Hi, I'm Josh.

And I have a snowboarding problem.

It's led to countless meals spent crouching over muddy campstoves trying to make something worth eating and scheming of a better way.

What began as laughable experiments with plywood and wishful thinking has grown into CHEFRACK. It's my joy to share these journal entries from along the way.

Evolution 0.0 - 5.0

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  • First attempt at hitch mounted camp kitchen

    0.0

    I devised a hanging sheet metal table from things found at the dump.

  • Overland camping to test first attempt at hitch mounted camp kitchen

    0.1

    Profoundly sketchy yet suprisingly helpful. Top is too slippery and the stove keeps sliding off.

  • 2nd attempt at hitch mounted camp kitchen

    1.0

    Experiment with a frame on a cargo rack to integrate a cooler, stove, and storage under a big worktop.

  • Painted my hitch mounted camp kitchen red

    1.1

    Painted it red and declared victory. So far I have left off body panels, hope I don't come to regret it.

  • Hitch mounted camp kitchen got covered in snow

    1.2

    I hugely regret it. Storm over Wolf Creek Pass absolutely trounced the little guy. Gotta rethink this.

  • Next iteration of the hitch mounted tailgate adventure car kitchen

    2.0

    I swapped out the wood elements for metal and HDPE in an attempt to make it passibly waterproof.

  • Learning to weld to develop hitch mounted camp kitchen

    2.1

    Cargo rack base is clearly sub-optimal. Looks like I'm gonna have to learn how to weld.

  • New frame for hitch mounted camp kitchen

    2.2

    With a custom fabricated hitch I can now use T-slot aluminum for the frame, which allows for body panels!

  • Overland camping to test hitch mounted camp kitchen

    3.0

    Took the newest prototype to Fruita, CO for a weekend of testing. I really like having a big cooler always at the ready.

  • testing the hitch mounted camp kitchen

    3.1

    Weekend in Steamboat, CO reveals cooler drawer is going to be a problem. Track gets dirty and then the wheels grind.

  • Sunset dinner on hitch mounted camp kitchen

    3.2

    Despite my fretting about the design, we had a grand old time. Imperfect as it is, I love having the party on my hitch.

  • A design breakthrough on hitch mounted camp kitchen

    3.3

    A new idea struck me in the middle of the night. What if the tops flipped out to reveal the countertops beneath?

  • Newest iteration of hitch mounted camp kitchen

    4.1

    A breakthrough! We rushed off to Canyonlands National Park to try it out!

  • CNC routing of a buck for the hitch mounted camp kitchen

    4.2

    Learning how to CNC mill so that I can thermoform a utensil tray and stove rack out of a single, continuous plastic piece.

  • Thermoformed utensil tray for the hitch mounted camp kitchen

    4.3

    Et voila! Now the stove sits securely and the propane can remain hooked up! Also easy to clean which is awesome.

  • New bamboo tops on the hitch mounted camp kitchen

    4.4

    Experimenting with new bamboo countertop material to save weight and for more durable cutting surface.

  • Lunch on the Chefrack hitch mounted camp kitchen.

    4.5

    Testing shows the bamboo tops are prime, but I need to optimize for overall weight. Light is king.

  • CNC machined panels in the Chefrack hitch mounted camp kitchen. Chef Rack.

    4.6

    Reimaginging the tops as stainless steel pans with a substrate web. It's stronger, lighter, and more durable.

  • Ultra lite aluminum composite panels in the Chefrack hitch mounted camp kitchen. Chef Rack.

    4.7

    If I used aircraft aluminum panels, it would be super light, but where the hell could I find those?

  • Panels for the Chefrack hitch mounted camp kitchen. Chef Rack.

    4.8

    Ladies and gentlemen, we got em.

  • Chefrack 5.0 hitch mounted tailgate camp kitchen

    5.0

    Just completed version 5.0 and feeling pretty stoked. It's 35 lbs. lighter and, frankly, pretty sexy.

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