  I am often asked, “What is the difference between your Dandy Camp Kitchen and your kitchen panniers. WOW, where to start. It will be easier to start with the items that are the same. The material used in construction of both boxes is the same -.080 aircraft aluminum. The size of the basic box is the same, 24.5” wide, 13” deep and 19” high. The unique bear resistant latching system is the same. This latching system, along with very tight tolerances, are the main factors in both boxes being IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Coalition) bear resistant approved. Both box sets have one shelf in one pannier and two shelves in the other. This allows for the storage of many different sized items from spice boxes and propane camp stoves to pot and pans. This is where the similarities end and the differences begin. The kitchen panniers were designed for folks that pack horses into the backcountry. Being bear resistant, they are used just about everywhere. They keep out everything from raccoons to bears. They are a favorite for those in Rocky Mountains. Because of their rugged construction they tolerate an extreme amount of abuse and being metal they are repairable. These boxes come with two table leaves that pack on top of each box, but when in camp they form a great work space that is 52” x 24.5”that is up out of the dirt. They also come with eight legs that easily slide out to pack inside the box. These legs raise the panniers up twelve inches making them a great cooking height. The boxes weigh about 26.5 pounds each.  Mountaineer Kitchen Panniers Note - no wheels and no utility rack
 The Dandy Camp Kitchen is designed for car camping, tailgate campers and just about anyone that wants to cook outside without the hassle. These boxes take down to about the same size as the panniers and in fact we have outfitters that use them to pack into the high country on horseback. However, they are very mobile! They come with handles and wheels so they go from stored boxes to “suitcase” mode in about one minute. This allows them to be towed wherever you want to go. Set up by the lake or the creek or the tent site. You are not tied to your vehicle. When you arrive at your location they are easily transformed into a table with racks to hold your silverware, knives, cooking utensils, lantern and dish drying bag. There is a second shelf underneath to keep your other items handy. A paper towel bungee fits underneath the top table to keep them out of the rain and keep the wind from unwinding them. When set up they are still very sturdy and can be moved about without having to take them down . They are a great set up for jeeping, boating, camping, RVing, getting out in your razor etc. The Dandy Camp Kitchen comes with four options: one- just the basic box, two- basic box powder-coated, three-fully loaded box and four- fully loaded box powder- coated. So that brings us to “fully loaded”. I have been camping since I was born. Early pictures show me riding in a pannier on the side of horse as my dad took my family into Boulder creek camping. I must have been about two. After a lifetime of camping I have a lot of experience as to what to take and what to leave home. Leave home the plastic meltable and breakable items. In time they just give you a lot of grief. Leave home the saws that come with the “extra blade”. They give you that because they know the first one will break and you will be torqued and in trouble. Do bring dependable stainless steel items that can take the abuse dished out camping.  This is my list of acceptable and usable items that we include in the “fully equipped" boxes:
4 Comments
|
Archives
June 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed