At bloK Pod, we've always thrived on a challenge. It’s an integral part of our history — from producing e-bikes before most people had heard of them to building props for major films. All that wealth of experience gave us a great footing that we translated to vehicle conversions eight years ago.
We’ve taken on many unique builds since then, from vehicles with highly specific needs to the perfect van for the Hardest Geezer. So, when James Strawbridge — a chef, author, and food photographer with multiple series on national television — approached us with his vision for a new project, we knew we had our next big challenge — converting his Ranger Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) 1 into a mobile adventure kitchen.
The Brief
This Ranger conversion was unlike anything we’ve tackled before. James has an excellent understanding of vehicles, so by the time he got in touch, he had already sketched out some ideas. From our very first conversation, we hit it off. His enthusiasm was infectious, and as we bounced ideas back and forth, a clearer picture emerged.
We get a wide variety of briefs, from vague ideas to highly detailed plans. James’ brief was at the detailed end of that spectrum, with many non-negotiables. As an avid cook myself, I empathised with his requirements. When you’re building an outdoor kitchen, there are modifications you simply can’t do without.
“If it's easy to use, it'll get used.”Dan Lindfield, co-founder, bloK Pod
The Build
After sending a mood board and settling on a plan, we got to work. The biggest challenge was fitting everything required for an effective kitchen into a limited space. The first step was replacing the standard rear cab with something more spacious.
That still didn’t solve the issue entirely. We realised early on that we needed to make as many things modular and multipurpose as possible. The cool box became an optional surface; the cooking station was extended to add workspace; single sockets were turned into twin sockets to give James more options.
Our attitude with this build was, “If it’s easy to use, it will get used”. With the volume of things we incorporated, it could have easily become clunky. Everything needed to be intuitive, like drawers accessible from both inside and outside, a mobile sink, and external outlets that eliminated the need for extension cords.
The Details
Pro Power Onboard 2 helped us massively. It eliminated the need for external power sources because the power came from the Ranger itself. This freed up more space to build other essentials into the truck.
In the end, the list of features was extensive: a cool storage box and pantry, a gas and an induction hob, bi-directional cutlery trays, collapsible benches, a stainless-steel table, a 270° self-supporting awning with built-in lighting, and so much more. We even included two metal trays that slid out from the bottom and extended to a full two metres, supported by telescopic legs, to provide more working and dining space. On top, there was still space for James to store his surfboard. 3
We’ve converted many more vans than pick-up trucks. This was also our first time building an outdoor adventure kitchen, so it was a great challenge. In total it took around 150 hours over four weeks, so it was pretty full-on, but the results speak for themselves.
I can’t wait to see what James will cook up with this adventure kitchen!
Dan Lindfield runs bloK Pod with his partner Dave Thompson
1 Ford Ranger Plug-In Hybrid homologated CO2 emissions 143-145 g/km WLTP Euro 6e-bis (UK: 70-72 g/km Euro 6e), homologated fuel efficiency 6.2-6.4 l/100 km WLTP Euro 6e-bis (UK: 3.1-3.2 l/100 km Euro 6e) and pure electric driving range up to 43 km WLTP. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. A range of up to 43 km can be achieved with a fully charged battery - depending on the existing series and battery configuration. The actual range may vary due to various factors (e.g. weather conditions, driving style, route profile, vehicle condition, age and condition of the lithium-ion battery)
2 See Owner’s Manual for important operating instructions
3 Aftermarket kitchen conversion components shown including the induction hob, cutlery trays, storage units, and cooking equipment are third-party products and are not manufactured, approved or endorsed by Ford
