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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: nuthermug on August 24, 2012, 06:43:27 PM

Title: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 24, 2012, 06:43:27 PM
I have recently bought a new c/t and Iam now looking to put a slideout kithen in it I was looking at plywood kitchens, Drifta and any other that I could track down.
I have been told by a fellow camper that plywood kitchens after about 5 years start to loosen up there joints start to come apart and has advised me to get a steel kitchen.
Has anybody had a plywood/drifta kitchen for a length of time and can verify this or is it just more b/s.
I have a drop down tailgate so it has to be a pullout.
     
     Thanks nuthermug
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: D4D on August 24, 2012, 06:45:47 PM
Sounds like bs to me, Luke builds a very good unit and stands behind his product.

Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: ivan on August 24, 2012, 06:56:02 PM
I made my own ply slide out kitchen similar to drifta and used the same quality ply.Their gear is good and they would already be out of business if their product only lasted 5yrs.There are heaps of ply diy kitchens around but the difference in materails is quiet varied hence some don't last.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 24, 2012, 06:59:40 PM
I recon you are proberbly right D4D but he was refering to all plywood kithcens not just Driftas allthough I only know off 1 other
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 24, 2012, 07:16:01 PM
Thanks for your reply Ivan, I would like to build my own  but i recon it would take to long,
like you I think I would have heard if Drifta kitchens had any problems by now ,they have been around for awhile.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Symon on August 24, 2012, 07:27:04 PM
I built my own plywood kitchen 3 years ago, and it has survived 2 Cape York trips and a dozen others.

And I suck at cabinet making, I am sure a professionally made unit like a Drifta will last for ages.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: camperd4d on August 24, 2012, 07:57:52 PM
we just bought this.(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/dllw4/IMAG0950.jpg)

unreal product cant wait to use it on a trip,have a look on the drifta web site,we end up geeting one of the speciels and saved a couple $100 on this .

very happy with there service as well
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: GeeTee on August 24, 2012, 08:59:53 PM
I have Drifta product as standard in my GT Campers
Two of these kitchens have done about 60,000km each; one in a trailer under conditions of unaldulterated abuse such as being airborne, jumped through quarries etc, then Flinders, Binns, Vic High Country, Western Qld, Simpson etc. The other one in my Hilux although not abused like the trailer kitchen, usually does 1000km a week and 5-10 nights per month of actual use.. they both show the signs of a 'life well lived' with various dents and etc, but are structurally 100 percent with no component let-downs. However - and any boatie will agree - being timber, it doesn't like being wet.
 
Drifta: terrific stuff   

Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Mr Ploppy on August 25, 2012, 06:00:03 AM
We have just purchased the Drifta DPOR and as others have said it is a quality piece of kit.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Bill on August 25, 2012, 06:41:34 AM
Our drifts was a little over 3 years old when we upgraded camper trailers.
It still looked great.
I believe maintenance is the key to making it last.
All we did was wipe it down if anything was spilled on it.
And gave it a good cleaning and dry before packing it away.
I could not give a high enough reccomendation for Luke and his team at Drifta.
Bill and Morag
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: kylarama on August 25, 2012, 10:11:55 AM

I have been told by a fellow camper that plywood kitchens after about 5 years start to loosen up there joints start to come apart and has advised me to get a steel kitchen.

As a carpenter/joiner that statement is 100% true...IF!

you use
The wrong materials.
The wrong fixings / glues.
The wrong construction methods.

A well built one should last a lifetime.

boats have been built from plywood for many many years and they are subjected to far greater punishment and weather than a camp kitchen would ever be.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Hairs on August 25, 2012, 03:04:33 PM
@ kylarama
X2.
The 6 P's
Proper
Preparation
Prevents
P155
Poor
Performance.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: kranky al on August 25, 2012, 06:10:00 PM
our drifta is 8 years old now and has done a lap of aus - a heap of camping trips and survived stuff that other parts of the camper havnt - such as the drawbar.  last year it got sanded and revarnished and it looks and feels quite literally brand new.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: LB on August 26, 2012, 06:33:01 AM
We have a drifta car back and it is probably the first time I have bought something off a website before seeing it in real life that actually exceeded my expectations. You have to see their products in the flesh to understand how well made they are. The kitchen will probably out live the trailer!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: GeeTee on August 26, 2012, 08:52:11 AM
@ kylarama
X2.
The 6 P's
Proper
Preparation
Prevents
P155
Poor
Performance.
 :cheers:

That is terrific - I'm gunna write PPPPPP on my wall next to KISS: keep it simple, silly

 
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 26, 2012, 10:43:13 AM
I think the evidence is overwhelming a I think a DPOR is what I will get.

Thanks for your respons.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 26, 2012, 11:15:50 AM
Iallso forgot to ask, does anyone with a drifta DPOR find it a bother having to put up the swing out table if you are only stopping for a short while like just a brew or sanger.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Mr Ploppy on August 26, 2012, 11:36:55 AM
Iallso forgot to ask, does anyone with a drifta DPOR find it a bother having to put up the swing out table if you are only stopping for a short while like just a brew or sanger.

It probably only takes an extra 30 seconds so depends how much of a hurry you are in  :D.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: Bird on August 26, 2012, 11:49:03 AM
Quote from: nuthermug
I have a drop down tailgate so it has to be a pullout.
Thats easy to change too.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: GeeTee on August 26, 2012, 04:48:11 PM
Iallso forgot to ask, does anyone with a drifta DPOR find it a bother having to put up the swing out table if you are only stopping for a short while like just a brew or sanger.

if you are tallking of the return table/bench and shelf that is stored as a cap and side on the rest of the kitchen - then yes, it means you must remove these items to access the kitchen, whether you intend to set them up or not
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 27, 2012, 04:18:29 PM
Sorry for the late reply, yes GeeTee Ithink thats what I am talking about, the same as camper4d has posted. My question was how much of a pain it is to unfold when you dont realy need to would it be better to get the DPO and just use a fold up table when you need the extra space.
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: GeeTee on August 27, 2012, 04:40:11 PM
Sorry for the late reply, yes GeeTee Ithink thats what I am talking about, the same as camper4d has posted. My question was how much of a pain it is to unfold when you dont realy need to would it be better to get the DPO and just use a fold up table when you need the extra space.

you've got it!
The DPOR is great for standing camps of a few days or more
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: nuthermug on August 27, 2012, 04:45:22 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Plywood kitchens
Post by: camperd4d on August 27, 2012, 04:56:28 PM
NO pain with the extra bench on the DPOR ,its easier to leave it of,just leave the extra benches in the trailer,again it only take an extra 30secs to put it up.