Swingout stove shelf

[Exiled]

Although I'm guilty of doing it in the past, I've never been a big fan of cooking right on the Land Cruiser's tailgate. Too much risk for fire damage, and when the stove is on it's awkward to access anything behind it. For a while now, I've been considering a dedicated spot for the stove that doesn't occupy interior real estate but keeps the stove out of the way. Recently, I bought a rear bumper for my UZJ100 from 4x4Labs, so I've spent some time checking out potential places to stash gear/accessories. I came up with an idea for a small shelf for the stove, and today I took advantage of a spell of warm weather to put it together:

 

[Exiled]

I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. I think I'll finish it by running a couple of strips of industrial Velcro to keep the stove secure, and I need to paint the base. The plastic shelf is light and unobtrusive and can be easily stashed in the truck, and the angle iron mount occupies almost no real estate and doesn't interfere with the swingout.

 

[1leglance]

Very nice and great creative use of space...
Can't wait to see it in action
So does it unbolt, hinge or what?

Again nice job

 

[Exiled]

Very nice and great creative use of space...
Can't wait to see it in action
So does it unbolt, hinge or what?

Again nice job

Thanks! I used stainless steel brackets that bolt to the shelf and drop into the brackets bolted to the mount.

 

[davegonz]

Henry, how are you going to support the fuel tank for that stove? Are you going to run a line from the propane tank on your trailer to the stove?

 

[askeyey]

A spell of warm weather huh? It was -27F the other morning while I was trying to get my front heater working.

The shelf looks good though. With that particular stove are you worried about the heat at the spare tire at all. About what height is the shelf off of the ground?

 

[kennyfj40]

Great mod! I think I'll try to fab something like that on my swing out bumper.

 

[Exiled]

Henry, how are you going to support the fuel tank for that stove? Are you going to run a line from the propane tank on your trailer to the stove?

I was thinking of installing a Quick Fist clamp, one big enough to hold one of those small Coleman propane bottles, on the "stem" of the tire mount, then run a line up from it to the stove.

I'm not worried about the heat impacting the tire, but I'll get back to the forum after a field test.

The shelf is at about sternum height (I'm 6' even), so it will be a bit higher after I change out the suspension (stock for now).

 

[e9999]

nice idea!

I do remember seeing some toasted picnic tables from excessive stove heat, though, so watch out maybe?

 

[Exiled]

nice idea!

I do remember seeing some toasted picnic tables from excessive stove heat, though, so watch out maybe?

Like I said, we'll put it to the test and watch the heat carefully. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That's an excellent idea!

 

[calfj60]

Looks good Henry.... may steal your idea... but with my 80 on 315s it may be a good thing I am tall....has the plastic held up?? and where did you source it??? or should I go meta???

 

[KRAZIKRAKER]

Like the idea. When you mentioned the swing out I was wondering if you were gonna leave the tire on or not. I bet some simple sheet metal would be a great heat shield from the plastic and the tire. Planning on stealing the idea when I put on my swing out. BTW you like the tire swing ? I shopping for one - good price ect. ?

 

[Exiled]

OK, here's an update. I fired up the Coleman the other last weekend for a test run, both of the shelf and the propane setup. Ran the burner on high with a medium-sized pot full of water until it boiled, then let it simmer for a while. I didn't find any significant heat issues; the tire gets hot, but not hot enough to for any damage. I'm going to test it again on an upcoming camping trip and see how it goes under real world conditions.

The one enhancement I need to do is put some industrial velcro on it to secure the stove, since they're pretty much the same size and I don't want it sliding off if somebody bumps into the swingout. Either that or some sort of skid-free material.

The swingout is part of a 4x4Labs rear bumper. Not cheap, but I can't say enough good things about it, the design and build quality are absolutely fantastic.

Tim! Good to see you out here too! The plastic is 3/8" thick ABS, very sturdy, I don't think you need steel.

 

[AdventureBuddies]

Same thing on my swingout. I have the Kaymar with tire on the right and a custom built left that holds 2 jerry cans and an 11lb propane tank. I used piano hinges connected to two L brakets on the back of the jerry can side. When the swingout is open, I swing the two L brackets out so they are perpendicular to the swingout and set the stove on those. I have the same Coleman stove as the OP's picture and it has two nubs on the bottom which position themselves strategically on the brakets to keep it all nice and secure. Takes about 15 seconds to set up.

I also like the OP's shelf idea - maybe you coudl make the shelf wider than the stove and gain some extra counter top surface?

For others considering using this as a cooking surface, it works great and really makes the back of the 80 feel like a mobile kitchen.

 

[calfj60]

looks like yet another project...now just need to wait till my bumper is done...

 

[tamu79]

propane stove on plastic cooktop surface

My Scout troop uses exactly the same stove that you have on the swingout shelf. We have been cooking on top of plastic folding tables for the last year. This usually works fine, but on one occasion, when one of our stoves was left on high for an extended period of cooking, there was some melting of the surface layer of the table. The table is still usable, just slightly damaged. Your plastic may be more heat resistant than ours.

Based on this experience, I recommend limiting the cooking time if used on high setting with a plastic support surface for the stove..

 

[canucksafari]

Something like this works very well with Cruisers and other vehicles which have barn doors.

I am thinking I will redo my back door panels in aluminum checkerplate and build a big dropdown table for the bigger door and a smaller one to hold my cold beer and cooking condiments for the smaller door. Will post up pics when I get to it and get it finished.

 

[esh]

Nice job, Henry. Luke said he was trying a couple mods like this for his rear bumper as well. Great minds...

You know a small, thin heat shield might go a long way. Very similar to the shields used primarily on wagons for exhaust. Doesn't seem like it would take much to greatly minimize heat onto the tire.

 

[BlueHZT60]

Nice job, Henry. Luke said he was trying a couple mods like this for his rear bumper as well. Great minds...

You know a small, thin heat shield might go a long way. Very similar to the shields used primarily on wagons for exhaust. Doesn't seem like it would take much to greatly minimize heat onto the tire.

Luke - did you read that? Almost exactly what I'm after, just the other side, with propane can on outside rather than the tire. Bob