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CUSTOM METALWORK · ONE-OFF SOLUTIONS

WEEKEND WARRIOR VAN
SWING-OUT COOKTOP

Cook outside. Pack it away.

A custom aluminum cooking surface built to swing out beneath the van awning and lock securely upright for travel.

Original photograph of weekend warrior van with custom swing-out cooktop

THE STORY

A friend wanted his weekend warrior van to have a practical cooking surface that could fold out and swing around underneath the awning, without getting in the way when he was on the road.

BKF fabricated the cooktop from aluminum and TIG welded the assembly. A custom mild-steel hinge allows the cooking surface to fold down and swing into position from the van’s pre-existing rear tool box.

For the drive, BKF drilled the existing holder and added removable locking pins to keep the assembly secured upright.

One custom solution. Two modes: cooking and cruising.

ORIGINAL PROJECT PHOTOS

Twelve original photos of the swing-out cooktop, custom hinge, locking pins, mounting details and van installation. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Cooktop swung out from existing storage boxCooktop swung out from existing storage boxTIG-welded aluminum cooktop extendedTIG-welded aluminum cooktop extendedCustom hinge detailCustom hinge detailLocking pin detailLocking pin detailSide view of locking pinSide view of locking pinRear storage box with cooktop stowedRear storage box with cooktop stowedClose-up of locking hardware and curved supportClose-up of locking hardware and curved supportSide view of pivot connectionSide view of pivot connectionWelded mounting tube and through-holeWelded mounting tube and through-holeClose-up of drilled pivot sleeveClose-up of drilled pivot sleeveSide view of hinge and retaining hardwareSide view of hinge and retaining hardwareCurved support and pivot detailCurved support and pivot detail
WEEKEND WARRIOR VAN · SECOND CUSTOM SOLUTION

LOCKING FLIP-UP SOLAR PANEL

More storage without sacrificing solar power.

The owner already had a solar panel but wanted to use the space underneath it. I fabricated a custom metal mounting system that lets the panel rotate upward to reach stored gear, then lower back into place and lock securely.

The build includes custom mounting brackets, pivot points and removable locking pins. Another practical solution made for how the owner actually uses his van.

One van. Two custom solutions.

Solar panel resting flat on the Weekend Warrior van rack

Solar Panel Fabrication Photos

Solar panel lowered onto the van rackSolar panel lowered onto the van rackPanel raised for gear accessPanel raised for gear accessFabricated support and panel frameFabricated support and panel frameSolar panel underside and mounting hardwareSolar panel underside and mounting hardwareCustom locking pivot bracketCustom locking pivot bracketPanel face and framePanel face and frameLocking pin and pivot detailLocking pin and pivot detail