HitchFire made its name with grills and kitchens that mount in a trailer hitch receiver. Its Camp Kitchen is the company’s first fully freestanding unit: a box that holds two burners, a sink with running water and a prep area, and sets up on its own legs anywhere in camp, with no hitch needed.
It’s an interesting product for overlanders who are tired of juggling a stove, a water jug, a washing-up tub and a folding table every evening. Here’s what’s in it and what to think about before buying one.
What you get
- Two 10,000 BTU propane burners, with quick-connect fittings for the gas line.
- Running water: an integrated pump and faucet, rated at roughly 1 litre per minute, with inlet and drain hoses. HitchFire’s launch announcement also mentions separate fresh and grey water tanks.
- Prep area with a cutting board and a magnetic holder for utensils and paper towels.
- USB charging built into the unit.
- Construction: aluminium and stainless steel, around 45 lb, and about 35.75 x 16 x 8.75 inches packed.
Price and versions
One US retailer lists the Camp Kitchen in three versions, from about $1,399 to $1,799:
- Basic: the kitchen box, burners, water system, prep surface, hoses and hardware.
- Essentials: adds HitchFire’s leg system so it stands on its own.
- Ultimate: adds a stand and table system plus magnetic holders for utensils and spices.
Since the whole point is a freestanding kitchen, the Essentials kit is effectively the starting point for most people. It comes with a 2-year warranty.
Who it suits
An all-in-one kitchen makes the most sense if you cook properly at camp most nights and you’re setting up and packing down often. Having everything in one box, ready to go, saves real time. Two full-size burners also mean you can cook a main and a side at the same time, which a single backpacking stove can’t.
It makes less sense if you mostly boil water and heat simple meals, or if space in your vehicle is tight. At 45 lb and almost three feet long, it’s a big item to find room for, and you still need to carry propane and water.
Where to pack it
Heavy, bulky gear like this is best carried low and between the axles rather than on the roof or hanging off the back. A full fresh water supply adds weight quickly too: water is about 1 kg per litre. Our guide to weight distribution in an overland vehicle explains why that matters.
Sources
- OVRmag – HitchFire launches freestanding camp kitchen
- Nomadic Supply – HitchFire Camp Kitchen listing
We haven’t tested the HitchFire Camp Kitchen. This article is based on the manufacturer’s announcement and retailer specifications, which may change.
Featured photo: snap wander on Unsplash. The kitchen shown is not a HitchFire product.
