchen
- Thread starter 5Runner
- Start date
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
Wow! Very nicely designed and useful!
Ford Prefect
Expedition Leader
Don't worry, as your kids get older you actually end up taking MUCH less with you. No more diapers, and wipes, no more special bed or stroller or whatever the heck else crap kids seem to require.
5Runner
Adventurer
First, thanks to all for the nice words and encouragement. I love to share ideas on these kinds of forums...but sure...the pats on the back don't hurt or anything.
-one with three kids mummy bags in compression sacks and two thermarest mattress
-one with two thermarests, the tent and an 18" table for by the campfire.
-one for the two adult bags and the 5 gallon pre-filled solar shower (wrapped in a tarp and isolated from the bags of course.
-the fourth is just extra if we ever need the space.
We find that the five of us fit comfortably of 4 full-sized thermarests. I have velcro attached to them that we use to link them four into a big mat. The dog has a blanket.
Glad you all enjoyed. I'll keep it current as the build evolves.
The door swing direction is good. It wouldn't open hardly at all if it was side hinged because that end is tucked in a little, but I like what you did with yours. I do have a complaint at how easily the top comes completely off. Its nice that it does come off, but the darn thing slips off every time I open it it seems. I have been thinking of a mod for that, but its so hard to mess with that fridge...as much as it cost me!
Yup, we have 4 black boxes that fit on my roof rack. We pack them really clean and simple:
-one with three kids mummy bags in compression sacks and two thermarest mattress
-one with two thermarests, the tent and an 18" table for by the campfire.
-one for the two adult bags and the 5 gallon pre-filled solar shower (wrapped in a tarp and isolated from the bags of course.
-the fourth is just extra if we ever need the space.
We find that the five of us fit comfortably of 4 full-sized thermarests. I have velcro attached to them that we use to link them four into a big mat. The dog has a blanket.
The plexiglass is a great idea. I was thinking about metal, but I don't have a welder of my own and it would probably still be heavy. The visiblity idea is also really, really good and would definetly be helpful. I will definetly be thinking about that in my next overhaul. I will probably give it this full year to test and record notes of the modifications I want to make. That's what I did the two seasons before. I plan to do a hot water circulation system with a kitchen sprayer in the back. Probably in time for our fall Moab trip. So that will have to be tested before I rebuild the whole thing.
Mine are (in a month) 4, 6 and 8. We started when the littlest was 2, so this will be our third year at this. We have learned to bring very little with us. I do remember though all the "extras" that came with the babies and toddlers. As mentioned above, my roof rack is quite packed. All the sleeping/tent stuff goes there and it is all backpacking-type of equipment.
How funny! It will be years before I'll consider it done!
Yup. Exactly. Except I will probably always have wipes with us. Those things are so darn handy and kids (and me) will be messy for a long time!Don't worry, as your kids get older you actually end up taking MUCH less with you. No more diapers, and wipes, no more special bed or stroller or whatever the heck else crap kids seem to require.
Glad you all enjoyed. I'll keep it current as the build evolves.
5Runner
Adventurer
Here's a recent pic with the rig loaded up for the five of us and the dog for 4 nights. Notice the 3 black boxes on the roof.
I took this picture to document the rear sag when fully loaded. This is my third rear coil set up trying to solve the problem of the camping-load rear sag, while still wanting good flex and 4wheeling for less loaded day trips. Yup...I am still sagging with the landcrusier coils...damn. Anyway, this is a different story...
I took this picture to document the rear sag when fully loaded. This is my third rear coil set up trying to solve the problem of the camping-load rear sag, while still wanting good flex and 4wheeling for less loaded day trips. Yup...I am still sagging with the landcrusier coils...damn. Anyway, this is a different story...
Excellent design and execution! For your Engel, they make a $6 thing-a-mabob to keep the lid from accidentally coming off the hinges.
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3
5Runner
Adventurer
HA, HA! That's great! :wings: Thanks!
...but don't I feel stupid. I just ordered quick clamps from there two days ago. Doh!
Have you considered the Air Lift bags for your coils? They are cheap and easy to install. Bonus is that when the vehicle is unloaded you can let the air out. When it's time to travel, pump them up and load everything in. With the LC coils you'll probably have to get a longer bag that the spec one for your 2000 or build little bumpstops in the coils. I've seen this done. I've got sag in my 4runner and the bags take it all out, even when loaded pretty heavy.
spikemd
Explorer
nice use of space. a lot of thought went into your organization.
does your engel have vents for the compressor? i know with my ARB, you need to keep some space around the vents as to not overheat the compressor (or whatever gizmo they call the super efficient cooling system)
i also have 3 little ones and a dog and we are always loaded...
does your engel have vents for the compressor? i know with my ARB, you need to keep some space around the vents as to not overheat the compressor (or whatever gizmo they call the super efficient cooling system)
i also have 3 little ones and a dog and we are always loaded...
5Runner
Adventurer
Thanks!
Yup, all conventional AC or refridgeration designs require a means to expell the heat they extract from their insides...they don't "make cold", they "remove heat". I incorporated this into my design.
The back seats of a 3rd generation 4runner lean into the cargo area. The fridge is pushed back until the top of the fridge his the top of the seat. From there the seat angles down and creates and open triangular area. I left this area open and clear. At my next modification I will add some louvers to the other compartments in the build so air will move in and out.
This same triangle spot is where I am going to mount the pump for my hot water recirculation system I am working on, and one for pumping and filtering water out of a creek. Putting the pumps here is not just a convient spot, but they will also create turbulance in the air so as to help vent the fridge.
As a precaution on 3rd gen 4runners most of us will install an external transmission cooler if you have an automatic transmission, this is to bypass the internal tranny cooler in the bottom of the stock radiator. And now I will get to the point, if you use a sump pump and some quick disco hoses you can make a camp shower with the now defunct internal tranny cooler (make sure you wash it out first if your not planning on replacing your radiator). I haven't performed this mod myself but have heard that it makes for a nice hot camp shower. Just a thought:elkgrin:
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5Runner
Adventurer
It's funny you mention that...and not only because I have been thinking I need to do the external cooler mod. I've been working on a design for a built-in hot water system with a kitchen sprayer at the back in the kitchen. My thought is an exhaust pipe heat exchanger since I want the water delivery point at the back. I have already found a long, skinny, 5 gallon water tank that will fit in front of my gas tank! This way I still have my regular 7 gallon tank for drinking and cooking.
I will have to look into this idea of yours. I have heard of people using heat exchangers in their coolant lines, but you would have to wait the truck to heat up first. I think a copper coil wrapped around the exhaust with a recir. pump would heat up the water pretty fast. The problem with that idea is bending a nice coil of copper tubing...it's not easy!