OutbacKamper
Senior Member
I have been lusting after an Aluminess or Buckstop style bumper with twin swing away cargo boxes for years. The boxes would be used for an outside kitchen plus storage for a generator, small gas can and a chainsaw. Unfortunately I just can't justify the expense. Plus with Covid, travel from my home, in Canada, to the US has been halted meaning going to a US manufacturer or dealer to pick up a bumper is not an option. So, I decided to come up with a lower cost, simpler option.
Here is my solution. It is a work in progress.
Step 1:
Find a receiver hitch mounted cargo carrier or tire carrier that can be converted to a carry a cargo box . I did some research and decided on the Rigd Megaswing tire carrier with the optional Front Runner folding kitchen table and pull out cutting board.
Picture is from a recent camping trip to Suger Lake. The kitchen area is small but usable. I have plans to provide more organization and storage, below:
Step 2:
Find an Aluminum cargo box of the right size to to fit on the tire carrier in place of the spare tire, and fit a 2000W generator, gas can, and chainsaw, plus have some provision for storing a few basic kitchen supplies. After hours of searching I could not find a standard cargo box that was the correct size. I decided the only option was to have a custom box built. My original design turned out to be very expensive, and probably too complex, so i came up with a smaller simpler design. A local company built the box (30" x 30" x 14") from 1/8" aluminum and also built a custom bracket to support the box made from welded 3/16" aluminum with multiple triangular gussets. You can see the end of the bracket in the last photo (it is the black triangle immediately below the cargo box.
Step 3:
Build a removable box for kitchen supplies that can easily attach to the back of the cargo box and hang above the fold down table. Approx size 24"- 30" wide, 12" tall and 12" deep. I was originally going to have an aluminum kitchen box attached to the main cargo box, but have decided to build it out of plywood and paint it with bed liner in order to keep costs down ....design in progress...to be continued
Step 4:
Folding step(s) to access camper, possibly mounted in the receiver hitch...???...just an idea at this stage, no design work started yet
Here is my solution. It is a work in progress.
Step 1:
Find a receiver hitch mounted cargo carrier or tire carrier that can be converted to a carry a cargo box . I did some research and decided on the Rigd Megaswing tire carrier with the optional Front Runner folding kitchen table and pull out cutting board.
Picture is from a recent camping trip to Suger Lake. The kitchen area is small but usable. I have plans to provide more organization and storage, below:
Step 2:
Find an Aluminum cargo box of the right size to to fit on the tire carrier in place of the spare tire, and fit a 2000W generator, gas can, and chainsaw, plus have some provision for storing a few basic kitchen supplies. After hours of searching I could not find a standard cargo box that was the correct size. I decided the only option was to have a custom box built. My original design turned out to be very expensive, and probably too complex, so i came up with a smaller simpler design. A local company built the box (30" x 30" x 14") from 1/8" aluminum and also built a custom bracket to support the box made from welded 3/16" aluminum with multiple triangular gussets. You can see the end of the bracket in the last photo (it is the black triangle immediately below the cargo box.
Step 3:
Build a removable box for kitchen supplies that can easily attach to the back of the cargo box and hang above the fold down table. Approx size 24"- 30" wide, 12" tall and 12" deep. I was originally going to have an aluminum kitchen box attached to the main cargo box, but have decided to build it out of plywood and paint it with bed liner in order to keep costs down ....design in progress...to be continued
Step 4:
Folding step(s) to access camper, possibly mounted in the receiver hitch...???...just an idea at this stage, no design work started yet
