Thread: Camp Kitchen conversion to Camper trailer

Damn say it isn't so!!!

Any reason why you're going this direction rather than getting a HD trailer to begin with? The field kitchen is a brilliant bit of kit as it is. They're a bloody heavy thing as well even if stripping out the internals i'd assume.

The box frame is so well kitted with side entry doors etc and consider it perfect for the job. The kitchen is incomplete also - so no cooking gear included (someone elses has laready stolen it all) so unfrotunately the grinder and oxy torch are coming out!

Some one had a trailer frame off one of these Field kitchen at the Qld Jeep Club swap meet at Canungra last Oct.

Hodgo

Hi this is jono"s mum,
please don't do this unless its a complet bolt in job or latter on in live you'll regret do this to a pice of australian history>

thanks Janet

Originally Posted by faullsy

Hi All - I am an Aulro blogger virgin - so forgive me if thisnt doesnt end up in the right place.

I am buying a Hawthorn Army Mobile Camp Kitchen to convert to an offorad camper trailer. Will be gutting all of the kitchen stuff out of it and remvoing the draw bar to put in an A-frame, and hopefully dropping the weight down in the process. Does anyone have any experience, advice or photos of similar conversions?

Here is the REMLR link to the unit that i will be converting -

Australian Military Trailers for Land-Rovers - Mobile Field Kitchens - REMLR

Why on earth would you want an "A frame" drawbar over a straight centre bar, A frames restrict your turning circle and won't let you jacknife to 90 degrees, the Army knew what they were doing when they specified a centre single drawbar, surely you could modify that beauty to suit your application, Regards Frank.

Faullsy.

Do you have rocks in your head?

First up. By removing the drawbar I take it you you mean the chassis. The drawbar and axle assembly is one unit attatched to the box by 6 bolts. If so can i have it?

The box while looking convenient, is designed around an alko type torsionbar suspension with the recessed wheel spaces. If changing to another type of suspension, you will need a full chassis, it will sit VERY high and look funny with massive wheel clearance. If not changing the type, why change it?

In it's current form, they tow terribly and are hopeless off road. The centring of the wheels is off and there is more box behind the axle than in front, which will give you probs registering a rebuild unless you fit a box in front or slightly fudge your measurements, or remove the rear drop stand.

Only the top is stainless. The rest is mild steel that will rust out, especially the inside stuff.

Again. If you go ahead with this, Can I have what you don't need? The spares will come in handy preserving mine.

CC

The chassis for sale at Canungra would have been by John Parker, he has several of them. The reversing lock out is a pain in the arse.

I have to agree with the others, not really suitable to convert to a camper trailer, leave it as is and get a tent to annex off it, that would be more suitable.

One of those 5 min Oztents would be perfect.

Baz.