Gear Review: Judge and Company Camping System
Judge and Company is a New Zealand-based business, run by enthusiasts who share our passion for the outdoors.
We’re lucky to have some talented individuals in our circle that we can call mates. Judge and Company, owned by Reuben Clive-Smith, specialises in vehicle outfitting, providing trade and lifestyle fit-outs for those looking for something special — locally made and tailored to their needs. When we were first building our 100 Series Landcruiser, we fit that bill perfectly, and the Judge and Company team were happy to jump on board and supply their CAMPWAGON fit-out.
Since the Judge and Company team knew more about what would work well in the back of the Cruiser than we did, we left most of the decisions to them. We knew we wanted a couple of drawers, a fridge on a slide, and space for a 12V system in the rear. We also needed room to store gear on top of the fit-out.
The day we collected the Cruiser felt like Christmas! Not knowing exactly what they were going to build, we were stoked to see the completed fit-out: two deep drawers on the right-hand side and a fridge slide on the left. Reuben and the team also rewired the 12V system (our previous setup was very temporary) and mounted the 12V battery behind the fridge on the slide.
Living with the CAMPWAGON Setup
We’ve had the Judge and Company fit-out for a while now, and it’s travelled the length of New Zealand with us, including our recent 30-day trip through the South Island. It’s rugged, robust, and has handled everything we’ve thrown at it. The team worked with what I had at the time, but if there’s one thing I would change now, it’s the fridge setup. Back then, I insisted on using a budget Brass Monkey fridge. In hindsight, I’d choose a drawer-style fridge, which would free up enough space for an additional drawer above it for more storage.
Camping with this setup has been brilliant. We rarely bother setting up a camping table because we can slide out the stainless-steel bench from beneath the bottom right-hand drawer. It’s perfect for cutting and prepping food, and a quick spray and wipe sorts out any mess. With our cooking gear, herbs, spices, and most of our food stored in the lower drawer, everything is easily accessible when cooking and preparing meals.
After experimenting with the layout a few times, we finally got the upper drawer dialed in. It now holds the less frequently used cooking items, gas canisters, peg hammers, paper towels, rubbish bags, a fire extinguisher, and other bits and pieces.
The satin-finish drawer panels have been incredibly easy to keep clean. After cooking, four-wheel driving, or a night entertaining around the truck, a quick wipe-down and they’re spotless.
One of the most useful features of the fit-out is the 240V power point, with an inverter hidden behind the paneling. It can be activated remotely or from behind the rear seats. The outlets are conveniently located, so we often plug in chargers and leave devices on top of the drawer system — it’s a breeze.
There’s no going back now. The CAMPWAGON setup in the back of the Cruiser is almost a showpiece at camp. Every time we open the tailgate, people stop by to check it out, drawing inspiration for their own setups. While there may be a few tweaks in the future, for now, we’re out there using it to its fullest and putting it through its paces. Our rating for the Judge and Company setup? Absolutely mint.
