Recreational Vans
A slide out kitchen is a modular galley that deploys from the rear or side door of a vehicle, turning the outdoors into your cooking zone. The core idea is simple. Keep bulky cooking gear outside the cabin, preserve interior space for living, and speed up camp setup. Common layouts include a single tier drawer, multi tier stack, or an L shape that hinges or folds to expand prep area. The assembly rides on heavy duty slides, locking in and out so it stays put on washboard trails and uneven parking lots.
A well designed system balances compact storage with fast access. In practice that means a defined place for a stove, cutting board, utensils, pantry, and sometimes a fridge on a separate slide. The best setups reduce duplicate movements so you can boil water, prep ingredients, and wash up without reaching across open flame or dripping water over dry goods.
The backbone of every slide out kitchen is the slide hardware. Look for full extension or over travel slides with appropriate dynamic load ratings. A kitchen packed with cookware, fuel, and water can easily top 150 pounds, so underspec slides cause flex, rattle, and premature failure. Lock in and lock out features are valuable for stability on slopes.
Surfaces see heat, moisture, and abrasion, so choose materials thoughtfully. Aluminum frames keep weight down and resist corrosion. Baltic birch with durable coatings feels warm and is easy to service. Composite panels resist swelling and clean up quickly. Food safe laminate or stainless for prep tops is common because it scrubs clean and tolerates knife nicks and camp grime.
Fuel choice shapes the design. Butane stoves pack small and ignite easily, though can struggle in cold. Propane remains reliable across conditions and integrates with quick connects and bulk tanks. Induction cooking is gaining traction where battery capacity and inverters support it, eliminating open flame and improving safety inside awnings or under hatch doors.
Match slide ratings to real world loads including cookware, water jugs, and the moment force created when the drawer is fully extended. Over travel slides help clear bumpers and doors, improving usability.
Stainless tops shrug off heat and acidic spills. If running propane, route lines with protective grommets and use quick disconnects with positive shutoff to simplify teardown.
A compact sink or collapsible basin paired with a 12 volt pump and jerry cans speeds cleanup. Dry storage benefits from dividers and latching doors that stay closed on rough roads.
Weight distribution is critical. A long slide behaves like a lever. Mounting low and near the axle line reduces bounce and stress on brackets. Tie the frame into factory hard points or reinforced structure rather than thin sheet metal. Even a clever kitchen fails if the mount flexes.
Plan ergonomics around your height and dominant hand. The cutting area should land roughly at waist level. Keep the cooktop far enough from soft goods, awning fabric, and plastic trim to avoid heat damage. Add wind protection or a removable baffle so you do not waste fuel and time in gusty conditions.
Ventilation and fire safety cannot be an afterthought. Use heat shields, leave clearances around burners, and carry a compact fire extinguisher. If you cook under a liftgate, consider steam and grease management to avoid residue on interior trim and glass.
Group tasks in a logical sequence. Stove forward, prep mid, wash end. This flow reduces reach overs and keeps hot pots away from traffic paths around the vehicle.
Induction reduces carbon monoxide and flare risk, but still requires space for airflow around electronics. For flame stoves, add a windscreen and keep overhead clear.
Smooth corners and sealed edges simplify wipe downs. Use corrosion resistant fasteners and thread lock to tame vibrations.
A successful slide out kitchen depends on accurate mounting and weather protection. Sealed fastener penetrations, edge trim, and quality latches keep dust and water at bay. In colder climates, consider fuel performance and thermal loss from metal frames. In hot regions, shade and airflow around refrigerators become critical.
Electrical and plumbing routing deserves careful planning. Protect wiring in loom, fuse appropriately, and isolate circuits for pumps and induction. For water, quick release fittings and labeled lines help with winterization and service. Regularly check slide fasteners, latch alignment, and burner connections. A quarterly inspection prevents surprises on long trips.
Finally, think about how you camp. If you cook simple breakfasts and quick dinners, a single tier drawer plus a fold down table may beat a complex, heavy system. If you host friends at trailheads, a two tier layout with extra counter and a larger fuel source will earn its keep. The right kitchen is the one that matches your rhythm.
Use backing plates where sheet metal is thin, and add rubber isolation between frame and body to reduce squeaks and galvanic corrosion.
Keep electrical away from potential fuel leaks and hot zones. Color code water lines and include shutoff valves within easy reach.
Listen for new rattles, feel for slide roughness, and address small issues early. Replace worn bearings and re level the assembly as components settle.
Turning a concept into a dependable slide out kitchen calls for smart engineering, sturdy fabrication, and tidy integration. At OZK Customs in Fayetteville, our team designs and installs slide out kitchen systems inside complete custom builds and partial upfits, matching load ratings, materials, and fuel choice to your travel style. We can integrate fridges on companion slides, shield heat zones, and reinforce mounts so the kitchen glides smoothly trip after trip. If you are stepping into your first adventure rig, start with our Recreational platforms, then tailor storage, power, and water around your cooking habits to keep camp time efficient and fun.
Strong options are available whether you need a full custom van, a partial upgrade to an existing platform, or a finance friendly path with a mainstream base. The end result is the same. A quiet, clean, purpose built kitchen that deploys in seconds and cleans up fast.
Tell us your must have meals, your typical crew size, and how often you cook on the road. We will turn that into a practical plan with the right hardware, clearances, and safety details to keep you confident wherever you park.
At OZK Customs we design and install complete custom builds and partial upfits for recreational vans, overland rigs, and towables, plus commercial applications. Visit our shop in Northwest Arkansas to see materials, hardware, and finished projects up close before we craft your slide out kitchen.
Ready for a purpose built slide out kitchen that fits your rig and your trips? Tell us how you travel and what you cook. OZK Customs can engineer, fabricate, and install a clean, rattle free system with proper load ratings, weather protection, and clever storage. Start your build plan now and we will spec materials, mounting, fuel, and power to match your adventures.
ADDRESS:
6159 E Huntsville Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701
PHONE:
(479) 326-9200
EMAIL:
info@ozkvans.com