The must-have (and want) list of 4WD camp kitchen gear

Why bother with a proper camp kitchen? Because pulling up to camp after a long day and spending the next hour playing hide-and-seek with your cooking gear is enough to give anyone the McShits. Proper 4WD camp kitchen gear means everything has its place, so you can go from parking to pouring a cold one in record time. 

So with that in mind, we’ve rounded up the must-have 4WD camp kitchen gear for you legends who love their camping as much as their cooking.

The must-have gear for any 4WD camp kitchen

Fridge/esky

Well derrr, I hear you say. You already know you need something to keep your food and drinks cold, but what I will add for those of you who are new to this whole camping thing, an esky and ice work just as good as a proper 12V camping fridge if you only plan on being away for a night or two. Check out a review we did on the Bouncee Esky over at RVDaily. It collapses when not in use and uses large freezer bricks, eliminating the need to buy ice.

But back to 12V fridges. I’m quite partial to Engel because they’ve got a solid rep, are great at not sucking your power and I’ve been using one for a number of years in my 4WD with no issues. However, I’ve also been using a King’s fridge (not quite as great on power but significantly better for the wallet) in my camper for a number of years with no issues, too. Many of our readers also swear by Brass Monkey as another budget-bang-for-buck-brand option. You don’t always have to spend a fortune when it comes to your 4WD camp kitchen gear.

Fridge slides (because convenience matter)

Technically, this should go in the ‘’wants’’ list of 4WD camp kitchen gear, but once you have one, you’ll consider it a must-have and wish you got one sooner. As a not very tall human, I’ve been using a Clearview Easy Slide for a few years now, as it drops your fridge down to a usable height. You can watch it in action below:

But if you don’t have short problems like me, just a regular fridge slide will do!

Solid cooking gear

You’re going to need something to cook on. This is a bit of a lengthy topic, so here’s a beginner’s guide we prepared earlier:

Water and washing up

Sigh. Yep, you still need to wash up when you’re camping. In its simplest form, a collapsible dish tray and tub and a jerry can of water work great. But it also wears thin if you’re camping regularly or for longer periods of time, as you need to set it up and pack it away with each use.

If this is the case, you might like to consider a portable camp kitchen that you would leave set up while you’re at camp, a portable sink, or a kitchen slide.

Cooking utensils and somewhere to store them

There are a few ways you can go here, the cheapest being to buy a big plastic tub and put all your pots, pans, cutlery and other cooking gear in it and simply slide it in the back of the ute. This is one of those 4WD camp kitchen gear options that wears thin after a while, as the tub gets messy and it’s hard to find that one little pair of tongs hiding under the pots and pans. You’ll find some solutions for this a bit further down in the ‘wouldn’t it be nice’ section.

Somewhere to store your food

Cold stuff goes in the fridge, of course, and there are plenty of options for your pantry food. Like your cooking utensils, you can just plonk it all in a big plastic tub if you wish, but again, this wears thin after the first tomato sauce mishap. You’ll also find some better 4WD camp kitchen gear solutions for this a bit further down. 

The “wouldn’t it be nice?” gear (the wants list)

A slide-out kitchen (never lose your baked beans again)

A slide-out kitchen solves a few problems at once, depending on which one you get. ARB’s one features a gas cooktop, sink and storage all in the one unit. BCF has a budget-friendly version in which you BYO gas cooktop, but your fridge sits on top, which is super handy.

Last but not least is Clearview’s 4WD camp kitchen gear offering. Clearview Accessories call it a pantry, but it’s actually a bit more than that, having plenty of storage, room for food prep, space for your cooker and spot for a collapsible tub for your dishes. This one folds out like a transformer rather than slides out, but is designed to be paired with a fridge slide, fitting perfectly on their drop-down easy slide.

A set of drawers

Most 4WDers will already have a set of drawers, so all you need to do is set aside a little room in one of them for your pantry items and cutlery holder. However, if you don’t already have a set, check out 4WD Interiors. Drawers are the kind of 4WD accessory you don’t want to skimp on, and these guys specialise in them and are known for producing a quality product.

Portable pizza ovens

Yep, portable pizza ovens for camping are now a thing and we’ve officially tested one out. Read our review of the Gozney Tread Portable Pizza Oven >>here<<.

Cutlery organiser

Another thing that wears thin is digging around trying to find a spoon in a sea full of plates, bowls and that tong you couldn’t find the day before. Get yourself a cutlery organiser to keep it all together.

4WD camp kitchen gear extras:

• Wacaco Nanopresso (for the coffee tragics)
• Darsche Mini Camp lights (so you can see what you’re burning)
• ShooAway Fly Repellent fans (cause everyone else has them)
• EcoFlow Portable Power Stations (power your lights, tunes and even cook on induction without draining your fridge battery)
• BBQ Arm Mate (a BBQ stand that hooks onto your camper trailer’s jockey wheel)

Tips for nailing your 4WD camp kitchen setup

Watch your weight (your rig’s, not yours… although)

Every bit of camping cooking gear adds weight, and too much of it can quickly render your capable 4WD as a big fat no in an insurance claim. A heavy rig is harder to handle, uses more fuel, and can even become unsafe on rough tracks. Be realistic about what you actually need versus what looks good on your socials. Choose lighter materials where you can, and spread the load evenly. And yeah… if your own waistline’s crept up after a few too many campfire snacks, you’re not alone.

Pick what suits your adventure style

There’s no one-size-fits-all gear for your 4WD camp kitchen. Weekend warriors might only need an esky and a decent gas cooker. Long-haul tourers will appreciate the full drawer and slide-out pantry setups, water systems, and all the gadgets. Think about where you go, how long you’re out for, and how much space you’re willing to give over to cooking gear. Tailor it to suit your style, not what the bloke next to you at camp reckons.

Make pack-up easy so you can hit the road faster

A good setup is about making life easier. After a couple of nights on the tracks, the last thing you want is a two-hour pack-up session. Opt for quick-release clips, simple folding systems, and gear that packs away in seconds, not minutes. The faster you can pack up, the sooner you’re back behind the wheel chasing the next great campsite.

Final words

Let’s not forget: having your kitchen dialled in isn’t just about showing off (although you’ll cop plenty of “mate, that’s mint” from camp neighbours). It’s also about safety and convenience. Fridge slides mean you’re not wrenching your back trying to reach the milk. Slide-out kitchens and pantries keep heavy gear secure and stop it from bouncing around and causing chaos. Plus, when everything is packed properly, your rig handles better on and off the tracks. What’s not to love about well-thought-out 4WD camp kitchen gear?

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